hard drive or burner

[big_block_buick]

hi folks,i have a 2gig wd non udma hdd thats running very low on space.mp3's are to blame.so anyhow,i wont be able to buy both items for months.so which do you consider more important.

1.having a drive with udma 66

2.buy a burner free up a gig and enjoy

thanks..

[NDC]

Well, I would say to get a new hard drive first and then buy a CDRW. 2GB is just way to small. If you get a CDRW, you will be able to have only 1gb free at a time, that is after you burn the data to a CDR or CDRW. If you buy a large drive, you won't have to do that....

[Warthog]

I have a "similar" dilema.

Just got a TV tuner and am recording music videos in high quality like crazy. I have a 10gb hd AND a burner.

Here are the options (for you and me):
(a)Have dozens of CD-Rs floating around filled with your files that your hd can no longer hold
or
(b)Get a new, big hd (30gb for me) and not have to worry about tons of CD-Rs and increase the overall speed of your computer. I'm sure any new hd is A LOT faster than your 2gb.

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
Warthog

[big_block_buick]

well it looks like that would be the smarter choice.i already knew that,i was just posting to see if anybody would be in favour of the writer.i guess with a board capable of ata66 it would seem silly to be at pio 4.thanks for the input

[knucklebusted]

big_block_buick, love that handle! Got one? I do. Working on it is where I got my handle but that's another story. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

At any rate, try to get a 7200 RPM drive and try to get one that is ATA100. You may not be able to use the ATA100 to its full potential now but the thing is backward compatible and faster when the next upgrade comes around. I slapped an ATA100/7200RPM in an AMD K6-2/450 and it really woke it up compared to the old ATA33/5400RPM drive even though it is only an ATA33 MoBo.

[big_block_buick]

thanks for the replies everyone i'll go with the hard drive to increase performance for now..hey knucklebusted a fellow buick man,yeah i've got one,we have the same wheels.i've got a 73 lesabre.not exactly a sports car,but in times of small compact cars it's an attention grabber and nobody has one like it..

[Qvark]

I´m facing exactly the same dilemma right now. I have tons of MP3´s on my 30 GB HD (all tagged(it takes ages)).

I hate the thought, that my HD could crash, so i´m asking myself, Should i buy the new Plextor burner or go for a 2´nd 45 GB HD. I could make a 30 GB partition just for backing up my music library and save xxx$ on CD´s.

But...and this is my big question: What are the chances, that both HD´s crash at the same time.

I´m really not sure, what to buy.

[knucklebusted]

Hmm, I'm guessing computers have become so reliable that nobody besides me backs up any more?

QVARK:

The odds of both harddrives going south is most likely to happen in the event of catastrophic system failure. So, a fire, tornado, atomic bomb, lightning, theft or the like would possibly destroy the drives. Another valid possible reason to kill two drives at once is a virus or other unintentional user error.

A non-catastophic drive failure is pretty rare. Every drive I've ever had go bad did so with some kind of warning. One started making noises and I saved the data before it finally seized up. Another one started detecting new errors on scandisk every time it ran. Yet another would not boot from a cold powerup. All were eventually unusable but I didn't loose any data. The good news is I haven't had a drive die in about 3 years now. <knock knock>

So, if you are REALLY afraid of loosing your music, invest in a removable media device such as the burner, Jaz, Orb or (cringe) a Zip drive.


big_block_buick:

Cool! I've got a '70 GS Stage1 myself. Ever go to the Buick Gran Sport Nationals? They are a blast.

[Warthog]

Well, NDC had the best advice: get a burner later.

I backup religiously with my CD-RW. If he gets a burner in the next month or two, what are the odds of his drive going on him?

Warthog