USB external enclosure, max size

[Kev]

Hi

A question about the maximum HD size a USB enclosure can handle, other than
what it says itself (say 200):

I dont think my MB can handle a drive larger than 137GB. Im still waiting
for a response from the manufacturer since there is no data for this model
(Abit VT6X4) on their website anymore. Google searches didnt help much
either except alot on overclocking and the same info in the manual... but
maybe I missed something. Will I still be able to format it to 200, and use
the space beyond 137as well?

note: I dont have USB 2 yet either but Im buying a card. Replacing the
board right now isnt an option, and it would probably be more cost
effective in the long run to get a new computer and use this one for other
duties.

Thanks )

 

[Rene]

Hi

A question about the maximum HD size a USB enclosure can handle, other
than
what it says itself (say 200):

I dont think my MB can handle a drive larger than 137GB. Im still waiting
for a response from the manufacturer since there is no data for this model
(Abit VT6X4) on their website anymore. Google searches didnt help much
either except alot on overclocking and the same info in the manual... but
maybe I missed something. Will I still be able to format it to 200, and
use
the space beyond 137as well?

note: I dont have USB 2 yet either but Im buying a card. Replacing the
board right now isnt an option, and it would probably be more cost
effective in the long run to get a new computer and use this one for other
duties.

Hi,

Not really an answer to Your question, just wanted to say that if You buy a
card, buy one with a NEC-chip on it. Those are the only ones that are really
reliable. Lot's of info about this can be found on http://www.usbman.com/.

Good luck!
Greetings,
Rene

 

[Kev]

Hi,

Not really an answer to Your question, just wanted to say that if You
buy a card, buy one with a NEC-chip on it. Those are the only ones
that are really reliable. Lot's of info about this can be found on
http://www.usbman.com/.

Good luck!
Greetings,
Rene

Thanks, yes that another thing I read when reading info on various cards...
including on usbman.com. From what it sounds like, Adaptec comes
recommened. I have one of their SCSI cards and never had a problem with it.
"USB2 Connect 4000" seems pretty good.

 

[Rene]

Thanks, yes that another thing I read when reading info on various
cards...
including on usbman.com. From what it sounds like, Adaptec comes
recommened. I have one of their SCSI cards and never had a problem with
it.
"USB2 Connect 4000" seems pretty good.

I think that would be a very wise choice. When I still thought USB2 was a
very good thing, I bought 3 concepttronics cards with ALi chipsets (for my
computer, my father's and a friend's so I could bring them virusscan
upgrades and so, so they wouldn't have to dail-up all the time). And they
suck! They are OK as long as I don't use my external harddrive, but when I
do they crash and sometimes make the entire computer crash. I spend 2 (!)
days of my holiday to try to solve it with the tips on usbman and then I
gave up. Incredible that crap like that is sold.

Another thing: If You suspect Your mobo not to support >137GB, have You
considered getting a new one? You might not have to spend that much more
money on it than on that high quality USB-card. Now that I look back at Your
message and see which one You have now, it might be P2 or celeron on it, so
upgrading would be impossible without getting a new processor and memory.
Still, You would also still need to buy the enclosure for the drive. And the
slowest sempron and 512 MB of RAM aren't that expensive either. With that
You would get quite a performance gain (especially when combined with a new
hard drive). Of course this is none of my business, but maybe You hadn't
looked at prices for this upgrade and also maybe You think this would be
more expensive than it'ld really be.

By the way: I don't think the normal bios is used when using a USB-drive, it
relies purely on the OS, so I really expect You to be able to use the full
200 GB without a problem. I am 99% sure (that leaves 1% of uncertainty). You
could search groups.google.com for old messages about that, I think I have
read about that in the past.

Good luck and have fun with whichever new stuff You buy!
Sincerely,
Rene

 

[Rene]

I think that would be a very wise choice. When I still thought USB2 was a
very good thing, I bought 3 concepttronics cards with ALi chipsets (for my
computer, my father's and a friend's so I could bring them virusscan
upgrades and so, so they wouldn't have to dail-up all the time). And they
suck! They are OK as long as I don't use my external harddrive, but when I
do they crash and sometimes make the entire computer crash. I spend 2 (!)
days of my holiday to try to solve it with the tips on usbman and then I
gave up. Incredible that crap like that is sold.

Another thing: If You suspect Your mobo not to support >137GB, have You
considered getting a new one? You might not have to spend that much more
money on it than on that high quality USB-card. Now that I look back at
Your message and see which one You have now, it might be P2 or celeron on
it, so upgrading would be impossible without getting a new processor and
memory. Still, You would also still need to buy the enclosure for the
drive. And the slowest sempron and 512 MB of RAM aren't that expensive
either. With that You would get quite a performance gain (especially when
combined with a new hard drive). Of course this is none of my business,
but maybe You hadn't looked at prices for this upgrade and also maybe You
think this would be more expensive than it'ld really be.

By the way: I don't think the normal bios is used when using a USB-drive,
it relies purely on the OS, so I really expect You to be able to use the
full 200 GB without a problem. I am 99% sure (that leaves 1% of
uncertainty). You could search groups.google.com for old messages about
that, I think I have read about that in the past.

You could also email maxtor Your question; they have big USB-drives as well.
And, You could buy an extra IDE-card; that way You will certainly be ably to
use an internal drive.

Greetings,
Rene

 

[Kev]

You could also email maxtor Your question; they have big USB-drives as
well. And, You could buy an extra IDE-card; that way You will
certainly be ably to use an internal drive.

Greetings,
Rene

Didnt think about contacting them as well, I shall do that. Im not a
newbie but adding a modern external drive is one of those things I never
thought about before.

AN IDE card was something I considered for awhile and just adding another
drive (I have two). Maybe taking an older one out, put in the new one,
and use the older for external backups, portability, or stuff for which I
wont use it as much.

I was thinking about USB & Firewire as a simple general upgrade as well.
I read the combos are kinda tricky and to be careful about interupts...
which should be alone with no conflicts. Maybe thats one of those over
exagerations to be careful with.

One of my goals eventually is to adapt this system to other uses, put it
on a network, and eventually get a new one when I can afford it , with
all the updated stuff like you mentioned, and more. I have a P3 but its
pretty much at the max the MB can handle as it is.

 

[Kev]

You could also email maxtor Your question; they have big USB-drives as
well. And, You could buy an extra IDE-card; that way You will
certainly be ably to use an internal drive.

Greetings,
Rene

greetings back again.

This was such a newbie question that I sorta feel silly

But after more reading: yes since the encloser has its own controller the
BOIS limitation wont matter except for the OS.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Rene]

greetings back again.

This was such a newbie question that I sorta feel silly

But after more reading: yes since the encloser has its own controller the
BOIS limitation wont matter except for the OS.

Thanks!!!!

You're welcome!
Greetings,
Rene