How Many Hard Drives Can I Have In My PC? Answered
Post Disclaimer
We independently review everything we recommend. The information is provided by How Many Hard Drives Can I Have In My PC? Answered and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we may earn a commission if you buy something through links on our post. Learn more
We’ve all been in the situation when we think our new Computer has enough storage space to hold all our information. Before you realize it, the blue bar in your file explorer shows how much space you’ve used. But do you know How Many Hard Drives Can I Have In My PC? After that, you’re faced with deciding which files to keep and which ones should be deleted from the system.
Even so, if you’ve got some money to spare, you’ll realize that another option is to purchase additional storage. You have the choice of either purchasing an external hard drive or replacing your computer’s hard drive.
An external hard drive is a more convenient choice for many people because they don’t have to install anything on their computers. However, the disadvantage is that you have to lug around extra luggage, and it can be pricey and vulnerable to damage.
Replacement of an internal hard drive is a more long-term solution, but you’ll have to deal with the hassle of moving your content. Another option combines the better of the two alternatives already discussed.
Installing another hard disc into your Computer permanently creates a second hard drive that you can use. There is no chance of losing your new hard drive if you don’t transfer files from the old hard disk.
You may be asking yourself, “If I can add one more hard disc to my PC, why not two or three?” This may be a novel idea for you. Short answer: A PC has an unlimited number of hard discs. My PC may have a limit, but how can I find out? These and other questions can now be addressed.
How Many Hard Drives Can I Have In My PC?
Although a PC can use many hard drives, the extent to that you can do so is determined by the motherboard. There are four SATA connections on most motherboards, which means that you can connect two hard drives and two DVD drives, or a DVD drive and three hard drives. On the other hand, modern goods can feature as many as five or six SATA ports. This enables you to install additional hard discs on your PC.
For those unfamiliar with the word “SATA,” it stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, and it is the connector on the motherboard that connects an external hard drive. They can be found on laptops, desktops, game consoles, servers, and more.
How Do You Find Out How Many Hard Drives A Computer Can Have?
To know how many internal hard drives your PC can support, you first need to answer the following question: You may do this by removing the casing and inspecting the motherboard. But if you’re a novice, we don’t recommend it because you could accidentally harm your computer.
The BIOS setup is another technique to determine how many hard drives your computer can support. Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS, is a computer’s most important startup application. In most cases, it’s a little chip on the motherboard that contains the software needed to start a computer.
Consequently, the BIOS setup will inform you of the available SATA ports on your PC’s motherboard. Pressing the pre-set BIOS key at system startup allows you to enter the BIOS. There are a variety of keys available, depending on the manufacturer. The BIOS can also be accessed using the advanced start menu recovery settings using Windows 10 OS.
If the number of SATA ports on your motherboard isn’t enough for you, you may always buy extension cards. However, if your PC’s operating system does not allow these cards, the motherboard will not be able to communicate with them.
How Many Hard Drives Can A Laptop Have?
It truly depends on the laptop’s shape; workstations and gaming laptops are typically thicker and can accommodate one to four hard drives. In modern laptops, M.2 SSDs are also an option, many of which have multiple slots.
Utilizing an HDD caddy in the disk drive bay is an additional method of enhancing a laptop’s storage capacity. These are helpful if your laptop only has one drive and you want to combine a 2.5-inch SSD with a 2.5-inch HDD.
How Can I Tell How Many Hard Drives My Computer Can Have?
The system information file should be opened. Click the Plus sign next to Components in the System Information window. Drives can be accessed by clicking the + next to Storage. You can view details about the hard disk, such as its capacity and serial number, on the right side of the window.
Conclusion
It’s time to conclude How Many Hard Drives Can I Have In My PC? There appears to be no end to the amount of hard disc space available. A new drive may be all you need if you don’t want to get rid of anything on your existing drives.
Alternatively, you may want to organize your data in a new location. There’s just so much room for a computer to grow, unfortunately. These are a few simple and inexpensive techniques to free up space on your external hard drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hard drives can you put on a computer?
When you use Storage Spaces, you can consolidate numerous hard drives into one. This can be done in a variety of ways. It is possible to make two hard drives appear one, so Windows will write files to both.
Is it possible to have three hard drives on a PC?
Yes, you can do that. PCI-X cards let you add more SATA ports than the standard three or four, but most cases only accept three or four, so you’ll need to look for a case with additional bays. My old case could accommodate up to six hard drives; my new one only has room for three, with additional 2.5-inch drive slots available on the rear of the motherboard plate.
Is having numerous hard drives a bad idea?
It is also possible to reduce costs by installing numerous hard drives on your PCs. The cost of computer hardware rises with each new generation of hard drives. It should have enough room for the drives you intend to add.
What is the maximum number of SSDs that may be installed on a computer?
The SATA ports allow the addition of an additional eight solid-state drives. Yes, it is a resounding yes, as long as you have a power source that supports SATA power and a motherboard that includes several SATA DATA ports. In reality, a motherboard can support up to two M. 2 SSDs.
