What Hard Drives Were Used To Upgrade?

General Skanky · 13-09-2003, 8:16 PM

I've searched to find what drives people have been using to upgrade their Sky+ boxes.

However, it's all a bit sketchy, even Hummer doesn't list too many options.

So I simply ask people to list what they put in please?

Make, model, capacity, 5400/7200, runs hot or cold, noisy or quiet?

Any chance of a sticky on this as too mods? We do need a definative list I would have thought for such a new hot topic.

Messiah · 13-09-2003, 9:37 PM

Maxtor FDB drive. 120GB, 7200rpm. Quieter than the original and the case does not even get warm.

JohnS · 14-09-2003, 8:15 AM

Quote:

Maxtor FDB drive. 120GB, 7200rpm.

Same here, I use one with 2mb buffer but I have heard that the 8mb ones work as well.

14-09-2003, 11:36 AM

Just bought the Maxtor 6Y120LO from Simply Computers for @ £75.
You might like to run the utilities programs to set the accoustic management to quiet, and also turn off the write verification.

lynx · 14-09-2003, 10:39 PM

This looses sticky status if it dies due to lack of interest.
I'll pm the address to send the £10.

General Skanky · 15-09-2003, 8:16 AM

Fair enough.

Lots of views, not too many replies. Doesn't look too good then.

I'd just like to see a big list formed for our benefit.

JohnS · 15-09-2003, 8:26 AM

Somebody mentioned sucess with one of th WD ones a little while ago, that had a 8mb buffer as well.

Fairzo · 15-09-2003, 11:29 AM

I'm interested in this topic, had Sky + just over a year, so it is outside the warranty period, and the existing hd is not really large enough (particularly when recording NFL can take 60% of the space!).

It would be useful to know recommended type of hd, cost, retailer and also the availability of an idiot-proof guide to changing the disks.

ian_guinan · 15-09-2003, 11:11 PM

The most definitive list I've seen so far that summarises the various disks tried is here.

A great piece of work compiling those disks that workand a fairly authoritive summary.

Hope this helps.

Ian Guinan

Fairzo · 16-09-2003, 5:36 AM

Thanks, this is useful. Slightly worrying though that two disks have been fitted on 31 September this year!

General Skanky · 16-09-2003, 7:29 AM

Seen that list before. Just hoping we could come up with a better one. If not, then no worries.

General Skanky · 16-09-2003, 7:48 PM

You're all using 7200rpm drives then?

JohnS · 16-09-2003, 8:16 PM

Seem to be, the old 5400 rpm drives didn't have fdb bearings so were quite noisy, not many of the newer drives are 5400 untill you get to the larger sizes which you cant take advantage of the size for the money, the 137gb limit.

General Skanky · 16-09-2003, 8:24 PM

My only worry is the concern over 7200 drives not liked by Sky+. The time it takes to read or somwthing. Satcure has a detailed write up about it.

17-09-2003, 8:53 AM

Maxtor 6Y120LO up and running fine. I ran the utilities program to set the drive to "quiet", and also turned off the write verification.
Runs at 7200 rpm,but in my opinion, very quietly, in fact, the fan makes more noise. Heat wise, i think it is similar to the original, in that the case gets warm, but not hot.

Too Tall · 17-09-2003, 4:13 PM

I've used a Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 120Gb 7200rpm UDMA133

It's very quiet and I've had no problems so far with over heating.

£70 from eBuyer back in June.

Cheers,
Too Tall.

Dubbing Mixer · 15-10-2003, 4:48 PM

Could this thread be widened to include the various HD/DVD recorders? I'm looking at buying one of these soon but I'd like to know if anyone's tried upgrading the hard drives.

28-10-2003, 1:32 PM

What is the capacity (in hours) of a 120Gb disk?
I'm getting Sky+ on Thursday, not sure I'm happy with invalidating the warranty when I’ve only had it five minutes. If it all went wrong, my wife would KILL ME !!!!!

28-10-2003, 5:18 PM

About 60 hours.

mjcairney · 02-11-2003, 1:15 PM

There was a feature in one of the recent issues of Home Cinema Choice about upgrading the hard drive in the Sky+ box - worth a read as it takes you through the complete installation, and tells you what drive to buy.

Rasczak · 02-11-2003, 1:42 PM

Quote:

Could this thread be widened to include the various HD/DVD recorders? I'm looking at buying one of these soon but I'd like to know if anyone's tried upgrading the hard drives.

The Panasonic models HS2/E100 are locked into their respective HDD sizes and nobody seems to have been able to break them. To early to say for the Pioneer 5100 yet. But I would suggest both companies see their future profits from selling machines with larger and larger HDD hence they will make it difficult for people to upgrade!

THX THX THX · 02-11-2003, 1:52 PM

Rasczak, do you know what is the maximum drive size that can go into a tivo?

Rasczak · 02-11-2003, 3:16 PM

Quote:

do you know what is the maximum drive size that can go into a tivo?

Afraid not - I never went down the Tivo route. I believe it may be 2 x 80GB drives but I've seen a variety of graphs which indicate nearly double this

jont · 03-11-2003, 8:51 AM

Check on the tivocommunity forum but AFAIK it's generally 2x160Gb drives (but I think you can only format them to 13? Gb due to software limits) ... still more than enough !!

If you hunt around on those forums you can find some info about guys who upgraded to some removeable (ie server typr) HD's as well ...

Jon

Starkiller · 20-11-2003, 6:29 PM

Hope this is not a dumb question

Is 120gb the biggest HD you can install in a $ky+ box
cuz ive seen some 160-200gb drives quite cheep

Edit: its 137gb max

dsd1036 · 03-02-2004, 7:24 PM

just ordered a maxtor 120gb hardrive for my v1 sky+ box.is it easy to fit?is there any thing special i need to do or do i just plug and go.do i need a pc to configure it?

cheers
dsd1036

STOWITBELOW · 04-02-2004, 1:44 PM

Sorry I've previously posted, but cant recall the model of my upgrade; a Samsung 120gig 7200 spindle speed. It's excellent, quiet & cool, one month old, no problems.

dolph · 04-02-2004, 2:14 PM

Stowitbelow - would be grateful if you could dig out that model number!!

THFC · 04-02-2004, 5:08 PM

http://www.hummer.co.uk/disc-change-v2.htm

The Samsung drives are well known to be very quiet.

if you read Custom Pc magazine they are well liked for this purpose and speed

STOWITBELOW · 28-04-2004, 9:44 AM

Sorry andrewdolphin, I can't find the reciept & a change of pc HDD means I've lost the e correspondance. I ordered the model off one of those lists above, but was delivered a faster 7200 rpm HDD, not the 5400rpm one I ordered. (online from Savastore @ Watford.) I couldn't face the returns so fitted it & haven't looked back. The sad thing is, if I'd have tried to buy the faster HDD I'd have got it cheaper elsewhere. It was only as they were advertising the slower 5400 rpm one I bought from there. However although it was £80, it's worth the £20 premium over the equvolent Maxtor, as it's been faultless. Some of the reports on Maxtor upgrades have not been positive. So far I've nothing but praise for the Samsung. I keep saying, my standard Maxtor was too hot to touch on removal, it makes me think my upgrade has actualy prevented some problems with my +.

14-09-2003, 11:36 AM	#4
IvorBigun Guest Posts: n/a	Just bought the Maxtor 6Y120LO from Simply Computers for @ £75. You might like to run the utilities programs to set the accoustic management to quiet, and also turn off the write verification.
	Quote

17-09-2003, 8:53 AM	#15
IvorBigun Guest Posts: n/a	Maxtor 6Y120LO up and running fine. I ran the utilities program to set the drive to "quiet", and also turned off the write verification. Runs at 7200 rpm,but in my opinion, very quietly, in fact, the fan makes more noise. Heat wise, i think it is similar to the original, in that the case gets warm, but not hot.
	Quote

28-10-2003, 1:32 PM	#18
tosh Guest Posts: n/a	What is the capacity (in hours) of a 120Gb disk? I'm getting Sky+ on Thursday, not sure I'm happy with invalidating the warranty when I’ve only had it five minutes. If it all went wrong, my wife would KILL ME !!!!!
	Quote

28-10-2003, 5:18 PM	#19
IvorBigun Guest Posts: n/a	About 60 hours.
	Quote