I want the biggest drive possible - Which box and HDD to buy?

[imprator]

I have a Pace HD box fitted with a 1 Tb drive. I would like to have more capacity. I would appreciate any advice regarding which box can accept the largest drive, and which drive to fit.

I have upgraded boxes before so have an idea of the mechanics involved, and I believe that ExPVR is the transfer software to use?

Sorry if this is a question asked many times before. I have searched but can't readily find the answer to my question.

Thanks in advance.

 

[logiciel]

If by "box" you're referring to Sky PVRs, there's only one current version, with a 2tB drive.
You might find used earlier Samsung and Amstrad models with 500gB drives.

 

[davemurgatroyd2]

The largest size HDD that will work with the latest firmware on the current boxes is 2TB.

 

[mrmt32]

All of the hd boxes except the Thompson will accept drives up to 2TB (The MBR partitioning system does not support partitions with a greater size than this). I normally recommend the WD20EURS as this disk has been the most widely used.

Sky now only provide 3 models of sky boxes: the DRX595, the DRX890 and the DRX895. The DRX595 does not have PVR features, the DRX890 has a 500GB disk (250GB user) and the newer DRX895s have a 2TB disk (1.5TB user I think). All of these boxes are sky branded (formally Amstrad).

If you are happy with how your current pace box is operating, then you could just upgrade it's disk to a 2TB one. You would also get slightly more space as the pace box reserves less for on demand showcase.

 

[crockett]

I would recommend you go for an 890. It only has the 250GB reserved so you will maximise the space for recordings. Its a lot faster than the Pace in general use and will support all the latest software features. It is also less limited to the number of recordings you can make. I switched from a Pace 2TB to a 890 when I hit a hard limit on the number of recordings which prevented series links from working until recordings were deleted. You can pick 890's up very cheaply on eBay these days...

 

[imprator]

Thank you guys for the advice – it is everything I wanted to know.

I have decided to follow crockett's suggestion to get a DRX890 box. I will upgrade it to 2Tb using the Western Digital drive.suggested by mrmt32. I ordered the hardware today.

Thanks again. Great stuff.

 

[logiciel]

If you have a Sky subscription you could get the normal 2tB PVR from them for less than the cost of a drive.

 

[thebassman]

If you have a Sky subscription you could get the normal 2tB PVR from them for less than the cost of a drive.

+1 to this, i have been looking into this and the 2TB is £49 for existing customers

cheers

thebassman

 

[davemurgatroyd2]

If you have a Sky subscription you could get the normal 2tB PVR from them for less than the cost of a drive.

But would end up with 250GB less personal planner space.

 

[logiciel]

A certain member would agree with me that 1.5tB is still more than enough.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

A certain member would agree with me that 1.5tB is still more than enough.

Moi?

 

[logiciel]

Oui.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

Merci.

 

[logiciel]

Sure, what have you done wrong that calls for it?

 

[oioldman]

old thread alert - but has relevance as could not see on a newer thread. apologies if i missed a newer thread

Hello,
Sky gave me free a DRX890 which has a 500gb in it. so leaving 250gb for my own use.
If a DRX895 has a 2tb in it. so leaving 1.5tb for my own use.

This is 250gb x3 if my maths is any good (usually isn't)
I am not sure how this leaves me with 250gb less as noted by dave.
Could someone explain please.

thanks.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

The 890 has 250GB reserved, in firmware, for Anytime.
The 895 has 500GB reserved, in firmware, for Anytime. (1.5GB of personal space)

Putting a 2GB drive in a 890 will give you 1.75GB of personal space)

(Totally impractical from a viewing standpoint.)

 

[oioldman]

Thanks Steve.

One last thing; why do the different boxes need different amounts of space for the Anytime info?

 

[Stevenage Neil]

Gives the viewer a bigger choice of things to watch instantly without downloading?

 

[oioldman]

Thanks.