| There are many devices which can be used to | | | | can choose between an internal or external CD |
| store or write data in your computer system. | | | | writer. Internal drives are best suited for |
| The options include hard drives, USB/Firewire | | | | desktop PCs and are the least expensive |
| storage devices, CD writers and DVD writers. | | | | option. If you want portability and don't |
| Hard drives are a very essential (and | | | | mind paying a little more, you can get a |
| delicate) piece of equipment and are a | | | | FireWire or USB 2.0 external CD-RW drive. |
| standard feature on most computers. CD | | | | |
| writers are also very common. USB/Firewire | | | | DVD WritersDVD writers are the newest rage |
| storage devices and DVD writers are currently | | | | in the consumer data storage market. They let |
| getting more popular with consumers.This | | | | you store up to 4.7GB on a single disc |
| article will give you some tips on selecting | | | | several times the amount of on a CD-RW disc. |
| proper data storage devices for your PC.Hard | | | | So let's look at some factors to consider |
| DrivesFirst, let's cover hard drives. We'll | | | | when purchasing a new DVD drive. |
| look at some hard drive terms like ATA and | | | | |
| SCSI, as well as cover the factors to | | | | |
| consider when buying a new drive. | | | | |
| | | | Drive Speed: One factor to consider when |
| ATA and SCSI: Let's get some terminology out | | | | buying DVD writers is drive speed. Most DVD-R |
| of the way before we go further. In the hard | | | | drives write at 8X, with some older models |
| drive world, there are two data access | | | | supporting only 4X. Personally, I don't think |
| standards, ATA and SCSI (pronounced | | | | there is significant speed difference between |
| 'Scar-Zee'). The ATA standard is split | | | | a 8X and 4X drive - so don't spend extra |
| further into Parallel ATA (PATA) and Serial | | | | money unnecessarily if you don't have |
| ATA (SATA). Most of normal hard drives we're | | | | to.Compatibility |
| used to rely on the PATA standard. Some newer | | | | |
| hard drives use the SATA standard.SATA allows | | | | There is a huge range of DVD media formats |
| transfer speeds of up to 150 MBs while PATA | | | | out there (DVD+R, DVD-R,DVD+R DL), |
| gives up to 133 MBs. However, to use SATA, | | | | represented by various brands. You need to |
| you'll need a Serial ATA controller, a SATA | | | | consider compatibility of your DVD writer |
| drive and a SATA power cable. The speed | | | | with these DVD discs. DVD-R and DVD+R formats |
| difference between PATA and SATA is also not | | | | are both very compatible with existing DVD |
| significant unless you have a high-end SATA | | | | players and DVD-ROM drives - so try to get a |
| drive.The SCSI standard is a very fast hard | | | | player that supports those.Internal or |
| drive standard used for professional computer | | | | External |
| systems which demand extremely fast data | | | | |
| access. SCSI drives provide an access time of | | | | You can choose between an internal or |
| about 9.5ms - which I feel is really not | | | | external DVD writer. Internal drives are |
| needed for average home use.Disk Space vs. | | | | cheaper but it also means you need to deal |
| Price: An important factor to consider is the | | | | with the installation hassle and |
| disk space versus price ratio. When you look | | | | non-portability. External DVD writers come |
| at the 30 GB, 40 GB and 80 GBPATA hard | | | | with Firewire or USB 2.0 interfaces and may |
| drives, you'll find they are very close in | | | | well be a better choice if you need to move |
| price. If you don't mind paying an extra $20 | | | | your data around a lot. |
| or so, I'd say go for the maximum disk space | | | | |
| you can get! If you do a lot of graphics or | | | | ConclusionTo purchase a good storage device, |
| video editing, you may want to consider | | | | be it a hard drive, CD writer or DVD writer, |
| larger drives like the Seagate 160 GB hard | | | | you need to consider what price you're |
| drive. For the average home user, however, 40 | | | | willing to pay for a given set of features. |
| GB to 80 GB of disk space is plenty.Drive | | | | In my opinion, the DVD burner is fast |
| Speed: If data access speed is important to | | | | becoming an essential item in the average |
| you, you can go for faster SATA drives or | | | | home user's PC. If you're building a new |
| SCSI drives. But remember that these drives | | | | computer, you should definitely consider |
| come at a price premium and may not be | | | | buying a DVD writer on top of your standard |
| necessary for average home use. Another | | | | hard drive. |
| option is to use a RAID setup where multiple | | | | |
| hard disks are used to gain drive performance | | | | Favorite PicksUpgrade Your Computer Skills |
| and/or data integrity. | | | | with This VideoIf you want to learn how to |
| | | | build your own computer or troubleshoot |
| CD WritersCD writers are practically | | | | general PC problems, you should check out |
| standard issue on all PCs these days. Prices | | | | this computer training video. Besides showing |
| are ridiculously cheap, so there's no reason | | | | you the exact steps for installing new |
| not to get one, unless you prefer a DVD | | | | hardware components, this video provides |
| writer. | | | | important tips for repairing and upgrading |
| | | | your PC. These tips include little gems like |
| | | | how to create boot disks, configure your BIOs |
| | | | or format a hard drive.Gary Hendricks runs a |
| Drive Speed: For CD writers, you should | | | | hobby site on building computers. Visit his |
| generally look for a 40X record speed or | | | | website at for tips and tricks on assembling |
| faster. Anything slower will cost you a lot | | | | a PC, as well as buying good computer |
| of time burning CDs.Internal or External: You | | | | components. |