which harddrive should I buy? limit to number of harddrives?

i know very little about computers. i have a 3 year old computer with two harddrives (about 1.5 to 2 terrabytes). i peeked into the computer case and it APPEARS that i have more room for more harddrives--is this most likely true? i bought my computer at ibuypower, so i don't know the size of the case

1) i really need more space for files and pictures/videos. can I buy another harddrive or is having three harddrives typically too much? can it be a two terrabyte harddrive or are those bigger than 1 terrabyte (more space in computer case)?

2) i opened my case and it appears that I have 2 hitachi deskstar drives. what is a good harddrive I could buy (again 2 terrabytes preferred)? does it matter the TYPE of harddrive or can i just buy any one i want (i think i saw that the hitachi has SATA whatever that means)? could you please give me a link to buy the harddrive?

3) since i don't know how to install anything on the comp, I think i will hire someone to install the harddrive (esp. since it appears that i have to change the bios from a youtube video i saw) THANKS

you can have as many hdds as you have sata or ide ports as well as space in your case. hdds are really simple to install, it just takes a couple of screws and plugging in two cables.

this is what the ports look like, the small connectors are the current sata hdd connectors while the bigh blue and black ones are ide plugs for old hdds. You can also buy sata expantion cards if you lack ports.

i am a bit confused it looks like there are 4 small ports there with various colors. does that mean i can have 4 harddrives or only two [because each HD takes up two ports]? is it typical to be allowed to put in more than two harddrives? i'm not sure i want to open my computer, as i'm a newbie and don't want to mess anything up, but i will if i have to.

also pls answer the question above about which HDs to get, prefer 2 terabyts

1. Hard drives come in two form factors, 2.5" (notebook) and 3.5" (desktop). Just make sure you buy a 3.5" 7200rpm drive. I've had up to 5 drives in my case, the only problem that comes with that is you could have cables going everywhere, screwing up the airflow.

2. Good HDDs are Caviar Black and Spinpoint F3. Only the Black comes in a 2TB model, but it's more prone to failure than the 1TB model going by online reviews. Check out newegg.com.

3. You really dont need to. Just snap the hard drive into place (or buy screws) and connect a SATA power cable from the PSU onto the back of it. Then connect the drive to the motherboard using a SATA data cable, which usually comes with a new HDD unless it's being sold as a 'bare drive'

1. Hard drives come in two form factors, 2.5" (notebook) and 3.5" (desktop). Just make sure you buy a 3.5" 7200rpm drive. I've had up to 5 drives in my case, the only problem that comes with that is you could have cables going everywhere, screwing up the airflow.

2. Good HDDs are Caviar Black and Spinpoint F3. Only the Black comes in a 2TB model, but it's more prone to failure than the 1TB model going by online reviews. Check out newegg.com.

3. You really dont need to. Just snap the hard drive into place (or buy screws) and connect a SATA power cable from the PSU onto the back of it. Then connect the drive to the motherboard using a SATA data cable, which usually comes with a new HDD unless it's being sold as a 'bare drive'

istuffedsunny

the seagate barricuda 1.5tb can be found mcuh cheaper thant he wd caviar black atm.

and relaly if all you need it for is data storage any old WORKING 7200rpm drive will do i mean i have a 7200rpm sata II barricuda as my primary HDD (OS) and then i ahve a wd caviar black (500gb) and an 80gb caviar blue (7200rpm)as my storage drive.. ive yet to see any problems with it.

anyway TC your limtied only by the number of drive slots and even then you can get expansion cards to extend this number and get a hardd drive casing and run an external HDD via the awesomeness of e-sata

Since your only looking to store videos/pics:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136764