The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    is an external hardrive fast enough for gaming?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wannabeapilot, Mar 3, 2007.

  1. wannabeapilot

    wannabeapilot Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ok well my 80 gig hard drive is running out of space quickly so i was planning on getting an external one

    but i need to know if i hook it up through usb will it be fast enough for playing games?


    p.s is there any real reason to keep the recovery partition ?
     
    wannabeapilot, Mar 3, 2007
    #1
  2. sordid

    sordid Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It will load slower, but once the data is loaded, the game will run normally.

    Answer to ps: You shouldn't need them if you have the original discs for the software you want that came with the computer (ie. OS, productivity, etc.)
    However, I've never had a computer come with a recovery partition since I've built every one of my own and always had my own software, so somebody else more experienced in this should verify before you make a decision.
     
    sordid, Mar 3, 2007
    #2
  3. Mark

    Mark Desktop Debugger

    Reputations:
    1,288
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Ditto, I used to run a 160GB Seagate IDE drive on USB 2.0. It worked fine for gaming, the loads weren't really that bad either.
     
    Mark, Mar 3, 2007
    #3
  4. wannabeapilot

    wannabeapilot Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    cool thanks guys
     
    wannabeapilot, Mar 3, 2007
    #4
  5. Airman

    Airman Band of Gypsys NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    703
    Messages:
    1,675
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I concur as well ;)
     
    Airman, Mar 3, 2007
    #5
  6. wannabeapilot

    wannabeapilot Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ok now i have a new problem i cant delete the recovery partition this is the error it gives me : Failed. Unsupported partition next to Dell PC Restore partition. (-18)
     
    wannabeapilot, Mar 3, 2007
    #6
  7. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    87
    Messages:
    470
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No. It will function okay, but if your goal is gaming, put it on your primary drive.
     
    Cheffy, Mar 4, 2007
    #7
  8. wannabeapilot

    wannabeapilot Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    so your saying use the external for files and the main hd for games?
     
    wannabeapilot, Mar 4, 2007
    #8
  9. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    87
    Messages:
    470
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yup. The usb connection is not consistent I find at times, even when just scanning through directories on my external drive. Using programmes like hd-tune etc may indicate a consistent speed suitable for basic gaming, but in reality it doesn't seem the same to me. It's just not worth bothering.
     
    Cheffy, Mar 4, 2007
    #9
  10. conejeitor

    conejeitor Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    652
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You can also have an external HD via SATA connection in the express card slot. That would be as good as having an internal one (you can even run Windows on it)
     
    conejeitor, Mar 4, 2007
    #10
  11. Mark

    Mark Desktop Debugger

    Reputations:
    1,288
    Messages:
    4,172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Honestly, keep the data on your laptop hard drive that you actually need to bring around with you (if data is important, just leave it on there). As Cheffy said, USB speed isn't consistent and you load times will be "slightly" longer on an external drive, but it will work just fine. If price isn't a concern, you could always just buy a bigger notebook HD. I was playing Far Cry and C&C Generals on an external HD and I know my brother is playing tons of Star Wars games on another external HD without any problems...just my two cents and experience....
     
    Mark, Mar 4, 2007
    #11
  12. conejeitor

    conejeitor Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    652
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Get a SATA external!
     
    conejeitor, Mar 5, 2007
    #12
  13. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    87
    Messages:
    470
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That would be great! Unfortuntely not many laptops are equipped for this. I believe there is an express-card to SATA option though.
     
    Cheffy, Mar 5, 2007
    #13
  14. andrew.brandon

    andrew.brandon Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    61
    Messages:
    594
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I would suggest firewire instead of USB simply because its faster. thats if you r notebook has a firewire port.
     
    andrew.brandon, Mar 5, 2007
    #14
  15. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Greg, Mar 5, 2007
    #15