Extra hard drive for storing files

[RetaLiatE]

Hi,

I need a secondary hard drive to store all my music and video files that are slowing down my computer so much and leave the primary clean and use it for operating system and program support and nothing else. What should I consider an internal or external drive? I checked out a few threads here and am now looking at the 320GB 7200 RPM Seagate that goes for $98 on newegg.com. I would like to get some advice before I purchase anything. Thanks for the help.

[glc]

We need system specs to properly advise you.

[RetaLiatE]

Sorry about that.

Dell Dimension 9100
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00GHz HT (2 CPUs)
1GB System Memory
Radeon X300 video card

[glc]

Reviews I read indicate that internal expansion space for additional drives is very limited. With that in mind, I'd probably go external. I do highly recommend Seagate drives - get a standard IDE (PATA) drive, not SATA. I recommend this housing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817155601

An advantage to this housing is it comes with software for doing backups - you can store a compressed image of your main drive on it.

However, open up the case. If you can see a bay to mount another hard drive in, and an available SATA connector on the motherboard and a spare SATA power connector, then you can simply get a SATA drive - again, I highly recommend Seagate, and the 7200.10 series is the best.