how can I add a HDD to my Z1Entry TWR G6?

[Bigboy57]

My PC comes with only a 512GB SSD and I would like to install a 4TB Barracuda and 1TB Pipline HD disk from Seagate. How can I do that and what additional material do I need if necessary?

Thank you for your help (I'm not so keen with computers, so please keep it as simple as possible).

[SDH]

First, download and save your technical and service manual.  Drive positions and adding drives is detailed nicely in that:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06907024.pdf

Your workstation is quite new so there is not much info available via Google but luckily there is a good Youtube video you'll want to review,  HERE .

https://youtu.be/i6zR2uBWWQw

The 4 drive mounting vibration reducing screws he uses may be visible screwed inside your workstation once you get it open... HP usually provides at least 4 inside for later use.  They usually slide down and then back a bit to snap into locked position.  Those also can be found on eBay... search for "HP blue hard drive mounting screws" or leave out the blue and search that way too.  May be over-priced so search around.  There are HP black ones, harder to find, but those are M3 metric threaded for SSD/optical drive threading.  You need to blue ones to match the standard #6-32 UNC threads on hard drives, and note they use a "star" drive bit to screw them in:

Here is a link to get the latest QuickSpecs for your box:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c06718497.pdf

That states on page 2 that you have one 2.5" internal drive bay and two  3.5" internal drive bays.  The video shows adding one 3.5" drive to the top 3.5" bay... you'll have to find the rest via the manual linked above.  Note that there is a provided SATA drive power and SATA data cable already inside that he used.  Usually you'll find enough SATA power cables but you may have to buy added SATA data cables.

Watch that video a few times.... you may choose to have a shop do this work for you.  Note also that the drives generally come "raw" and that you'll likely need to learn how to do, first, partitioning and then, second, formatting of them before you can use them.  Drives over 2TB will need GPT partitioning rather than MBR during that first step.

Finally, there is a very high quality 3.5-to-2.5" HP drive adapter that can be bought off eBay so you could use a high capacity 2.5" SATA SSD drive in your 3.5" bays... the cost of the higher capacity 2.5" SATA SSD drives has come down quite a bit and the speed benefit of SSD over HDD may be worth looking at.  Here's a picture... it results in the exact same form factor as a 3.5" HDD, and those blue bumpers screw right in along the two sides front and back.  These are made by Foxconn for HP, very high quality, and for us here are under $10.00 USD with shipping included.  Search for 654540-001 or -002, or HP 2.5 to 3.5 drive adapter.  Note that 2.5" form factor have their four side screw holes threaded for short M3 metric screws that usually are included with each adapter:

You'll be able to see the pictures once a moderator releases them...

[Bigboy57]

Thank you, that did help me! I only need to get the mounting screws (they are not provided with the computer) and a cable to the HDD (supposebly power cable).