Sata version on Envy Te01-0003na

[EFCBluePeter]

Hi, my desktop has a 2tb hdd. I'm looking to add a second drive. - 2tb ssd. At a later stage I'll replace the hdd with an ssd.

Can you help with the following please?

1. Which version of sata is on the motherboard. Sata 2 or 3?

2. I believe I'm limited to 2tb drives, why is this?  Could I put in a larger ssd? If so I'd fit only for one ssd.

3. When I opened the case I could see 2 sata connections on the motherboard, one white, one blue, what's the difference?

4. I could see the power cable with a spare connector, what type of sata data cable do I need?

Any advice on doing the upgrade, would also be great.

Thanks and best wishes

Peter

[TheOldMan]

1. From the info I found on the Rother motherboard, it has a H370 chipset, so that means it is PCI Express Revision 3.0.

2. the older motherboards - some are limited on the size hard drive but the main limit to 2TB is because of the Windows OS and the way the hard drive is formatted.  If the size is larger than 2TB it either has to be partitioned or formatted with GPT instead of MBR - you may need to do some research to see what you decide.  This limit is only for the boot drive.  A data drive can be added that goes beyond the 2TB limit.

3. There are 3 SATA connections, actually.  The dark blue one is SATA0 - which is where the boot drive should be connected, if possible.  The white one is SATA1 and the light blue is SATA2

4. The SATA power connections come from the power supply.  The SATA data connections are the ones discussed above in part 3  there should also be a connection on the drive that looks similar to the motherboard connections - use an appropriate cable matching those connections.

5. Since you wish to use a SSD, it needs to be a SATA SSD and, if you are not using any/all of the SATA connections discussed, you can just and a drive and leave the existing boot drive in place.  Then you can go bigger than the 2TB limit.

I hope I have answered your questions, but feel free to ask more, you there is more info required.

[EFCBluePeter]

Thank you Sir, that's extremely helpful. I have some follow up questions, if I may?

In 5.you said "you can just add(?) a drive and leave the existing boot drive in place.  Then you can go bigger than the 2TB limit."

 On my pc, the boot drive is a 256gb ssd which I intend to continue using as the boot drive. I have a 2tb hdd. So if I just add a ssd to the blue motherboard connector (sata2) then it wouldn't suffer the 2tb limit?

For my education, in 1. you said that the rother motherboard was  PCI Express Revision 3.0. - does this also mean it supports sata3?

Many thanks

Peter

[TheOldMan · Accepted solution]

The SATA ports are SATA 6.0 Gb/s, which is typically SATA III/SATA3.

For the 2TB limit.  The Blue SATA port will work for a larger than 2TB drive can be used but it has to be formatted GPT or partitioned for several added partitions if using MBR.  Windows 10 or Windows 11 should be able to handle that.

[EFCBluePeter]

Thank you so much for your response and detailed explanation, very helpful and answered my questions.

Peter

[TheOldMan]

You are welcome.  So glad to help.