How to install a T3 HDD

[peteru]

Installing a HDD in the T3 is not very difficult, but it is not as simple as it is in most PCs. Just because you have experience building PCs does not mean that you will be able to do a good job installing a HDD in the T3. Hopefully this guide will help you, but if in doubt, get a properly qualified professional to do the job.

Starting with a bare-bones T3:

• Remove two side screws on case and three screws on rear of case.
  Put all five screws in one pile - these should be identical.
• Remove case cover.
• Remove two rear screws holding the HDD caddy
  Put these on a different pile - these may be different to the other case screws.
• Remove two front screws holding the HDD caddy
  Put these on yet another pile - these may be different to all the other screws.
• Remove the HDD caddy.
• Disconnect the power cable from the motherboard, twist it over so it routes around the edge of the power supply and folds down flat under where the HDD will be mounted, then reconnect the power cable to the motherboard.
• Mount the HDD in the caddy as far towards the rear as possible, with the SATA connector facing the front panel.
• Reinstall the HDD caddy with the drive in it's place, using the correct screws set aside earlier. Pay attention to the routing of the power cable - it should be possible to route it between the two support pillars of the HDD caddy, without obscuring the mounting screws and without touching the front panel.
• Take the combined SATA/power cable and gently bend the cables near the connector upwards.
• Slide the SATA cable connector between the front panel and the HDD.
• Align the SATA cable connector with the HDD and push the connector into place.
• Tuck the SATA and power cables under the plastic tab that holds the case cover and front panel in place and route the power and SATA connectors to their destinations.
• Firmly secure the power and SATA connectors to their sockets, then neatly route the cables in the available space. Ensure that the cables do not touch the screws on the front panel behind where the touch sensitive buttons reside.
• Replace the cover.
• Job done.

The next step will probably be formatting the HDD. You can do this by going to SETUP/Storage/Format hard disk. This may take up to 30 minutes with firmware versions before 20140513, but newer version should take under a minute.

Here are a few pictures of what it looks like when you are done.

[smiddlem]

IS there a table anywhere that details compatible HDD types? IS there a maximum size HDD that can be installed?

[tezza007]

There's been many different HDDs used. Some have gone specifically for AV HDD's while others, like me are just using cheap ones. They sell them with up to 4TB HDD's

[peteru]

IS there a maximum size HDD that can be installed?

Tested and known to work: Internal SATA - 4TB, NFS - 16TB

Theoretical: Internal SATA - hundreds of thousands of TB

Practical: Internal SATA - depends on how much RAM a file system requires to manage it's metadata. The T3 uses ext4 by default, so you should be good to about 16TB, but you may need to have a swap partition if you ever need to fsck a 16TB file system.

I suspect that the T3 should work with the new 5TB and 6TB drives that are now available, but I don't have one (or more) to test with. Anyway, you probably don't want to put a hot and noisy 7200RPM 6TB drive in your T3.

[NoDowt]

I've got a Seagate Video 2TB disk in mine. Wasn't much more than the standard desktop 2TB drive & supposedly has optimised firmware for PVR/DVR usage.

Also, I didn't bother removing the disk caddy to mount the drive, could do it all no worries while it was in the chassis still. Screws were fiddly, but nothing a bit of blutack on the front of the screwdriver can't fix

[gra]

i have used Western Digital AV drives in my DP-P1 and T3
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=170
they run quiet and cool

[IGS71]

The info in this thread is very usual so thanks for it! One newbie question, the HDD I can install in my barebone T3 is a 3.5 inch, SATA III?

[NoDowt]

Yup, full 'desktop' sized harddisk fits in there.

A laptop/2.5inch disk could be used too.

[prl]

... A laptop/2.5inch disk could be used too.

Last time he posted about it, it was what peteru used. IIRC he only screws the HDD to the carrier on one side, but I believe adapters exist.

[peteru]

... A laptop/2.5inch disk could be used too.

Last time he posted about it, it was what peteru used. IIRC he only screws the HDD to the carrier on one side, but I believe adapters exist.

I've got both 3.5" and 2.5" configs. I did do a "dodgy" 2.5" install, by using only 2 screws, but that was because I did not have an adapter handy. Since then I stopped at a convenient computer store and handed over $4 for a metal bracket with screws that allows me to properly mount a 2.5" drive in the 3.5" bracket.

[mrcell]

Thanks for this thread. I have a barebones T3 on the way and this will be a tremendous reference for installing the disk. The next time someone has the cover off a T3 would it be possible to take a photo of how the cabling for a properly installed disk should be routed? This would make a good addition to support the How To.

[prl]

The supplied cable is short enough to severely limit where it can be routed. The key thing is peteru's suggestion that the cable is kept away from the screw heads for the touch buttons.

[gra]

Thanks Peter

Those pictures show incorrect/suboptimal routing of the power cables. This configuration exposes the cables to the heat from the power supply and reduces heat dissipation from the components near the front of the SMPS.

good spotting
i have fixed the error of my ways
this should fit the bill now

and i located your previous post that does indeed show how its done
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=7602&p=104470#p104483

[peteru]

Those pictures show incorrect/suboptimal routing of the power cables. This configuration exposes the cables to the heat from the power supply and reduces heat dissipation from the components near the front of the SMPS.

[diesel]

What's the optimal route Peteru?

[peteru]

The pictures I was commenting on have been replaced and the post has been edited. The new pictures show a better arrangement.

See my first post in this thread for the full instructions and pictures.

[wls]

Have ordered a T3 and WD Green 2TB Hard drive and will be doing the installation of the hard drive on the computer desk in front of the monitor with the pictures showing


Thanks for the original post

[dranrabekim]

I very recently purchased a Bare Bones T3 and have now installed a 120GB SSD which I already had.

It is a 2.5" SSD fitted to a 3.5" bracket and due to its small size I found it worked better to mount it so that the connectors were pointing towards the back of the T3. The Data cable is looped into the bracket so doesn't go over the black heatsink and the power cable rests over the top of the SSD. This way there is no possibility of the cables touching the front panel where the touch sensitive stuff is apparently. Hope that helps someone. Cheers

[futzle]

Does a similar guide exist for the T2?

Here's where I've already looked and not found anything relevant:
- The user manual PDF.
- The forum.
- A Google search for "Beyonwiz T2 hard disk installation" and similar.
So far all I know is that I need to supply a 2.5" SATA drive.

My barebones T2 is still in transit so perhaps all will be answered when I open the box.

I've assembled computers and installed a drive in my barebones T3 so I'm not concerned about whether I can do it; I am more interested in ensuring I have all the necessary bits before I crack open the case.

[prl]

... I am more interested in ensuring I have all the necessary bits before I crack open the case.

There should be an appropriate SATA cable and HDD mount screws included with the barebones T2. If there isn't a cable, I can open up my T2 and post the cable length (it's a "Y" power data cable, with a combined connector on the HDD end and separate SATA power and data connectors on the mainboard end. If there aren't any suitable HDD mount screws, you'll need to find your own. Any standard HDD mount screws should do. The HDD carrier is just sheet metal.

[chalkiau]

I hope I'm not highjacking the thread but I have a simple question. I'm just installing the harddrive into my new barebones T4. The sata connector that came with the T4 has a flat red cable with a black connector which I have attached to the circuit board. It also has a set of 4 wires(2 black 1 red 1 brown) with a square white plastic connector that I presume atteches to the power supply. But I just can't see where it goes. Can anyone help?
Attached is a photo

[IanSav]

Hi Chalkiau,

It is on the bottom right hand side of the mainboard as viewed from your photo. It is hidden by the bottom left of the hard disk mounting frame.

Regards,
Ian.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Check here for T4 HDD install screenshots - viewtopic.php?f=50&t=9141#p122191

[chalkiau]

Thankyou very much. I have found it. I would be embarrassed if I told you how long I had originally looked for it. Every angle, every perspective, again and again. I was convinced I was sent the wrong part. Tomorrow I will set it up.