How Many Hard Drives Can A PC Have? [EXPLAINED]

If your PC is running out of storage space and you don’t want to delete your files and install games, buying a new hard disk is probably a good idea. But how many hard drives can a PC have? Well, it depends on your motherboard, and there are several ways to determine how many SATA slots your PC can support.

Key Takeaways

You can check the number of SATA slots on your motherboard by opening your PC’s case, checking for the motherboard’s model, or checking the number of SATA slots from the BIOS.
Additionally, the PSU on your PC also needs to be considered when connecting a new hard drive because if the hard drive requires more supply power than available, you will not be able to connect that hard drive despite an additional SATA slot.
Moreover, your CPU’s case also comes into play, as it is the deciding factor for space requirements for components.

Checking The Motherboard’s Model

The easiest way to check how many hard drives a PC can have is to check the model of your motherboard. This is also a more efficient method, as you don’t need to shut down and open the casing. Most manufacturers have a list of specifications on their website for all their products, including motherboards.

Checking Hard Drives Inside A PC Case — PC Chassis Showing Internal Components Of A PC (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Here’s how to do it:

To check your motherboard model, press Windows + R > type in “msinfo32” > Enter.
This will open up the System Information menu, where you can check your motherboard’s model.
Then, use your browser to search for its specifications.
Finally, look for the number of SATA ports available on your motherboard.

Tip: You can also inspect the image of the motherboard online to see how many SATA ports there are.

Opening The Case

If you have a prebuilt PC or cannot check the specifications of your motherboard for some reason, you might need to open up your PC case. You can check the number of slots on your motherboard by opening the case and looking for the SATA ports. SATA ports are L-shaped slots on your motherboard placed next to each other.

Checking BIOS

If you don’t want to open the PC case, you can check the BIOS for the number of hard drives your PC can support. BIOS is an internal program that allows your CPU to boot the operating system and get your computer running after it is powered on. It also has all the information regarding the hardware attached to your PC, including hard disk drives.

Here’s how you can do it:

To check the number of hard drives on your PC using BIOS, restart the computer.
Before the computer booting, enter the BIOS setup on your computer.
Go to the hard disk section and find the number of supported hard drives.

The interface will differ from PC to PC, but they will allow you to check the number of SATA ports available on your PC.

WARNING: It is also important to note that tinkering with BIOS settings can lead to unforeseen problems, so when exiting from BIOS, make sure there aren’t any changes made in the settings.

Factors That Affect How Many HDDs You Can Have

So, you know how to check the number of hard drives your computer can support, but some factors need to be checked before installing a new hard drive on a computer.

Motherboard

Your motherboard’s available SATA ports to determine the number of hard drives you can install. We recommend verifying your motherboard’s specifications before adding more hard drives. If all the motherboard ports are occupied, upgrade existing hard drives or get a new one with additional slots. An external hard drive is also an option.

PSU

To add a new hard drive to your PC, ensure it meets the power requirements. Modern hard drives typically use less than 10 W of power from your PSU, so it’s usually compatible. However, if your PC is already close to the PSU’s power limit, we suggest to avoid adding more components. Also, consider cable management if you need separate power connectors.

Case

We also recommend ensuring you have sufficient space inside your PC case for adding more hard disks. Most ATX cases accommodate at least four hard drives in dedicated compartments. Smaller mini ITX builds may face space constraints, potentially causing damage when hard drives are stacked too closely together. Lack of clearance can lead to vibration issues affecting drive performance. If space is limited, consider alternatives to adding another hard drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hard drives can I install on my PC?

It depends on the number of slots on your motherboard.

How can I find the number of SATA slots on my motherboard?

You can check the motherboard physically by opening the CPU’s case, reading the motherboard’s manual, or checking the slots from BIOS.

What are some alternatives for a hard drive?

You can use external SSDs, cloud storage, and flash drives as an alternative.

More Guides On Hard Drives/SSDs:

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Abdul Hadi

[How To’s & Guides Editor]

Haddi has been in the Gaming and tech Space for over 10 Years Now; he has worked on notable websites like eXputer, Gamepur, Gear Siege, Gearnuke, and plenty more. He is an expert at Games & PC Hardware; you can expect him to solve any problem. People often joke, that if there is any problem anyone can solve, Haddi can solve it faster. Currently, Haddi writes and manages a Team of Experts at Tech4Gamers.

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