Thanks very much for the response.  As I understand your message, I should look for a SATA drive as the new, second hard drive.  And I'll need to buy a SATA data cable for it.  Does this SATA data cable plug into the motherboard straight away? 

graffen.

 

Yes, plug the cable into the motherboard's SATA port1

 

How to install a second HD in a D-8400  Ignore the part about removing the first hard drive from the upper bay and install it in the lower bay, this is for IDE HDs.

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimxpsg3/SM/parts.htm#wp1053780

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/techov.htm#wp1052739

After the hard drive is installed, enter the BIOS setup and check that the drive is set to "On/Auto" [enabled] and in order for windows to recognize the second hard drive, it must be patitioned and formatted.   These are generic instructions for installing an additional hard drive using Windows XP Disk Management, they are by Seagate, but apply to all brands.

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/install_xp_disk_mgmt.html

 

Bev.

so the 8400 doesn't come w/ an extra SATA HD connector ?

I thought it had 1 SATA cable w/ 2 connectors...

Thanks

rimland.

 

The D-8400 motherboard has four SATA ports.

 

You thought wrong about the SATA cable having two connectors, you can connect only one device to each cable. 

 

Bev.

I just installed a second Segate 250GB SATA drive into my Dimension 8400.  Smooth as silk.  I attached the green guide rails to the sides of the drive and it slid right in beneath my original HDD (a 160GB Segate SATA).  I purchased a SATA data cable at the local CompUSA store for $6.99.   The Dell PSU had a power connector for the drive right there next to the original drive.  I then formated the drive using the Seagate tools available on the Seagate website.  

 

I created two partitions, and used one 10MB partition to serve as the SWAP file for my computer for the performance boost of having it on a HDD other than the drive with the operating system installed on it, and then installed all of my games (filled up half the drive!).

 

I found that with both HDDs in that small cage, they were running a tad hot, so I installed a HDD cooling fan that screws onto the bottom of the drive. This worked like a charm.  I got the thin, Vantec version from NewEgg.com.  It has a blue heatsink and two fans that disperse the hot air from the HDD.

was this the HD and did you check w/ newegg for the cable ?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148065

was this the fan you got:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835888105

 

I was worried about heat. Several people here said no problem but better to be safe than sorry.

 

How is the fan powered ?

What is the model# of the fan ?

 

Thanks !

 

Randy

PSU = Power Supply Unit.  Dell's PSUs are proprietary, meaning that they only fit in Dell machines, and you also cannot buy another manufacturer's PSU and install it in your Dell (such as Antec TruePower PSUs).

 

And yes, that was the Vantec fan I bought and that was also the HDD I bought (both from NewEgg.com).  I bought the SATA data cable at a store, but you could also get it from NewEgg if you're placing an order. In fact, I think this Orion cable is the one I got; I liked the angled end, which fit into the HDD:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812104557

 

Looks like NewEgg is currently out, but this CoolMax one should also work:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812104659

 

You can only fit 1 of those Vantech fans on the HDD that is sitting in the upper slot position once they're installed, so I put the fan on my main HDD, with the operating system, which gets the most use.

 

Remember that the HDD is "OEM" (Original Equipment Manufacturer), so it will be a bare drive. It will not be in retail packaging, but will arrive wrapped in bubble-wrap and that's it.  Don't worry though, it's a brand new drive. And you will NOT find a retail Seagate 250GB SATA drive for only $107.00!!  It's a heck of a deal IMO.

 

one last question (I hope)...how is the fan powered ?

that is really great info...you saved me a ton of time

The fan connects to a 4 pin connector power plug (white) that powers many of the components in your case.  You should see an extra one (female end) just hanging there.  The nice thing about the fan is that it is a pass-through plug, meaning that once you plug it in, there is another female end attached to the fan, so you don't actually loose the connector, and could plug something else into it. You'll see what I mean when you get the fan.

 

Don't forget to enable the drive in your BIOS, as someone else mentioned above.  The motherboard will tell you what SATA plug you're putting it in (I believe there is Port 0, 1, 2 and 3; mine are plugged into 0 and 1). When the system starts up, hit the F2 key to enter the BIOS, highlight the HDDs, and switch the port to "On."

 

Good luck!  Post if you have more questions.

 

you have been very helpful