Have a question about installing games to a external hard drive

[captmorgan72]

I have a really small hard drive where my operating system is installed on (80 Gigs) and I am running out of space for games. I want to get a external drive and install games on that. My question is can I install games to a drive that doesn't have the operating system on it? Forgive my noobness.

[Panther_Gunn]

In theory, it should be as simple as just changing the path when you start the install.  I've run games on a partitioned drive before (on the partition without the OS), so it should be similar.  Depending on the type of game, you may see some gameplay degradation due to a slower transfer bus, but you may not.  The only hang up you may come across would be installing any updates, patches, mods, etc for the game that assumes the default location.  Most allow you to choose the location, but there may be some that aren't as easy to work with.

[thalaw2]

Yes.  Then follow PG's advice

[Cardmaster]

If you're going to get an external harddrive to install games on, eSATA is the best type of connection to get. That being said, most computers these days don't come equipped with eSATA ports..
Second in speed to eSATA would be Firewire800, then USB 2.0, and then Firewire400.

Check what connections your computer has, and purchase accordingly. I recommend any of the MyBook Studio drives by Western Digital.

-CM

[AncientSpirit]

CM, I don't mean to threadjack ... but do you know the differences between the 2 MyBooks and the 2 MyPassports?   I want the thinner one (Passport) but don't know what I've giving up for the travel convenience.   Also, one of the passports has a docking station and the other doesn't.  What's the benefit of the docking station?    Thanks.

[Cardmaster]

The difference between the MyBook and the MyPassport is that the MyBook uses an external power supply (ie. needs to plug into a power outlet as well as the USB/eSATA/Firewire, while the MyPassport draws its power from USB only. Hard drives gain a certain amount of a speed-boost from using a power supply aside from USB power (also typically allowing larger hard drive space).

What this all adds up to is that the MyPassports are inherently more portable, but a touch slower and a little less spacious than the MyBooks. On the other hand, the MyPassport with the docking station (I imagine) is to allow for portability when it's needed and then also having the ability to plug-in to a powered dock for the boosted speed.

Additionally, most non-powered harddrives can barely operate when being used from a non-powered USB hub, so that's something good to keep in mind as well.

I hope this wasn't too terribly convoluted...?

[AncientSpirit]

Not at all.   It was really helpful.  Thanks!