8MB/ 16MB Cache Hard Drive Speed

[stocky]

I'm looking for a ~250GB Hard Drive (S-ATA), what's the best going atm? I'm also interested in a silent solution, but am really looking for performance to (maybe) replace a single Raptor...

 

[K404]

I`d say the Samsung spinpoint 250GB model. Its S-ATAII with NCQ and totally silent! SATAII is backwards compatable with SATAI so you can use it now and it`ll be a good future-proofing buy

K

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

The Spinpoint SATAII with larger platter is up there with the best performers. It's a Raptor beater in many cases. I'm using them in my systems now, although Id love to try the 500GB drive out personally.

 

[K404]

Great minds think alike

 

[stocky]

Hmmm, I didn't know of this drive - I'll go and have a search

 

[nick25]

I also recommend the samsung spinpoints - I just bought 4 of the 250Gb ones.

 

[chris_ah1]

I also recommend the samsung spinpoints - I just bought 4 of the 250Gb ones.

mmmm. raid.

 

[stocky]

What about these 16MB Cache, surely that should make a difference?

 

[chris_ah1]

Cache should make a bit of a difference - it means that the system has to read and write less to the disk if the data it needs is in cache. Then again, as far as i recall a good drive with 8MB can easily compare with a drive with 16MB (8mb deskstars vs. 16MB maxtor maxline IIIS -the deskstar is faster).

 

[K404]

Some, but I dont know if i`d pay much extra for it. IMHO platter size is more important, and the 250GB Spinpoints and the Seagate 7200.8 have the highest density currently available AFAIK. They both have NCQ as well.

 

[chris_ah1]

Yes, platter density is definitely the most important - although sometimes a well-tuned drive at 100GB will beat one at 133GB (per platter).

Anyone know when the spinpoints will be up to 500GB? 3*500GB on raid 3. mmmm.

 

[stocky]

I think I'll just go for a 250GB Spinpoint. Cheers for the advice guys

 

[stocky]

Any idea if the 'Seagate Barracuda 7200.8' compares respectively?

I have heard it is a very good drive also?

Just I'll have to order one this weekend really

 

[chris_ah1]

I think the spinpoint is faster and just as quiet - but imo seagate have more than proved themselves as a quality drive maker as I still have very old drives of theirs.

what about 7200.9 drives? I thought they had changed now.

 

[maverik-sg1]

So the question remains unanswered AFAIK - is 16MB proven to be better than 8MB?

Mav

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

Yes most definitely. The 16mb platter is almost as fast as a raptor and a lot quieter!

 

[chris_ah1]

Yes most definitely. The 16mb platter is almost as fast as a raptor and a lot quieter!

Although - it depends on the drive - I recall that the maxline Plus III drives from maxtor were very disappointing with 16mb cache - but they are oldish drives now. The seagate and hitachi ones definitely kick ass though.

 

[Master_G]

Well the latest Storagereview testbed (version 4) has just been put up, and that says that the Hitachi Deskstar 7K400 is the best desktop drive atm, and that has a 8mb cache.

I would be inclined to think that the extra cache can make a difference in some situations, but doesnt give all that much of a boost generally, it needs to be combined with good firmware, platter density and spindle latency. I would guess diminishing marginal returns starts to kick in more heavily after 8mb so increased cache wont provide too much improvement.

I could be wrong though, im just guessing.

G

 

[chris_ah1]

Well the latest Storagereview testbed (version 4) has just been put up, and that says that the Hitachi Deskstar 7K400 is the best desktop drive atm, and that has a 8mb cache.

I would be inclined to think that the extra cache can make a difference in some situations, but doesnt give all that much of a boost generally, it needs to be combined with good firmware, platter density and spindle latency. I would guess diminishing marginal returns starts to kick in more heavily after 8mb so increased cache wont provide too much improvement.

I could be wrong though, im just guessing.

G

oh you economist you - but yes, the files accessed over and over are generally tiny - and whilst you might fill 8mb, when you fant fast access to large files (bf2 maps) then 16mb is too small - which is why those ramdrives are awesome - but they never really matured fully.

 

[M8tRiX]

F**king Fast Seagate Barracuda out.

http://anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2577

Seagate Barracuda ST3500641AS 500 GB Hard Drive

average burst rate of 248mbps mmm Santa i have another one for my list, that or the bank manager