Fastest Hard Drive...

[dangfx]

hello,

I am looking for the fastest small non-scsi hard drive. Really, it can be like in the 30gb range, and it will be a single (non-raided) drive.

Does anyone have any suggestionss?

thanks!

 

[Lazn_Work]

36GB Raptor.. actually the 74GB Raptor is faster, but you did say small.
These are SATA though, not IDE.

==>Lazn

 

[DougLite]

The 36GB Raptor is an overpriced waste of money. A 200GB Mator DM10 w/ 16MB buffer will outperform it for less $$. The 73GB Raptor is the fastest ATA drive money can buy, the 200GB DM10 16MB is the fastest drive you can get for less than $100.

 

[dangfx]

yeah, i was not really going to consider the 36gig raptor -- there must be things that are newer that you can get for less money with more speed.


I was thinking about the DiamondMax 10, but isnt there anything smaller but faster? the cheapest DM10 with SATA is still about $105, which is kinda pricey, i think....

 

[drizzt81]

there must be things that are newer that you can get for less money with more speed.

You'd think, but frankly there are not. The WD Raptor series is still the only 10K rpm line of SATA drives. There may be newer drives with higher data density and more cache, but the bottom line is that they are still 7200rpm and therefor will exhibit longer latencies for data not in the cache.

Maybe it's me, but I feel that the storage sector has been somewhat boring over the past two years. No major slides in terms of price/ capacity. I paid ~$100 for my 160GB Samsungs back in Spring '04 and they are now at $95...

 

[zandor]

Aside from stuff you might find on eBay, the fastest thing I've seen under $100 was the pair of 36GB Seagate Cheetah 15k.3 refurbs I picked up for $90 ea last fall. Of course, those are SCSI. If you want a top of its class drive speed-wise, getting anything for under about $100 is going to be tough unless you go used/refurb.
The fastest 7200rpm drives are going to be >100GB models (and probably more like 200+), since smaller drives have less dense platters and lower transfer rates. In the 10,000 rpm range there are always the Raptors, but there you've already cracked $100 just for the 36GB.

 

[superkdogg]

If you want a top of its class drive speed-wise, getting anything for under about $100 is going to be tough unless you go used/refurb.
The fastest 7200rpm drives are going to be >100GB models (and probably more like 200+), since smaller drives have less dense platters and lower transfer rates.

The latency is tied to rotational speed and cache->Raptor, DMaxc 10.
The Xfer rates are tied to platter density & rotation speed->Bigger is better.

Basically there is not much that will give you both for low $ amount and since the huge drives also perform well and give you a better size/performance ratio they are as good as anything. For my $100 I'd consider striping a couple of the 120-160 GB drives that have been going on huge rebate sales lately. Although they are rebates, so ymmv.

 

[pduan87]

The 36GB Raptor is an overpriced waste of money. A 200GB Mator DM10 w/ 16MB buffer will outperform it for less $$. The 73GB Raptor is the fastest ATA drive money can buy, the 200GB DM10 16MB is the fastest drive you can get for less than $100.

Is the 200GB DM10 16MB SATA model number:

6L200S0?

 

[DougLite]

The Answer is in ANSWERS, this [thread=921544]section[/thread[

Maxtor
xayb0

xa = drive family
- 6Y = DiamondMax(DM) Plus 9
- 6B = DM10
- 6L = DM10 RoHS compliant version
- 7B = MaxLine(ML)III
- 7L = MLIII RoHS compliant
- 4R = DM16
- 2F = Fireball 3
- 6E = DM Plus 8
- 5A = ML II
- 7Y = ML Plus II
y = the capacity of the disk, in gigabytes. Drives less than 100GB will have a leading zero (80GB is denoted as 080, etc)
b = buffer size and interface
- J = 2MB PATA with ball-bearing motor
- L = 2MB PATA with fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) motor
- P = 8MB PATA
- R = 16MB PATA
- M = 8MB SATA
- S = 16MB SATA

As you see above, 6L means it is indeed a RoHS compliant DiamondMax 10, 200 for 200GB, and S for a SATA drive with a 16MB buffer. RoHS compiant just means that the drive won't give you cancer or anything if you are exposed to its innards. Doesn't affect performance a lick. You may also see 6B200S0 units, which the only difference there is they are not RoHS compliant - their hazardous substance content has not been reduced.