VertexShader
n00b
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Does the reliability of 1 2-platter HD equal that of 2 1-platter HD's? If not, why? Thanks.
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Platter reliability
- Thread starter VertexShader
- Start date
It's somewhat of an unexact science. Hard disks can fail for a variety of reasons, but an advantage that two disks would have over one is that if one disk fails, then there is still another operating disk (assuming you're not doing any kind of RAID0 setup) that still contains data.
The drawback with two disks is that there is more load upon the PSU, more physical space, higher price (two 250GBs is not cheaper than one 500GB) and more heat generated.
Personally, I would rather get one two-platter HDD (I'm assuming we're talking about the WD6400AAKS drive that is so popular nowadays) than two one-platter 320GB WD3200AAKS drives, since it would have a lower price and would only take up one slot.
The drawback with two disks is that there is more load upon the PSU, more physical space, higher price (two 250GBs is not cheaper than one 500GB) and more heat generated.
Personally, I would rather get one two-platter HDD (I'm assuming we're talking about the WD6400AAKS drive that is so popular nowadays) than two one-platter 320GB WD3200AAKS drives, since it would have a lower price and would only take up one slot.
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Also with a single drive you have less of a chance of failure, with each drive you add you add another point of failure.
Unless you look at it from this perspective...if you lose your one drive, you've lost all your data.
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Unless you look at it from this perspective...if you lose your one drive, you've lost all your data.
never said you didnt...but if you lose 1 drive in a raid0 you still lose all your data...and your chances of failure are increased with any raid setup no matter how you slice it. The more disk you add the more places there are to break.
Did the OP mention RAID 0? Not to mention that RAID 1 or 5 is being used, adding more drives ends up helping, doesn't it? At least having more than one drive does.
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To be exact he didnt mention raid at all
So lets says hes just running 2 single drives... i would say 1 drive with 2 platters is better than 2 drives with 1 platter...thats what the OP is asking
with 1 drive there is less that can go wrong
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yea but if for instance you have a "platter fail" you will probably lose everything on the drive.
Assuming you are talking about physical failures, there are several ways a hard drive can fail. Failures involving the heads/platters and motor are in the minority, most physical failures occur in the electronics so if you are doubling the electronics you are significantly increasing the likelihood of that type of failure.
That said, when there is a failure involving heads/platters that forces you to open the thing single-platter drives are far easier to work with. But you want to avoid going there in the first place.
If you are trying to estimate a drive's reliability based on the number of platters you are probably better off putting that energy into finding one that is quiet (if it's for a desktop), and has a decent warranty. Focus on handling it carefully when moving it around (static especially). And know it can fail someday and try to do backups (I know, easier said that done) so if and when it does fail you just send it in for warranty replacement and not care.
That said, when there is a failure involving heads/platters that forces you to open the thing single-platter drives are far easier to work with. But you want to avoid going there in the first place.
If you are trying to estimate a drive's reliability based on the number of platters you are probably better off putting that energy into finding one that is quiet (if it's for a desktop), and has a decent warranty. Focus on handling it carefully when moving it around (static especially). And know it can fail someday and try to do backups (I know, easier said that done) so if and when it does fail you just send it in for warranty replacement and not care.