Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kprrok]

Hey all, I've got a bit of dilemma to face here, and figured I would elicit your imput.

I have decided I need another new hard drive to add to my 160GB original drive. I've looked at all the different sizes (originally looking for about 400 - 500 GB), and I've decided to get a 250GB for now, and upgrade again later when I need it. I've got at least 4 more open slots in my computer, so no problems there.

So the dilemma? I've narrowed it down to a couple of options.

1.) Maxtor SATA 250GB (7200RPM/16MB) - 80.000
2.) WD SATA 320GB (7200RPM//8MB) - 88.000

So the question is, what's more important? Does the double buffer size make it that much faster, or should I go for the 70GB extra and spend an extra 8.000 for it?

I should point out that I don't do any heavy gaming or anything. I play a bit of Allied Assault, and some other games several years old. Mostly what I do is download some old TV shows which are a bit too big for my original. Also, I'm thinking of buying the interal drive and an external case and making it a USB drive. Will the increased buffer help in that set-up?

I'm not looking to buy for about 2 weeks, so take your time and give me the good info!

Cheers all and thanks for the input.

KPRROK

EDITED: Corrected the SD to WD for Western Digital

[Demophobe]

What is an "SD" drive? Seagate?

Anyhow...the larger buffer is attractive. That drive has an average 9.3ms seek time, so it's about average, if not a bit slow. Thus, the larger buffer?

If you mean "WD" (Western Digital), not "SD", the seek time on that drive is about 8.9ms, a bit faster.

Now, the WD drive does not support NCQ (native command queuing), making it's performance pretty much what an IDE UATA drive will be. The Maxtor does support NCQ, and providing you have the right support for it (like Intel's ICH6R [Northbridge- depends on your mainboard{please post that as well}]), it will move a bit faster than the WD. With SATA, NCQ is fairly important.

All in all, in regards to seek times, you probably won't notice a huge difference, except that the NCQ will reduce overall movement of the heads, which will equal more speed. If you are burning a lot of CDs/DVDs, you may like the 16MB buffer to avoid any buffer underruns, but then again, most burning software 'has' that feature as well.

Nothing conclusive for you mate, just some facts.

[jazblanc77]

Screw anything by Maxtor or WD and get something from the Saegate Barracuda line of NCQ drives. You could even go with one of their new DB35 drives which have a capacity of up to 750gb.

[kprrok]

I checked Belarc, and it tells me that the mainboard is a Dell 0M3918 (Dimension 4700).

jaz, thanks for the suggestion, but those drives seem like a bit more than I need. I'm trying to keep this under a budget of 100.000.

KPRROK

[Demophobe]

Yeah..the mainboard uses the Intel 915G chipset, which has the ICH6R Southbridge (my mistake earlier), which indeed supports NCQ.

No real question then, eh? Go with the Maxtor.

[kprrok]

Thanks for the info. Now what type of difference would be had if I were to use an external USB enclosure instead of putting it inside the box?

KPRROK

[Demophobe]

Well, all speed will be capped at USB 2.0 levels; that goes without saying. As for NCQ, the USB host controller is found in the southbridge, which is also where the support for NCQ is located. If NCQ works with a USB drive, I have no idea. It seems likely that it would....

[Demophobe]

Either way, get the Maxtor. It's faster overall as well and if you do put it inside the system, it's a far superior drive.

[cubanlord]

Personally, I don't think you'll be running any so hungry that you'll actually see the difference in speed in your harddrive. I have a preference towards WD.

[conor]

I've got a Seagate as a slave drive a couple years ago and I'm still really happy with it.

[cubanlord]

hey kp. I just bought this one:

Harddrive - http://www.compuzone.co.kr/product/product_detail.htm?ProductNo=35785&BigDivNo=1&MediumDivNo=85&DivNo=543

It's a great price and it's the best in regards to speed and tech.. Also, if you look at it, the size isn't too shabby either.

[kprrok]

[cubanlord]

[kprrok]

[cubanlord]