Is my SATA Hard drive configured correctly - Sandra test

[client_9]

Hi,
I'm not sure I optimized my Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 Hard Drive correctly in BIOS.

Specs from NewEgg:
Barracuda 7200.11
Model ST3500320AS
Performance Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s (What does "3.0Gb/s" mean?)
Capacity 500G
RPM 7200 RPM
Cache 32MB
Average Latency 4.16ms

I have Sandra software to test it. But don't know how to proceed.

_or_

What do i look for in the Device Manager?

thanks!

 

[nick2253]

As far as modern computers go, there really isn't anything you can do to "optimize" the performance is the BIOS. The BIOS of a computer will automatically check and configure everything as far as a single hard drive is concerned.

3Gb/s means that the HDD internal controller supports transferring data at 3 gigabits per second, hence the 3Gb/s. However, modern hard drives are actually unable to read or write at the full 3Gb/s speed. You need solid state drives to see these kind of speeds. However, that is a bit off topic.

There are, however, a few things that can be "optimized" in the operating system. Make sure that you have the most up-to-date controller card drivers. Usually, the hard drive is attached directly to the motherboard, so these drivers are from your motherboard manufacturer.

Other than that, the best way to "optimize" a hard drive is to make sure that you keep it consistently defragmented, and don't let it fill up more that 85% (or else NTFS has issues maintaining any kind of performance)

Good luck,
Nick


PS: I keep saying "optimize" in quotes because there really is no way to optimize a hard drive in the way that I'm thinking your thinking. Hard drives are pretty simple devices as far as the computer is concerned, and excessive tweaking really doesn't go anywhere.