1TB Solution

[Hockeyguyinoc]

Sadly we are using a Dell computer with XP as a server at work. I'm looking for a drive that is fast and reliable. I'm thinking either one of these two drives should be good. Running 10 users at a time on average.

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
or
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB

Any preference or another drive? We only use about 100gigs of storage so it is a bit overkill having 1TB. But the price at $100 isn't bad.

 

[MRFS]

http://www.supremelaw.org/systems/io.tests/platter.transfer.crossover.graphs.2.png


The switch to Perpendicular Magnetic Recording ("PMR") has permitted much higher recording densities;
and, this also permits tracks to be much closer together. This means that the performance of
late-model HDDs with PMR remains higher than the same measure using 10,000 rpm Raptors
that do NOT use PMR.

If you have a spare PCI-Express slot, this SATA/6G expansion card is a good, cost-effective idea:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131610&Tpk=N82E16813131610

... when cabled to this SATA/6G HDD from Western Digital:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533&Tpk=N82E16822136533


Format the first partition at 100 GB, to enable "short-strokes" for all of your users;
then, the remaining space can be partitioned as you like e.g. for archival storage,
drive images of C: etc.


WD has also announced 6G Caviar Blue HDDs, but Newegg doesn't stock them yet.


Also, when considering WD's HDDs, compute cost per warranty year:
the premium for the 5-year warranties comes out ahead on this measure.
And, after year 3, you'll be very glad you have a 5-year warranty if
a drive with the longer warranty should fail.


MRFS

 

[sminlal]

If you have a spare PCI-Express slot, this SATA/6G expansion card is a good, cost-effective idea

If the OP doesn't have spare SATA ports then the expansion card is a fine idea. But if he has existing slots then there's absolutely no need for it. None of the consumer hard drives available today have sustained transfer rates that exceed even 1.5Gbit/sec SATA. There are only a few very high-end SSDs which manage to exceed 3Gbit/sec SATA and would benefit from upgrading to a 6Gbit/sec port.

 

[MRFS]

Yes, I understand the gap that has emerged between the SATA/6G standard
and the raw data rate directly under the read/write heads of rotating platters:

http://www.supremelaw.org/systems/superspeed/RamDiskPlus.Review.htm


NEVERTHELESS, because I don't always run with the crowd,
after doing this work for 40 years, we wired 2 of those SATA/6G HDDs
to that ASUS card, and configured an XP software RAID
(2TB total unformatted).

The combination of 2 x 64MB caches produces an effective
HDD cache of 128 MB in RAID 0, which is not too shabby; and,
the higher transfer speed comes in handy whenever
files are found in that combined cache, as shown in
this empirical measurement:

http://www.supremelaw.org/systems/io.tests/ASUS.PCIE.GEN2.SATA6G.96MB.read.2xHDD6G.XP.RAID0.bmp


The performance is FABULOUS!! It even FEELS faster too


MRFS

 

[Hockeyguyinoc]

I have extra SATA ports. I am shooting for 1 drive not two. Just looking for the best single drive for 1 SATA port no raid needed and 500gb-1tb is fine since I don't see us going past 250gb in the next 5 years unless things explode work wise.

I also heard the new Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB wasn't as fast as the WD1001FALS...if I am wrong please correct me.

 

[foscooter]

Some really like the Samsung Spinpoint, even choosen in a THG System Build Marathon lately!

I like the Seagate 7200.12, either 500GB for ~$50.00, or 1TB for ~$60.00, link.

Even if you don't think you need the space, I won't go below 500GB. Cost per GB for smaller drives are higher, and only ~$2-5 less.

 

[fazers_on_stun]

IIRC Tigerdirect.com had 1 TB drives on sale for $39 apiece recently. Didn't pay much attention as to brand or type however, but might be worth a look.

 

[Hockeyguyinoc]

foscooter-yeah I wouldn't go under 500gb just in case we go up in amount of storage. Just looking for the best performance. I think the computer has a 125gb 5400 rpm drive now so anything would be an upgrade. 1tb price is fine I just wanted something fast and reliable. I do like the 5 year warranty on the black drives. I use the 640gb caviar black on my home rig. So I'm thinking about doing the same here but just doing the 1tb drive as it is about the same price.

 

[HansVonOhain]

Go with a spinpoint. Very cool running HDD. Should last you a while.

I am using a 500GB spinpoint F3 right now and I love it. But I am waiting for 160GB intel drive that is in mail.