Fastest HDD for $50

[Apk07]

As long as the size is 250 or higher, whats the fastest hard drive for -around- $50?
I'm so confused with this rainbow of color-themed WD's, different cache sizes, and I haven't even ventured into Seagate's yet...

I'm building myself a gaming computer, and my 6 year old old tiny HDD isn't cutting it anymore

 

[tecmo34]

I would recommend getting either the Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB or Seagate 7200.12 500GB hard drives. These hard drives can be found for around $50.

 

[Apk07]

Also I don't believe my new mobo (ASUS P5N-D) supports Sata II, which makes that seagate looks pretty good http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-7200RPM-Internal-ST3500418AS-Bare/dp/B001VKYA5E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1292469390&sr=8-2

Edit: Now I'm confused, I'm getting mixed answers as to whether it supports Sata II or not

 

[foscooter]

That drive is SATA! If your mobo only had PATA/EIDE, GOOD LUCK!

You may not even be able to install a HDD larger than 137GB. The motherboard or OS may not (probably won't) support the 48-bit LBA of larger drives.

A six year old system? You need more than a HDD!

It appears as if the mobo does support SATA II, so drive size won't be a limit. Go with what tecmo34 said: Samsung SpinPont F3 or Seagate 7200.12, SATA II, 500GB.

 

[Apk07]

Where's it say it supports SATA II? I'm looking at the specs on their site http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=yQYfAtkxxZMjR79G&templete=2

I think you missed where I said I'm building a new PC and I'm looking for a HDD for that
I'd cry if I was still rockin' PATA

 

[kbits]

The Spinpoint F4 is also quite fast, and cheap:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244&cm_re=spinpoint_f4-_-22-152-244-_-Product

 

[foscooter]

Where's it say it supports SATA II? I'm looking at the specs on their site http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=yQYfAtkxxZMjR79G&templete=2

I think you missed where I said I'm building a new PC and I'm looking for a HDD for that
I'd cry if I was still rockin' PATA

On that webpage, under the specification tab, under the storage information, is says:

Southbridge
1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66/33
4 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports NVIDIA MediaShield™ RAID: Support RAID 0,1,0+1,5,JBOD span cross Serial ATA drives

And you're building a NEW PC with that mobo? Ok, new to you.

Anyways, go with what tecmo said.....