Is SATA 6 GB/s ready for prime time?

[Meganano]

I'm building a new system based on Intel Core I5-2500K and the Asus P8P67 Pro MB.
I purchased a Western Digital WD10EALX hard drive that was on sale. This drive is rated SATA 6.0 MB/s. However I've since rad some rather negative reviews. On the other hand I've heard very good things about the Samsung Spinpoint F3 HS103SJ which is rated 3.0 GB/s. I'm considering exchanging the WD for the Samsung.

Are the 6.0 GB/s rated drives really faster, or is this a technology that isn't there yet?

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

SATA 3.0 (6 Gbits) is a stable technology is faster than the older SATA 2.0 standard. While you may find a product that isn’t good overall there are no problems with the technology. I have a Western Digital SATA 3 drive on my work system here and I have had no problems at all.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[selas]

So SATA 6.0 GB/s better in reality than SATA 3.0 GB/s ?
Can a SATA 6.0 work twice as fast as a 3.0?

 

[batuchka]

Pointless if you are talking traditional mechanical hdds - awesome for SATA 6GB/s SSDs

 

[Meganano]

Pointless if you are talking traditional mechanical hdds - awesome for SATA 6GB/s SSDs

Are 6GB/s hdds only manufactured for compatibility with MBs lacking the older 3GB/s ports?

 

[Silvune]

Are 6GB/s hdds only manufactured for compatibility with MBs lacking the older 3GB/s ports?

No, because the respective SATA specs are backwards compatible; you can plug a SATA 6Gbps cable into a SATA 3Gbps port and just get SATA 3Gbps speeds, so that is not the reason companies are producing harddrives with the 6Gbps interface. Mostly I think it is a marketing/selling point, which the educated don't fall for.

 

[Meganano]

No, because the respective SATA specs are backwards compatible; you can plug a SATA 6Gbps cable into a SATA 3Gbps port and just get SATA 3Gbps speeds, so that is not the reason companies are producing harddrives with the 6Gbps interface. Mostly I think it is a marketing/selling point, which the educated don't fall for.

That's the first theory I've heard that makes any sense.

Can we get some input from somebody in the hd industry?

 

[batuchka]

You can fish reviews of SATA 6GB/s hdd and ssds