Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ES, 750 GB: The 24/7 Monster
No benchmark test is worth the testing if the top performer doesn't participate. Therefore, Seagate's 750 GB Barracuda 7200.10 just had to be on our list - after all, it is still the largest hard drive available. For this test, we received the Barracuda 7200.10 ES, a model that was designed for continuous operation.
Unlike Hitachi's DeskStar E7K500, the ES comes with a five-year warranty. The performance results are also not much different than those of the regular model: the ES receives good ratings in the PCMark05 application benchmark. Transfer rates of 76 MB/s and an access time of 13.5 ms are quite alright as well.
Since the 750 GB hard drive contains four platters, it tends to get a little warmer than other models. We measured up to 51°C (124°F) surface temperature and therefore recommend always cooling down the drive with proper airflow.
For the regular 750 GB Barracuda 7200.10 you'll need to invest about $460, while the cost is at least $525 if you want to have the ES. In return, you will get the largest hard drive made so far, which should be sufficient to keep you satisfied for quite a while.
