HDD ADVICE

Gone_Away · June 17, 2003, 03:09:43 PM

OK.. Last night I was uninstalling something and my HDD started making this loud grinding and scratching noise.. I ran ChK Disk (i'm on XP Pro so it was a restart to get it to run) It picked up 4 unreadable sectors..

As my HDD is obviously on its way out I thougth I'd ask you Chaps on recommendations..

I'm looking at the 160gb mark at:

IBM - 180GXP
Maxtor - DiamondMax Plus9
Western Digital - Caviar

Comments on reliability and personal experience..

I currently have an IBM 75gb drive that was one of the shite ones produced in Hungary (sp?). It has lasted me 2 years but I'm a little dissappointed.

Comments ASAP Please.

Thanks!

Dr Sadako · June 17, 2003, 03:40:07 PM

I have two Seagate Barracuda and I am very pleased with them. Speedwise all HDD you listed are the same. It is a question of price and preference I guess. The Seagate disks are quieter though and that was the main reason I bought them. There are two versions of their HDDs out now. One with 2 MB cache and one with 8 MB cache. The price difference is very small.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 40GB 7200rpm ATA100 2MB cache
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 80GB 7200rpm ATA100 2MB cache

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 120GB 7200rpm ATA100 2MB cache
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 120GB 7200rpm ATA100 8MB cache

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 160GB 7200rpm ATA100 2MB cache
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7, 160GB 7200rpm ATA100 8MB cache

Cheers,

OldBloke · June 17, 2003, 03:56:04 PM

Just bought a batch of these for work.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=32012

Very fast and very quiet. Good price too.

Cadaver · June 17, 2003, 04:50:04 PM

All much of a muchness really.

Out of the three you mention, I'd go for the Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9. That's because I've already got one (with an 8MB cache) and it's been great so far :wink: Also, it has an ATA-133 interface, whereas the others have ATA-100. That means you get a slightly better peak data transfer rate (133MB/s as opposed to 100MB/s, UDMA mode 5 in other words).

FYI: IBM flogged their Hard Drive business off to Hitachi recently. So if you went with the 180GXP it might have a Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST) sticker on it.

All are good, reliable drives though. So 'tis up to you...

Gone_Away · June 17, 2003, 04:48:25 PM

Thanks Kindly Gents..

I went for the Maxtor drive.. Glad my MB can handle that size.. 160gb is the max for my MSI KT4 Ultra..

I too thought that the ATA133 was the deciding factor.

Dr Sadako · June 17, 2003, 05:20:55 PM

Quote That means you get a slightly better peak data transfer rate (133MB/s as opposed to 100MB/s, UDMA mode 5 in other words).

True in theory ... just check the tests in e.g. Toms Hardwares guide and you'll see that there isn't much difference. Even Serial ATA is a load of bull so far.

Anonymous · June 17, 2003, 06:00:08 PM

QuoteI currently have an IBM 75gb drive that was one of the shite ones produced in Hungary (sp?). It has lasted me 2 years but I'm a little dissappointed.

You may find that IBM will honour a 5 year warranty on that drive. I have had drives fail and, although I had a 2 yyear warranty from the seller, IBM honour a 5 year company warranty on many drives. They swapped it no probs for me :-)

Gone_Away · June 18, 2003, 04:04:59 PM

Quote
QuoteI currently have an IBM 75gb drive that was one of the shite ones produced in Hungary (sp?). It has lasted me 2 years but I'm a little dissappointed.
You may find that IBM will honour a 5 year warranty on that drive. I have had drives fail and, although I had a 2 yyear warranty from the seller, IBM honour a 5 year company warranty on many drives. They swapped it no probs for me :-)[/b]

Ya.. I'm going to try it on in any case.. I've got to get my stuff off that drive and then run the IBM tests on it.. Hopefully it's completely duff (after I get my stuff off!) and I can get a second drive out of IBM.. I'll be able to put together my other PC finally..

Advantage - Lan

Aga · June 19, 2003, 02:12:19 PM

I currently have the Maxtor - DiamondMax Plus9 8 Meg cache 120GB and I'm very pleased with it.

TeaLeaf · June 19, 2003, 05:14:09 PM

Across the business and personal machines I am now running a total of 4 of the WD 8MB Cache Special Edition 120GB HDDs along with 2 of the 80GB versions and have been right royally chuffed with them all.

TL.

sheepy · June 20, 2003, 11:39:26 AM

well i need a fecking job!!!

im using hand-me-down hard drives from u guys!

Gone_Away · June 20, 2003, 01:15:10 PM

Quotewell i need a fecking job!!!

im using hand-me-down hard drives from u guys!

Get a job sheepeh