Hard Drive Help

[Infinite]

Hey guys, I looking for a new hard drive, the size doesnt matter (500gb - 1000gb) but im looking for the best GB / price but i wont mind spending a bit more for performance as this will be used as my main system drive.

I have had a quick look on scan:

HDT721010SLA360 - 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B, 3.5", SATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, HDD
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1TB-H...16MB-Cache-HDD

1000 / 72 = 13.9 gb/pound

1TB Samsung HD103UJ Spinpoint F1, SATA 300, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1TB-S...ache-89-ms-NCQ

1000 / 75 = 13.3 gb/pound

Is the Samsung worth the extra 3 quid or are there any better drives with around the same gb/pound ratio?

thanks
Infinite

[ConTRo13R]

Personnaly i would look at a western digital black, but out of the two then yes the samsung is worth the extra three quid, just check out the reviews fro the drive

[moogle]

I would go with the Samsungs. Rexo provide fast UK RMA's too if they ever break down

[Professor Frink]

I've got the 1TB Hitachi Deskstar and like it.

[smargh]

System drive? Velociraptor.

The rest? Just pick the best £/GB. But not Seagate 1TB.

[arthurleung]

System drive? Velociraptor.

The rest? Just pick the best £/GB. But not Seagate 1TB.

WD6400AAKS is a very good drive for system. Really not much point to go to Velociraptor.
For data drive, WD Green drive should be enough for your need.

640 GB Western Digital WD6400AAKS Caviar Blue, SATA 300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms £47.99 £55.19
1TB Western Digital WD10EACS Caviar Green GP, SATA 300, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ £62.99 £72.44

Wondering why no one recommend the Green drives. Have 8 of those running and they aren't visibly slower under normal use.

P.S. Surprised to see the 6400AAKS to be so much more expensive than in other countries (Pre-VAT price 30% more expensive than Hong Kong)

[smargh]

The WD Green EACS has [or had -- mine does] a problem with extremely excessive load-unload cycles. The rated value of the mechanism is 300,000, and mine was already at about 17,000 after just about 15 days of use.

[shbris]

how do you check cycles?

[spiral out]

Out of those two i can highly recomend the samsung, i have that drive and it's running great.

[Infinite]

thanks guys, end up getting the samsung as it was slightly cheaper on Today Only =)

Anyone know the best way to partition the drive. I want to dual boot: vista as my main and 7 for a bit of fun. Should i do 300, 300 and whatever left for storage?

[spiral out]

Wow 300 for the OS, i have partitioned 100 for vista with the rest for data.

But if you use that much space for the OS then i guess it makes sense.

[smargh]

how do you check cycles?

Any app which can read SMART data. I use Speedfan.

If you do a google search there is some suggested that a WD utility can set the time after which the heads park, but I tried it and it does bugger all - no effect whatsoever.