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Thread: Hard drive recommendation for new build

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    Question Hard drive recommendation for new build

    After sticking with my current setup for over 4 years, I've decided that it's now time for an much needed upgrade. I'm thinking of going with the following:

    Processor: Intel Core i7 4770K
    CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series H80i
    Motherboard: ASUS Z87 PRO
    RAM: G.SKILL TridentX DDR3-2133MHz/PC3-17000 16GB (8GBx2) CL9-11-11-31 (F3-2133C9D-16GTX)
    Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 770
    SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD
    Hard Drive: ????
    PSU: Corsair AX 760
    Case: NZXT Phantom 530
    Blu Ray Player: Pioneer BDR-208DBK

    I know the HDD is not the most important components these days, but I would like to get the best bang for your buck hard drive that I can get. I was initially going with the 2TB Western Digital Black (which is approximately £115), however after further research, I've come across the
    3TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14, which is both cheaper (£90) and has a larger capacity of storage. Reading through some of the reviews some say its faster than the WD Black 2TB (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...leashed-4.html) whereas other review sites state the complete opposite? Any recommendations?

    I have also recently come across SSHD drives (Seagate 2TB Desktop SSHD)? Are these worthwhile if it will be primary used for storage purposes rather than as the main OS drive?

    Any thoughts/opinions are welcome.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    A couple of MB/s could be inconsequential between a performance HDD like WD Black and a regular HDD like Seagate 7200.14. Rather I would go after reliability or a couple of smaller drives in RAID1 or RAID5.
    I wouldn't worry about SSHD if it is going to be used for storage purposes.
    Last edited by Bonebreaker777; 08-09-2013 at 06:09 PM.

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    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    What disk do you already have? Unless its tiny or dead I'd go with an SSD £90 will easily get you into a 128GB one, which is tonnes for OS + a few games,

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    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    He's already got a Samsung 840 PRO 256GB

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    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Quote Originally Posted by Bonebreaker777 View Post
    He's already got a Samsung 840 PRO 256GB
    Doh, missed that bit. Still think reusing an existing disk makes more sense unless space is a serious issue with the old one.

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    Ninja Noxvayl's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    I'd go for the cheapest one to be honest. You are only using it for storage so performance is inconsequential, opening files off an SSD vs HDD makes no appreciable difference to you as a user. I store all my documents, downloads and media on a 5400RPM notebook HDD while using a Crucial M4 SSD for windows and programs and if I copy the files over to the SSD and use them from there I don't notice a difference.

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    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    I think "somebody" haven't even considered using a SSD as storage device only in the first place, rather he was asking for opinions between different HDDs and also the possibility of a SSHD.
    I am still saying, if you can then RAID, if you can't then a NAS class HDD for reliability. If you don't care about reliability then just choose the one with the best price per GB.

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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Quote Originally Posted by Bonebreaker777 View Post
    I think "somebody" haven't even considered using a SSD as storage device only in the first place, rather he was asking for opinions between different HDDs and also the possibility of a SSHD.
    I am still saying, if you can then RAID, if you can't then a NAS class HDD for reliability. If you don't care about reliability then just choose the one with the best price per GB.
    Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't planning on going down the RAID route to be honest. Are NAS class HDD different then to the HDD I've mentioned? I haven't looked into those.

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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Quote Originally Posted by Noxvayl View Post
    I'd go for the cheapest one to be honest. You are only using it for storage so performance is inconsequential, opening files off an SSD vs HDD makes no appreciable difference to you as a user. I store all my documents, downloads and media on a 5400RPM notebook HDD while using a Crucial M4 SSD for windows and programs and if I copy the files over to the SSD and use them from there I don't notice a difference.
    I plan to use the SSD as the main drive for the OS/programs and to install as many games as I can, so the HDD will primarily for storage and may run some games if I run out of space on the main SSD drive.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    NAS class HDDs are meant for 24/7 usage therefore more reliable that regular consumers HDDs.
    Still if you care little about RAID try to compare the price differences between NAS class and regular HDDs.
    If the difference is diminishing, go for NAS class (or with the longer warranty, the manufacturer will not offer 2-3 years instead of 1 to a HDD in which he has little confidence).

    EDIT:
    Seagate 7200.14 2TB for £64.75 2y warranty vs. Seagate ST2000VX000 2TB for £77.22 3y warranty.

    Seagate 7200.14 3TB for £89.35 2y warranty vs. Seagate ST3000VN000 3TB for £114.36 3y warranty.

    Seagate HDD.15 4TB for £134.83 1y warranty vs. Seagate ST4000VN000 4TB for £158.88 3y warranty vs. Western Digital WD4001FAEX for £209.28 5y warranty.

    For some quick consideration.
    Last edited by Bonebreaker777; 08-09-2013 at 10:51 PM.

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    Ninja Noxvayl's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Quote Originally Posted by somebody View Post
    I plan to use the SSD as the main drive for the OS/programs and to install as many games as I can, so the HDD will primarily for storage and may run some games if I run out of space on the main SSD drive.
    I know that, I even included it in my post...

    To answer your original post directly:

    Quote Originally Posted by somebody View Post
    I know the HDD is not the most important components these days, but I would like to get the best bang for your buck hard drive that I can get. I was initially going with the 2TB Western Digital Black (which is approximately £115), however after further research, I've come across the
    3TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14, which is both cheaper (£90) and has a larger capacity of storage. Reading through some of the reviews some say its faster than the WD Black 2TB (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...leashed-4.html) whereas other review sites state the complete opposite? Any recommendations?

    I have also recently come across SSHD drives (Seagate 2TB Desktop SSHD)? Are these worthwhile if it will be primary used for storage purposes rather than as the main OS drive?

    Any thoughts/opinions are welcome.
    Hard drives are very important these days, but only for running your operating system. Performance is meaningless when all you are doing is storing stuff on it. Ignore the review's comments on performance, re-read the reviews and look for information regarding the drives reliability.

    WD Black 2TB is a waste of money at £115. For £114.36 (items 19 & 20) you can choose from Seagate and Western Digital 3TB drives that offer 3 years of warranty and are designed for 24/7 use so are more likely to be reliable than the cheaper alternatives. I'd choose one of those if I didn't have any sort of back up for my digital stuff.

    If you have other backup arrangements then I would go for something that gives more than 1 year of warranty that is a little cheaper, the Toshiba drive looks good for a balance of price and decent warranty.

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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    If you intend loading Windows 8 as your OS then you can take advantage of its new "Storage Spaces" facility. It will take a pair of drives, mirror them and just show up in the OS as a single drive. Kind of like a Raid 1 arrangement without any of the grief. I set up a pair of 2TB NAS grade WD Reds (3yr warranty) as a single drive named Storage and designated S: It holds mainly photos but then backups may not be so critical in your primary application.

    BTW, unless that 2133 memory is a mega-deal I'd be tempted to save a few quid and get some 1600 stuff. With the newer architecture, the performance benefits of faster memory are nowhere near the bang4buck you got in the old days.
    Apparently, "Do whatever you like" should NOT be considered authorisation to build my uber rig!

  13. #13
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Quote Originally Posted by Toobad View Post
    If you intend loading Windows 8 as your OS then you can take advantage of its new "Storage Spaces" facility. It will take a pair of drives, mirror them and just show up in the OS as a single drive. Kind of like a Raid 1 arrangement without any of the grief. I set up a pair of 2TB NAS grade WD Reds (3yr warranty) as a single drive named Storage and designated S: It holds mainly photos but then backups may not be so critical in your primary application.

    BTW, unless that 2133 memory is a mega-deal I'd be tempted to save a few quid and get some 1600 stuff. With the newer architecture, the performance benefits of faster memory are nowhere near the bang4buck you got in the old days.
    On the memory I can only agree. Save yourself a good £30-40 (quick comparison between the kit mentioned above and a average kit of the same size at 1600Mhz from Corsair or Crucial).

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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    Thanks for the info Bonebreaker777, Noxvayl, Toobad.

    Am I right in understanding that you gain reliability/durability but sacrifice a little performance with NAS drives?

    Toobad - I'm looking to save money where I can! The RAM I was looking at was actually £120. I thought this would be needed if I wanted to overclock my CPU? Mind you, I was only planning on doing a mild overclock (maybe to 4.2/4.3Ghz)

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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    I've got 2 x 8GB Crucial Ballistix Sport 9-9-9-24 @1600 in my Asus Z87-Pro and using the bundled AI Suite III software, my 4770K OC'd to a stable 4.4GHz with just a single click of the mouse.
    Apparently, "Do whatever you like" should NOT be considered authorisation to build my uber rig!

  16. #16
    Senior Member Bonebreaker777's Avatar
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    Re: Hard drive recommendation for new build

    I think Somebody remembers the old school overclocking trough FSB increase and synchronous RAM speed (or asynchronous, depending on the MoBo).
    This days as long you have the maximum supported memory speed without overclocking, you are fine.
    Anything higher will come with diminishing returns and at a increased cost.

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