HDD Upgrade (and more - eventually)

[markbrown83]

Hi,

I am thinking about upgrading my HDDs in my desktop. The start of my i7 upgrade process - going to wait for CPU and Motherboard prices to drop a bit.

I am obviously going to buy Windows 7 when it is launched! I was thinking about buying a 150 GB Western Digital WD1500HLFS VelociRaptor:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/150-G...-rpm-42-ms-NCQ

and use it as my primary HDD for the OS.

For my second harddrive (music etc) I was thinking about a 1TB (1000 GB) Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1TB-W...rpm-32MB-Cache.

I was just wondering what your thoughts were. I would like them to be quick and as quiet as possible. Since I am typing I might as well mention what I am planning on upgrading to with regards to CPU etc.

EVGA X58 SLI
Core i7 920
6gb Ram DDR3

I currently have an 8800GTX and at the moment do not plan upgrading that.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[markbrown83]

Or should I just get a 1TB Caviar Black and a 500gb Caviar Black?

The 500Gb being my primary HDD (OS) and the 1TB HDD being partitioned for music games etc?

[markbrown83]

Anyone??

I am now def looking at getting a 500gb as OS HDD and a 1TB HDD.

But not sure which make, Hitachi, Samsung or WD. also, what are the difference between caviar black, green and blue?

I am just after a quick recommendation and a quick reason.

Thanks,

Mark

[Phage]

Ars technica has a good guide on this recommending the 1Tb WD Caviar Black. But they also go through some other drives if you require more speed.

http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guid...-edition.ars/2

Hope that helps.

[markbrown83]

Ars technica has a good guide on this recommending the 1Tb WD Caviar Black. But they also go through some other drives if you require more speed.

http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guid...-edition.ars/2

Hope that helps.

Excellent, thanks for that.

I will def be getting the 1TB for my music etc.

Now to decide on the HDD as my primary HDD for my OS.

Any recommendations - maybe a WD 500Gb Caviar Black or a Raptor 150Gb?

Thanks,

Mark

[Phage]

Heh. To quote Mad Max.
How fast can you afford to go ?
Very Fast = SSD
Faster = Velociraptor
Average = Just about any of the HDDs out there.

Bearing in mind that even a 7200 HDD is pretty damn fast nowadays.

[markbrown83]

Heh. To quote Mad Max.
How fast can you afford to go ?
Very Fast = SSD
Faster = Velociraptor
Average = Just about any of the HDDs out there.

Bearing in mind that even a 7200 HDD is pretty damn fast nowadays.

LOL yeah that is true. I just want something that won't be sluggish. I am going to update my rig one step at a time... HDD are the first thing, next it will be to i7 etc.

SSD is just stupid expensive and cannot justify that. However, the 150gb raptor is a posibility. However, are they not rather loud?

Can you recommend a good 7200rpm hdd for the OS? around 500gb, can be less/more if better performance/reliability etc.

Thanks,

Mark

[Phage]

I haven't heard that they were any noiser than other HDDs. It seems lilely that they would be, given the higher spindle speed, but this would be mitigated using some of the anti-noise mounts inside the case.
Questions is - will you really notice the speed difference ? I can't answer that for you. It's a balancing act between speed, noise and cost. I'd try googling some reviews on velociraptors and seeing what they say on these points. However I agree with Ars on this.

"The problem is that SSDs or even VRs are still a substantial chunk of the budget, and while they're nice, the extra money is probably better spent on a faster video card.
"
Of course YMMV.

[markbrown83]

I haven't heard that they were any noiser than other HDDs. It seems lilely that they would be, given the higher spindle speed, but this would be mitigated using some of the anti-noise mounts inside the case.
Questions is - will you really notice the speed difference ? I can't answer that for you. It's a balancing act between speed, noise and cost. I'd try googling some reviews on velociraptors and seeing what they say on these points. However I agree with Ars on this.

"The problem is that SSDs or even VRs are still a substantial chunk of the budget, and while they're nice, the extra money is probably better spent on a faster video card.
"
Of course YMMV.

Thanks.

I will be def going with the Caviar Black 1TB. Still not sure what I should do regarding the main OS HDD?

[Phage]

heh. Just had this discussion with Scan myself.
They're recommendation was a single platter drive like the seagate barracuda
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/320-G...ache-85-ms-NCQ
I'm still thinking about it. Haven't come to any conclusions, as I don't have the money !

[markbrown83]

heh. Just had this discussion with Scan myself.
They're recommendation was a single platter drive like the seagate barracuda
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/320-G...ache-85-ms-NCQ
I'm still thinking about it. Haven't come to any conclusions, as I don't have the money !

From what I have read by doing a quick google - it doesn't have the best reviews... I would stear clear of it.

think i will just settle for a wd caviar black again as my main OS and storage hdd... 500/640gb and 1TB, respectively.

[Phage]

Sounds like a plan. It'll have to wait a while anyway.
I still need to get the guts of the box...