how can i tell if a hdd is fast or not?

ste2425 · Jun 22, 2009

i no its the rpm and cash size (think that the right term)
but problem is ive seen lost of different values for this but i dnt now how fast they will be, i no higher the number the better but as a general rule wat specs means fairly fast?

Deleted member 3 · Jun 22, 2009

Rotation speed (RPM) usually is 7200, Raptors being the only exception for desktops, they rotate 10000 times a minute. Workstation/server disks (SCSI, SAS, FC) often run at 10000 or even 15000.

If a disk rotates faster it has to wait less before the right part of the disk is under the head. Thus latency decreases. A higher density affects data throughput because of similar reasons. The more crowded the data the more data passes the head every rotation thus throughput increases. Thus larger disks are often faster due to higher density.

Cache is a buffer, it makes sure data is being processed in a steady flow. The higher the throughput, the more cache you'd want. As long as the buffer is filled you won't notice when the heads have to move and don't read any data for a fraction of a second. If the cache is empty and the heads have to move to search for data, there would be no data to send. So if you read at 60MB/s a disk with 32MB cache disk could search for roughly half a second without you noticing a drop in throughput.

So short answer, 7200 RPM/32MB is quite common.

ste2425 · Jun 22, 2009

thanks exactly wat i needed

Geofrancis · Jun 22, 2009

check here for the best hard drive

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/chart...s/h2benchw-3.12-Max-Read-Throughput,1009.html

Fleck · Jun 22, 2009

And you can test your drives yourself with HDTune or HDTach.

Ramo1203 · Jun 22, 2009

The Seagate 7200.12 500GB is pretty good since it has a single 500GB platter. I'm currently waiting for my Western Digital WD5001AALS and a WD5000AADS both with single platter 500GB with 32MB of Cache. :rockout:

Overall, the 320GB platter are pretty good (WD 320AAKS or 6400AAKS fo example) but if you can the 500GB are the best.

largon · Jul 1, 2009

Rule of thumb is:
HDDs are always slow, slower or sllllooww.

MB/s has no effect in realworld for consumer. It's all about access times. Which are terrible, without exception, for HDDs.

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System Name	Ultra 64
Processor	NEC VR4300 (MIPS R4300i)
Motherboard	proprietary design
Cooling	Fanless aircooled
Memory	4.5MB 250 MHz RDRAM
Video Card(s)	62.5 MHz Reality Coprocessor
Storage	32 - 512 Mbit ROM Cartridge
Display(s)	720x576
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Audio Device(s)	16-bit CD quality
Power Supply	proprietary design
Mouse	N64 mouse for use with N64DD
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how can i tell if a hdd is fast or not?

ste2425

Deleted member 3

ste2425

Geofrancis

Fleck

Ramo1203

largon