I've owned 8MB and 2MB cache versions of the same drives and never noticed any differences myself either. I would not spend the extra money on the additional cache for non-perceptive performance improvements. The reason to get the 8MB cache version is for the longer warranty.
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2 meg vs. 8 Meg Cache
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Barnaby W. Füi
Elite Member
Please read what I have already posted. I am not arguing over technical superiority, I am arguing that just because you notice something does not mean that another person notices the same thing. People don't have scales or guages as sensory organs, we have eyes and ears and hands and a mind to process our environment in any number of ways. That's what matters most of the time. At the same time, it does not in any way change the technical properties of the things we are sensing.
It's tangible to you; it's not tangible to everyone. That's what makes it opinion. And if I haven't emphasized this enough yet: the opinion in question is about whether this hypothetical computer component is faster in a way which is significant to a human, not simply something that scores higher numbers in a benchmark. And again, it can be significant to one person and insignificant to another.
flexy
Diamond Member
i had a 2 year old Maxtor DXsomething 40GB 2MB cache drive and updated to a WD120SE 8MB cache. I heard all this raving reviwes and expected a HUGE boost in HD performance.
I have to say that i really did not NOTE/SEE any significant improvement in real life - however hdtach etc. tells me that the transferrates are higher, so i guess it must be faster.But definetly not the huge boost i expected. my $0.2
I have to say that i really did not NOTE/SEE any significant improvement in real life - however hdtach etc. tells me that the transferrates are higher, so i guess it must be faster.But definetly not the huge boost i expected. my $0.2
I noticed quite a large difference, but this was going from a 20GB POS to this 120GB 8MB 7200.
The difference was also in the larger platters and higher RPM than just the cache.
But for the extra 2 years warranty and miniscule difference in price, I wouldn't go with less.
I would imagine it would benefit most when shuffling around a lot of SMALL files... something I do a fair bit of.
The difference was also in the larger platters and higher RPM than just the cache.
But for the extra 2 years warranty and miniscule difference in price, I wouldn't go with less.
I would imagine it would benefit most when shuffling around a lot of SMALL files... something I do a fair bit of.
Well thanks all, sorry for starting any sort of controversy.
I think I'm more interested in what it does on a virtual RAM level specifically to Gaming. The benchmarks listed are pretty damning, but then I'm hearing real world situations of no diffence noticed. Considering it's not that much more to get the 8 meg (I'm returning an 80 Gig Maxtor with 2 meg cache for an 80 Gig Western Digital with an 8 meg cache) I think I'll take it back and trade up.
I think I'm more interested in what it does on a virtual RAM level specifically to Gaming. The benchmarks listed are pretty damning, but then I'm hearing real world situations of no diffence noticed. Considering it's not that much more to get the 8 meg (I'm returning an 80 Gig Maxtor with 2 meg cache for an 80 Gig Western Digital with an 8 meg cache) I think I'll take it back and trade up.
Instead of arguing over which is faster, why not just point out the obvious fact that they are almost the same in terms of price, so why not get the one with 8mb cache. BTW, I definitely noticed a difference going from 2mb to 8mb cache, but I guess it is possible not to notice if say, all you do is surf the web and chat.
HeroOfPellinor
Lifer
Maybe the fresh install is what did that.
I'm using a 2MB cache drive even though have an 8MB cache laying around. Reason? The 2MB cache is a single platter (quieter). It's a Samsung drive and all you can hear when it seeks is a very very faint brushing sound. That, to me, is worth more than a few seconds quicker bootup. You can use accoustic managment with a noisy large 8MB, but since the whole point of using it is performance, you're defeating the purpose.
soulflyfan
Member
I'm gonna try to be objective (unlike some) If you already own a good drive with a 2mb cache cache, and want to know if an upgrade to the same drive with larger cache will be worth it, price/performance gain wont be very good. However, if, like me your running an older drive and want to upgrade, theres no point in buying a 2mb cache drive. dont believe? let me give an example. www.savastore.com sell the seagate barracuda 120GB in both 2mb and 8mb cache versions
2mb cache - £62.16
8mb cache - £62.92
THATS 76p FOR GODS SAKE
unless you are
a. allergic to 8mb cache
b. going to die without a can of coke and a mars bar
c. daft as a brush
d. all of the above
there is no reason not to go with the larger cache
once you look at the evidence, and think about it a little (not much i might add) the argument becomes a bit redundant, im sure you'll agree
2mb cache - £62.16
8mb cache - £62.92
THATS 76p FOR GODS SAKE
unless you are
a. allergic to 8mb cache
b. going to die without a can of coke and a mars bar
c. daft as a brush
d. all of the above
there is no reason not to go with the larger cache
once you look at the evidence, and think about it a little (not much i might add) the argument becomes a bit redundant, im sure you'll agree
HeroOfPellinor
Lifer
40GB from Newegg. 40GB is plenty for me since I don't download movies and music. It's hotter and has a deal more vibration than most other drives, but my Antec BQE has rubber mounts for internal drives so some of it is deadened and vibration is easier to deal with than seek noise anyway. Thing really is extremely quiet.
WobbleWobble
Diamond Member
I expected a lot after the raving reviews with the WD 8MB cache drives when they first came out. I have a couple Maxtor 8MB cache drives and I really couldn't tell the difference. I was used to already fast Maxtor D740Xs, so the speed improvement was probably too small to notice any difference. It definately isn't any slower, but because the price difference is minimal I opted for 8MB cache drives over 2MB ones.
ScrapSilicon
Lifer
lmao..benchmarks can be skewed as well..ask around about T Pabst 😛
OK, so I think the word is that there is not much conclusive opinion that it's faster. some people see a difference and others don't. I'd have to pay $10 more Canadian for an 8 meg cache and I already have a drive with a 2 meg cache so I'd need to go for a drive to do it. With those two tiny issues in mind and not much conclusive evidence one way or the other I'm going to opt to do nothing and keep the 80 Gig, 2 meg cache drive that I currently have. Thanks to everyone for their input, it was all greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend.
As a big Everquest player (who played 2 accounts simutaneously), upgrading my nearly full 30GB 2mb 7200rpm drive to a 120GB 8mb 7200rpm drive significantly reduced my loading (and zoning) times. I also noticed that when playing BF:1942 I would be the first player to load in nearly every round (player #0) which did not happen before my upgrade.
Would it be worth upgrading a hard drive specifically for the larger cache? For most users, probably not. But if you are running low on space with an older 2mb cache hard drive, and you are looking to buy a new hard drive for more space, it would be silly not to go with an 8mb cache hard drive.
Would it be worth upgrading a hard drive specifically for the larger cache? For most users, probably not. But if you are running low on space with an older 2mb cache hard drive, and you are looking to buy a new hard drive for more space, it would be silly not to go with an 8mb cache hard drive.
i think generation differences make the most difference between drives. newer drives are going to be faster than older drives because of the newer technology, higher arial density, etc. most new drives (even "mainstream ones") have 8MB vs older ones (older meaning more than a year or two old) which have 2MB.
like others have said, if it doesn't cost much more, why not get one? the hot deal forums gives us the hook up just about every week. no need to wait for a sale.
like others have said, if it doesn't cost much more, why not get one? the hot deal forums gives us the hook up just about every week. no need to wait for a sale.
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