Best bang for the buck 250-500 gig HDD

[flxnimprtmscl]

I just put together a Q6600 rig for video encoding and have discovered that my older SATA I HDD is a major bottleneck in this system. Let's put it this way, both of the 5400rpm WD10EACS from my HTPC stomp all over this according to HD Tune. So, what should I get? Keep in mind the only thing this rig does is heavy video encoding and web browsing. I only have two reqirements.

1. At least 250 gigs. 500 would really be better since that seems to be the bang/buck sweet spot these days.
2. Reasonably priced. In other words, I'm not buying a 300 gig raptor.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

The Western Digital 640gb drive stomps all over your other drives anyway.

 

[taltamir]

the WD640 (640GB drive) stomps all over your drives, and other drives... above it you have the raptors, above them there is the INTEL SSD (not other SSDs though, they suck).

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Yeah, I was kind of leaning towards the 500 or 640gb Caviar Black. Wanted to check and make sure there wasn't something better out there. Does anyone know if there's any real difference between the two as far as read speeds due to platter densities or anything like that?

 

[Fallengod]

I have a thread on the same thing basically.

If you what my research and input.

The below are the total shipped + tax costs to me in CA.

WD 500GB WD5000AAKS - $59 shipped - amazon.com & newegg
WD 640GB WD6400AAKS - $70 shipped - amazon.com & newegg
WD 500GB BLACK WD5001AALS - $76.18 shipped- newegg

WD 640GB BLACK WD6401AALS - $92 shipped - newegg
WD 640GB BLACK WD6401AALS - $75ish shipped - on ebay after live.com 25% off!



Ive been hesitant on pulling any triggers due to the deals this weekend and next month. I suppose when you can get a 640GB BLACK for $75ish shipped on ebay, it aint gonna get much cheaper any time soon. I may just buy that tonight.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

This one is $63 shipped after CB for the 640. I'll probably spring for one of these.

 

[Fallengod]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...X:IT&item=120337319644">This</a> one is $63 shipped after CB for the 640. I'll probably spring for one of these.

Yup thats the best deal by far.... Im just waiting till friday is actually here to see if the raise the cash back maybe before I pull the trigger.

Also, amazon raised their prices by $5 on both the 500 aaks and 640 aaks, so those are even less of a deal now.