Comparing these two WD 'JB' drives...

[GT1999]

I'm at mwave and noticed something.

WD 120GB WD1200JB EIDE ULTRA-ATA/100 7200RPM SE W/8MB BUFFER (Bare drive) Detail Specs $197.00

then

WD 100.0GB WD1000JBRTL EIDE ULTRA-ATA/100 7200RPM SE W/8MB CACHE (Retail) $326.10


Why the huge difference in price? I notice they're different model numbers (comparing 1000JB vs 1200JB), but they're both 7200RPM and have 8MB cache. Once is also OEM, but that shouldn't make it that big of a difference.. especially since one is 120GB and is still less expensive...

What's the deal on these two drives/models and differences?

 

[zzzz]

its just a mwave thing. You won't see same trend at other stores.

 

[GT1999]

So there's no real difference between the WD1000JBRTL and WD1200JB?

 

[zzzz]

The only differences are
1) one is retail
2) the space.

 

[jcmkk]

I guess that's just the price you have to pay for retail. Mwave also has the 100GB SE bare drive for $179

 

[sharkeeper]

The 100GB drive uses three 33 GB platters and the 120GB uses three 40GB platters. Both have an 8MB buffer. The 120 has a faster outer track STR due to higher areal density. It is a faster overall drive. One is OEM and the other is Retail. Retail is always more.

Cheers!

 

[GT1999]

So what I'm getting is that the 120GB (OEM) drive is:

Faster (due to platter density)
Cheaper
Bigger
Same as the retail drive physically with 8MB cache buffer and all..


And the only real reason to get the 100GB version is if I wanted to get the retail box to stare at for a week or so and then the garbage man gets to take it away.

Hrmmmm.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Exactly, MWave is great but they often have outlandishly high prices on retail stuff and sometimes the lower end stuff is higher than it should be. Other than that, I love it! Best place I've found for monitors, hard drives, and most video cards--esp. since it's local.

 

[John]

A retail boxed drive also comes with a pretty box, an IDE cable, screws, instructions, and a floppy w/ software.