DEAD: Now $199.99 - Western Digital Raptor X 150GB 16mb cache - $169.99 at BB NO RB

[Thoreau]

Just got back from BB with my shiny new Raptor. Unfortunately, they didn't take the 12% off coupon. The guy scanned it, but it came up as $0.00.

Still a hot deal at $169.99 ($149 and change would've made me splooge tho...)

 

[ROTC1983]

Even with my employee discount, it came down to ~$157...now I need to make room to install it. Or should I just run 4 drives? *Sigh*

 

[Pariah]

BB website said there were none in stock at any of the stores in my area. Went to one anyway, and there was one sitting on the shelf. Guess they were anticipating me showing up, because now that one really doesn't have any.

 

[308nato]

Originally posted by: tealk
Haha.....schools are closed here too.....Im in MN...where are you at?

Right next door behind the cheddar curtain.

Went out and pm'd the 74gig I bought at $119 to the $101 and bought the 150gig as well. Didn't see it on the shelf so asked the rep to look for it because the website showed in stock. She didn't know what she was looking for so I asked the manager. He checked and said there should be 1 in stock. He found it stashed behind the GeekSquad counter. One of those guys is denied. 😀

 

[littlebitstrouds]

You jerks... I am oversees and not comming home for a month, but I still had to pull the trigger on this one. Vista Premium upgrade along with the drive, all for less than 300... I couldn't wait. It's just gonna suck knowing there is a Raptor and Vista Premium waiting for me at home for an entire month.

 

[AVP]

Are the raptors louder than regular hard drives? I mean they spin faster so it seems like they would make a little extra sound while seeking. Anyone with any experience in this matter?

 

[Thoreau]

Originally posted by: AVP
Are the raptors louder than regular hard drives? I mean they spin faster so it seems like they would make a little extra sound while seeking. Anyone with any experience in this matter?

I'll be able to tell ya in about an hour... Installing the beast now! woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Thoreau]

Seems all but silent when idle in my Antec P180. Got it doing a format right now tho... MUCHO noisy... but worth it =)

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: AVP
Are the raptors louder than regular hard drives? I mean they spin faster so it seems like they would make a little extra sound while seeking. Anyone with any experience in this matter?

idle spin noise is basically non-existent; pretty much right there with the quietest idle sound I've ever heard from a drive.

Now seeks on the other hand... zick zack, clickity-clak, bzzzt... 🙂 They are pretty vocal little creatures when they get stressed. I have mine in an Antec solo with the elastic suspension, so I still get some clicking and such, but very muted since it isn't getting transferred to the whole case by hard mounting.

 

[Pariah]

If anyone in the Raleigh area is looking for one, the Crossroads BB in Cary has one.

 

[bigfil]

they had 2 showing in stock but no drives on the shelf

got a raincheck for 2

hopefully they come in at some point before the 12% coupon expires hehe

 

[Deleted member 4644]

this was too good to resist. I got one and now have over 200gb of 10,000 rpm goodness 😉

 

[Mellman]

isn't this the one with the window on it? that has half the MTBF of the other one? I cannot tell from the picture...

maybe two of these would be good to replace my 3x74gb's in raid0

 

[kVaSSaSSiN]

any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: AVP
Are the raptors louder than regular hard drives? I mean they spin faster so it seems like they would make a little extra sound while seeking. Anyone with any experience in this matter?

I have had a 36GB for 3+ years and it is very quiet. I also bought a 74GB from BB a few weeks ago but I have yet to open it. As I understand, the 74GB is also pretty quiet (I have never seen a comparison of the 74GB and the 36GB) but this one is reported to be loud so it seems if you want quiet, best bet is to go with a smaller capacity Raptor.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: kVaSSaSSiN
any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

This seems to be unknown around here but the 74GB model that BB is selling is NOT the ultra fast one that everyone saw benchmarks for when it first came out. Their drive is within 5% of the performance of the original. I have not looked into this 150GB drive but for all I know, there may also be two models.

What is keeping me away from this drive is that people are claiming it to be loud.

 

[Rivulentt]

Originally posted by: Staples

Originally posted by: kVaSSaSSiN
any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

This seems to be unknown around here but the 74GB model that BB is selling is NOT the ultra fast one that everyone saw benchmarks for when it first came out. Their drive is within 5% of the performance of the original. I have not looked into this 150GB drive but for all I know, there may also be two models.

What is keeping me away from this drive is that people are claiming it to be loud.

I bit yesterday (must stop buying things for a while now) and bought two. Not particularly loud.

 

[videopho]

Just picked up the last one at my local BB.
Not sure what the need is, just yet, new build or replace its little brother 37gb one inside my AMD rig?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: Staples

Originally posted by: kVaSSaSSiN
any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

This seems to be unknown around here but the 74GB model that BB is selling is NOT the ultra fast one that everyone saw benchmarks for when it first came out. Their drive is within 5% of the performance of the original. I have not looked into this 150GB drive but for all I know, there may also be two models.

What is keeping me away from this drive is that people are claiming it to be loud.

Go to www.storagereview.com

The 150gb seems to be maybe 10-15% faster than the 74gb if I am reading the graphs right.

 

[dajeepster]

I just got the last two from the annapolis store in maryland.... these will go great in my next system build for when AMD/ATI release thier next generation cpu/gpu... hopefully they'll provide some competition with current generation intel/nvidia 😉

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by: Staples

Originally posted by: kVaSSaSSiN
any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

This seems to be unknown around here but the 74GB model that BB is selling is NOT the ultra fast one that everyone saw benchmarks for when it first came out. Their drive is within 5% of the performance of the original. I have not looked into this 150GB drive but for all I know, there may also be two models.

What is keeping me away from this drive is that people are claiming it to be loud.

Where are you getting this info...?

 

[fastman]

This is the loud one, with the window and it is fast🙂

 

[dajeepster]

Originally posted by: Buck_Naked

Originally posted by: Staples

Originally posted by: kVaSSaSSiN
any performance difference between the 74gb and the 150? I have two 74gb in raid0.

This seems to be unknown around here but the 74GB model that BB is selling is NOT the ultra fast one that everyone saw benchmarks for when it first came out. Their drive is within 5% of the performance of the original. I have not looked into this 150GB drive but for all I know, there may also be two models.

What is keeping me away from this drive is that people are claiming it to be loud.

Where are you getting this info...?

the 74GB model was originally released with 8MB cache... they updated the line late last year with 16MB cache and also a single platter. As far as I know the 150GB model was only released with 16MB cache.. the 36GB model was updated with 16MB cache also... you can find more info here Western Digital Raptor drives and anandtech just did a review here http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2922

 

[Mellman]

Originally posted by: fastman
This is the loud one, with the window and it is fast🙂

so its confirmed w/ the window...oh well i'm out then 🙁

The 150GB IS A LOT FASTER! I used to run a 74GB Raptor w/ 16mb cache as my OS drive. upgraded to the 150GB and it is noticeably faster. I do video encoding and a lot of multitasking and that is where i noticed my speed increase. Its well worth the money 🙂 however, for the windowed version 🙁 :thumbsdown:

-matt

 

[chizow]

Where'd you read the MTBF was 1/2? Makes sense somewhat, but the prod. description says WD put oodles of effort into making the X as a kind of tribute to the enthusiast market.

Btw, this deal is all but dead unless your BB gets more in-stock sometime during the week. Website is showing backordered and I'm willing to bet they're OOS if you check local stock online as well. Might get lucky and find one if you actually go and check but its definitely a YMMV at this point.