Different hard drive types

[HondaF1]

Hi, I am not really an expert on hard drives, so I would like to ask a question. There are different hard drve types ou there, like ATA and IDE and all that. Can someone please give me a list of the different types, their main advantages and disadvantages and all that? And also, which one is the most recent and teh one that is used in professional computer builders and by manufacturers for optimum performance?

 

[akseli]

Ok,

1. IDE Interface Hard Drives (this is the standard now-a-days)

a. ATA 33/66/100 - these are all different speed ratings at which hdds on an IDE controller can run at.

2. SCSI (mostly used on servers) - faster than IDE but also far more expensive.

3. SATA (serial ATA, this is the newest technology, it's fast and furious)
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You've probably heard of RAID at some point. Well actually it's not a differentn hard drive type, it's just a way of having more than one hard drive connected together to make it seem like one big drive, or in other cases it makes the computer create a copy of the primary drive onto the secondary one in case of hard drive failiure.

Granted I missed some but these are he most important. HArd drvies for most desktop comptuters are classified as 3.5" (their size) laptops have smaller ones, I forget their size.

 

[beatle]

IDE advantages: most compatible with desktop pcs, inexpensive
IDE disadvantages: slowest, large cables, not recommended if running a server or multiple apps that tax the drive, shorter warranty than scsi (1-3 years)

SATA advantages: WD Raptor (10k rpm drive) only available w/SATA interface, this is arguably the fastest drive most users will need. There are currently no inherent advantage to SATA drives over IDE aside from thinner cables.
SATA disadvantages: Requires SATA controller, drives other than the Raptor are still considered "slow" compared to SCSI. The controller is becoming more and more common on motherboards, so compatibility is becoming less of an issue, warranty on all drives other than the Raptor is less than 5 years, not recommended if running a server or multiple apps that tax the drive

SCSI advantages: ultimately the fastest setup, ideal when more than one processes taxes the drive, supports the most drives, longer cables, hot swapping (with appropriate hardware) and best reliability (5 year warranty on all drives)
SCSI disadvantages: much more expensive than IDE or SATA for the same amount of space. Controller is rarely built into motherboards, cables are thicker than SATA

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as threads discussing harddrives and their merits can sometimes extend a few pages. :Q It should give you an idea as to what might fit your needs best.