Fast HDDs for a Fast system

[imported_goku]

If for example I wanted to build an ULTRA FAST SYSTEM with probably PCI-ex and all the other crap, what kind of HDD should I use? I was thinking that I would use a SCSI 15K drive but Serial ATA seems like it's fast as well. I heard that you should use a SCSI 15K as the boot or (Program install) and a Serial ATA drive for (DATA). Also I heard that Serial ATA should be approaching 300/s apposed to the 150/s so would I exclude SCSI all together? One more note do they have 15K/10K IDE/Serial ATA drives?

 

[stevty2889]

The western digital raptor is a 10k rpm SATA drive, and it is quite fast. I would hold off on building a system with PCI-E and DDR-2, as right now there is no advantage to it, and the Prescott is still slower than the northwood.

 

[Netopia]

You should also check out the Maxtor SATA drive (250GB) with 16MB Cache that is reviewed on the AnandTech main page. It out performs the Raptor in many benchmarks, costs about the same and has over three times the capacity.... while probably staying both cooler and quieter!

Joe

 

[Netopia]

Hmmm... actually I retract what I said about the price. I don't know what the price is. In the review they are reviewing the new drive but showing prices for the previous model.

Joe

 

[groovin]

if price is not an issue, then a seagate ultra320 15k rpm scsi on an ultra320 controller is probaly the fastest thing around. go to storagereviews.com and check out the benchmarks.

 

[bob4432]

2x15kRPM U320 Drives in a Striping RAID...FAST AS Hell, will definately max out a 32bit pci slot.

 

[spyordie007]

Also I heard that Serial ATA should be approaching 300/s apposed to the 150/s so would I exclude SCSI all together?

That's the drive interface speeds that you're refering to, not the speed of the drives themselves. There is no SATA drive that can outperform a 15K ultra320 SCSI drive.

I say if price is not an issue get yourself a board that has 64bit PCI support and a 64bit ultra320 RAID controller with about 128MB of RAM and 2 Fujitsu 15k MAS SCSI drives; yummy 😉

 

[byosys]

Right now nothing will touch a Ultra 320 15k SCSI drive. I highly that even a SATA RAID could outperform one.

 

[bob4432]

just out of curiosity, what is the system for?

 

[spyordie007]

I highly that even a SATA RAID could outperform one.

With the exception of buffered sequential reads you're probably right.