HD Geometry question: where is fastest read speed?

[KevinMU1]

OK, I know that the outer edge of the hard drive is much faster than the inner edge of the hard drive in terms of read/write performance, but is a hard drive like a CD that starts from the inside tracks, or does it start from the outer track like an old vinyl record?

Alternatively: if I have a 30 GB drive, and fill it with files, will the fastest read speeds be on the FIRST files written or the LAST files written?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Soccerman]

I think from the way Storage Review talks about HDs in their reviews that they work similar to CDs (start from inside, progress out).

 

[Kingofcomputer]

For example, Maxtor D740X spec:
Data transfer speed (Mbyte/s, max)
sustained at OD 44.4
sustained at ID 24.2

 

[GoSharks]

hard drives store data from the outside to the inside.

 

[Viper GTS]

n/m, I'm a moron

Viper GTS

 

[odog]

yeah outside in, the "beginning of the drive" is always the fastest. hence the outside has to be first.