HDD Advice

[amdnVuser]

I'm about to buy a new HDD. I'd like to partition ~160GB for data storage and ~40GB for OS (Linux/dual boot). However, since my motherboard (nForce3 Ultra) only supports SATA 150, will a SATA 300Mbps HDD be backwards compatible (if so, is there anything special I have to do to have it function at 150Mbps or will it just work at that speed automatically)?

I'd like to get the 300Mbps WD2000JS since it's only .90 more than the 150Mbps WD2000JD at ZZF, and since the 300Mbps HDD is quite a bit newer than the 150Mbps HDD. My reasoning is that I'll get a longer warranty on the 300Mbps HDD since it should have a significantly later manufacture date than the 150Mbps HDD.

Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[EightySix Four]

I'd honestly recommend a seagate, 5 year warranty from purchase.

But now that I'm done with my plug, the SATA 300 will work on SATA 150, though there's almost no boost.

 

[amdnVuser]

I've thought about a Seagate, but I really like WD's Data Lifeguard tools, especially the option to write 0's to the HDD directly from Windows. I know you can use drive erasing programs like Erasure, but being able to write 0's gives me that extra sense of security I guess. If there's a similar utility from Seagate (I couldn't find one on their Web site), then let me know.

Besides, I really wanted a 200GB SATA HDD, and ZZF (seems like the only reputable e-tailer left that doesn't charge me sales tax) seems to be out of stock of Seagate 200GB SATA HDD's.

As long as I don't have to do anything special to have the 300Mbps HDD function on a 150Mbps only controller, I guess I'm good.

 

[amdnVuser]

One other thing...I'm also considering an RE series WD1600SB PATA HDD to replace an aging and whining IBM Deathstar in my external Firewire enclosure (as a backup for my internal 160GB SATA partition), mainly because of the 5 year warranty (again, new series, later manufacture date, longer warranty) and because of the supposed high reliability/time-limited error recovery design. However, WD's site states that the RE series is really intended for server use (especially in RAID environments). So would it be a mistake to use this as a single drive in an external enclosure?

Link

 

[OCedHrt]

No egg? Monarch should be reputable as well, and I think they have decent prices on the Seagates.

Personally though, I've owned 6 WDs and 1 Maxtor. I still have 5 WDs and sold the rest. Never really liked the Maxtor, though I didn't have a problem with it. Never had a problem with the WDs either. 7 for 7

 

[amdnVuser]

Yeah, Newegg charges me sales tax, Monarch is a bit more expensive than ZZF, and I'm buying an extra copy of XP Pro 32-bit as well. So tax really starts to eat into my bottom line with 2 HDD's and XP.

So any advice on sticking an RE series PATA in an external enclosure?

 

[OCedHrt]

The RE should work just fine. It isn't much different other than the longer warranty and possible better quality control/components.

 

[amdnVuser]

Thanks for the replies. Lastly, could someone elaborate on the following quote from WD's site?

"Because of the time-limited error recovery feature, this product is intended for server applications and is not recommended for use in desktop systems."

Are they just saying not to use it for an OS/boot drive?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
I'd honestly recommend a seagate, 5 year warranty from purchase.

While I'm typing this, I'm recovering data off my dying Seagate 200GB. It was purchased when they had only a 1 year warranty (between the original 3 year and current 5 year).

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
I'd honestly recommend a seagate, 5 year warranty from purchase.

But now that I'm done with my plug, the SATA 300 will work on SATA 150, though there's almost no boost.

I second that I just this past week lost a Maxtor and a Western Digital. The western digital was 2 month from expiring. 120gb 7200rpm. The maxtor was probably more my fault as it might be locked from the device it was running in rather than dead.

On a personal note my Seagates seem to be quieter and cooler. Dont notice and performance differences between any of them.

Stay away from IBM/Hitachi I had them drop like flies and every one of them failed diagnotics within a year.

 

[HDTVMan]

I noticed you have a MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (BIOS v. 1B).

NForce 4 mobo's have a glitch with I believe certain western digital and maxtor drives you may want to investigate in google.

 

[amdnVuser]

Originally posted by: HDTVMan

Stay away from IBM/Hitachi I had them drop like flies and every one of them failed diagnotics within a year.

Holy sheet...me, too. I think I had about 5 or so Deathstars fail on me.

I actually just found a tool for writing zeroes to Seagate HDD's on their Web site, and with so many stating that they're much quieter, this makes the decision even harder. I guess the only thing holding me back on the Seagate HDD's is the fact that they're a bit more expensive.

Link

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: amdnVuser
I guess the only thing holding me back on the Seagate HDD's is the fact that they're a bit more expensive.

Hit Fry's Electronics on a sale. I got a 200GB EIDE Seagate for $49 AR (and yes I got the rebate). Got a 400GB for $170 AR. They have had 300GB for $99 AR. Most of their rebate deals are for EIDE, not SATA.