Poll Added! Harddrive Upgrade advice needed

[statik213]

I've got about $300 that I'd like to spend on new drives. Netheless to say I want to have a lightning fast config. I'm looking for speed in task switching and rapid file access, not neccessarily high sustained transfer rates (for video editing etc.).

My mobo supports SATA raid and I was thinking of chaining two Raptor's into a nice RAID-0 config. But I have a AAA-131U2 SCSI controller lying around. Now it's a Ultra2 controller and can do Hardware RAID so, I found this deal for a SCSI Ultra160 10K rpm 73GB drive. Would two of these drives outperform a Raptor array (at half the cost)?

Also, since i'm willing to spend $300, I could probably find a 73GB 15k SCSI drive. Space isn't really too much of a concern for me. So if the 15k drive will outperform the 2x Raptor RAID array i'd much rather go with that.



Thoughts, anyone?



edit: Poll Added.....

 

[stevty2889]

I would definatly go with the seagate cheetah's since you already have a SCSI controller. The 10k RPM ones will perform better than Raptors, and the 15k rpm ones will be even faster, but probably make a lot more noise.

 

[Mik3y]

scsi > raptor

 

[WalkingDead]

Specifications:

* Formatted capacity: 73.4GB
* Interface: U160 80-pin SCSI
* Rotational speed: 10,000 RPM

This high-quality item has been factory reconditioned. Please click on the icon above for more information on quality factory-reconditioned merchandise.


80 pin SCA and reconditioned! I say stay clear of this. Btw, this is the Cheetah 73, a very old Seagate model.

 

[Quino]

Yep, they are old and the raptor will outperform them. You would be a lot better with a single (since raid 0 does not help at all for a desktop) 15K Maxtor II. It will fly

 

[Vegito]

ST173404LCV ?... the dimension are totally wrong.. and it looks like a server drive at 1.6" that is big

Off Overstock
Dimensions: 2 in. H x 5 in. W x 7 in. L

Off seagate

Height (inches/mm): 1.6/40.64
Width (inches/mm): 4.00/101.6
Depth (inches/mm): 5.75/146.1
Weight (lbs/kg): 2.0/0.907

 

[mechBgon]

If it were me, I'd probably also pick up an LSI Logic Ultra160 card for $35. Ultra2 will partially bottleneck a modern SCSI drive, at only 80MB/sec peak theoretical bus capacity.

 

[Tostada]

That Cheetah is an old 80-pin 10K drive, and if you get an 80-pin drive you will need an adaptor, and Ultra-160 adaptors oddly aren't that common; most of the adaptors being sold will force the drive down to 80MB sync.

More importantly, that link you posted is the original Cheetah 73. The drive has TWELVE 6GB PLATTERS. The drive is five years old; when it was released it was the largest hard drive made. It has a 9.7ms access time and 35MB/s max transfer. The Raptor 74 has two 36GB platters, an 8.1ms access time and 72MB/s max transfer. The Cheetah is so old that StorageReview used an older testbed to evaluate it, so it can't even be compared to modern drives.

http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200005/20000503ST173404LW_1.html
http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/specs/scsi/st173404lcv.html



If you want something with any hope of being faster than a Raptor, the Atlas 15K II has a 5.5ms access time and 97MB/s max transfer. The Fujitsu MAU and Cheetah 15K.4 are pretty close to that. I don't think you're going to get them for $300, though. You could get a 36G Cheetah 15K.3 (two years old) for $300, but it's pretty much tied with the Raptor 74 in non-server performance:

http://www.storagereview.com/php/benchm...ves=1&devID_0=259&devID_1=213&devCnt=2



Also, RAID is not faster for desktops. There have been several threads on this lately. There are atricles on AnandTech and StorageReview which show that for most uses, RAID0 is a tiny bit slower than a single drive. You specifically said you're not looking for "high sustained transfer rates (for video editing etc.)" ... well, high sustained transfer rate is the only time RAID is faster.

 

[mechBgon]

Newegg is listing the 68-pin Fujitsu MAU 36GB model for about $240. Not in stock yet, but looks like it's getting close: link

Hmmm, next payday...? 36GB is about 20GB more than I really need, but if that's the smallest they make, then hey.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Newegg is listing the 68-pin Fujitsu MAU 36GB model for about $240. Not in stock yet, but looks like it's getting close: link

Hmmm, next payday...? 36GB is about 20GB more than I really need, but if that's the smallest they make, then hey.

You've been waiting for that drive for months, for reasons unknown. The fastest drive money can buy has already been out for months and has a Maxtor label on it.

Back to original question. The fastest setup you can get for $300 with a decent amount of storage space would probably be 2 non-raided Raptors. OS on one drive, apps/games on the other, both short-stroked.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Quino
You would be a lot better with a single (since raid 0 does not help at all for a desktop)

You have no proof of that.

Can't we all just stop the RAID0 hate. Dont hate.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Pariah
Back to original question. The fastest setup you can get for $300 with a decent amount of storage space would probably be 2 non-raided Raptors. OS on one drive, apps/games on the other, both short-stroked.

Is that some kind of joke? The _fastest_ setup with two raptors would be in RAID0. Even the anti-raid nazis have to admit 'slight' improvement in 'some' areas. So what you said is outright untrue.

Though if you want to go with the most reliable setup that _will_ sacrificeat the very least some preformance to %50 preformance increase, non raid is for you.

 

[statik213]

Thanks everyone esp. Tostada that was very helpful.

I might end up going with a hybrid approach..... a cheaper MAU drive and a smaller Raptor.... The MAUs have better access times.... look at the polls..

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: forcesho
ST173404LCV ?... the dimension are totally wrong.. and it looks like a server drive at 1.6" that is big

Off Overstock
Dimensions: 2 in. H x 5 in. W x 7 in. L

Off seagate

Height (inches/mm): 1.6/40.64
Width (inches/mm): 4.00/101.6
Depth (inches/mm): 5.75/146.1
Weight (lbs/kg): 2.0/0.907

That's weird. Is that the box it comes in?

 

[Pariah]

statik213, if you take only one piece of advice from everything I've said and will say in this thread, make sure it is this point: ignore anything aeternitas posts.

In your poll you list a Maxtor Atlas IV 15k which is a nonexistent drive. The Atlas IV is an ancient 7200RPM Quantum drive. The fastest drive overall available today is the Atlas 15k II.

Also, you won't be getting a MAU (or 15k II) and Raptor for under $300.

Since you said you didn't need much space, with 2 72GB Raptors, you will be able to short stroke nearly the whole drive off for the OS drive and a significant amount of the apps drive which will effectively cut down your access time to probably below 15k access time for the OS disk at least. Your apps will make more use of the swap space than the OS, and since the apps drive will be fuller, it would be better to put the pagefile on the OS drive.

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: Pariah
statik213, if you take only one piece of advice from everything I've said and will say in this thread, make sure it is this point: ignore anything aeternitas posts.

In your poll you list a Maxtor Atlas IV 15k which is a nonexistent drive. The Atlas IV is an ancient 7200RPM Quantum drive. The fastest drive overall available today is the Atlas 15k II.

Also, you won't be getting a MAU (or 15k II) and Raptor for under $300.

Since you said you didn't need much space, with 2 72GB Raptors, you will be able to short stroke nearly the whole drive off for the OS drive and a significant amount of the apps drive which will effectively cut down your access time to probably below 15k access time for the OS disk at least. Your apps will make more use of the swap space than the OS, and since the apps drive will be fuller, it would be better to put the pagefile on the OS drive.

Thanks for your reply, I did mean the Atlas 15K II that Tostada reffered to. I was looking at something else typed the wrong thing.... sorry about that. Changed the poll...

I know I'm pushing the $300 budget, but I took a look around ebay and a few site here and there, the 36gb raptor could be had for about $80 and the MAU if i'm lucky for about $240....

Also, exactly what do you mean by 'short stroke' the drive?

 

[Terumo]

Get a 15k SCSI that's U320. U160 is Raptor speed and no throughput advantage.

If you can, try getting the 73g HD so you can get a 5 year return on your investment. Whatever you do, DON'T put a 15k drive in a media or quiet PC. Sucker is loud when it spins -- it's perfect for game rigs that are normally noisy.

 

[DaFinn]

Originally posted by: Terumo
Get a 15k SCSI that's U320. U160 is Raptor speed and no throughput advantage.

If you can, try getting the 73g HD so you can get a 5 year return on your investment. Whatever you do, DON'T put a 15k drive in a media or quiet PC. Sucker is loud when it spins -- it's perfect for game rigs that are normally noisy.

And what is this 15k scsi drive that transfers over 160Mb/s. And Raptor hits nowhere near 150Mb/s (SATA) speeds? AND, with pci scsi card he would be still limited to PCI bus speeds (132Mb/s)...

Hmmm.

 

[ribbon13]

I wish Seagate would put out some 15krpm SATA/SAS drives. Things swould change so much. "Raptor? What's that? The dinosaur? Aren't they extinct?"

 

[mechBgon]

You've been waiting for that drive for months, for reasons unknown. The fastest drive money can buy has already been out for months and has a Maxtor label on it.

Fastest by what measure? Are we talking about Storage Review methodology, or something that I actually use hard drives for? Let's see, when's the last time I sat down and pre-scripted my whole workday to run at blistering speeds while I sat and watched... hmm...

But anyway, I'm interested in the Maxtor too. Got any favorite places to buy them? You using one?

 

[ribbon13]

I'd rather have a Seagate than a Maxtor, unless there was a huge difference in performance.

What's the deal.. $100 difference due to warranty...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-111-138&depa=1
http://www.acmicro.com/PPmain.asp?ItemCode=3688&Action=Mostrar&msk=PD

for the price... I'd stick with the seagate from newegg. I've had too much bad luck with maxtor.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=600146

A raid5 or 10 of these would be nice though.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=600130

 

[statik213]

Exactly what I am talking about... Fastest by practical standards. I'd like to see a difference running windows apps, fast task switching, quick bootups etc.

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Fastest by what measure? Are we talking about Storage Review methodology, or something that I actually use hard drives for? Let's see, when's the last time I sat down and pre-scripted my whole workday to run at blistering speeds while I sat and watched... hmm...

But anyway, I'm interested in the Maxtor too. Got any favorite places to buy them? You using one?

 

[mechBgon]

:Q ~ oooOOooo!

OT: I love how the online stores blithely smack down a photo of an ATA drive's internals. "It's a hard drive. Close enough!"

Mrs. Cheetah's insides

 

[ribbon13]

My Aunt worked at a place in oregon that makes the platters for Seagate. I think it was called MBT or something. I guess the work is really bad on the wrists. And they have those 1" rubber mats, and the rooms have tons of water in them because of dust concerns.

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
I'd rather have a Seagate than a Maxtor, unless there was a huge difference in performance.

What's the deal.. $100 difference due to warranty...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-111-138&depa=1
http://www.acmicro.com/PPmain.asp?ItemCode=3688&Action=Mostrar&msk=PD

for the price... I'd stick with the seagate from newegg. I've had too much bad luck with maxtor.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=600146

A raid5 or 10 of these would be nice though.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=600130

Are you serious about the 10 drives?