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Raptor & Raptor X

DasFox

DasFox

Diamond Member
WD sells 2 versions:

WD1500AD (WD1500ADFD) = Server version:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=189

WD1500AH (WD1500AHFD) = Gamer version:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=190&Language=en

The gamer version we have all come to know as RaptorX. Personally gaming is what I have in mind, but I'm not interested in bells and whistles, besides that, is there any differences between these models?

Would a gamer benefit from using the RaptorX over the server version?

THANKS
 
My understanding is that the Raptor X is the same drive just with a fancy clear case so you can see the platters. Internally they're the same drive.

 
Raptor-x has a see-thru cover and different imbedded firmware. The actual drive internals (and therefor perfromance) are identical.
 
I read over at NewEgg people where saying that this drive also has NCQ factory enabled, which tends to reduce performance in a non-server non-raid environment.

And someone else had this to say:

This is true, but it makes no difference in performance since WD has released a tool to disable the TLER mode so you don't lose the performance when using this drive in a non enterprise setup.

So what's the deal on this? The TLER mode disables this NCQ?

They say the NQC feature, which in single user situations will decrease performance slightly.

Plus someone mentions:

I just wanted to make sure everyone knew the ADFD is the enterprise version of the new Raptor. It has raid-specific features that will probably slow down the performance of the drive if not used in a raid configuration. If you want to use this in a desktop please wait for the AHFD which has a fancy clear window on it.

THANKS
 
TLER is basically a RAID performance enhancement. It stops error recovery procedures after 7 seconds because it's expected that the drive will be using in fault tolerant RAIDs such as RAID5 or RAID1. Same difference between the KD and YR versions of the WD4000. In reality, if your drive is taking 7 seconds to recover an error, there is something already wrong with your drive and it wouldn't have mattered which version you got.
 
The X version has a clear cover, has half the MTBF of the standard version and also costs more too.

Get the standard version.
 
Yeah standard is a bit cheaper, but there are no performance losses with it on a gaming desktop? If there is I don't mind paying the extra bit.
 
Originally posted by: DasFox
I read over at NewEgg people where saying that this drive also has NCQ factory enabled, which tends to reduce performance in a non-server non-raid environment.

And someone else had this to say:

This is true, but it makes no difference in performance since WD has released a tool to disable the TLER mode so you don't lose the performance when using this drive in a non enterprise setup.

So what's the deal on this? The TLER mode disables this NCQ?

They say the NQC feature, which in single user situations will decrease performance slightly.

Plus someone mentions:

I just wanted to make sure everyone knew the ADFD is the enterprise version of the new Raptor. It has raid-specific features that will probably slow down the performance of the drive if not used in a raid configuration. If you want to use this in a desktop please wait for the AHFD which has a fancy clear window on it.

THANKS
Click to expand...

The Effects of NCQ
 
Originally posted by: ribbon13
Originally posted by: BFG10K
The X version has a clear cover, has half the MTBF of the standard version and also costs more too.

Get the standard version.
Click to expand...

MTBF link?
Click to expand...

Not sure how official this is, but from the same review linked above:

6th paragraph down.
The Raptor X is officially specified with a 600,000 hour MTBF while the 150 features a 1.2 million hour claim. Both units receive 24 hours of factory burn-in are backed by 5-year warranties.
 
They're the exact same drive except the Raptor X has a clear window. Same mechanics, same firmware, same TLER off by default setting. They will perform identically. If you don't want the window, buy the standard version for less.
 
Yeah standard is a bit cheaper, but there are no performance losses with it on a gaming desktop?
Click to expand...
The performance between the two is identical.

MTBF link?
Click to expand...
Already linked from Storage Review. I'd wager the clear cover isn't as solid as standard metal, hence the higher chance of failure.
 
Originally posted by: BFG10K
Yeah standard is a bit cheaper, but there are no performance losses with it on a gaming desktop?
Click to expand...
The performance between the two is identical.

MTBF link?
Click to expand...
Already linked from Storage Review. I'd wager the clear cover isn't as solid as standard metal, hence the higher chance of failure.
Click to expand...

But same Warranty. I don't care what the MTBF is because if your worried about chance of failure then yoy to be backing up your files anyways. The same 5 year warranty makes it fine by by me.

Aslo TLER is on, for the Raptor 150 as it is aimed at server use, while the Raptor X has it turned off. And all it does is after 7 seconds of error recovery it it cancells it. It basically assumes you are using a mirroring or raid 5 setup. Since the Raptor X is aimed at gamers. It is assumed that the drive is not going to be raided (as it doesn't improve performance in games) and their for error recovery can be very useful. Then again 7 seconds per error is a he[/i]ll of a lot of time, if it need more time then you might as well give it its last rights.

As for NCQ I think both versions have it enabled. The impact or performance increase recieved form NCQ is relatively small so I would really worry about it unless your using it in a server setup.

Windows on a hard drive hidden in HDD holders in the computer is kind of useless but also really cool. If I was purchasing a new HDD now I would so get the Raptor X, even if its just to gloat.
 
Originally posted by: Topweasel
Aslo TLER is on, for the Raptor 150 as it is aimed at server use, while the Raptor X has it turned off.
Click to expand...

The storage review article was new to me, but it clearly stated that TLER was off by default and that finally WD is offering some sort of utility for drive firmware.

RTFA
"This time around, thankfully, TLER ships disabled by default and may be enabled via a utility for installations that would benefit from the feature."
Click to expand...

 
Actually if you read the discussion on Storage Reviews website, WD may have given them a drive with TLER still on as alomst everybody is seeing a lower performance window (not by much but still their). So While I don't know for certain chances are TLER is still on by default.
 
Ok I realise now looking at my pockets I can't afford this bad boy right now, SO what do you guys think of the
74GB versus a Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3300622AS 300GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer?

THANKS
 
It's a tough conundrum to be sure. On the one hand the Raptor offers blazing performance but on the other you get very large storage capacity from standard SATA drives at much better prices with decent performance as well.

The 74 GB version for me is too small because I have close to 80 GB games installed so it's a toss up between the 150 GB Raptor and a 300+ GB SATA drive from Seagate.

I still can't decide.

Here are some good benchmarks of the Raptor 74 compared to modern drives.
 
Ok well I won't have or use that many of gigs of games at one time, BUT is the 150gb Raptor alot faster then the 74gb?

THANKS
 
It's not a lot faster, usually about 10%-15%. Of course Raptor 74 was already fast so the Raptor 150 is really something exceptional.

The main point of the Raptor 150 is its doubled storage size.
 
Did you read the Storagereview link on the first page? It has benchmarks of the Raptor 150 compared to the Raptor 74.
 
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