REFURB (NOS?) WD Blue 160GB SATA2 3.5" HDD $14.99 FS @ Newegg

[cbn]

Here is a Western Digital recertified 3200AZKX (320GB) on sale for $21 free shipping after promo code (unfortunately it expires today):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236963

According to the following database this is a 1TB platter drive short stroked to 320GB:

http://rml527.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdd-platter-database-western-digital-35_26.html

So its a relatively new manufacture drive.

In contrast, my NOS 320GB WD Caviar SE (for $22 shipped) is an older drive based on two 160GB platters according to the same data base.

Overall, the performance of this 320GB drive I am listing here would be much greater than that NOS 320GB drive I bought back in June. This due to the higher platter density and short stroking.

NOS (but slower) with one year warranty vs. Recertified (but faster, newer design) with 180 day warranty....an interesting choice to make.

P.S. More info on the effect of short stroking here and here.

Drive is now on sale for $19.99 free shipping.

 

[cbn]

Here is a Western Digital recertified 3200AZKX (320GB) on sale for $21 free shipping after promo code (unfortunately it expires today):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236963

According to the following database this is a 1TB platter drive short stroked to 320GB:

http://rml527.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdd-platter-database-western-digital-35_26.html

So its a relatively new manufacture drive.

In contrast, my NOS 320GB WD Caviar SE (for $22 shipped) is an older drive based on two 160GB platters according to the same data base.

Overall, the performance of this 320GB drive I am listing here would be much greater than that NOS 320GB drive I bought back in June. This due to the higher platter density and short stroking.

NOS (but slower) with one year warranty vs. Recertified (but faster, newer design) with 180 day warranty....an interesting choice to make.

P.S. More info on the effect of short stroking here and here.

Drive is now on sale for $19.99 free shipping.

I order the above drive and received it today.

Externally it looked new and when I checked S.M.A.R.T it had 0 Power on hours.

 

[cbn]

Comparing the following two groups of Western Digital Recertified drives on Newegg the quality level appears to be very different.

The White and Blue listings (144 combined newegg reviews of which 42 are one egg) have drives that in some cases have OSes installed on them, old customer data, reallocated sectors, etc.....but some do report zero Power on hours.

In contrast, the White and Black drives (which have dfferent style label) in the second group have only 7 ratings combined but did much better (6 five egg ratings and one two egg rating...the two egg rating only given because the reviewer thought the drive was slow)

1. The White and Blue colored listings:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ2NB9516

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136979 (This one does have four reviews where the users reported 0 Power on Hours (and one reported new external appearance), but the other reviews indicate used drives)

2. The White and Black (Different style label) colored listings:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-Skimlinks (Larry's listing in the OP)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236963 (The drive I bought which I described in post #27)

So I was wondering if the label change indicated a meaningful change in the way WD recertifies drives? Or are are we seeing a much better rating in the second group primarily due to the smaller sample size?

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1Z4-0002-001J1&ignorebbr=1

Western Digital Blue WD2500AAKX 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
REFURBISHED

$9.99 FS

Newegg

 

[cbn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1Z4-0002-001J1&ignorebbr=1

Western Digital Blue WD2500AAKX 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
REFURBISHED

$9.99 FS

Newegg

This one is based on a 500GB platter according to the HD Platter database:

http://rml527.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdd-platter-database-western-digital-35_26.html

And it has 16MB cache.

I reckon that is not a bad deal considering New WD3200AAJS (8MB cache, 160GB to 500GB platter) and New WD3200AAKS (16MB cache, 500GB platter) can be had for $17.99 free shipping and $21.99 free shipping respectively from Goharddrive.com's ebay store.

The question is what to do with these relatively low capacity 3.5" Hard drives now that SSD prices are falling?

I'm thinking cheap secondary storage when paired with a 60GB SSD (eg, Hectron X1) in a used Core 2 SFF Pre-built. (eg, $22 MLC 60GB SSD + refurb 250GB = $33 (about the same price as a 120GB TLC drive). This, possibly, as a kid's computer.

Other uses?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm thinking cheap secondary storage when paired with a 60GB SSD (eg, Hectron X1) in a used Core 2 SFF Pre-built. (eg, $22 MLC 60GB SSD + refurb 250GB = $33 (about the same price as a 120GB TLC drive). This, possibly, as a kid's computer.

Other uses?

That's a pretty good idea. I wish that there was a way to fit both an SSD and a 3.5" HDD into those Winsis WT-02 mini-ITX/DTX cases. (And still be able to install a DVD-RW drive.)

 

[cbn]

Deleted.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ehh, might want to mention, that's from a marketplace seller, not Newegg themselves. I pass...

 

[cbn]

Ehh, might want to mention, that's from a marketplace seller, not Newegg themselves. I pass...

Agreed. Post Deleted.