SCSI HD's size versus IDE

[Fencer128]

Hi, why do SCSI HD's max out in size at much lower sizes than IDE ones. I've noticed that for a couple of years now whilst most IDE drives are moving through 40, 60, 80GB, SCSI HD's have been stuck (apart from a couple of exceptions) around 36GB max. As far as I am aware the data density of the platter is the limiting factor for HD size, so shouldn't that be the same for IDE and SCSI (since only the electronics is different?)

 

[mackstann]

except for, you know, that one uh, 137 Gig seagate scsi drive???

 

[Vegito]

and that 180gb one too..

 

[Oyeve]

Or the Seagate Cheetah ST173404LW 73.4GB

 

[Oyeve]

They havent maxed out lower than IDE, they are just not as common as cheap IDE so you dont see it as much.

 

[Fencer128]

Point taken. Just don't see so many of them around here.

 

[junthin]

SCSI hard drives actually come in larger flavors than IDE hard drives.

Take this for example:

73GB Seagate 10k rpm U2W SCSI Hard Drive: $700 :Q

80GB WD 7200rpm IDE Hard Drive: $300

Notice the price difference? Most people here don't use SCSI (or at least that large of a variety) and instead most people here use IDE since it is afforable. Most of the larger SCSI hard drives are used in servers, render farms, or AV studios. Not personal desktops. (Well...at least most people don't have these in their personal desktops. )

 

[Quickfingerz]

Actually there are plenty of large SCSI hard drives you just don't see them that often because they are expensive.

 

[SUOrangeman]

I think we recently got the 180GB drive for $1800 at work.

www.dirtcheapdrives.com, mebbe?

-SUO

 

[Radboy]

scsi drives excel at running an os, apps & swap/page file. ide drives excel as cheap mass storage, for things like mp3's, images, back-ups files, downloads, etc.

it doesn't take much room to run an os, apps & swap page file. 9 gigs is plenty. 18 gigs is more than enough. most people don't need large scsi drives, cuz they're generally not used for mass storage.