Speed Difference between 120gb 2mb and 8mb cache

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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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My boys want to know the difference. I dont think i explained it well to them and would love to show this thread to them.

I mean for games whats the difference. For eveything else. I told them i didnt think they would notice in games or anything else unless they were accessing the drive for files constantly or running benchmark software
 
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CChaos

Golden Member
Mar 4, 2003
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Hmmm. I don't know if you would notice the performance, but I have a feeling you would. If you go to storagereview.com and check out the database you can put, for instance, the Western Digital 120GB BB and JB drives side by side and compare various benchmarks.
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: FFactory0x
My boys want to know the difference. I dont think i explained it well to them and would love to show this thread to them.

I mean for games whats the difference. For eveything else. I told them i didnt think they would notice in games or anything else unless they were accessing the drive for files constantly or running benchmark software
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Actually the 8MB version is always superior in performance. As you can see here the JB (8MB) always outperforms the BB (2MB) version.

Thorin
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
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I'd say around 6MB difference.:p

That's interesting though how the JB is ahead in almost everything except the SR Web Server DriveMark 2002 section. Anyone know why that is?
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Jeff7
I'd say around 6MB difference.:p

That's interesting though how the JB is ahead in almost everything except the SR Web Server DriveMark 2002 section. Anyone know why that is?
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Not sure why the 2000JB falls behind in that area, but if you add the 1200JB to the comparison it takes the lead in that section.

Thorin
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
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Not only is it the good platter density that the 2mb and 8mb drives share, but that extra 6MB of cache is A LOT of cache. The drive spends it's time just servicing back and forth from cache rather than reading directly from the disk and being limited by mechanicals.

I want a 120GB 8MB but it's not a smart purchase now since I have a GXP60 60GB only half full :)...but next week broadband (wireless 700k/700k) get finally offered in my area and I am biting that hook...since my 1.4/1.4 connection was lost when I moved 2 years ago and suffering through lines that connect at 28.8k max. :(
 
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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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yea, but in all honesty. I know there is a difference but when would you see the difference is what they want to know. Most of them are regular users who play games. Dont care about aa/af as long as it runs smooth. Im the one who updates all there stuff for them. Sure they run Kaaza(The devil) and winamp or wmedia player and so on but nothing like 3d studio max, decoding software, encoding. You know stuff that taxes a system.

For gaming i told them in all honesty they would see no difference in gameplay. Am i right?
 
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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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im with your alkemist. I have a wd 7200rpm 40gb drive and its fine for what i need. Hell i usually am done with stuff and delete it before it gets full. Plus i store stuff on cdr's and dvd's. I had that external 120gb 5400 rpm maxtor i got for $50 back in nov and i used 5 gigs on it!!! Sold it for $130 and havent looked back. It sat there with movies and xbo backups and i used it twice to transfer stuff from my homes computer to my apt computer.
 
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chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: FFactory0x
For gaming i told them in all honesty they would see no difference in gameplay. Am i right?
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You're pretty much right, the only time they would see a difference (and I don't know if it would even be that noticeable) is during load times in between maps etc. Swap file accesses might not be as intrusive, but if they are running into swap issues, they should look to buy more RAM first. Bootup time into Windows is a little bit faster as well. For their type of use, it wouldn't make sense to upgrade all their drives just for the 8MB versions. If however, they are looking to get new disks anyways, it makes more sense to go ahead and get an 8MB version as the incremental cost isn't much more (and with the case with Maxtor's, often the same and sometimes less).

Chiz
 
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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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yea. I was giving them these for $100 and installing them for my friends and they were like no I want only the 8mb version cuase there better. Im likeok but you just playing games/listening to music and writing term paper and have 512mb of ram. You wont notice a difference, but its that stupid misconception people get. Its like buying a radeon 9700 pro or even 9800 pro right now. I mean hell no game uses that much power yet so its pointless to spend that money. But people again hear ""better"" and think it iwll help. I was the same way, and was gonna buy a new graphix card. Had geforce3 and 256mb pc800 ram. I was pisses cause it was slow on newer games, so my friend did an upgrade and gave me 256mb pc800 more. Popped it in. Difference is night and day. Its like a brand new card now. Dont know how i got into talking about geforce3 but you get the picture
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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The other major consideration is that the 8MB versions all this carry 3yr warranties where their 2mb counter parts only carry a 1yr.

Thorin
 
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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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i guess ill call around. Is it possible to buy them at compusa and staples, then return th 2mb cache ones to compusa?
 
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chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: FFactory0x
Difference is night and day. Its like a brand new card now. Dont know how i got into talking about geforce3 but you get the picture
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Yah, many people make the mistake of just going for broke on the video card but neglecting their cpu/platform. Given the cpu bottlenecked nature of current games, your friends should also consider a faster CPU instead of a HDD if they don't need the extra space. I know that the ~600MHz increase I got from my 1700+ T-bred A @1.725GHz to my 2100+ T-bred B @ 2.380GHz put a turbocharger into my current games. CPU speed and RAM (512MB at least for gaming) are just as important for newer games IMO.

Chiz
 
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chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: FFactory0x
i guess ill call around. Is it possible to buy them at compusa and staples, then return th 2mb cache ones to compusa?
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Er, not legally. Just check the hot deals forums, if a Staples deal comes up you could probably make a killing if your total purchase triggers one of the higher tiered coupons ($50 off $200, $75 off $300 etc.). These drives regularly go for < $1 a GB and have been going for ~.60-.70/GB lately after PM.

Chiz
 
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FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
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i need to buy in store though.. hmm acutally instore kiosk :) but i do need to find 8mb versions.

I hope they let me use all $400 at once, if not ill bepissed.
 
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mrman3k

Senior member
Dec 15, 2001
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I wonder if you would see any real world differences between the BB and JB versions. I would still go the JB route just to know that it is there.
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: mrman3k
I wonder if you would see any real world differences between the BB and JB versions. I would still go the JB route just to know that it is there.
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Yes you do, ask anyone who has one, read any review..... It's like night and day. Similar to the switch from 5400 to 7200 (originally).

Thorin
 
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