WD 640GB or VelociRaptor 300GB

[TaranScorp]

I was wondering if there was a really big difference in Seek Time's between these two drives that would be noticed in real world use. I'm looking for a decent OS hard drive with very good seek times.
Thanks

 

[Russwinters]

I would guess the velociraptor will be mildly faster on things like Level loading in games.


Overall I see more value in the 640GB, you get almost the same speed, maybe even faster in some applications, and double the space.


Make sure you get the new 640GB the AAEX version with 64MB cache.

 

[Zap]

The VelociRaptor is a bit faster. You may not notice it when moving from a 7200RPM drive to a VR, but if you move back you sure will.

How big of a drive do you need for an OS drive (and which OS)? For the price of a 300GB VR you can get a 60GB Indilinx based SSD and a bit more gets an Intel 80G SSD.

 

[killster1]

I would guess the velociraptor will be mildly faster on things like Level loading in games.


Overall I see more value in the 640GB, you get almost the same speed, maybe even faster in some applications, and double the space.


Make sure you get the new 640GB the AAEX version with 64MB cache.

i guess ill check out the reviews for the aaex version, i have like 10 1tb blacks and 10 640gb black planing on buying some more black edition 1tb and few ssd soon as i figure out what to get.. a 60GB Indilinx? damn i feel like newb when talk about ssd since i have not even looked at them or considered them till about a week ago (gunna go check reviews ;/ )

PS so i checked review and the AAEX version is not even faster in real world, not sure what the point is, i guess its 1 second faster than a old 8mb cache 320gb wd in booting windows woho..

 

[TaranScorp]

On the Western Digital Caviar Black WD6402AAEX, if you short stroke it will that give it better access times? I was wondering if you use a disk defragger that puts all your most used software to the faster part of the hard drive why do some people short stroke their drives instead?

 

[Hacp]

i guess ill check out the reviews for the aaex version, i have like 10 1tb blacks and 10 640gb black planing on buying some more black edition 1tb and few ssd soon as i figure out what to get.. a 60GB Indilinx? damn i feel like newb when talk about ssd since i have not even looked at them or considered them till about a week ago (gunna go check reviews ;/ )

PS so i checked review and the AAEX version is not even faster in real world, not sure what the point is, i guess its 1 second faster than a old 8mb cache 320gb wd in booting windows woho..

Its about seek times which affect random read. Faster seek=faster random read.

 

[Golgatha]

I was wondering if there was a really big difference in Seek Time's between these two drives that would be noticed in real world use. I'm looking for a decent OS hard drive with very good seek times.
Thanks

As an OS HDD you will definitely notice the difference in seek times. I've been using a Velociraptor 300GB for about a year now and love it. Everyone else's computers seems slow when you get multiple apps running. I am toying with putting my Velociraptor in my HTPC, although I pretty much would get no benefit from it since it's not a high usage machine, once my Crucial C300 gets installed (hopefully tonight).

You might look for me on the FS/FT forums soon with either a Velociraptor 300GB or a 500GB single platter 7200.12 Seagate drive for sale. I will most likely sell the Velociraptor though, as I need the cash to put towards the Crucial C300 purchase.

 

[TaranScorp]

Yea, I might try a Velociraptor. I'll try the FS/FT forum here first. Amazon has the WD1500HLFS for $128.

 

[Zap]

Amazon has the WD1500HLFS for $128.

Amazon also has the Intel X25-V 40GB SSD for cheaper than that, and it is an order of magnitude better performance.

 

[TaranScorp]

NewEgg even has it a little bit cheaper(Intel X25-V), but out of stock today.
I just graduated from Pata to Sata this month and have two Sata and two Pata drives in my computer right now. The Sata's have me impressed so I want to replace my two Pata's with another Sata. SSD's seem to cost a lot for 40GB, I payed $100 for my two Samsung 500GB F3's. A VelociRaptor would be another jump up for me.