WD1200JB Just arrived from newegg.

[aircooled]

Looks like I got the 40gig platter version. Is there a significant difference in performance compared to the newer 60gb platter versions?

 

[HendrixFan]

According to the pieces that Ive read there is no difference whatsoever in performance, and I certainly havent seen anything that says there is any noticable difference.

 

[LED]

Actually there is a difference in performance: Excerpt from THG FWIW:

Those who are interested in the new 120 GB model should be on the alert, because this drive is available at the store in two versions: one with the previous inner mechanisms and three 40 GB platters, and another one that is technically the same as the WD2000 tested here, but with two 60 GB platters. The new model has higher performance capabilities, so if the prices are the same, then go for the newer model. The model number of the new drive doesn't allow you to identify which is which, so we recommend that you take a look at the total number of sectors (indicated on the drive as "Drive Parameters"): the "old" model has 234.375 billion; the latest model has 234.442 billion. An alternative is to look at the manufacturing date - models dated starting September 2002 are most likely the ones that have 60 GB per platter

The WD200 and newer 120's performance is better !

 

[HendrixFan]

Those are just different specs and Tom brings no evidence to show a performance difference. Western Digital's official stance is that there is no performance difference and Storagereview.com has this to say (in general):

"Later model drives feature higher areal densities. Packing more data into the same amount of physical space increases sequential transfer rates which translates into higher performance for some niche applications. Increasing STR for the majority of applications, however, results in negligible performance these days."

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: LED
Actually there is a difference in performance: Excerpt from THG FWIW:

Those who are interested in the new 120 GB model should be on the alert, because this drive is available at the store in two versions: one with the previous inner mechanisms and three 40 GB platters, and another one that is technically the same as the WD2000 tested here, but with two 60 GB platters. The new model has higher performance capabilities, so if the prices are the same, then go for the newer model. The model number of the new drive doesn't allow you to identify which is which, so we recommend that you take a look at the total number of sectors (indicated on the drive as "Drive Parameters"): the "old" model has 234.375 billion; the latest model has 234.442 billion. An alternative is to look at the manufacturing date - models dated starting September 2002 are most likely the ones that have 60 GB per platter

The WD200 and newer 120's performance is better !

On my label, drive paramater is listed as: LBA 234441648 and my MFG date is Oct 29 2002. So maybe I do have the the 60gb platter, but the outer case is the design of the 40gb platter model. hmmm.