WD640AAKS $$63.89 FS (no rebates)

[Greg04]

I currently have one of these - is it worth it to buy another and get a raid 0 card?
Will there be a noticeable speed boost?

If yes, point me to cards please (my MB doesn't support raid - IP35-e)

 

[skywhr]

in for 1

 

[soccerballtux]

Get em while they're hot? These run hot? Maybe I should pass..

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Get em while they're hot? These run hot? Maybe I should pass..

Not at all. I've had one up for about a week in my new rig, and have been very happy. This is a solid, fast drive. And it's also one of the coolest components to the touch in my case.

Zipzoomfly's OEM HDD packaging is great too.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: cubeless

Originally posted by: firewolfsm
Is this a 320GB platter drive then?

supposed to be... from the perf they seem to be...

yes it is. I have this exact drive. It is fantastic.

I have made a truce with my wallet. Well, not so much a truce as I caved in to his demand: I cannot ever EVER EVER come back to hot deals. Just as long as I get this hard drive, then I'll be done here. really.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: EliteRetard

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
WD640AAKS - S W E E T drive Back in Stock! 62.99 Free Shipping!

Another possibility here
Basically get a free metal external enclosure.

I think you might void the warranty if you yank it out of the case

Originally posted by: Jiggz
I still believe the black version with 32MB cache is better at almost the same price!

The difference is very slight and, probably, not even noticable in real world useage. I believe the advantage to the black is a better warranty (if that matters)

I remember reading the techreport writeup on this drive last spring. They said it was the best hd they'd ever tested. The jump from 16mb to 32mb on the AALS is mostly marketing hype. I don't know HOW they get nearly identical performance with only 16mb, but they do. imho it's not worth $11 to get the newer drive, just spend the $59 for this one.

BTW, this is far and away the quietest hd I've ever used. I never realized how loud normal hd's are until I worked on the file server a month after buying one of these. The fs has a couple of 500gb seagates, I always thought they were quiet, but I could hear them seeking info a lot. And don't even get me started on mom's 36gb raptor...

 

[Greg04]

Originally posted by: Greg04
I currently have one of these - is it worth it to buy another and get a raid 0 card?
Will there be a noticeable speed boost?

If yes, point me to cards please (my MB doesn't support raid - IP35-e)

Perhaps - but check with other forum members to be sure...🙂

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: EliteRetard

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
WD640AAKS - S W E E T drive Back in Stock! 62.99 Free Shipping!

Another possibility here
Basically get a free metal external enclosure.

I think you might void the warranty if you yank it out of the case

Originally posted by: Jiggz
I still believe the black version with 32MB cache is better at almost the same price!

The difference is very slight and, probably, not even noticable in real world useage. I believe the advantage to the black is a better warranty (if that matters)

I remember reading the techreport writeup on this drive last spring. They said it was the best hd they'd ever tested. The jump from 16mb to 32mb on the AALS is mostly marketing hype. I don't know HOW they get nearly identical performance with only 16mb, but they do. imho it's not worth $11 to get the newer drive, just spend the $59 for this one.

BTW, this is far and away the quietest hd I've ever used. I never realized how loud normal hd's are until I worked on the file server a month after buying one of these. The fs has a couple of 500gb seagates, I always thought they were quiet, but I could hear them seeking info a lot. And don't even get me started on mom's 36gb raptor...

I'll spend the extra $11 for the additional 2 year warranty alone. The extra 16mb cache does help.

fwiw - ZZF now has it for $69.89 - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...p?ProductCode=10010082

Just ordered one for my brother's system.

 

[Gustavus]

Thanks for the thread -- and thanks to Capt. Caveman for the ZZF link. I just placed an order with ZZF since I also agree the extra 2 years of warranty and the extra 16 M of cache appear worth the $11.00 to me. I plan to make this my boot drive so every little bit helps.

 

[cubeless]

ne has the (mostly) equivalent 32mb cache seagate for $65 shipped...

 

[USAFdude02]

These drives are great. I have a total of 8 of these. Run fast and quiet.

 

[Gustavus]

Received my WD6401AALS 640 GB from ZipZoomFly and, in view of all of the comments about poor packaging by Newegg, wanted to say it came in the best OEM packaging I have ever seen. The drive itself was in a custom fitted soft foam box affair that by itself would have protected the drive from most any shock. That package was then in a strong cardboard box with foam beads. I repeat -- the best OEM packaging I have ever seen.

And I am equally impressed by the performance of the drive.

 

[Acanthus]

very very good drives, i run 2 in raid-0

At this price its almost tempting to get 2 more.

 

[arcenite]

Just ordered two for RAID1. They will be accompanying my RAID0 velociraptors :evil:

 

[Stas]

Have 2 of these. Bought at ZZF at different times ($68 for the first and $62 for the 2nd, 1-2 months apart). Awesome drives. Fast and quiet. Highest rated drive in its category. I have a 320 Hitachi, 320 Samsung, 4 250GB WDs of different models, and a 320 Seagate. The 640GB WD is far better than any of them, only the 320GB Samsung F1 gets close to the WD. Must also note that the 250GB WD (i think it's the "SD" model) is the slowest of them all (65MB/sec linear? are you kidding me. this isn't 90's).

 

[IEC]

I'm tempted to get another for a RAID 1 😉