Which HD to use as a boot drive?

randomrogue

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2011
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So I used HD Tune Pro to check out speeds. I'm a novice at this but was just curious. Apparently I can't do the writes but here's the read data. Anything else I should look at? Am I reading this right that the Raptor is this outdated?

Raptor 74GB: WD740GD-50FLA2
Read Min: 41.9 MB/s
Read Max: 67.7 MB/s
Read Ave: 60 MB/s
Access Time: 9.02 ms
Burst Rate: 109.4 MB/s

Hitachi 1TB: HD721010CLA332
Read Min: 64.5 MB/s
Read Max: 132.3 MB/s
Read Ave: 106.1 MB/s
Access Time: 14.3 ms
Burst Rate: 161.1 MB/s

WD 640GB: WD6400AAKS-00A7B0
Read Min: 54.6 MB/s
Read Max: 116.9 MB/s
Read Ave: 91.6 MB/s
Access Time: 12.3 ms
Burst Rate: 172.2 MB/s

WD 320GB: WD3200JD-00KLB0
Read Min: 34.5 MB/s
Read Max: 63.6 MB/s
Read Ave: 54.3 MB/s
Access Time: 13.9 ms
Burst Rate: 101.1 MB/s
 

Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
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The raptor is outdated with respect to sequential reads, but the point of a raptor is for low access time. An OS doesn't do large sequential reads and writes under normal operation, but rather short, random seeks and writes. That is why a raptor can feel more "snappy" than the hitachi, for example. That is theory anyway.

I just replaced my dying 74gb raptor with a 1tb WD Black, and I can't really tell a difference. *shrug*
 

razel

Platinum Member
May 14, 2002
2,337
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I would figure out the platter densities of each. Then create a 74GB partition at the beginning of your densest disk and bench that. I have a feeling it'll beat or match the Raptor. Even the access time.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
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I'd take the Raptor or the WD 640. Recent Hitachi drives seem to have gone for sequential speeds and low power. You may not notice a difference, but there's a possibility that the test showing access times could very much correlate to what you'd feel, using it.

Sequential speeds, at this point, are generally good enough.

What razel says to do has been tested on some drives, and tends to be true. using only the outer portion of the platters, Raptors can be beaten. When the 74GB Raptor was current, it could show up 15K SCSI drives on the desktop. But, you know, technology moves fast.