1TB or 640GB as boot drive for new Nehalem Mac Pro?

[amoergosum]

Hello,
I'm about to order a 2x2.26Ghz 8-core Mac Pro.
I still have to decide whether to order it with the base hard drive (640GB)
or the 1TB hard drive (as the boot drive).
What would you recommend? Is the 640GB hard drive faster than the 1TB ?
best,
Ben

 

[MistaBungle]

It depends on the actual specs of both drives. What is the RPM, cache, etc..?

 

[amoergosum]

It depends on the actual specs of both drives. What is the RPM, cache, etc..?

Here are the specs from the Apple online store >>>
640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s

 

[Cliff3]

The 640GB model comes with a Western Digital WD6400AAKS while my understanding is that the 1TB version is equipped with the WD1001FALS.

I did not want to order directly from Apple, and BTO machines are/were not yet available from resellers. I wanted a server grade drive in my machine (to which I'll add more as time and budget permits), and I can always put a decent spare drive to good use, so I ordered the base machine and separately ordered a 1TB WD1002FBYS RE3 drive (Newegg - $160).

 

[RemarkabLee]

If the above model numbers are correct, the 640 has 16Mb cache and the 1Tb has 32Mb cache.

Personally, I'd take the 640 as the money you'd save for an Apple upgrade you could buy yourself a 1Tb if you shop around AND get to keep the 640 drive for Time Machine!

 

[Cliff3]

If the above model numbers are correct, the 640 has 16Mb cache and the 1Tb has 32Mb cache.

Personally, I'd take the 640 as the money you'd save for an Apple upgrade you could buy yourself a 1Tb if you shop around AND get to keep the 640 drive for Time Machine!

I can vouch for the 640 model number - I eyeballed the one in my machine which arrived late yesterday. Both model numbers were posted in a prior thread, but I'm too lazy to search for it.