Don't smaller numbers mean faster? In that case, wouldn't the 100GB drive be faster? Or is that number a rating and bigger is better?
I just bought and installed the 320GB version by Samsung and I have to say it's a great little drive. I came from a 100GB 7200RPM Hitachi and the new Samsung is unbelievably silent compared to my old one (the Hitachi would always make these seeking noises when loading files).
Moreover, I ran XBench before and after the install and I have to say that the new drive actually outperforms the old one in every category except one, where they are basically equal in speed.
Hitachi 100GB 7200 RPM:
Code:
Disk Test 28.79
Sequential 45.66
Uncached Write 56.63 34.77 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 65.75 37.20 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 23.83 6.97 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 78.30 39.35 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 21.03
Uncached Write 6.89 0.73 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 50.50 16.17 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 67.22 0.48 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 95.19 17.66 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Samsung 320GB 5400RPM:
Code:
Disk Test 41.89
Sequential 59.93
Uncached Write 80.88 49.66 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 76.61 43.35 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 30.40 8.90 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 118.55 59.58 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 32.20
Uncached Write 11.25 1.19 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 100.95 32.32 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 61.39 0.44 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 109.70 20.36 MB/sec [256K blocks]
I would think that since my Samsung uses the same platter density as the 500GB one that the performance would be pretty close.