HardDisk Cache

[waynepixel]

I was thinking of getting a new harddisk for my PM G4.

Can someone tell me why some harddisk have 2MB Cache and some have 8MB Cache.

And is there a performance difference between the two.


80Gb Western Digital (WD800JB) ATA-100 (7200rpm, 8MB Cache, 8.5ms) Quiet Drive Technology 3Yr

82.3Gb IBM/Hitachi Deskstar 120GXP ATA-100 (7200rpm,2MB Cache, 8.5ms) 1Yr

 

[melchior]

more cache means continuous reads and writes will be faster.

if you have the dosh, then the western digital is by far a better drive.

the deskstar's are notorious for dying young. i use them, because they are the cheapest on the market, but if you value long term life, that is not their purpose. IBM makes other drives that are for that purpose. still with a smaller buffer though...

it's all about money.

 

[Bear]

Another thing to check on the disks is the warranty, some disks have a one year warranty and some a three year warranty. And you have to look at the individual box to tell.

 

[melchior]

i think some have 5 years warranty. you know you can trust those!

 

[Bear]

Originally posted by melchior
i think some have 5 years warranty. you know you can trust those!

Five year warranties on IDE/ATA disks are a thing of the long past.

 

[melchior]

it's too true

i mentioned it because i saw the 10,000rpm raptor serial ata drive has a 5-year warranty...

 

[Bear]

Originally posted by melchior
it's too true

i mentioned it because i saw the 10,000rpm raptor serial ata drive has a 5-year warranty...

Ahh... but first you need a serial ATA controller for the Mac.

I hadn't realized they had cycled the warranties up again.

Other ATA drives will be one and 3 years warranties.

 

[Wano]

www.googlegear.com has good deals...I found a western digital 120gb HD with 8mb cache for $137.50 there.