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Seagate Momentus XT vs. WD Scorpio Black

Philflow said:
Seagate XT actually beats the Scorpio Black in most situations, even when the cache is not helping. See here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6071&p=2
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5818&review=ssd+vs+hard+drive
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...pio-black-750gb-2-5-hard-drive-review-11.html

And those reviews were done with firmware SD25. SD28 makes the XT even faster.
Click to expand...

No firmware upgrade can do Miracles, Actually those firmware updates pursuit more stability and compatibility.

For the links you present, very good, first two are for the Smallers Scorpios (640GB & 500GB), and the third is a comparo among the Scorpio Black 750 (the one I have) and others (momentus XT), its true the XT beats in SOME test the S.B. 750 but if YOU READ THE FRIST PAGE, you can read the TRUTH I MENTION, THE SCORPIO BEATS EASY THE MOMENTUS XT ON MOST HEAVY USE TEST EASY WINS TO MOMENTUS XT.

SEE PAGE 2 of the same link you provided:http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...pio-black-750gb-2-5-hard-drive-review-10.html

LARGE FILE COPY (10GB):
Momentus XT(500GB):104/106 MBPS
SCORPIO BLACK 750: 126/110 MBPS << win


SMALL FILE COPY (10GB):
Momentus XT(500GB):57/68 MBPS
SCORPIO BLACK 750: 54/75 MBPS << win

More significative are testo on this page:http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...rpio-black-750gb-2-5-hard-drive-review-8.html

RAMDOM Write (4k@64QD,4K,Secuential)MBPS (higher the faster)

WDSB750:
1.44
1.16
118.9

SMXT500:
0.98
1.11
59.5

RAMDOM Read (4k@64QD,4K,Secuential) MBPS (higher the faster)

WDSB750:
1.47
0.74
124.25

SMXT500:
1.20
0.58
78.9

Explain: Seagate Moentus XT 4GB cache is a big LIE, youll need to restrict your system execution to load the same 4GB of data from files to take advantage of the cache, if NOT CACHED SPEED NORMAL for a 500GB HDD.

Largue file, and ramdom file trnsfers are the most common task after boot, maybe you still can load few cached files, not allways, IT's A LOTTERY TO GAIN SPEED FROM SUCH SMALL SSD CACHE.

This is rigth for POWER USERS, ocassional user/gamers since their habits are less demanding on cache are the best suited to take advantage of the Momentus XT.
 
Here is a review of the New W.D. Scorpio Blue 1TB@5400 against other 7200rpm HDD.

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/1TB-WD-Scorpio-Blue-25-HD-QuickTake/

Easy beats on every test to any 7200rpm HDD.

Test don't include a comparo with WDSB750 wich still a bit faster on most test while not all, coz it's 1TB cousin beat it on some largue file transfers, but not as big difference as with the Momentus XT.

If Seagate launches an XT with 16GB/32MB cache and 1TB space @5400 RPM then go for it, but not the actual XTs.....
 
Mago said:
No firmware upgrade can do Miracles, Actually those firmware updates pursuit more stability and compatibility.
Click to expand...
The SD28 firmware update improves random read and write performance up to 50%. As you probably know that has a significant an impact on the performance.

seagateSD28update.jpg


Several users have confirmed that the firmware update makes it faster.
Before the update, I would rate the Scorpio Black 750GB HDD I have as faster than the XT. I would also have bet that the Hitachi 7K750 750GB model to be faster too (don't own this one, but do know Hitachi drives).

But, as of Firmware SD28, the XT is again in the top position for mechanical HDD's - obviously better than my Scorpio Black 750GB drive and much, much better than any 'last gen' 500GB, 7200RPM drives from last year or so.
Click to expand...

And even with the old firmware the XT managed to beat the 750GB Black in quite a few situations.

filecopy.gif


boot.jpg


adobe.jpg
 
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Again, that Speed Gains, end where your cache ENDs, it's a Lottery, BTW 50% gain figure seems subjetive...

Mi Approach is on practical/safe usage, not benchmarking coz this is only a one-time situation, but at large when you hurry, that 4GB cache have been long over, and you're alone with the "brute" parameters ant the HDD Realiability.

If you're not an GAMER or CASUAL User, Mi suggestion is to keep away from current Hybrid HDD.
 
Yes power users that use a lot of large applications don't benefit as much from the cache, I agree. Still it's uncertain whether the Scorpio Black can actually be faster than the XT with firmware SD28. We'll need some real world benchmarks to determine that.

For the average user the XT can be a very good solution. Here's how mine performs with about 8 applications.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMldqf5oUZw
 
Taken from the same link you post about new XT firmware...

PHIL:Re: Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid HDD w/ built-in 4GB SSD said:
The changes were consistent at 100MB file size. At 500MB file size there was no change visible.
Click to expand...

I's my point.
 
From the same page:
I use the drive as a secondary drive on my system and can confirm somwhat the crystal disk mark results. With 50mb and 100 mb the speeds have increased but at 1,000 mb they are about the same. For average use we almost never sequentially read or write 1GB at a time so real world the lower numbers are more realisticaly used.

This is a fast impression so far but for real world it looks like the firmware improves performance
Click to expand...

So performance wise it depends on the user which drive is the fastest. Noise levels on the XT are lower though.
 
Considering Performance, Long Term Reliability, lower noise & Temperature, and Hassle-free setup (no firmware ugrade/downgrade surprises), the BEST Overall is the WD. Scorpio Blue 1TB.

TopSpeed No Performance Surprises > WD Scorpio Black 750.

Ultra Fast Boot, excelent performance on comon tasks & Games: Momentus XT.

Note that OS/X Lion while boots use to move upto 8GB of data to and from Memory at different stages, one user experience doesn't count, all we do a different usage of our systems.

I.E. Video Transcoding, it's very common, but is the most demanding task for both HDD & CPU, Hybrid HDD will never beat STD HDD, Only an full SSD can beat the WDSB750 on transcoding.

Rigth Now mi MBPe2011 boot on less than one minute, maybe 20-30 seconds with an hybrid HDD, Worh it? NO, the big difference are the 750GB and Sustained Top Performance, NO TRICKS, NO SURPISES.

IMHO Hibryd HDD are not Ready for Macs, maybe perfect for Windows 7/x86 and most x64, but no power users.
 
Not sure why you would say Seagate XT is good for Windows but not for Mac. Mine runs fine since day one, with OS X and Windows. Many users on these forums have posted similar experiences.

Some info about the Black from the other thread:
imeth said:
my first early 2011 13" mbp I installed the western scorpio 750GB HDD 7200 rpm, the battery life decreases and it has really bad vibration noticeable.

i went and bought another 13" 2011 last night and installed the 750GB 7200rpm Hitachi.. It's like the stock 320GB, quiet, battery life is about the same. Get the HITACHI cheaper and reliable!! plus I bought both from newegg, I did not like the "oem" package of the western scorpio
Click to expand...
 
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I read this comment before buy my WDSBlack, only can say it maybe from a defective unit or directed by a seagate salesman, also i read nigthmares about reliability, but when I do a serious research I find the truth, same I can confirm:

My WDS Black run as quiet as the original HDD, no power drain issues.

It runs hot on heavy usage, but the unibody aluminium dissipates its quickly, not umconfortable (intensive GPU usage or transcoding really heat the mac).

We just can judge a producto for few reviews, I use to review the reviewer before give it credit.

read reviews at many sites.

an example of directed reviews are about the MAGSAFE at apple store... seriously I was alarmed on that, then I come here and other sites looking for the truth... Some magsafe units need a redesign, but current generation is as strong as the best power bricks.

Also on memory upgrades, i read many nigthmares stories on some sites about the Corsair modules I bougth for my MBP... many lies, but many truth, the truth I installed and like a charm, also with some abuse on a hot enviroment... no issues.

We must be smart readi g comments, some maybe directed by rivals (or maybe people w/o reak knowledge just writing any thing to catch attention)...

About the magsafe, I received which seems the latest revision: A1343
 
If it is running hot do a ram reset and you should be good. My WD Black has been pretty good for the money.
 
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