OldBuzzard

As I stated here a number of times I am a beta tester for HyperOS.

I just recieved the beta for HyperOS 2009, and they have made a huge change. Now, instead of having multiple partitions with one OS in each partition, 2009 allows for an almost unlimited number of OSs in one partition. We are talking like 100 XP, 100 XP 64, 100 Vista 32, 100 Vista 64. Basically as many OS's as the HDD/partition can hold.

That being the case, and not wanting to bugger up my existing setup, I'm going to get a new HDD. I'm thinking of a SATA 3.0 that is 750GB or more. I could get by with a 500GB one I guess, since my current OS HDD is only 300GB now, but I would like to add a few OS's anyway.

One question is, what is the largest SINGLE PARTITION that XP x32 can recognize, as I will have at least one XP 32 installation?

The other question is WHOSE drive do I go with? I'm been using Maxtor's exclusively since they bought Quantum, but since they are no longer available, what's going to be a good replacement? All out speed isn't all that important for me, so it doesn't have to be blazing fast, just BIG, and reliable.

Looking at Newegg there are a couple that 'look' good especially $$ wise.

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
109.99 and the customer reviews (for what they are worth) aren't too shabby. But 3 yr warranty

[COLOR=#800080]Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3750330NS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives[/COLOR]
149.99, but supposedy VERY reliable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148298
119.99 with 5 yr warranty, but doesn't seen to have as good reviews as the one above.

Any help will be appreciated, and I'm not limiting my choices to the ones I listed. Since I've never owned anything other than Maxtor for a LONG time, I'm open to all suggestions for a replacement.

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kris23

do you need to stop at 750GB? why not hit 1TB? they arent that expensive and one is limited by SATA ports

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

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OldBuzzard

Yeah, I did look at that, and it's not out of the question.

The thing that looked good about the one Seagate 750 was the ES series is SUPPOSED to be VERY reliable.

Also, I want to have just one BIG partition, and I'm not sure I can do that with 1TB, if I have to drop back to 500GB to achieve that I probably will.

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kris23

looking at the specs for XP Pro 32bit, it can support up to 2TB HDD space.

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OldBuzzard

I just did a bit of Goggleing...seems like using NTFS, the limit is something like 16EB (exobytes). Doesn't look like a 1TB partition is going to be a problem

So, now it a matter of Reliability/Price/Performance, in that order.

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PangingJr

have you check out information on WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS), 750GB (WD7501AALS)?
i plan to try using these WD drive model series and see how it's going to be.

mkk

Sounds really cool with the HyperOS 2009. Even if speed is not most important you may want to avoid the 750GB models if a 640GB drive would do since it uses fewer platters, which can be a good thing for heat and noise besides the somewhat improved performance. And if getting a 1TB drive I suspect there may still be some old 4-5 platter drive out on the market whereas the newest models need only three. Samsung for instance has only one 1TB model so that would be a safe bet.

OldBuzzard

I've been doing a lot of searching, and it's kinda tough finding good HDD reviews. I gues they just aren't "sexy" enough

I'm beginning to lean HEAVILY towards this
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

as opposed to the ES 2 version
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3750330NS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

30.00 cheaper, and it 'seems' like they are identical, and that the ES 2s are just "cherry picked" versions.

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PangingJr

a little compare between the Barracuda ES.2 and 7200.11 - Seagate's Barracuda ES.2 hard drive - The Tech Report - Page 1
if you like the Seagate drives, i think both are good drive, just flip a coin and get one.

kris23

why not one 1TB? you cann do it lol

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OldBuzzard

Well, IF I wouldn't have just bought a new Logitech MX 5500 KB/mouse, I'd probably go with the 1TB, just for the epecker factor However the 750GB is more than enough for my purposes, since it will more be more than double the size of my current OS drive (300GB) which has 7 OSs on it, but with a lot of unused space on a number of them. I figure I can get as many as 20 OS's on the 750, and that's starting to get into the relm of rediculusness

Plus that Cooler Master HAF 932 is keeps whispering "Buy me, buy me" too...dang, so many toys, so little $$

Good find PangingJr, Looks like the standard and ES (at least in the 1TG versions) are neck and neck for the most part and any time there was an advantage, the was the non-ES that was ahead. That may have changed with newer firmware, as that review is 8 months old, but even then, it looks like the premium you pay for the ES wouldn't be worth it.

I plan on just unplugging my current OS HDD, and putting all new OS's on the new one, keeping the old one as backup for awhile, just in case. If all goes well, I'll wipe the 300, copy over the data from my 160 Pata drive, and be all SATA. Or would you think I'd be safe just changing the BOOT SEQUENCE, and leaving both of them plugged in so I wouldn't have to keep opening up the case?

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OldBuzzard

I went with the less expensive 750GB.

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

As much as I would have liked to go with the 750GB ES 2, or 1TB ES 2, I just couldn't justify either of them on a Price/Performance level.

My e-penis is currently pissed off at me, but it will get over it

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY