Hard drive choice

Takaharu · Oct 16, 2009, 10:33 PM

If money was no object, would you choose a 250GB SSD or a 300GB Velociraptor and why?
This is taking into consideration that the hard drive would be the primary drive with the OS and installed applications, when files are stored on other drives; say, for argument's sake, twin 1TB drives.

I've seen a few articles about SSD vs VR but they're usually based on 32GB or 64GB SSD and similarly small VR drives.

BlueMak · Oct 17, 2009, 05:19 AM

I don't trust the technology behind SSDs so I would go for the dinosaur.
300GB is not enough btw, at least if you are a gamer.

simonw · Oct 17, 2009, 06:28 AM

SSD for me, mainly because they are faster, less heat, silent, and no mechanical moving parts.

Tipstaff · Oct 17, 2009, 09:40 AM

IF I was using Windows 7, Mac OS X, or Linux, I would have an SSD for my main drive, but have a "traditional" mechanical drive for everything else. Hell, I'd have a fast SSD, and a Velociraptor.

IF I wasn't using the above OS's, mechanical all the way. There's just too much babysitting to do with SSDs on other OS's (special pre-formating to do on XP, plus TRIM operations that need to keep being run to maintain drive speed). Speaking of TRIM, if it f's up while doing it's job you can kiss your data goodbye.

If money were no object I wouldn't be going with a Velociraptor though, instead looking to SAS to get access to the 15K drives. For now SAS and SATA transfer speeds are roughly the same, but SAS's bandwidth is going to double soon, so that'd be another plus in SAS's favor.

SeraphicSorcerer · Oct 17, 2009, 09:55 AM

I don't know 2 V-raps in raid 0 can be pretty formiddable, and the price point is better for the space provided. However, Within 2-3 years you'll be seeing SSDs as main solutions.

MitchRapp · Oct 17, 2009, 10:09 PM

300gb is more than enough for an OS drive... well anyways you can also take a look at the WD Black Edition drives. They are quiet, fast and much much cheaper. I just got the 640gb and made it my OS drive but I would have taken a single-platter 320gb if they made one.

It runs faster then my previous OS drive (Raptor 160gb)

~~CitySlicker~~ · Oct 18, 2009, 08:05 AM

SSD for sure but technology is still too fragile - short life span for that kind of money!

If you want reliable/lasting technology stick to those platter screamers..

Takaharu · Oct 18, 2009, 01:52 PM

I could never justify myself to pay over £300 for a hard drive, considering I could upgrade to a Core i7 (with motherboard and 6GB DDR3) for about £500 or buy a quad-core PC, motherboard, 2GB DDR3, hard drive, DVD-RW, case, PSU and 4870 for about £400. After looking at the SSD I thought of a VR and wondered which one is preferred (rather than judging by reviews) if they had the choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchRapp

300gb is more than enough for an OS drive... well anyways you can also take a look at the WD Black Edition drives.
It runs faster then my previous OS drive (Raptor 160gb)

I had a look at the WD Black and found out it was closely rivalled by the Hitachi DeskStar 7K1000.B, which has about the same performance, except for the read throughput. I've also found it's cheaper (£60 for WD at 750GB, £58 for H at 1TB). If I'm going to with a new HDD though, I think I'd choose the WD as I've had good experience with them.

MitchRapp · Oct 19, 2009, 11:34 PM

yeah WD is great ... and it's a 5-year warranty instead of 3 on most drives

procupine14 · Oct 23, 2009, 04:46 PM

Pretty much the general rule for main drives that actually see action all the time I always choose WD or seagate. Usually I run Western Digital for all of my main drives unless I get a really good deal on seagate.

as far as the SSD versus VR debate I would say under 7 I would be using an SSD and under any other OS probably a VR just for the sake of what has already been said by others as well.

You know Lowfat needs to comment on this since im pretty sure he's had both of these in multiple combinations in the recent times

Judas · Oct 23, 2009, 05:50 PM

Not sure where you guys are using up all your memory.. i rarely use more then 60gb with both OS and a few games and programs i have installed...

IMO

Windows 7 x64 (you can get home premium for as little as 140 bucks) and then 1 or 2 of the Fastest highest rated SSD's from corsair/intel/OCZ...

One of those drives typically blows the doors of any of the fastest standard HDs even in raid 0.

BlueMak · Oct 23, 2009, 07:30 PM

After uninstalling several games, I have about 300GB installed. I change taste for what I want to play very often and I don't feel like reinstalling very often.
60GB both for OS and the rest of C: is a joke for me.

Oct 16, 2009, 10:33 PM	#1
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,622 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Hard drive choice If money was no object, would you choose a 250GB SSD or a 300GB Velociraptor and why? This is taking into consideration that the hard drive would be the primary drive with the OS and installed applications, when files are stored on other drives; say, for argument's sake, twin 1TB drives. I've seen a few articles about SSD vs VR but they're usually based on 32GB or 64GB SSD and similarly small VR drives. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Oct 17, 2009, 05:19 AM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,241 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice I don't trust the technology behind SSDs so I would go for the dinosaur. 300GB is not enough btw, at least if you are a gamer. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Oct 17, 2009, 06:28 AM	#3
simonw HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HK Posts: 312 Rep Power: 42 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice SSD for me, mainly because they are faster, less heat, silent, and no mechanical moving parts.

Oct 17, 2009, 09:40 AM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,658 Rep Power: 187 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice IF I was using Windows 7, Mac OS X, or Linux, I would have an SSD for my main drive, but have a "traditional" mechanical drive for everything else. Hell, I'd have a fast SSD, and a Velociraptor. IF I wasn't using the above OS's, mechanical all the way. There's just too much babysitting to do with SSDs on other OS's (special pre-formating to do on XP, plus TRIM operations that need to keep being run to maintain drive speed). Speaking of TRIM, if it f's up while doing it's job you can kiss your data goodbye. If money were no object I wouldn't be going with a Velociraptor though, instead looking to SAS to get access to the 15K drives. For now SAS and SATA transfer speeds are roughly the same, but SAS's bandwidth is going to double soon, so that'd be another plus in SAS's favor. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Oct 17, 2009, 09:55 AM	#5
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 154 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice I don't know 2 V-raps in raid 0 can be pretty formiddable, and the price point is better for the space provided. However, Within 2-3 years you'll be seeing SSDs as main solutions. __________________

Oct 17, 2009, 10:09 PM	#6
MitchRapp a.k.a. pepiman Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 998 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice 300gb is more than enough for an OS drive... well anyways you can also take a look at the WD Black Edition drives. They are quiet, fast and much much cheaper. I just got the 640gb and made it my OS drive but I would have taken a single-platter 320gb if they made one. It runs faster then my previous OS drive (Raptor 160gb)

Oct 18, 2009, 08:05 AM	#7
~~CitySlicker~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 183 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice SSD for sure but technology is still too fragile - short life span for that kind of money! If you want reliable/lasting technology stick to those platter screamers..

Oct 19, 2009, 11:34 PM	#9
MitchRapp a.k.a. pepiman Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 998 Rep Power: 49 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice yeah WD is great ... and it's a 5-year warranty instead of 3 on most drives

Oct 23, 2009, 04:46 PM	#10
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 56 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice Pretty much the general rule for main drives that actually see action all the time I always choose WD or seagate. Usually I run Western Digital for all of my main drives unless I get a really good deal on seagate. as far as the SSD versus VR debate I would say under 7 I would be using an SSD and under any other OS probably a VR just for the sake of what has already been said by others as well. You know Lowfat needs to comment on this since im pretty sure he's had both of these in multiple combinations in the recent times __________________ HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Oct 23, 2009, 07:30 PM	#12
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,241 Rep Power: 326 System Specs	Re: Hard drive choice After uninstalling several games, I have about 300GB installed. I change taste for what I want to play very often and I don't feel like reinstalling very often. 60GB both for OS and the rest of C: is a joke for me. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*