New HDD Advice

[burtie]

As my order of windows 7 will arrive at the end of October I was thinking of getting a new HDD as the one I currently have is quite a few years old now and recently has been making strange noises...it almost sounds like its vibrating and screeching

Anyway I have never bought an internal HDD before so I am wondering what do I need to look out for? I don't want to spend a fortune and was looking at anything around 250gb -500gb storage size. As long as the performance and reliability is good I don't mind paying a little extra

Can anyone give me a little advice please?

Thanks all

 

[Bellerophon]

Ahhh the question of the moment

Ahhh, the question of the moment, Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD)? Prices on HDD will be dropping over the next 6 month to a year as more and more people transfer to SSD.

If you are an early adopter with technology then SSD would be your choice, as I don't have mucho deniro at the moment haven't invesitagted these yet but as far as HDDs go you can't go far wrong with one of Samsung's SpinPoint Series of HDDs. I have a 500GB F1, they have just released and F3 version. Samsung SpinPoint HDD's have received good reviews.

Providing your system will take it you should be looking at a SATA drive as opposed to an IDE drive. You ideally want a SATA II HDD as this is the newish standard.

If you want speed and don't want silence, I understand the drives make a bit of noise, then you could go for a Western Digital Raptor or Western Digital VelociRaptor HDD. These spin at 10000rpm as opposed to 7500rpm which most new HDD's which spin at, making there seek and write times quicker.

Hope this helps.

 

[swarfega]

You really want to get one with 32mb buffer. Also are you a gamer? If so avoid the green ones, if not go for them!

 

[Bellerophon]

Green

You really want to get one with 32mb buffer. Also are you a gamer? If so avoid the green ones, if not go for them!

These are good but slower than conventional drives, and gaming is not the only reason to have a speedy drive, graphic design, programming etc

It it were me I would get a Samsung SpinPoint F3 Desktop Class 500 GB Internal hard drive - 300 MBps - 7200 rpm, it's just come out, only has a 16MB cache but one hell of a good price @ £35-40 assuming you are in the UK (couldn't tell as you id doesn't have your location)

 

[gforce23]

Just get a WD Caviar Black (640GB, 750GB or 1TB) and be done with it. My 1TB Caviar Black data drive almost outperforms my Velociraptor 10K RPM drive, it's that good!

 

[nate42nd]

It all depends on $$. I have two Western Digital Blue 640GB drives and love them. These are only $55-70 depending on where you get them. They are fine drives.

I also have a Patriot 128GB SSD. These are $350-400 and they are extremely nice. If you get one you have to do some research but they are worth the $$ in my opinion. I have used an SSD for about 3-4 months it spoils you. You will never want to go back.

That said, it's a hard time for SSDs with the regular HD being so inexpensive. These WD 640GB drive are pretty nice for $65 (that's what I paid for mine)

 

[swarfega]

You really want to get one with 32mb buffer. Also are you a gamer? If so avoid the green ones, if not go for them!

These are good but slower than conventional drives, and gaming is not the only reason to have a speedy drive, graphic design, programming etc

It it were me I would get a Samsung SpinPoint F3 Desktop Class 500 GB Internal hard drive - 300 MBps - 7200 rpm, it's just come out, only has a 16MB cache but one hell of a good price @ £35-40 assuming you are in the UK (couldn't tell as you id doesn't have your location)

The Samsung SpinPoint F1 1Tb is only £10 more

 

[Bellerophon]

PC Pro WD Caviar Black Review

I also have a WD Caviar 500GB but decided to go with the SpinPoint after reading the reviews for it when I added a new drive.

Just get a WD Caviar Black (640GB, 750GB or 1TB) and be done with it. My 1TB Caviar Black data drive almost outperforms my Velociraptor 10K RPM drive, it's that good!

PC Pro WD Caviar Black Review

Caviar Black is Western Digital's new high-end brand, and the company clearly believes its new 1TB 3.5in hard disk is a killer drive. With three 334GB platters and a large 32MB cache, it promises a full terabyte of storage and super-fast data transfer.
Regular readers may be experiencing a certain sensation of déjà vu, because the Samsung Spinpoint F DT, already sitting pretty on our A List, offers precisely the same specifications. So if you're in the market for a drive like this, the question boils down to what the Western Digital offers that the Samsung doesn't.
Our tests revealed that the answer isn't speed. That's not to say the WD is a slouch: its peak read speed of 115MB/sec at the outer edge of the platter is among the fastest we've seen. But the Samsung still nudges ahead, with a maximum rate of 124MB/sec.
It's the same story with burst speed: against most drives, the WD's 225MB/sec would make it a winner. But the Samsung once again pips it to the post, managing 236MB/sec.
In terms of power, there was nothing to choose between the drives - both added a pleasingly low average of 7W to our system's total power consumption when idle.
And acoustically we're bound to say we preferred the Samsung. The Western Digital may have been no louder when idle, but while the Samsung's seek noise was almost imperceptible, the Western Digital made an audible metallic clicking, like a spider scuttling across the platter.
There is one area where the Caviar Black convincingly bests the Spinpoint: it comes with a five-year warranty, as opposed to the three-year deal offered by Samsung. If you're looking for maximum reliability, that could be a reason to pick the Western Digital.
But that lone advantage doesn't come cheaply. While the Spinpoint can be had online for £76 exc VAT, right now the Caviar Black will set you back at least £100.

 

[Bellerophon]

The Samsung SpinPoint F1 1Tb is only £10 more

Yep that's usually the case for what seems a lot more bang for your buck. The F3 is about £10-15 extra looking at google shopping.

 

[Dave76]

As my order of windows 7 will arrive at the end of October I was thinking of getting a new HDD as the one I currently have is quite a few years old now and recently has been making strange noises...it almost sounds like its vibrating and screeching

Anyway I have never bought an internal HDD before so I am wondering what do I need to look out for? I don't want to spend a fortune and was looking at anything around 250gb -500gb storage size. As long as the performance and reliability is good I don't mind paying a little extra

Can anyone give me a little advice please?

Thanks all

If you could fill out your specs, we could give you a better answer rather than a guess

Find out if you have an IDE or SATA HDD, this will be where to start.
Depending on what you use your computer for, 250 - 500GB can be found for very reasonable prices.

As mentioned get SATA II if your computer allows, a 32mb buffer, unless you have a laptop then at least 16 mb, haven't seen any 2 1/2" laptop HD with 32mb buffer.

If you have an OEM computer, go to their website and put in your computer details and they will recommend a hard drive for you. Use these specs to shop around and get the best price.

Seagate, Western Digital, Samsung are good brands. For better speed get at least 7200 RPM.

 

[burtie]

Wow thanks everyone that's given me a lot to think about

Well I would love a solid state drive but the prices are way out of reach at the moment so its going to have to be a good old fashioned HDD for me. I use my computer for a little bit of everything, just general everyday use, email, web, video, music and a little bit of gaming but not much as I have a PS3 for that

My PC was originally a HP Pavilion t849.uk but I have slowly been adding parts over the last few years to get a bit more life out of it...currently my specs are:

P4 3.00 ghz
2 GB RAM (I also have a 2GB flash drive plugged in with ready boost enabled not that I notice much improvement)
Nvidia Ge Force 9600GT
Cross fire 530 watt PSU

I just checked in device manager and it looks liek this is my HDD: Seagate ST3160023A 160GB IDE ATA/100 Hard Drive

I think I would want to go down the route of trying to get the best speed as possible, noise isn't really an issue as long as it doesn't sound like a washing machine or vacuum cleaner! lol

As for capacity I don't really want anything to huge as I keep all my documents on an external HDD anyway so it will just be used for the OS itself and my programmes

 

[Dave76]

Wow thanks everyone that's given me a lot to think about

Well I would love a solid state drive but the prices are way out of reach at the moment so its going to have to be a good old fashioned HDD for me. I use my computer for a little bit of everything, just general everyday use, email, web, video, music and a little bit of gaming but not much as I have a PS3 for that

My PC was originally a HP Pavilion t849.uk but I have slowly been adding parts over the last few years to get a bit more life out of it...currently my specs are:

P4 3.00 ghz
2 GB RAM (I also have a 2GB flash drive plugged in with ready boost enabled not that I notice much improvement)
Nvidia Ge Force 9600GT
Cross fire 530 watt PSU

I just checked in device manager and it looks liek this is my HDD: Seagate ST3160023A 160GB IDE ATA/100 Hard Drive

I think I would want to go down the route of trying to get the best speed as possible, noise isn't really an issue as long as it doesn't sound like a washing machine or vacuum cleaner! lol

As for capacity I don't really want anything to huge as I keep all my documents on an external HDD anyway so it will just be used for the OS itself and my programmes

Sounds like a good choice, get what fits your needs.
Remember to leave room to expand, new programs, new OS, etc.

The price for the one you linked seems a bit high.
If your in So Cal, try searching the web for better deals.

Newegg always seem to have good prices.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3160215A 160GB 7200 RPM 2MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
$45.99, small cache on this one though

Newer version for half the price.


Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKB 500GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$72.99, still better price than the one you linked, and 500GB 16mb cache (get the biggest cache you can find w/7200 RPM)

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD2500AAJB 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$54.99, 8mb cache,

This will give you an idea of the prices, lucky if you can beat these prices though.
Get the biggest cache you can with 7200RPM.

For your computers system information try SIW - System Information for Windows
It doesn't install on your computer and gives you a lot of information.

Good luck

 

[burtie]

Sorry I should have been more clear...the one I posted a link to is what is currently in my PC not what I am looking to buy

So if I get one with a bigger cache would it be best to go with 32mb as other people have suggested?

I just found this on Amazon : [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-Barracuda-internal-SATA-300-buffer/dp/B0016OKSIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1254677381&sr=8-1]Seagate - Barracuda ES.2 - Hard drive - 250 GB: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo[/ame]
Is that any good? I think I am going to go with 32mb and 7200RPM

 

[whs]

A 60GB (e.g. OCZ Vertex) or 80GB ( e.g. Intel X25) SSD for the system plus a 500GB for data would be the ideal combination.

 

[Dave76]

Sorry I should have been more clear...the one I posted a link to is what is currently in my PC not what I am looking to buy

So if I get one with a bigger cache would it be best to go with 32mb as other people have suggested?

I just found this on Amazon : Seagate - Barracuda ES.2 - Hard drive - 250 GB: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
Is that any good? I think I am going to go with 32mb and 7200RPM

The one you linked to is an IDE HDD, so if that's what you have now then you will need an IDE HDD, or a SATA hard drive to IDE cable converter if you want to use a SATA HDD.

An example SATA Hard Drive to IDE Converter - Converts ATA Hard Drives to IDE
Just did a quick search on converters.

It's a different type of HDD, one difference is that the IDE uses a wide cable and SATA uses a smaller cable.

I haven't used one of these converters, so can't tell you any details.

Other than that, the Seagate hard drive you linked looks like a good one.

Go with the 32mb cache and 7200RPM.

 

[burtie]

Oh rite I didn't know I would need a converter too. Thanks for letting me know.
Looks like I got all the info I need to make a decision now.

thanks everyone, you been a great help

 

[burtie]

Hi again...just one last question...

I just tried out System Information for Windows and it says my main HDD has ATA bus type. Does this mean I will or wont need a converter?

Thanks

 

[Dave76]

Hi again...just one last question...

I just tried out System Information for Windows and it says my main HDD has ATA bus type. Does this mean I will or wont need a converter?

Thanks

In SIW under 'Hardware', click 'Storage Devices', look at 'Interface', what does it say there?

Should be PATA (IDE or EIDE) or SATA (Serial ATA).

If PATA (IDE or EIDE), you need the converter.
If SATA (Serial ATA), no converter.

You can look in your computer at the hard drive cable.
If you see a wide (2") ribbon cable it's IDE,

if you see a couple of squarish plugins with normal looking wires it's SATA.

For a little info on the two:
Serial ATA

 

[burtie]

It says Parallel ATA. I just opend the case and took a look at the hard drive, its connected with a squarish plug and normal wires so I take it I wont need a converter! YAY

Thanks again for all your help, I am new to replacing hard drives so sorry for asking lots of questions

 

[Dave76]

It says Parallel ATA. I just opend the case and took a look at the hard drive, its connected with a squarish plug and normal wires so I take it I wont need a converter! YAY

Thanks again for all your help, I am new to replacing hard drives so sorry for asking lots of questions

Parallel ATA or PATA is an IDE drive.

Looks like there's a converter in there already if it looks like the bottom pic above.

If that's the case, then the SATA drive should work for you.

Good luck, let us know how it goes,