I recently RMAed a 250GB Seagate SATA disk in Delhi. The process was handled by Accelfrontline and I must say the service was prompt. Within two days, my drive arrived at the local center and I was informed of same by an SMS.
Now because this is my first RMA for a Hard disk, I have a few queries:
1- What will happen to my old disk. Will it be dismantled or melted or just kept in a safe for posterity? What will Seagate do with it?
2- Will seagate or its employees peek into my data? (The disk's plate(s) was alright. It was just the circuit that was burnt). Will they at all be concerned about my data
Apart from these two general questions, I have some technical ones as well (for the hard disk gurus)
The RMAed disk was ST3250820AS. The replacement I am getting is ST3250310AS The difference between them is following (highlighted with blue)
ST3250820AS
Specifications 250 GB
Model Number ST3250820AS
Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s
Cache 8 MBytes
Capacity 250 GB
Guaranteed Sectors 488,397,168
PHYSICAL
Height (max) 26.1 mm (1.028 inches)
Width (max) 101.6 mm (4.010 inches)
Length (max) 146.99 mm (5.787 inches)
Weight (typical) 600 grams (1.32 pounds)
PERFORMANCE
Spindle Speed 7,200 rpm
Average latency 4.16 msec
Random read seek time <8.5 msec
Random write seek time <10.0 msec
RELIABILITY
MTBF 700,000 hours
Annual Failure Rate 0.34 %
POWER
Maximum start current, DC 2.80 amps
ST3250310AS
Specifications 250 GB
Model Number ST3250310AS
Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s
Cache 8 MBytes
Capacity 250 GB
Areal density (avg) 163 Gbits/inch2
Guaranteed Sectors 488,397,168
PHYSICAL
Height (max) 19.99 mm (0.787 inches)
Width (max) 101.85 mm (4.010 inches)
Length (max) 146.99 mm (5.787 inches)
Weight (typical) 380 grams (0.838 pounds)
PERFORMANCE
Spindle Speed 7,200 rpm
Average latency 4.16 msec
Random read seek time <11.0 msec
Random write seek time <12.0 msec
RELIABILITY
MTBF 700,000 hours
Annual Failure Rate 0.34%
POWER
Maximum start current, DC 2.0 amps
So, the question is: Am I getting a better disk or inferior one? From weight, height and start current I will assume that ST3250310AS is a single platter disk while RMAed one was double platter. But then seek times are better on double platter
Now because this is my first RMA for a Hard disk, I have a few queries:
1- What will happen to my old disk. Will it be dismantled or melted or just kept in a safe for posterity? What will Seagate do with it?
2- Will seagate or its employees peek into my data? (The disk's plate(s) was alright. It was just the circuit that was burnt). Will they at all be concerned about my data
Apart from these two general questions, I have some technical ones as well (for the hard disk gurus)
The RMAed disk was ST3250820AS. The replacement I am getting is ST3250310AS The difference between them is following (highlighted with blue)
ST3250820AS
Specifications 250 GB
Model Number ST3250820AS
Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s
Cache 8 MBytes
Capacity 250 GB
Guaranteed Sectors 488,397,168
PHYSICAL
Height (max) 26.1 mm (1.028 inches)
Width (max) 101.6 mm (4.010 inches)
Length (max) 146.99 mm (5.787 inches)
Weight (typical) 600 grams (1.32 pounds)
PERFORMANCE
Spindle Speed 7,200 rpm
Average latency 4.16 msec
Random read seek time <8.5 msec
Random write seek time <10.0 msec
RELIABILITY
MTBF 700,000 hours
Annual Failure Rate 0.34 %
POWER
Maximum start current, DC 2.80 amps
ST3250310AS
Specifications 250 GB
Model Number ST3250310AS
Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s
Cache 8 MBytes
Capacity 250 GB
Areal density (avg) 163 Gbits/inch2
Guaranteed Sectors 488,397,168
PHYSICAL
Height (max) 19.99 mm (0.787 inches)
Width (max) 101.85 mm (4.010 inches)
Length (max) 146.99 mm (5.787 inches)
Weight (typical) 380 grams (0.838 pounds)
PERFORMANCE
Spindle Speed 7,200 rpm
Average latency 4.16 msec
Random read seek time <11.0 msec
Random write seek time <12.0 msec
RELIABILITY
MTBF 700,000 hours
Annual Failure Rate 0.34%
POWER
Maximum start current, DC 2.0 amps
So, the question is: Am I getting a better disk or inferior one? From weight, height and start current I will assume that ST3250310AS is a single platter disk while RMAed one was double platter. But then seek times are better on double platter
