de.das.dude
Contributor
How to find the correct HDD?
HDDs are one of the most vital components and are sometimes the most neglected by PC users. A wrong Buy can result in years of nightmares, only that they will be real.
So i compiled this knowledge expanding growth on HDDs for everyone!!
1. How are HardDrives classified?
Besides size and manufacturer, HDDs are classified in more important ways.
1.1. Interface:
Interface is how your motherboard connects to your HDD. The type of "connection" on your HDD and motherboard must be same type and preferably from he same generation too for best performance.
Interface can be one of the following:-
1.1.a. SATA:-
....SATA I(Serial ATA)- First generation offers speed upto 1.5GBps
....SATA II- Second generation, offers speeds upto 3GBps. presently the most popular
....interface used in the market
....SATA II- recently introduced. Offers speeds upto 6GBps. available on high end
....mother boards.
The newer the better, i.e. SATA III is the best but SATA II products are the one available in the market, so SATA II is the way to go
1.1.b Parallel ATA (PATA)
This is perhaps the oldest interface still used on todays computers.
This is generally used to connect Optical Drives due to lower access times.
1.2. Rotational Speed
Rotational speed refers to the same thing in both SATA Aand PATA type drives.
This is the speed with which the disks in a hard drive are rotated.
More speed means more read/write speed and more power consumption.
There are only two speeds available:-
1.2.1 7200RPM
This is commonly found on desktop computers due to better performance and easily available energy.
1.2.2. 5400RPM
This is commonly used on laptops due to lower power consumption. Power consumption is pivotal in laptops.
1.3. Physical Size
This is a way of classification between Laptop and Desktop hard drives.
Laptop hard drives are 2.5" in size
Desktop hard drives are 3.5" in size
also some externals are 2.5"
1.4. Cache Size
This cache is not mentioned all the time on every HDD.
Basically what the cache does in here is similar to the cache on processors, it stores frequently used files and thus reduces read and access times.
Cache size can be
a.16MB
b.32MB
c.64MB
more the cache is better the performance.
Besides these classifications, generally manufacturers put names for easier recognition of the job its supposed to do.
Seagate:-
The Barracuda line.
This line is dedicated to performance drives with high speed and high heat output.
Max cache available is 32MB and size is 2TB( terabytes)
Western Digital:-
a. Black: Super high performance drives with cache size upto 64MB. This is the best in technological and performance terms available today. Suitable for performance tasks like gaming.
b. Blue: High performance drives performance is slightly lower than the Black ones. Cache size 16MB/32MB/64MB. This is best suited for both, everyday and gaming use.
c. Green: Performance HDDs. But with lower consumption of power. Eco Friendly and recycleable to large extent. Lowest generation of heat among any HDD in the market. Cache size upto 32MB.
2. How to choose your HDD...
Fix what you need the HDD for
If you need it for storage of huge data:-
Go for something with lower cache size. And big data size.
Choose a simple one. No need of Barracudas or Black Caviars.
Create as many partitions you want. Go crazyyyy!!!!
If you need a boot drive
Choose one with high cache and lower size. generally 160GB is enough.
DO NOT make partitions on this drive as it will hamper the performance of your whole system.
By creating partition you are just making "two drives" but using the same read/write heads for use, so performance will suck.
If you need Drive for your games
Do not, i repeat DO NOT store games on your boot drive. even if its a high performance drive. during gaming windows is still running in the background so you are using the windows files as well the game files. Buy a Seagate Barracuda or a W.D Black or Blue. You may make partitions, but i dont think it is necessary. 500GB is enough to store 50games at the same time.
Size comparison:
8 bits(b) = 1 byte (B)
1024 B = 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 10 Kilobits (kb or Kb)
1024 KB = 1 Megabyte (MB) = 10 megabits (mb or Mb)
1024 MB = 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 10 gigabits (gb ot Gb)
1024 GB = 1 Terabyte (TB) = 10 terabits (tb or Tb )
open to suggestions...
HDDs are one of the most vital components and are sometimes the most neglected by PC users. A wrong Buy can result in years of nightmares, only that they will be real.
So i compiled this knowledge expanding growth on HDDs for everyone!!
1. How are HardDrives classified?
Besides size and manufacturer, HDDs are classified in more important ways.
1.1. Interface:
Interface is how your motherboard connects to your HDD. The type of "connection" on your HDD and motherboard must be same type and preferably from he same generation too for best performance.
Interface can be one of the following:-
1.1.a. SATA:-
....SATA I(Serial ATA)- First generation offers speed upto 1.5GBps
....SATA II- Second generation, offers speeds upto 3GBps. presently the most popular
....interface used in the market
....SATA II- recently introduced. Offers speeds upto 6GBps. available on high end
....mother boards.
The newer the better, i.e. SATA III is the best but SATA II products are the one available in the market, so SATA II is the way to go
1.1.b Parallel ATA (PATA)
This is perhaps the oldest interface still used on todays computers.
This is generally used to connect Optical Drives due to lower access times.
1.2. Rotational Speed
Rotational speed refers to the same thing in both SATA Aand PATA type drives.
This is the speed with which the disks in a hard drive are rotated.
More speed means more read/write speed and more power consumption.
There are only two speeds available:-
1.2.1 7200RPM
This is commonly found on desktop computers due to better performance and easily available energy.
1.2.2. 5400RPM
This is commonly used on laptops due to lower power consumption. Power consumption is pivotal in laptops.
1.3. Physical Size
This is a way of classification between Laptop and Desktop hard drives.
Laptop hard drives are 2.5" in size
Desktop hard drives are 3.5" in size
also some externals are 2.5"
1.4. Cache Size
This cache is not mentioned all the time on every HDD.
Basically what the cache does in here is similar to the cache on processors, it stores frequently used files and thus reduces read and access times.
Cache size can be
a.16MB
b.32MB
c.64MB
more the cache is better the performance.
Besides these classifications, generally manufacturers put names for easier recognition of the job its supposed to do.
Seagate:-
The Barracuda line.
This line is dedicated to performance drives with high speed and high heat output.
Max cache available is 32MB and size is 2TB( terabytes)
Western Digital:-
a. Black: Super high performance drives with cache size upto 64MB. This is the best in technological and performance terms available today. Suitable for performance tasks like gaming.
b. Blue: High performance drives performance is slightly lower than the Black ones. Cache size 16MB/32MB/64MB. This is best suited for both, everyday and gaming use.
c. Green: Performance HDDs. But with lower consumption of power. Eco Friendly and recycleable to large extent. Lowest generation of heat among any HDD in the market. Cache size upto 32MB.
2. How to choose your HDD...
Fix what you need the HDD for
If you need it for storage of huge data:-
Go for something with lower cache size. And big data size.
Choose a simple one. No need of Barracudas or Black Caviars.
Create as many partitions you want. Go crazyyyy!!!!
If you need a boot drive
Choose one with high cache and lower size. generally 160GB is enough.
DO NOT make partitions on this drive as it will hamper the performance of your whole system.
By creating partition you are just making "two drives" but using the same read/write heads for use, so performance will suck.
If you need Drive for your games
Do not, i repeat DO NOT store games on your boot drive. even if its a high performance drive. during gaming windows is still running in the background so you are using the windows files as well the game files. Buy a Seagate Barracuda or a W.D Black or Blue. You may make partitions, but i dont think it is necessary. 500GB is enough to store 50games at the same time.
Size comparison:
8 bits(b) = 1 byte (B)
1024 B = 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 10 Kilobits (kb or Kb)
1024 KB = 1 Megabyte (MB) = 10 megabits (mb or Mb)
1024 MB = 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 10 gigabits (gb ot Gb)
1024 GB = 1 Terabyte (TB) = 10 terabits (tb or Tb )
open to suggestions...
i understood what you wanted. its just that a lot of people on this site have asked me for this "backup" of theory etc already. if you really want to read something go read this....