Get a 200Gb (ATA133) or wait and go Serial?

[PinchyCM]

I posted in gen harware, and then realized it's better if I post in here. :) Anyways, referring to my other post... Cut and Paste!

Hey boys and girls, I have 2 80 gig Maxtor DiamondMax 9s, and I'm alwyas running out of room. So, I'm debating whether or not to buy another HD (I'd sell one of them to my buddy).

But I'll probably build a new rig in the winter. I don't wanna be stuck with ATA133 if serial's much better. But then again, serial's a lot more expensive. Should I hold out, or just pick up a Maxtor/WD 200 giger for 130 (AR)? What should I do? Thanks!

[AMD Soldier]

Originally posted by PinchyCM
I posted in gen harware, and then realized it's better if I post in here. :) Anyways, referring to my other post... Cut and Paste!

Hey boys and girls, I have 2 80 gig Maxtor DiamondMax 9s, and I'm alwyas running out of room. So, I'm debating whether or not to buy another HD (I'd sell one of them to my buddy).

But I'll probably build a new rig in the winter. I don't wanna be stuck with ATA133 if serial's much better. But then again, serial's a lot more expensive. Should I hold out, or just pick up a Maxtor/WD 200 giger for 130 (AR)? What should I do? Thanks!

Well first you'll need a mobo or adapter for SATA. Then SATA drives are more expensive. Then unless you get a 10K RPM SATA HD (much more expensive and only 37gb I believe at the moment). So basically in my view, getting SATA drives right now is a waste of money because there is no need for it.

[Mr. K]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat as you are....The local microcenter store is selling Maxtor 200GB (w/ ATA card included) for $160 after rebate...Very tempting...

[|_053|2]

Originally posted by Mr. K
Yeah, I'm in the same boat as you are....The local microcenter store is selling Maxtor 200GB (w/ ATA card included) for $160 after rebate...Very tempting...

damn, that is pretty tempting... i wonder if there's much of a difference between ATA100 and ATA133, if there is somewhat of a difference i'll probably get one of those WD ATA133 120GB with the 8meg cache

[PinchyCM]

there isn't. you'll never reach those transfer rates they claim anyways.

[Nasty]

Geez, 100 MB/s for ATA100 (or 133 MB/s for ATA133) are just maximum (external) transfer rates, between the cache buffer and the ATA interface. Transfer rates (internal) between cache and media are usually slower, and sometimes much slower, than the cache-to-interface transfer rate.

No currently made 7200RPM ATA100 or ATA133 hard drive can exceed 60 MB/s for the internal transfer rate (media-to-cache transfer rate), even on the outer tracks of the disk. And average internal transfer rates are now just barely approaching 40 MB/s.