Western digital raptor

[Collio]

I am thinking of getting one of these drives as I heard they offer superb performance and speed.

In real working conditions is the speed really noticable>

Also there a 2 versions the 150GB or the 300GB

If I get the 150GB version I will get windows on but maybe bot all of my progams so do you think I shoud got for a 300GB?

[Matridom]

I actually have a couple of Raptor 75 gig's in a raid 0 configuration. Personally the impression i get is that it's faster. I've not benchmarked it to see for sure. Is it worth the cost? that i don't know. Current common opinion is that you are paying a premium for a small performance increase (I had money to burn at the time of purchase).

With the raptors, different sizes have different performances, i think out of the 32/75/150 gig drives, the 75's where king. I've not compared them to the 320 gig one so i don't know there.

As for 150 gigs, if you are carefull on what you install/remove from your system, 150 gigs should be fine, just make sure you uninstall apps/games you don't need. I've got all my applications installed and a few massive games without an issue. I DO however have a secondary 750 gig drive that is used for all my data storage and is backed up.

[Collio]

I am currently using 2 SATA 2 dries a Samsung 1TB & a WD 500GB so storage is more than enough I really looking to get more performance out my system with the raptors.

i have heard boot times are really fast and also geeneral system runnig too.

What do you say to this?

[CCT]

You need to research the use you will make of the Raptor(s).

If accessing a PCI device or USB device, having 2x300 MB/s drives in raid 0 to achieve 600 (not gonna get that but the dream is alive) won't help when the PCI transfer rate is 133 (and shared at that) or the USB 2.0 High Speed is 60 (and noone ever gets that).

Gaming with good ram and a PCI EX card(s) and Raid 0 would be fast except for the online drag.

Bascically, it all depends on use.

note: I got the speeds from various sources and could be wrong

[Ferrit]

I have just gone through 4 raptors
2X40 gig ( Both Died) replaced with the below 74 gig
2X74 gig (Both died) replaced 1 of them then it died.
2 months ago i shipped back the 74 gig that died they havent replaced it and they never notified me. I finally called and their excuse was they dont have those anymore
Guess what,Western digital is in the same category as creative
The worst service and serviceability that I have ever seen.
I wouldnt run another WD if you bought it for me and bought me software to keep it backed up all the time.
Oh and frankly running the 2x 34 gig in raid for my windows 2003 server i saw no eye popping preformance.
What i did see was drives so hot you could barely touch with bare hands.


Seagate all the way

[Collio]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

So do yuou think it isd noth worth me getting a rapto then in terms of performance?

[Ferrit]

Absolutely isnt worth the extra money

[Collio]

I spoke to a friend of mine who is a techniciand and has been building systems for years and he also said I won't see much performance difference and it is not worth it.

So I think I'll save the money and spend it on something more useful.