Hard Drive Question (Db help requested)

Posted on Mar 04, 2006 05:49 pm
Sid
Member Since: Nov 15, 2005

I just bought a 250 gig/7200RPM/8mbcache EIDE Western Digital Hard drive. When searching info on it after I got home, I read a post from Db about how he doesn't like Western Digital HD's. I was originally thinking about a seagate, but this one was on sale so I got it instead. It's unopened, and if you guys recommend another I will probably exchange it. Db, what problems have you or others experienced with Western Digital hard drives? Also, what is the difference between SATA and EIDE Hard drives? Let me know, thanks guys!

Sid

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dbmasters
Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Mar 04, 2006 06:15 pm

SATA and EIDE are just two different interfaces, SATA is the newest standard. I personally haven't upgraded to SATA yet...

Many people have fine luck with Western Digital...I have not seen such luck. I was a computer technician for a couple years, and during that couple years I saw more WD's crash than any other brand...that isn't saying my experience is the be-all-end-all of information on the subject, it may do fine for you.

I prefer Seagate or Maxtor...I have mostly Maxtors, which Seagate bought a while back, or at least put in the offer to buy, I can't remember if the purchase already took place or not.

Sid
Member
Since: Nov 15, 2005

Mar 04, 2006 06:27 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. I got this HD for $140 on sale at best buy, which is good for a 250 gig 7200 RPM, I believe. There was a 200GB seagate for the same price as well. I would prefer to have smaller storage if it means more reliability and better performance, though, so i'll probably go ahead and exchange it. Thanks so much again for the advice. Take care.

dbmasters
Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Mar 04, 2006 06:29 pm

Well, I dunno if I would base a decision soley on what I said, check some user reviews online and warranty info on the two as well...

Sid
Member
Since: Nov 15, 2005

Mar 04, 2006 09:00 pm

Okay I read some bad reviews so I exchanged for a Seagate.... splurged and went for the 400 GB. I'm leaving the original HD in for apps and junk, using the seagate strictly for my studio audio storage. Do I set it up as a slave to the original HD? Seperate? The seagate manual has instructions to either replace my original HD or slave from it, but I was under the impression that you could run both independently (don't know if the slave config allows this or not). At any rate, should I daisy chain the interface cable to connect the two drives, or run seperate interface cables to each drive independent of one another (if the mobo for seperate interface cable ports)? I've never put a HD in so thus all the questions. Thanks for reading guys.

Sid

zekthedeadcow
Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Mar 04, 2006 10:14 pm

basicacly each computer has 2 IDE channels... each channel has a master and a slave...so a total of 4 IDE drive can be plugged in (normally) I would suggest having the two drivers as both master and put the CDROM/DVD/whatever-is-left as a slave. on either channel. It's my understanding that better throughput is achieved by puttin them on seperate channels... but the primary concern is to have data go to a second physical disk as hard drives are the slowest piece of the puzzle.

a "slave" drive is still independent of the master... but is not the primary boot drive... it's just the second drive on the same channel...