New Disk Subsystem....

[SnowmanUK]

Hi,

After a little advice. I need to buy a new HDD or two for my computer.
I'm not fussed about space, enough to put the OS on and game installs. All my other files are on a NAS device.

I want the disks to be quite quiet, I was contemplating a Raptor 37GB drive, or 2 SATA 80GB drives to RAID.

Anyone got any views? which would be faster? I presume RAID would be, but arent 80GB drives generally slower than the larger capacity drives due to different platter sizes?

I have about £100 to spend, any ideas? Size is not important.

Thanks in advance.

[DT1]

Raptors...fast, yes...quiet, no.

If you want quiet I'd be tempted to get a SATA Samsung Spinpoint or 2 if you want RAID. They aren't slouches either. :)

[SnowmanUK]

Ok you've pursuaded me, thanks.

The Hitach 7K250 I have is pretty quiet so I may get a couple of those.

[Archaon]

7K250s are fine in my machine, not the quietest but certainly not the loudest.

[vantim]

Then I would get a couple Maxtors ( Their official name is the DiamondMax 10, but it’s known around these parts as “the fastest 7,200rpm drive on the market") Set 2 of these babies in a raid 0 for some super 600 gig storing pleasure.

Speed and Space Does life get any better?

[[M]uuhh]

those 16mb catch maxtors ar suposed to be VERY good!

[vantim]

From what I'm reading they are real close to the Raptor. Not quite though.
They are quiet however.

[ViperVenoM]

i can vouch for em
got 1 ...waaayyy faster than my normal 8mb cache ones..loading times..what loading times.. :D

[SnowmanUK]

^ what do you find the noise like? The last maxtor I had (DiamondMax9) was appauling, the disk crunched like someone eating corn flakes in my ear and was generally just bloody noisy.

[The Pimp]

My DiamondMax 9's & MaxLine II's are very quiet unless there is some serious disk activity. Machines are left on 24/7 & in the bedroom & the Northbridge fan makes more noise than the drives do (which is very little indeed)

[SnowmanUK]

You guys better be right ;) Ordering now. Thanks for all your comments.

[ViperVenoM]

its hard to say i havent "noticed" any noise increase..but i mean mine aint silent anyway!

got 2 other drives and 2 fans slapped on my radiator (nothing else makes a sound that i can hear) but this hdd hasnt appeared to add to it..

[vantim]

I've got a pair of maxtor 160's w/raid0 in mine and the single WD1000jd is louder. Fan's is where my rig is loud. Loudest drive I ever had was a quantum 20gb. It sounded like a jet in a blender.