Comparable HDD to Velociraptor for storage? (non-sytem drive)

[Validatorian]

I already have an 80gb intel G2 SSD for my system drive -- but due to the space limitations, I've been installing programs on another drive, but that seems to be really hurting my PC's performance, as it relies on that drive for startup things and such.

Here are the 'Disk Speed' results I currently get:

SSD (System drive)
Access Time: 0.08 ms
Cached Speed: 172.69 MB/sec
Max Read Speed: 236.78
Overall Score: 385208.5

WD1500ADFD (Storage Drive #1)
Access Time: 8.49ms
Cached Speed: 218.62 MB/sec
Max Read Speed: 83.49 MB/sec
Overall Score: 1229.1

WD7500AAKS (Storage Drive #2)
Access Time: 10.35 ms
Cached Speed: 246.02 MB/sec
Max Read Speed: 66.70 /sec
Overall Score: 838.7

I'd like to replace both storage drives -- I don't need to replace the storage (combined storage of these drives is 900GB, I could live with 120, would prefer to have 250, any more would be fine, but not required.

I'm thinking about setting up two drives in a RAID0 -- I just need to figure out which 2 drives. I'd love to get two 150GB VelociRaptors, but it's hard to justify it. I haven't been following the non-ssd drives at all, so I'm wondering if there's a comparable (as far as speed goes) HDD to the VelociRaptor, without the extravagant cost?

 

[evongugg]

These performance charts may help you:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/h2benchw-3.12-Avg-Write-Throughput,1013.html

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

The new WD RE-4 gb is better but much more expensive.. just get a 300GB Raptor.

 

[aford10]

I love my velociraptor. If you don't want to pay the price tag, the samsung spinpoint f3's are pretty good drives.

 

[Validatorian]

I love my velociraptor. If you don't want to pay the price tag, the samsung spinpoint f3's are pretty good drives.

Yep, just ordered the f3 (500gb) -- There were on sale for $40 not long ago -- too bad I missed that deal!

 

[sminlal]

These performance charts may help you:
Those]http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/h2benchw-3.12-Avg-Write-Throughput,1013.html

Those charts are for sequential throughput only. Depending on the OP's workload, random I/O performance may be more important - and the Velociraptors will easily beat the other hard drives in that metric, as shown by these charts (shorter bars are better):
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/h2benchw-3.12-Read-Access-Time,1007.html

 

[Validatorian]

The new WD RE-4 gb is better but much more expensive.. just get a 300GB Raptor.

The WD1500ADFD is a 150gb raptor, and it's much slower than I would like -- are the stats normal, or is the drive just worn out? (stats are in OP)

 

[aford10]

The 150GB raptor isn't what MARSOC was referring to. He was referring to this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136365&Tpk=re4

The 150GB raptor is a 10k rpm drive. But it's downfall is the 1.5GB SATA interface. It's an older drive and is pretty loud. I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Validatorian]

The 150GB raptor isn't what MARSOC was referring to. He was referring to this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136365&Tpk=re4

The 150GB raptor is a 10k rpm drive. But it's downfall is the 1.5GB SATA interface. It's an older drive and is pretty loud. I wouldn't recommend it.

"just get a 300GB Raptor"

I knew what product he was referring to at first, but that is what threw me off

 

[aford10]

Ya. I think he meant to say velociraptor.

 

[Validatorian]

samsung spinpoint f3's are pretty good drives.

So my spinpoint f3 arrived today, and I ran 'disk speed' on it, and this was my result:


HD502HJ
Access Time: 13.13 ms
Cached Speed: 332.81 MB/sec
Max Read Speed: 139.81 /sec
Overall Score: 1254.8

Does this look accurate? I thought access time was supposed to be around 8-9ms?

 

[aford10]

access times are an average not a constant.