HDD cache difference

[smarques]

Hello guys

What's the difference between, for example, an Western Digital Caviar blue 1TB with 16 mb cache and one with 64 mb cache? Is that a big difference? I can get the 64mb for about £5 more. I will be using the hdd for storage, since I have an 256GB ssd for OS and other stuff.

Thanks.

 

[das_stig]

A bigger cache always yields better performance, due to delaying access to the hdd.

 

[smarques]

But will it be worth for me since I will be using just as storage? I mean, I know that the 64mb will have a better perfomance, but I also read that you won't notice that much of a difference. Don't know if that's true or not.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there smarques,

The bigger cache will result in better performance as das_stig already mentioned. Though, as you will not use the HDD as a primary drive but as a storage one, you will most probably not notice any significant difference.

You can check the following threads out that are on the same topic:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261964-32-justifying-64mb-cache
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1695003/hdd-cache-saving-money.html

Cheers,
D_Know_WD