Regular HDD performance vs. SATA max speed

[lbelloq]

I'm under the impression that it doesn't make sense to put a platter-based HDD in a SATA6 port (for example, StorageReview tells me that a WD Black has 150 MB/s transfer speed, tops, and a SATA3 port will be more than enough for that) and that SATA6 ports are only useful for SSDs. Am I right on this?

 

[mbreslin1954]

You're right, HDDs cannot transfer data fast enough to saturate a SATA3 port. While it doesn't hurt to put an HDD on one, the only drives that need a SATA6 port are SSDs. And they are even beginning to saturate those ports, which is why they're developing an even faster SATA standard.

 

[lbelloq]

You're right, HDDs cannot transfer data fast enough to saturate a SATA3 port. While it doesn't hurt to put an HDD on one, the only drives that need a SATA6 port are SSDs. And they are even beginning to saturate those ports, which is why they're developing an even faster SATA standard.

So, using my 4 SATA3 ports for a RAID 10 with 4 regular HDDs and putting my SSD in a SATA6 is a sound strategy?

 

[Paperdoc]

Yes. The 4 regular HDD's each cannot saturate their respective SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports, so they'll run at their max speed. Keeping the SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports free for SSD's is wise.

 

[mbreslin1954]

Yes, that's a good strategy.