[macgeek2005]

I've got two 500GB SATA II Maxtors in my computer, which I love, but I need another hard drive to install Windows Vista on. I was looking at the 300GB Maxtor because it's only $64.95 at OWC, however, i'm not clear on whether it's as good as the 500GB drives. Is it SATA II? Is the only difference the capacity of the drive?

300GB Maxtor MaXLine III 7200RPM Enterprise Cl... (7L300S0) at OWC

Thanks!

[mduell]

It may be a tad slower for sustained transfers (if it's using lower density platters), but otherwise should be the same as the 500s.

Please don't use the phrase "SATA II"; it doesn't mean anything.

[macgeek2005]

Originally Posted by mduell 

It may be a tad slower for sustained transfers (if it's using lower density platters), but otherwise should be the same as the 500s.

Please don't use the phrase "SATA II"; it doesn't mean anything.

Thanks. I won't be buying that one. What about this Hitachi? Judging by the price, it should be really good, right?

250GB Hitachi/IBM Deskstar T7K500 7200... (HDT725025VLA380) at OWC

[mduell]

Unfortunately grossly overpaying for a drive doesn't make it any faster. If you need high throughput, buy a high capacity drive or a smaller drive from a high capacity series (320GB from 7K1000 series is generally faster than 320GB from 7K320 series, adapt as appropriate for each brand numbering scheme).

If you're really worried about throughput, take this 320G Seagate perpendicular drive for $80.
Or since you seem to like 'enterprisey' drives, take this 400G Seagate NL35 for $80.

You can find max/min transfer rate benchmarks at storagereview.com

[macgeek2005]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Unfortunately grossly overpaying for a drive doesn't make it any faster. If you need high throughput, buy a high capacity drive or a smaller drive from a high capacity series (320GB from 7K1000 series is generally faster than 320GB from 7K320 series, adapt as appropriate for each brand numbering scheme).

If you're really worried about throughput, take this 320G Seagate perpendicular drive for $80.
Or since you seem to like 'enterprisey' drives, take this 400G Seagate NL35 for $80.

You can find max/min transfer rate benchmarks at storagereview.com

Yeah... I have a couple of those Seagate drives, sitting on the shelf next to my computer. They have the firmware issue with the Mac Pro, that makes them run really slow, remember?

Also, there is no 7K1000 320GB drive.

Thanks for the help though! I guess it doesn't really matter too much.. it's just a drive for windows.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by macgeek2005 

Yeah... I have a couple of those Seagate drives, sitting on the shelf next to my computer. They have the firmware issue with the Mac Pro, that makes them run really slow, remember?

So why haven't you updated the firmware? That issue was solved a long time ago.

[macgeek2005]

Originally Posted by mduell 

So why haven't you updated the firmware? That issue was solved a long time ago.

It's not easy to update the firmware. It's tricky, dangerous, and not meant to be done by consumers. I've installed Vista on the original 160GB drive that came in the machine, which is 7200.9, so it doesn't have that issue. But I still need another drive now to act as the computers "original" drive.

[mduell]

Right, which is why you mail it in to Seagate to have it done if you're not very tech savvy. Give them a call to arrange the service.

[macgeek2005]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Right, which is why you mail it in to Seagate to have it done if you're not very tech savvy. Give them a call to arrange the service.

Hmm, alright. I could do that. But right now those seagates are just being used as backups, so I don't really need it done.