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    Smaller harddrive run faster?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sampunk, Jul 9, 2008.

  1. sampunk

    sampunk Notebook Guru

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    Will a 80GB HD run faster than a 320 GB HD? (same rpm on both drive)
     
    sampunk, Jul 9, 2008
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  2. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Overall, performance of the 320GB is much much better, though access time is better with the 80GB just because of the smaller amount of data there is. 320GB, due to higher data density, gives it higher speeds compared to lower capacities at the same RPM.
     
    Forte, Jul 9, 2008
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    At the same RPM, the 320GB drive will perform better due to the increased data density.
     
    Greg, Jul 9, 2008
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  4. chesieofdarock

    chesieofdarock Notebook Deity

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    no. a 320gb will run much faster because when a hd fills up with info, it takes longer for it to find certain information, but on a larger drive, there is more space to store the info so it's easier for the computer to find. a 320gb and an 80gb of the same size will be quite different in speed. the 320gb should destroy it.
     
    chesieofdarock, Jul 9, 2008
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  5. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    That is not true; its not about finding the info. Modern filesystems (NTFS, ext3) have file allocation tables or indexes that tell the computer exactly where to look (file with name X is found on track N, sector M), so the R/W heads don't have to search for the file. If the computer had to search for what it wanted every time, it would be like searching for a specific book in a randomized library; it would take a ridiculous amount of time for Windows or any other OS to read/write to files.

    The advantage of higher data density is that the data is closer together; thus the R/W heads do not have to travel as far when going to make their next read/write. This advantage is only seen when the increase in density is significant.
     
    Bog, Jul 9, 2008
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  6. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    It really lies with the platter density. Take Samsungs new 5400RPM 500GB Hard drive. It is about as fast as 160GB 7200RPM. It uses 3 platters. Though if it used 2 250GB platters... performance would probably be comparable to 200GB 7200RPM or faster.
     
    Forte, Jul 9, 2008
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  7. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    It also depends on what types from what brands you're comparing. Each brand and type has it's own way of performing. So if you want to know how a drive performs you can search for a benchmark at Tomshardware.com or storagereview.com
     
    Phil, Jul 9, 2008
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  8. chesieofdarock

    chesieofdarock Notebook Deity

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    I kenew that :p
     
    chesieofdarock, Jul 9, 2008
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  9. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    The 80GB could perform as well as the 320GB if it only uses one side of one platter. You can figure this out if the specs show it ha only one head. For example, look at the datasheet for the Hitachi 7k320 and you will see that the 80GB version has one disc and one head and the same data transfer rate as the rest of the family.

    So, when buying an HDD it is useful to know its details. You can find this out if you buy a bare HDD but not if it is bundled in a computer.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 9, 2008
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