which <80GB drive is best? - Tech Support Forums

ralphangelus · November 14th, 2002, 12:11 PM

Hi,
I need to buy a new drive for my pc. But i dont require much space and also have budget constraints, so a less than 80GB HD is what i need. Currently, i think the top ones would be
IBM 60GXP
Western Digital 400JB
Quantum Fireball Plus 60gb
Seagate 'cuda IV 40gb
which of these (or any other <80gb drives) would be the fastest (game-performance)? Please advice.

EndobioticChaos · November 14th, 2002, 12:45 PM

Definitely avoid the IBM 60GXP. For the other three, I don't know which offers the best performance, although my suggestion is the WD - a very reliable brand.

Bob The Great · November 14th, 2002, 01:57 PM

The IBM's are very fast (the fastest I've seen), and extremly quite (you will not hear it)

Seagates are supposed to rock speed wise but if you need the storage you'll need more then a 40GB.

Out of that list I'd probably go for the IBM just cause I've used them and love them. A LOT of people have had the fail on them. A chip overheats and ruins the drive. So if you do get it keep it cool!

bill1971 · November 14th, 2002, 02:48 PM

My 60 GB was cool as a cucumber, never really pushed or stressed the system, great power supply, aluminum case, and
the blasted IBM died anyway. This was on a second PC that saw
limited use. Never again. . .

I think I'd go with the 80GB WD w/ 8MB cache(Special Edition?)
I've got one, but haven't installed yet. It's supposed to really
smoke. I picked up an OEM from Dell awhile back for $85 shipped, when they had a 20% off peripherals sale.

I've had good luck with Seagate, but I did read in a mag article,
that the Maxtor 5400 RPM outperformed(i.e., was faster), than
the Seagate 'Cuda IV @7200 RPM. Go figure - the Maxtor must
have a higher areal density. . .

- Bill

thekemp · November 14th, 2002, 03:10 PM

the western digital 800bb and 800jb are the fastest ide hard drives out at the moment my 80 gig jb 8mb cache smokes a my 120gxp and my 80gig maxtor 740dx and they are much quieter too!

sechs · November 16th, 2002, 12:30 AM

My first choice would be the IBM 60GXP (although a 120GXP would be a better choice). Second choice would be the Quantum.

sven222 · November 16th, 2002, 12:32 AM

Seagate, definitly.
They are quiet, and very solid.
However I suggest going for the 80GB model. It isnt that much dearer, and the extra 40gb is quite nice.

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · November 16th, 2002, 12:36 AM

I'm a WD person myself and have a 400AB and 153AA both perform very well and both are very quiet. As for game performance, that depends more on the rest of your system more then the HD.

sven222 · November 16th, 2002, 12:39 AM

Also, I would stear clear of Quantum. I had a 10gigger die on me about a year back. No warning from SMART or anything, just bam, dead. I had alot of important info on that drive, not a pretty sight.

bill1971 · November 16th, 2002, 12:56 AM

I read awhile back that there was a batch of bad Quantum drives
in that size range ; a lot of them associated with HP systems. I
replaced such a drive in a co-worker's HP, after about a year's
service.

IBM replaced my pathetic 60GXP w/ the 120GXP series. Let's hope it does better. Now what do I do w/the two 40 giggers that
I have? Can't shove 'em off on some poor unsuspecting soul,
(mainly because they will come back to bite me!). No more IBMs
for me. . .I've learned my lesson.

Can't wait for those new, one year warranty drives come out!

- Bill