What are the current best quality HDD's?

Question

I am looking for a reasonable quality hard disk for a gaming computer being built. Now, like all the other components I have chosen good quality parts (or what I believe to be) like Intel CPU, Gigabyte mobo, CoolMaster case, Kingston RAM etc etc. Now, what is a good HDD brand? Shops selling them, as expected, say theirs are best.

I have been part of the IT world since 1978 and recall many disasters - in the world of small computers. Seagate were considered very poor once, but now they have a great reputation. Western Digital had a very good name, but one poor series of disk made them disliked for a while by some people. Quantum were also a good brand, but I have not seen one except in legacy gear for ages. In fact, one company I worked for insisted on Quantum drives, and we were never let down by them.

I use a Maxtor 500Gb without any problems, and know most Fujitsi gear is incredibly high quality (this comment comes from working on their mainframes, not HDD products). But do they make small HDD's as we know them?

I believe every name above has had "the best drive money can buy" label - and exactly the opposite at some time. So, the question is aimed at today's market, not what happened with some brand in 1992.

I also do not want to use Samsung, Hitachi or ASUS drives. Despite their excellence in other areas, I don't believe that carries across in to the small drive world. They may be rebadged, but if not, they simply don't have the depth of experience IMHO. Seagate, Quantum and WD have been around for ages, and CDC, Diablo, Memorex, Shugart, NEC, Miniscribe and Kyocera don't make any small drives to my knowledge. And if they did, their reputation in the large-disk field would not necessarily follow then to 3.5" or 2.5" technology.

I am wanting a 1T drive with a secondary one for backup (though pure data like spreadsheet, docs and MP3's) will also get stored onto a large memory stick(s).

Consider my question to be "What is todays best and most reliable brand of 3.5" disk drive - in the 1T range - which I could reasonably expect a long life and quick performance from"? I am prepared to pay a bit more for proven quality; conscious of cache & read-ahead technology and think they are essential - it is a fast machine and traditionally bottlenecks occur at anything mechanical. So, I will be looking at 16Mb (cache/buffer) as a minimum, with 32Mb preferred.

Anyway, I can sort that out - I am asking which the best models are, and the family within the model group. And again, I am as interested in anything to steer clear of. Can anyone with fair knowledge (especially from either working for a reseller or being a machine-builder) =OR= someone who sees the warranty returns) advise what I should buy, and importantly, why? I know everyone has their favourites ... I would also be interested in hearing any stories of woe, in recent times, with a certain brand of drive.

Thanks everyone...

Answer 1

Check this out;

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/19330

If you want a high performance drive, excellent warranty and you do not like Samsung, consider the WD Caviar Black.

Answer 2

Like you...I too would Like to know!!!! Your Right about Quantum...but don't bother to look for them..they sold out to Maxtor a number of years ago and then Maxtor was eaten up by Western Digital..! IBM was also a top brand...till they came up with the "deskstar"...which after a few months on the market became the "deathstar"...and subsequently the "death" of IBM in the small computer market. Unfortunately, all the major testing purveyors for the common hard drive have there own idea of how they should be tested and who the best is! Some say Seagate, some say WD, while others say Samsung. Since I have to put hard drives in my custom built machines, and like you, I want my clients happy with their purchase...especially since there paying a premium price for the best quality equipment. I have to go with the purchasing public...or...What is the one hard drive most often purchased by the majority of people and why. The Western Digital Caviar Black is their pick (and the one I use) then the WD "blue" for the lesser machines. The Seagate Barracuda Closely follows the WD, with the Samsung Spinpoint F3 a close third.

Just for the record I have an original Connors hard drive that still runs! followed by a Quantum and Maxtor in the same machine that's nearly 20 years old...! WHICH one is the BEST...I cant really say. You could get a "bum" in any batch. The big fight is between WD and Seagate, and both have had there ups and downs through the years...Its only a matter of getting the one you need when its on the top of the heap when the maker is at its best!

Answer 3

I have a Western Digital 1 TB 7200 rpm drive external, and a Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB 7200 rpm 64 mb cache internal, and both have given me zero problems over the last 6 months - a year I've had them. I don't think they even make 16 mb desktop hard drives any more. Hitachi is also good



Avoid Seagate, most of the reviews they get are still bad

Answer 4

higher SD playing cards are literally starting to be the norm (as a lot as 32GB) and slowly uyou will see them replacing HDD altogether. notwithstanding, look at hybrid cams that grant HDD and memory Card recording. if you're no longer stricken too a lot with hi-def then take a squizz on the Panasonic SDR-H40 which has 40GB demanding stress and SDHC card slot it truly is now promoting at Argos for £149.ninety 9 - wonderful cost.

Answer 5

I'm obviously not as informed as you and i'm not a gamer also, one thing that i do know about mechanical hard disks that you should consider is the faster they run the shorter life span they have. Constantly changing temps cause heat metal fatigue and spindle wear. 7000 rpm drives will last you longer imo.



The only after market drive iv ever bought was a western passport usb drive, iv so far never needed to replace one from my own doing.



Best of luck on your decision