Best 15k SCSI Ultra160 Hard Drive?

[KiLLaZ]

I've just inhereted a Adaptec 19160 SCSI Ultra-160 controller from another machine and am looking for a hard drive to go with it. I don't need RAID or a lot of storage space (just storing system files and program files, etc. on it). What's the fastest Ultra-160 drive out there? Noise is definitely a consideration though, it can't be too loud. Heat is taken care of because I have two 80mm fans blowing right onto the hard drive bays in my case.

 

[mechBgon]

The fastest ones are the Seagate Cheetah 15k.3, the Fujitsu MAS-series, and the Maxtor Atlas 15k. The Cheetah and Fujitsu use fluid bearings, Maxtor uses ball bearings. The Fujitsu is probably your best bet, it's well ahead of the Cheetah 15k.3 in most scenarios. But the Cheetah will be the quietest idler.

 

[bacillus]

http://storagereview.com/php/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=LeaderBoard

 

[KiLLaZ]

Will there be a significant difference if I use a specified Ultra320 SCSI drive with my Ultra160 controller?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: KiLLaZ
Will there be a significant difference if I use a specified Ultra320 SCSI drive with my Ultra160 controller?

For a single drive, Ultra160 may actually be faster... check out XBit Labs' results here and draw your own conclusions, they test both ways. Remember, Ultra160 is already significantly faster than the 32-bit 33MHz PCI bus that consumer-level motherboards are running.

 

[synapse02]

What mobos have 64bit pci slots..
Ive been curious about how one uses an ultra fast HD?

A few fast IDE drives in an array can max out the PCI bus pretty easily..

 

[KiLLaZ]

Thanks for the link, mechBgon -- that's very interesting...

Turns out i need a 68-pin/80-pin converter because the Adaptec 19160 has a 68-pin LVD SCSI connector and the Fuji MAS has an 80-pin connector?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: synapse02
What mobos have 64bit pci slots..
Ive been curious about how one uses an ultra fast HD?

A few fast IDE drives in an array can max out the PCI bus pretty easily..

The boards with PCI-X buses are almost always dual-processor server or workstation motherboards, meaning that they aren't very tweakable and use Registered ECC memory modules. They may have more than one PCI-X bus, as well as a "legacy" 32-bit PCI bus.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: KiLLaZ
Thanks for the link, mechBgon -- that's very interesting...

Turns out i need a 68-pin/80-pin converter because the Adaptec 19160 has a 68-pin LVD SCSI connector and the Fuji MAS has an 80-pin connector?

80-pin... :Q ...run away, run away! Get the 68-pin version, which has a model number of ending with NP.

 

[KiLLaZ]

But check out this deal. I found MC, MP, NP, NC and the MAM3184MP is the 68-pin? What's the difference between all these?

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: KiLLaZ
Thanks for the link, mechBgon -- that's very interesting...

Turns out i need a 68-pin/80-pin converter because the Adaptec 19160 has a 68-pin LVD SCSI connector and the Fuji MAS has an 80-pin connector?

80-pin... :Q ...run away, run away! Get the 68-pin version, which has a model number of ending with NP.

Whats wrong with 80 pin?

 

[selene]

80 pin gets power through the pins, thus for servers with backplane for hot swappable functions.. having an adapter just makes it more messy in ur case.. and will cost you another 20-40 dollars

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: dexvx

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: KiLLaZ
Thanks for the link, mechBgon -- that's very interesting...

Turns out i need a 68-pin/80-pin converter because the Adaptec 19160 has a 68-pin LVD SCSI connector and the Fuji MAS has an 80-pin connector?

80-pin... :Q ...run away, run away! Get the 68-pin version, which has a model number of ending with NP.

Whats wrong with 80 pin?

1) it means buying an 80 <-> 68 adapter which adds to the cost and mechanical complexity, and may not look cosmetically attractive (think windowed cases here )

2) if the drive doesn't provide terminator power to the bus (I haven't checked Fujitsu's documentation to see if the MAS NC-series have this ability or not edit: I have now, and it doesn't) and the adapter isn't built to provide terminator power either, then he is gonna be hating life Now if he has a full-on SCA-2 backplane for these puppies, that's another story

 

[sharkeeper]

The boards with PCI-X buses are almost always dual-processor server or workstation motherboards, meaning that they aren't very tweakable and use Registered ECC memory modules.

That's a great advantage, not a disadvantage! Stability reigns supreme over anything else! This is why you won't find rogue chipsets in real servers and workstations!

Cheers!

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
The fastest ones are the Seagate Cheetah 15k.3, the Fujitsu MAS-series, and the Maxtor Atlas 15k. The Cheetah and Fujitsu use fluid bearings, Maxtor uses ball bearings. The Fujitsu is probably your best bet, it's well ahead of the Cheetah 15k.3 in most scenarios. But the Cheetah will be the quietest idler.

i got a cheetah for sale if you need one, pm me