Buying retired WD Velociraptors... Smart or foolish?

[Matt_Stevens]

Am I crazy? Have I not given this much thought? Or is it so little money that it's a nice bargain?

It seems the 300gb line of Velociraptors are all being retired over the last year since so many are now available for dirt cheap. The 150gb raptors are crazy cheap. A friend of mine bought one of the 150gb versions last year for $40 to use as an OS drive for an older system (basically his torrent system) and he swears by it. Zero problems and noticeably faster than his WD Blue.

Most of my video editing friends use 300gb, 500gb and 1TB 10,000rpm drives in striped raids for video files and I do a lot of editing myself. The faster the drives, the easier it is for full resolution video playback so...

Off the bay I snagged the following (price includes shipping costs)...

150gb WD1500BLFS for $15 (includes Icepack)
160gb WD1600HLFS for $18 (Includes Icepack)
Four 300gb WD3000BLFS' for about $21 each (no Icepacks)

The 150 and 160 will go into my dad's and sister's old Compaqs that have drives as slow as a snails.

I'll stick two 300gb hdd's into my Shuttle XPC (my secondary PC) in a striped RAID. My old Intel X25-M SSD is the OS drive and still super fast. I use this PC for editing when I am on the road. I can fit the two Velociraptors in one 3.5 bay and hope that it's not too hot (neither has the ice-pack). They will certainly be faster than the now five year old Samsung currently in use.

The other two will go into my main PC, which I just built. Not sure if I will stripe them since I would need to add another controller card.

One of the four arrived Monday and I tested it thoroughly. No bad sectors. It's not really loud at all and checks out. The others are due Friday and I will test them one by one.

Am I nuts? I also bought two ice packs and if you add up the total cost for everything above it's under $155.

Having never owned a 10,000rpm drive I kind of wanted to have the experience before SSD's took over completely. Yes yes, the 1TB versions are supposed to be even faster, but all of my current hard drives are four to six years old, outside of the brand new Samsung 850 Pro I use for my OS (so fast it's scary). My D drive consists of two Samsung Spinpoints in a RAID 0 (and I'll keep it that way) and my E drive two Spinpoints in a RAID 1 for critical files (I also have a networked backup, but I'm paranoid).

The 300GB Velociraptors would replace my 1TB 7200rpm WD from about four or five years ago. That would become an external drive. Yes, I have six hard drives in my tower.

Sorry, I am typing too much. I'll shut up now.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I think I'll just come out and say it: I think it's a waste to use SSDs for storing large media files. There is still a very good niche for HDDs.

And certainly, a RAID array of Veloci-Raptors is better than a single VR in AHCI mode. By a long shot.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Those drives are still slower than a lot of more modern ones (even 7200 rpm ones.)

For your dad and sister, I would have rather gotten a small SSD. Unless you just don't like them.

Using a big ol' RAID array for media files is usually fine.

 

[freeskier93]

If they were larger capacity then maybe, but when you can get 250 GB SSDs for so cheap now it just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[KingFatty]

Yes, how does the performance of those older Velociraptors compare to a modern large-capacity/density hard drive?

 

[Data-Medics]

Higher density newer drives will still be faster even at lower RPM. Simply is more data written per track. A newer 1Tb drive will outperform a Velociraptor.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I don't know why you'd want a loud and slow HDD instead of a cheap 120GB SSD.

It's 2015. Get with the program.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Price. Price price price. $15 is cheap. $50 to $60 for a single SSD for a sh!tty old Compaq isn't cheap. I only purchased the 150/160gb drives because they were so completely crazily inexpensive.

As for file storage, one single SSD around 300GB would cost what I paid for ALL of the drives I mentioned. That has to be part of the equation.

So maybe I should have been more clear in my original post but pricing is part of this. Basically I had around $150 of mad money and did what I thought could get me a lot with it. In the end i might have been silly, but it's just $150.

Remember, my current storage drives are all 4+ years old so not exactly modern marvels.

I still have one more hard drive to purchase. I need something super fast for my main system (not SSD!) at a price point of $140 or below.

 

[soccerballtux]

too noisy. cheap ssd after rebate or newer 7200rpm drive

 

[ronbo613]

Buy a new 4TB 7200rpm hard drive for $160. Bet those old 10K drives are not that much faster.

 

[Elixer]

Price. Price price price. $15 is cheap. $50 to $60 for a single SSD for a sh!tty old Compaq isn't cheap. I only purchased the 150/160gb drives because they were so completely crazily inexpensive.

As for file storage, one single SSD around 300GB would cost what I paid for ALL of the drives I mentioned. That has to be part of the equation.

Part of that equation should also include what happens on a failure?
If you have active backups, then, what you bought is fine.
If you don't, and you need that data back, you are looking at some big $$$ to recover the data.

That isn't to say that getting something new will bypass the need for the backup, it is just that HDs usually have a bell curve before they die, and who knows how long the raptors will last...

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Part of that equation should also include what happens on a failure? If you have active backups, then, what you bought is fine. If you don't, and you need that data back, you are looking at some big $$$ to recover the data.

That isn't to say that getting something new will bypass the need for the backup, it is just that HDs usually have a bell curve before they die, and who knows how long the raptors will last...

Yes agreed. Everything critical in question would be backed up. For my Shuttle the two raptors would be a scratch disc for rendered media. If a drive failed, re-rendering on new drives is no problem. Just costs me time. For my main system there would be two backups.

I am looking for one more (or two more in a RAID 0) HDD(s) for my main system for storage of media files used in non-linear editing. Something fast fast fast. The biggest bottleneck in smooth playback of media at full resolution in Premiere Pro is the hard drive.

I can play with a maximum of $140 (I'd like to spend less). I need at least 500GB of space. Recommendations?

I had looked at the VelociRaptor WD5000HHTZ 500GB, but it's at my max and from you guys are saying here, maybe the raptors don't cut it anymore?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236244

The latest WD that I can find is the Black WD1003FZEX and they are just $71 each.

Googling brought me to the Seagate 1TB Desktop SSHD ST1000DX001:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=B00EIQTOFY&linkCode=as2&tag=hardwarevol03-20

The problem with googling is I get all SSD's. I don't want an SSD for this sort of thing.

 

[Elixer]

Most new HDs, they have their data density at 1TB per platter.
That, combined with their speed 5xxx or 7200 RPM makes them faster than raptors in almost all areas except seeking.

Looking at backblaze's stats on HDs (https://www.backblaze.com/blog/best-hard-drive/ ), if you were looking for a new unit, I would go with HGST, Toshiba, WD*, and I would stay away from seagate versions lower than 4TB.
I have had good luck with the WD black drives as well, but, these are usually more expensive than the other brands. However, be warned, that there seems to be something shady going on with the real Black drives, as mentioned here: http://community.wd.com/t5/Desktop-...-BLACK-poor-access-time-explained/td-p/658549 which turns me off from using WD drives now.


Lower than 1TB HDs are mostly using older tech (less data per platter), so, usually, those are slower than the raptors in pretty much all cases.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I remember being really excited about the 1st gen raptors.
Something happened with the subsequent gens where they just couldn't keep up with their desktop lines.
The smaller platters, lower density and longer validation times just kept them from keeping pace on both performance and size.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Interesting points. So basically even the 1TB Raptor isn't going to compare to a 1 or 2TB Black? Remember... The HDD's will not be used for writing much data. They will be accessed my Adobe Premiere Pro for audio and video files used in non-linear editing.

Perhaps I could also try formatting my two 1TB Spinpoints that are currently in a RAID 1 and then placing them in a RAID 0?

A friend emailed me about the 2TB Seagate ST2000DM001, claiming it's super fast. But I am terrified of Seagate right now. Their 3TB drives are a disaster.

That WD Black is really blue controversy pisses me off. Nothing is without complications. I would love to be able to research something and have a no controversy answer.

EDIT: I was just offered a 1TB WD Velociraptor for $150. Used, but warrantied until 2019. Legit seller. But from what you guys are saying, they are no longer worth considering.

 

[XavierMace]

A friend emailed me about the 2TB Seagate ST2000DM001, claiming it's super fast. But I am terrified of Seagate right now. Their 3TB drives are a disaster.

I've got 16 of those running 24x7 without issue.

 

[Charlie98]

Price. Price price price. $15 is cheap. $50 to $60 for a single SSD for a sh!tty old Compaq isn't cheap. I only purchased the 150/160gb drives because they were so completely crazily inexpensive.

Thing is... you spend the money now on a better drive (SSD) and you can take it with you when the old PCs finally die. Why waste even a little money on old, obsolete hardware (the HDDs, not the actual PCs.)

 

[LTC8K6]

But a new 1TB WD Blue with 64mb cache is under $50.00...

IIRC, it's just as fast as the 1TB Black drive.

 

[john3850]

I would never take chance of buying used hard drives off the bay do to chance of poor shipping.
Don't most hd collect some dirt from use and doesn't that dirt have a chance of doing damage when the drives are moved around like in shipping.

 

[myocardia]

But a new 1TB WD Blue with 64mb cache is under $50.00...

IIRC, it's just as fast as the 1TB Black drive.

But you can buy NOS (new old stock) 2TB enterprise drives for $65 each, with free shipping, and from a more reliable manufacturer: http://www.goharddrive.com/HITACHI-2TB-7200RPM-64MB-SATA3-Hard-Drive-p/g01-0728.htm

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I would never take chance of buying used hard drives off the bay do to chance of poor shipping.
Don't most hd collect some dirt from use and doesn't that dirt have a chance of doing damage when the drives are moved around like in shipping.

 

[rumpleforeskin]

I would never take chance of buying used hard drives off the bay do to chance of poor shipping.
Don't most hd collect some dirt from use and doesn't that dirt have a chance of doing damage when the drives are moved around like in shipping.

Citation needed!
Can you provide any further info on this, its not something I have heard of.

 

[MongGrel]

If you're not doing a lot of storage you're better off getting a smaller SSD these days for an OS.

Crucial BX100 120GB SATA 2.5 Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT120BX100SSD1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RQA6LQY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

You'd see a much bigger jump, the old raptors I have about 4 sitting on a counter not doing anything these days I've thought about just throwing out, but they aren't as large.

I think one or two are dead, I haven't bothered to test them, but the ones your looking at might be at the end of their lifespan also.

I'll still never buy a Seagate myself again, but that is just me personally I guess from past experiences.

I had 5 small Raptors in here in RAID0 many years ago for grins and giggles at one time, once you got above 3 it didn't matter much.

They were moved around over the years and weren't bad till SSD prices dropped.

Put that one in my HTPC and all ready had a WD Black 500 there for storage.

I picked up one of these for my sister in laws with no back up drive and they love it so far, they wanted a upgrade.

Crucial MX200 250GB SATA 2.5 Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT250MX200SSD1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RQA6DTE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

 

[MongGrel]

I still have two Sammy EVO SSDs in RAID0 and 4 X WD RE3s 1TB's in my main tower.

I kept thinking about sticking of of the old Rapters in there just for a page file but haven't bothered, seems would be going backwards.

I did that awhile.

 

[Elixer]

Citation needed!
Can you provide any further info on this, its not something I have heard of.

Let me rephrase what I meant...

The micro filters in the HDs, are meant to "scrub" the air and equalize the pressure, but, unless you live in complete filth with particles flying everywhere, and it is running at that location, then, eventually, yeah, you will have failures when the filter is overwhelmed.

In practice, most all refurbs get new filters.
Buying 'used' HDs (heck, almost anything really) off of fleabay is a bad idea, unless you know the source of the device in question.

If they came from server rooms, most are pretty darn clean.
If they came from someone who smokes 5 packs a day, you can expect one filthy HD.