WD740GD (Yes, the new Raptors)

[Matthias99]

Probably with the next full generation of drives. Right now we've basically got the same internals as disks from 1-2 years ago, with slight improvements. I think the speed at which SATA has become widely available has thus far outpaced how quickly the HD manufacturers could come up with and introduce completely new designs.

 

[Jeff7181]

See, I never understood why people want MORE than 36 GB for a boot drive. A boot drive is not for your pr0n! If you can fill 36 GB with applications, you either have too much crap installed that you don't use, play LOTS of different games, or you're in the extreme minority who does use all that space and NEEDS more space. My Raptor and my WD800JB work out great together, and cost LESS than one of those new Raptors.

 

[Jumpem]

I have less than 40GB on my entire system.

 

[Jeff7181]

When I got to (M: ) there were so many partitions that my host O.S. (XP) was unable to boot reliably. The drive letters included virtual drives and CD-roms, not just HDs.

I have an N: drive and no problems. I don't think your problems were related to the number of drives and Windows XP.


If the new Raptor included something like a new and improved caching algorithm... or a 16+ MB cache... then that would justify the cost... but for an enthusiast, I'd say a couple 36GB Raptors in RAID 0 would be a much better choice... faster AND cheaper, with the same amount of space.

 

[JBT]

I have 20 gigs used out of 48 I have no idea how you people find so much crap to put on your systems.
and to the who thinks that having a drive N was screwing something up. My school for some reason or another has every single lab computer have like atleast 15 mapped drives ranging from A to Z kinda weird but they all work fine.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: JBTele
I have 20 gigs used out of 48 I have no idea how you people find so much crap to put on your systems.

I can easily fill my drives with crap... but I delete what I don't need. Here's some things I keep on my WD800JB that's used for storage. Music video downloads, my entire CD collection in MP3 form (about 15 GB @ 128 or 192 kbps), programs and updates to programs like game patches and mods and winzip and all that stuff so I don't have to redownload if I reformat the boot drive, storage for temporary files like trailers for games and whatnot, also the installation files for game demo's, as well as CD images of a couple games I'm beta testing, also the games I'm beta testing I've installed on the storage drive because one of them creates HUGE log files... I'm talkin 100-500 MB TEXT FILES!
I have the games I play frequently on the Raptor on a partition separate from where Windows is installed.

 

[JBT]

I DO understand the need for storage for games, demo's, logs, mp3's and stuff. I was just saying I don't under stand like you said why they complain about only haveing 36GB for a boot drive. If you are buying one of these anyways you probably already have a storage drive so why do you care so much.

Not sure if otheres have posted this but newegg has Raptor 360GD in stock now not the older version for still 108!!!

 

[oldfart]

I recently did a video project with a 2.5 Hr video. DV capture = 32.5 Gig. Temp and MPEG files, ~ another 10 Gig. Over 40 Gig of space needed just to do that one project.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: oldfart
I recently did a video project with a 2.5 Hr video. DV capture = 32.5 Gig. Temp and MPEG files, ~ another 10 Gig. Over 40 Gig of space needed just to do that one project.

Again, you're in the minority... most people don't do that, and people who do it for a living would normally use SCSI drives.

 

[oldfart]

Eh, storage is cheap these days. No reason not to have plenty of it IMHO. And the faster it is, the better. I like the idea of the bigger drive. the performance improvements and the FDB. These are nice improvements. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JBTele
I DO understand the need for storage for games, demo's, logs, mp3's and stuff. I was just saying I don't under stand like you said why they complain about only haveing 36GB for a boot drive. If you are buying one of these anyways you probably already have a storage drive so why do you care so much.

Not sure if otheres have posted this but newegg has Raptor 360GD in stock now not the older version for still 108!!!

Uhh, that's still the old one. It lists 5.2ms access time. The new ones are 4.5

 

[Jeff7181]

$200+ for <80GB isn't cheap in my opinion. I paid for the speed of the Raptor... 80-160 GB "regular 7200 RPM drives" usually provide the most space per dollar.

 

[oldfart]

For that kind of performance and capacity, I think it is a real bargain! Not as cheap as a 800JB, but a great deal. Dont forget a 5 year warranty. People had no issue spending more than that for the 2 x 36 setup.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I've got a little over 40GB of my 110GB used. Of course, I just reformatted a few weeks ago, and haven't reinstalled everything I normally have on. Mainly CD .ISOs and games, as well a few fairly large apps.

Of course, that's all on 2MB cache 7200 drives.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: NFS4


Uhh, that's still the old one. It lists 5.2ms access time. The new ones are 4.5

Oh I didn't know sorry it added GD to the name since the last time I looked at them.

 

[Dug]

SR comparison benches
Holy Sh!t!!!

Faster and quieter. I'm gettin one.

 

[Xernex]

Originally posted by: Dug
SR comparison benches
Holy Sh!t!!!

Faster and quieter. I'm gettin one.

Damn that looks awesome. I?m definitely gonna get the 36GB version!

 

[JBT]

wow those 72 gb's are FAST
where is the old 36 gb vs the new 36 gb I would like to see how they improved.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
See, I never understood why people want MORE than 36 GB for a boot drive. A boot drive is not for your pr0n! If you can fill 36 GB with applications, you either have too much crap installed that you don't use, play LOTS of different games, or you're in the extreme minority who does use all that space and NEEDS more space. My Raptor and my WD800JB work out great together, and cost LESS than one of those new Raptors.

Listen dude, just because you sit around playing games and surfin' the net all day, doesn't mean that is all other people do. I have an 80GB HD as my main drive (OS drive). 60GB+ of it is filled and it is with installed apps ONLY. All MP3s, movies, apps, and misc stuff are stored on other hard drives. I like to see my PC as a do it all machine, you give me a task and I'll have the tools loaded to complete the task.

I'll take two of the NEW 36GB Raptors in RAID 0.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

When I got to (M: ) there were so many partitions that my host O.S. (XP) was unable to boot reliably. The drive letters included virtual drives and CD-roms, not just HDs.

If the new Raptor included something like a new and improved caching algorithm... or a 16+ MB cache... then that would justify the cost... but for an enthusiast, I'd say a couple 36GB Raptors in RAID 0 would be a much better choice... faster AND cheaper, with the same amount of space.

Though the new raptor will be in both 36gb and 73gb models

 

[Chunkee]

Where can you get the new 36gb RAPTORS? The quieter "improved ones"?

jC

 

[Hauk]

Two weeks likely on the 37GB. Monitor this board, newegg.com, and pricewatch.com

I got my money ready. What do ya'll think... $150 - 160 for 37Gig version??