Would WD SE16 320s and 640s likely be the denser platters now?

[9nines]

I am going to buy either a 6400AAKS or the 320 version. I was going to get them at Directron.com since it is close to my home. I called to ask if the store would check the last digits of the part number. I was told that they will not check the last digits of the part number (too busy) but I was told they go through inventory quickly and that if the denser platters came out in January or February then the ones they have now would almost certainly be the denser ones.

Would you think they are likely the denser platters, if they just arrived recently or would channels still have the older ones?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

The only 640GB drive is the dense one, but I'm not sure all the 320GB drives are new yet, 320GB drives don't seem super popular.

 

[9nines]

Oh I did not know - so all the WD SE16 640s AAKSs are the dense double-only platter models (there are no other models of it)?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Nope, that's the only one.

 

[broadwayblue]

stupid question...I've never had a SATA system before. I'm picking up a second hard drive (the wd6400aaks) for my new Dell Inspiron 530...does it matter whether I get a SATA or SATA II cable for it? The drive is OEM so I need to buy a data cable. Thanks.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Better to get SATAII but the drive will adjust automatically if you use SATA. SATA II is twice as SATA, but they are backwards compatible.

 

[broadwayblue]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Better to get SATAII but the drive will adjust automatically if you use SATA. SATA II is twice as SATA, but they are backwards compatible.

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure they were physically interchangable. Although I was also wondering if the hard drive would operate more slowly on a SATA cable as opposed to SATA II.

 

[Majic 7]

Not sure but I don't think you could overwhelm a SATA cable unless you were running a Raid array, even running a SATA II drive. But SATA II cables are only a few bucks anyway. The 320 series run slower and quieter so they can be sold to comp manufacturers.