HDTach 3
We have added a new tool to our arsenal - HDTach v3. HDTach is a simple, yet effective tool for measuring the sequential read and burst speed of a drive. Take a look at our results.
Click to enlarge.
The graph HDTach is very similar to the one produced by WinBench 99’s Transfer Rate test. We expected to see a lower read speed with a USB connected drive, but what made us question USB connectivity were the brief rises of speed at the beginning of the read and between the 40-62GB mark. The burst speed actually reflects these rises, which HDTach reports to be 37.6MB/sec as the ceiling and an average read speed of 34.2MB/sec.
Click to enlarge.
The FireWire 400 measurement showed a bit more consistency and slightly higher read speeds, since FireWire is not tied to the CPU as is the USB interface. The burst speed here is 40.2MB/sec with an average read speed of 37.5MB/sec.
As an example of what the read graph of a normal SATA hard drive would look like, we have provided the following screen shot.
Click to enlarge.
Since the Seagate drive is directly connected to the system bus by way of the SATA interface, there are no restrictions on the read speeds except for the drives’ own mechanics and physic.
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Andyvan - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
That is exactly what I've been envisioning for several years.-- Andyvan
Ecmaster76 - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
With standardized external SATA devices on the horizon, I would advise wiating to buy unless you really need external storage right now.Any of you cool dudes at Anandtech know how soon we can expect a wide selection of external SATA?
psychobriggsy - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
You can already buy external SATA enclosures. When I was looking for mine, I saw SATA versions of the IcyBox for example, and the price was pretty much the same in fact.UltraWide - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
I got a 320GB version on firewire through my audigy2 and it's excellent. it's fast, quiet and runs very cool.psychobriggsy - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
Earlier this month I bought a 200GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 (the silent IDE version) and an IcyBox external Firewire/USB2 enclosure (the one with the blue lighting). That worked out a lot cheaper than buying something pre-made like this. It too has a Firewire passthrough.The price? £80 in total. Which is around $125 after you take tax off the UK price.
It's been coupled with my iBook, which only has a 40GB 4200 RPM hard drive. It's a handy backup solution, and I store all my media file on it as well. I plan to get a Mac Mini at some point in the future to which it will be permanently attached. The combination can then serve music to a SqueezeBox2 or similar, once I get one of those.
ElFenix - Monday, August 29, 2005 - link
i've had hit or miss experiences using do it yourself external drive kits. i *think* that the premade ones tend to have better chipsets inside. and the diy stuff doesn't come with the software. and sometimes the premade stuff is about the same cost (after rebates and sales) as diy.formulav8 - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
I wish I could talk my wife into letting me get that for her laptop. Her slow 60gb 4200 rpm drive is almost full. Oh well, she won't let that happen with that much money.Jason
Olaf van der Spek - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
> and the results of CPU load for the FireWire 400 interface surprised us even more, since it is pier-to-pier.What's a pier?
TheInvincibleMustard - Saturday, August 27, 2005 - link
Arr, matey ... that be when ye be shipping pirated medias between your two drives ... yar-har-harrrrrr.:-D