Real World Tests – Multitasking Performance

We apply the same changes to our Real World Multitasking Performance tests and have also modified the test to relate to typical external storage device uses. We now measure the time that it takes to Zip a single 300MB file while copying a 4.5GB file to the external device from a SATA drive.

Multitasking – 4GB File Copy + 300MB File Zip, seconds, lower is better
Within Drive To Drive (From SATA) Difference
AcomData E5 320GB (USB) 186.586 199.154 12.568
AcomData E5 320GB (FireWire 400) 173.453 187.438 13.985


Of course, the performance of the E5 on the FireWire 400 interface is slightly better than the USB 2.0 connection, but the difference of time to zip a file within the drive compared to a zip to the drive is about the same. It is obvious that the FireWire 400 interface is a bit faster than the USB.

Real World Tests – File System Performance Final Thoughts
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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

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