using slow and fast HDs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Chiu
  • Start date Start date
M

Michael Chiu

I have an older 20G HD that has my Win2k installation for my HTPC. I just
bought a WD 120G HD with a 8M buffer. Would I be better off just using the
120G drive for everything and scrapping the older drive, or is the
performance difference neglible. The older drive will probably only be
used for non HTPC duties.

Also, is there any rule of thumb about plugging in all my devices. My
powersupply has so many available connectors that I'm wondering if I
should use all of them or use them sparingly and just bundle the unused
ones together out of the way.

Thanks.
 
Michael Chiu said:
I have an older 20G HD that has my Win2k installation for my HTPC. I just
bought a WD 120G HD with a 8M buffer. Would I be better off just using the
120G drive for everything and scrapping the older drive, or is the
performance difference neglible. The older drive will probably only be
used for non HTPC duties.

Also, is there any rule of thumb about plugging in all my devices. My
powersupply has so many available connectors that I'm wondering if I
should use all of them or use them sparingly and just bundle the unused
ones together out of the way.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

HUH??? That last question doesn't make sense. IF you use all the available
connectors, what would you use them on? You planning to buy 8 hard drives
just to fill all the connectors??? :)

If you've got room in the case, install both hard drives. -Dave
 
HUH??? That last question doesn't make sense. IF you use all the available
connectors, what would you use them on? You planning to buy 8 hard drives
just to fill all the connectors??? :)

If you've got room in the case, install both hard drives. -Dave
Click to expand...

Each "strand" has two connectors. Should I use both of them for the two
hard drives, or should I use two separate strands for the two hard drives.
The same goes for my DVD burner and fans. Should I give each of them their
own strand, or should I try to minimize the number of strands.
 
HUH??? That last question doesn't make sense. IF you use all the
available
Each "strand" has two connectors. Should I use both of them for the two
hard drives, or should I use two separate strands for the two hard drives.
The same goes for my DVD burner and fans. Should I give each of them their
own strand, or should I try to minimize the number of strands.
Click to expand...

OH!!! It shouldn't make a difference, actually. I'd probably try to
minimize the number of strands to reduce cable clutter. In fact, some case
fans come with an adapter so that they can piggyback off the connector for
another device such as a hard drive or optical drive. I've had two hard
drives and two fans running off the same 'strand' with no problem at
ll. -Dave
 
Michael said:
I have an older 20G HD that has my Win2k installation for my HTPC. I just
bought a WD 120G HD with a 8M buffer. Would I be better off just using the
120G drive for everything and scrapping the older drive, or is the
performance difference neglible. The older drive will probably only be
used for non HTPC duties.
Click to expand...

The 120 Meg will be significantly faster but that doesn't make the 20 gig
useless. I, for example, use older drives as archive storage for all the
neat freeware HTPC programs I download.

They can also be useful as temp storage to relieve the main drive of that load.
 
If you are capturing video leave the O/S on the 20GB drive Capture to the
120GB. This way the video can be put on the one drive without the O/S
functions interupting it. Partition the 120GB drive so as to have one
partition for capturing and one for storage. This will minimize having to
defragment so often and cut down on the area needing it. If you are not
capturing video just leave the 20GB for storage/backup unless your power
supply is marginal.

Which wire strands you use probably doesn't matter. I like to use one for
each drive if I can so theirs less voltage drop to the drive.
 
Michael Chiu said:
I have an older 20G HD that has my Win2k installation for my HTPC. I just
bought a WD 120G HD with a 8M buffer. Would I be better off just using the
120G drive for everything and scrapping the older drive, or is the
performance difference neglible. The older drive will probably only be
used for non HTPC duties.

Also, is there any rule of thumb about plugging in all my devices. My
powersupply has so many available connectors that I'm wondering if I
should use all of them or use them sparingly and just bundle the unused
ones together out of the way.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
You wont notice any real world difference by swapping, similarly if your PSU
is 450 or bigger it doesnt make a difference.
regards
Freddie
 
Freddie said:
You wont notice any real world difference by swapping, similarly if your PSU
is 450 or bigger it doesnt make a difference.
regards
Freddie
Click to expand...

I disagree. There is quite a noticeable real world performance difference
between a 20 gig and 120 gig drive; in boot time, program load time, and
anything else that uses the disk extensively.
 
You wont notice any real world difference by swapping, similarly if your PSU
is 450 or bigger it doesnt make a difference.
Click to expand...

if both are even same Rpm, actually he will notice the difference
(faster data transfer because of higher data density on platters on
the newer one!
 
Spajky said:
if both are even same Rpm, actually he will notice the difference
(faster data transfer because of higher data density on platters on
the newer one!
--
Regards, SPAJKY ®
& visit my site @ http://www.spajky.vze.com
"Tualatin OC-ed / BX-Slot1 / inaudible setup!"
E-mail AntiSpam: remove ##
Click to expand...

Once again check my post I said "real world difference". Not many people sit
there with a stop watch timing the boot up times of their Computer. If they
do they seriously need to fly to Thailand and spend a few hours in a go-go
bar. Actual read from disk during boot up is constrained by a bunch of other
factors, namely how many programs are being loaded. How many people will
notice or care about a 4 second faster boot??, I centainly dont because mine
stays on 24/7.

regards
Freddie
 
Freddie said:
Once again check my post I said "real world difference". Not many people sit
there with a stop watch timing the boot up times of their Computer. If they
do they seriously need to fly to Thailand and spend a few hours in a go-go
bar. Actual read from disk during boot up is constrained by a bunch of other
factors, namely how many programs are being loaded. How many people will
notice or care about a 4 second faster boot??, I centainly dont becausemine
stays on 24/7.

regards
Freddie
Click to expand...

Every program that comes off the disk, which is every program, will also
load faster.

And don't tell me no one notices. I just ghosted a system from a 40 gig
drive over to a 120 gig drive and it was readily apparent.
 
=|[ Freddie Clark's ]|= said:
they
do they seriously need to fly to Thailand and spend a few hours in a go-go
bar.
Click to expand...
eh? cheap sex tourism with teenage peasant girls?

too much pr0n dude :P
 
=|[ Creeping Stone's ]|= said:
=|[ Freddie Clark's ]|= said:
they
do they seriously need to fly to Thailand and spend a few hours in a go-go
bar.
Click to expand...
eh? cheap sex tourism with teenage peasant girls?

too much pr0n dude :P
Click to expand...
or maybe that was me %~/
 
Back
Top