IDE, EIDE, SCSI, Huh??
Aug 14 '00
So you finally decided it's time to upgrade your computer and add a new hard drive. Either that, or you plan to take up the task of building your own sytem. Whatever the case, one of the most important components is the hard drive. After all, this will be where all of your data and applications are stored. Cut corners on this purchase and you could end up regretting it over and over again.
First of all, let's cut through the lingo. There are two major types of hard drives - EIDE (or just IDE) and SCSI:
EIDE stands for Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE is an older version, not "Enhanced"). What's that mean to you? Nothing, except that it has a built-in controller, unlike some really old drives that had separate controller cards. Essentially, these are your common, everyday hard drives requiring no special needs. They are much faster and more reliable than older drives, and probably the best for all around usage. Most drives sold today at stores like CompUSA or Fry's are EIDE drives. Just check the package.
SCSI stands for Small Computer System Interface. SCSI devices have typically been faster than their EIDE cousins, but require a SCSI controller to function. This can either be built into the computer motherboard or can be a separate add-on card. In short, the controller is a separate piece of hardware. In the EIDE drive, the controller is built into the drive. Another advantage of SCSI is that it allows multiple devices to share the same controller, allowing you more flexibility for expansion. Typically, you can hook up to about seven devices to one SCSI controller. EIDE interfaces on normal motherboards allow two devices per channel, for a total of four maximum.
SCSI devices were once preferred due to their faster data transfer rates. However, over the years, EIDE devices have improved dramatically and now operate nearly as quickly. Overall, you can avoid a lot of upgrade challenges by keeping it simple and getting an EIDE drive. They tend to be cheaper in price, too.
OK, make a note of that - Get an EIDE drive, NOT SCSI. It will make life easier and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket.
Now, let's look at some of the specifications of a hard drive:
Speed (RPMs) - 5400 is normal for most hard drives, 7200 is better. The faster the disc spins, the faster data can move. Think of this in terms of a CD-ROM; a 24x drive is good, a 32x drive is better. Same rationale. Buy a hard drive with a rating of 7200 RPMs. Higher speeds exist, but carry a premium in price.
Access Time (Seek Time) - This is how long it takes for your system to find the data on the disc. The lower the number, the better. Around 8ms or 8.5ms is good, anything over 10ms is unacceptable.
UDMA33 or UDMA66 (Also known as ATA33, ATA66) - This is the data transfer rate of the drive. Pay attention to the last two numbers. The 33 indicates a 33mbps transfer rate, and the 66 indicates (yes, you guessed it...) a 66mbps transfer rate. In English, this means that data moving to or from the disc is traveling at a certain speed. Faster is better. Buy a hard drive with UDMA66; it's worth the few extra bucks. Most newer systems will support the UDMA66 rate, and it is backwards compatible with systems that only run the UDMA33 or lower rate. UDMA33 drives will work with a system designed for the newer and faster rate, but will never exceed the 33mbps transfer rate. Trust me, get UDMA66.
Buffer - The buffer is essentially the data "waiting room." The drive moves data into the buffer, where it sits until called into action by the computer processor. This speeds up the data transfer rate, simply because there is less time waiting for the processor to find the data. I find that most "discount" hard drives skimp in this area, containing buffers of 512K or less. NEVER get a hard drive with less than 512K. I recommend finding one with at least 1MB. More buffer memory is better.
Let's summarize. I recommend:
<ul><li>EIDE hard drive
<li>7200 RPM
<li>8.5ms Access Time or better
<li>UDMA66
<li>512K Buffer minimum, 1MB or greater preferred
</ul>
As a final note, the manufacturer needs to have a good reputation for quality products, with a fair warranty. I like Maxtor (DiamondMax models) and Western Digital. IBM makes excellent drives, but tends to charge a premium. Quantum makes some good drives, but check their web site for information on the latest models. Some of the older ones are not so good.
My absolute favorite bargain comes from CompUSA in the form of their own, CompUSA brand hard drives, which happen to be manufactured by Maxtor (or at least they were). These drives are exactly the same as the one in the Maxtor boxes, but the prices are usually a bit lower. Just look on the side of the box, it tells you who makes it...and we know CompUSA doesn't manufacture anything. If you buy a drive from a web auction, do a little research to make sure it is not reconditioned or refurbished. Don't take a chance on losing your critical data by purchasing a cheap drive.
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Epinions.com ID:
RBradford
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Location: Dallas, TX
Reviews written: 109
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About Me:
I'm a Computer Hardware, Software, and Gadget Junkie.
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