Hard drive Speeds

[Aggressor 0]

Hello all,

I was just wondering if having two hard drives with different speeds (6500 and 7200) will mess up my pc.

The drive that I'm planning on getting is a Maxtor 30gb 7200 and the one that I have now is a Maxtor 40 gb 6500.

THe pc that I have now is an HP and it did not come with restore disks or the OS on a cd-rom, there was a partition on the hard drive that contained all that information and was used whenever I had to do a reformat. If I decide to just buy one 80 or 120 gb hard drive and remove my old one can I still transfer the contents of the partition (drivers, OS, etc) onto the new hard drive?

Thanks

[firefly2442 0]

If your computer case can support additional hard drives it would be easy to just put in a new one and have two. I'm sure about the speeds, I wouldn't think it would matter. This way you wouldn't have to get ride of a drive. Anyway, just a suggestion.

[Stinger 0]

The speeds don't matter u can put in an old ata66 hdd 5400rpm and 2mb cache with a ata133 7200rpm 8mb cache drive and they will still work. I can't imagine any problems at all.

[Aggressor 0]

Thanks firefly & Stinger

[Specter 0]

There wont be any problems at all bro. You can run different speed drives, even on the same cables.

The only time you want to make sure you have Identical drives, is when you are setting up RAID, or disk mirroring.

As a matter of fact, Im running 4 different drive speeds in my machine now.

ATA 33, 66, 100, 133, with no problems.

[Stinger 0]

Phantom, do u notice any difference between the ATA100 and ATA133 maxtor drive? Lots of people say that 133 isn't really that much better than 100 at all and that is is not really worth the extra $.

[Specter 0]

I never noticed a difference between the 100 and 133. In fact, if you research it, and I did when it first came out, but the difference is almost insignificant to the end user. The only real leap was in the fact that they found the limits of ATA technology I think.

Kind of like the leap from AGP 4x to 8x. Performance on current PC technology for 8x is actually a bit of a hinderance, and 4x performs better. This has also been documented by several publications such as Maximum PC to name one. They ran a full gamut of tests on several cards including Savage, Nvidia, and ATI a few months back, and 8x actually slowed performance over 4x.

They can keep making all the hardware advances they want, because all these people feel they have to have the latest tech, and will pay a fortune for it, when software is still about 2 years behind hardware, roughly.

Until they come up with new ways of coding, and resolve the bandwidth issues once and for all, Im guessing that processor wise, for another 2 years at least, no one will need more than 2ghz. On everything I run on my P4 1.6, I have still never maxed out my proc.

Before any of the new hardware people are unnecessarily spending a fortune on can be fully utilized, and really justify the spending, software is going to have to catch up. Otherwise, at this point in time for about 1.5 to 2 more years, the only truly justifiable hardware upgrades a person can make are to RAM, at least 512, no more on a Win9x/ME system, as they have known memory leaks and addressing problems over 512,(this is acknowledged my MS as a known, unfixable problem and OS limitation), and up to a GB of RAM on XP/2K systems, no more than that is necessary, except on major servers dealing in major traffic, and a video card up to the Nvidia GF4 Ti 4200 or 4600's with 128 RAM, or the ATI 9700 PRO with 128 RAM. No more is needed, and current software isnt coded to use more than that.

Even on video cards, the TI4200 or 4600 is all you will need for about 2 more years. They can handle any software being written under current coding. I wouldnt waste the money. Id spend it on software, or a better display, perhaps more drive space and/or a RAID card. But continually upgrading to the latest hardware tech at this point in time is pretty much a waste, unless you have money to throw away.

Because, as of about 2 years ago, the bottleneck is no longer the PC. It's software, and it's bandwidth.

[Stinger 0]

When u say need to mean by bare minimum right? As in I can play GTA Vice City with a pos 32mb card and it will work but it runs smoother with a Ti4600 etc? That 4x and 8x AGP thing comparing to the ATA133 thing is a perfect explanation for me thanks.

I have a question though, how can u never max out ur cpu? I hit 100% on games ussually since I make them take it all and when I stream that always takes it all. I guess most people don't stream though.

Sorry for the choppy/crappy written post it's late and yeah.

[Specter 0]

Right. But software is topped out as far as hardware goes right now. Even most games. Just take a look at what the minimum req's are. They have been that way, at about the same level for a little over a year. And CPU's, for the most part, for the General public, they have been more than enough since the 1.6ghz, and will continue to be until coding and bandwidth improve.

Thats why all the hardware and PC companies are starting to hurt, and massive layoffs are occuring. Other advances have to be made before PC hardware makes the next big, count for something leap. For some people who tweak and overclock, its great. They have the money to spend, and can afford to gamble with their PC's. Most people cant afford it, or dont have an interest in going over spec and pushing their equipment.

Tweakers and hardware enthusiasts are actually the minority. Most people buy PC's and have to have them last 2 or 3 or 4 years, so they dont push them. And stock, people just run them the way the are designed, same with software.

Look at Intel. They laid of 70% of their workforce here and closed some plants. I live right in the middle of all their plants here in Beaverton, OR.

Fujitsu shutdown there plants. Other hardware mfr's all over are hurting because most people arent buying like the very few enthusiasts who can actually afford it are. Budget is the word these days.

I have a P3 450 with 512 RAM and that darn ATI card that runs everything available software wise today, without a problem. Its 3 years old. This is how the majority of people think. I deal with more people that are still running P3's than you might think. Even P2's. Aside from a very, very few here at the site, I cant think of anyone I know, client or friend, or even co-worker in the industry that will gamble on over-clocking.

That is the biggest reason I give advice the way I do. As a professional, I and you will too, deal with the majority, and they are budget minded bigtime. They want, simple, fast, cheap, and straight forward answers, spending as very little as possible. That's why I never recommend a new part unless its bad, or a recommendation is specifically asked for. If Im assisting someone with a problem, and I know their hardware will handle it, I dont recommend new parts, unless we test, and the one they have is bad. If I do recommend a part, I find out what their budget is first, and give them options, from their budget on up to high end. I dont recommend hardware, aside from HDD's, that hasnt been out 6 months. Video cards are a good example. They are too expensive, and usually right out of the gate, are a driver nightmare. Clients and customers, and even friends will hate you for causing them grief, even more than costing them money unnecessarily. It's better to stay a step or 2 below, because word of mouth will kill your reputation.

The minority, such as yourself, and RooK, and a few others, dont call on professional help usually or even need to really ask for it. You play with your systems all day long, and know them inside and out. 95% of users do not. Most dont even want to know how it works, they just want a very simple, very straight forward, economical answer to their problems, because they dont have money to blow, they dont really care how a PC works, they only know they need it to work, and they dont have time to mess around trying this or that.

To most people, 150 bucks or more for a decent vid card is a bundle, especially when most people would pay to have it installed.

Even at a corporate level, you start recommending buying this and buying that, when the current equipment is working fine, and you just want to see it updated, is a big no no. Companies dont like to hear spend buy, spend buy. It simply costs too much.

Anyway, now everyone knows why I advise the way I do, and where Im coming from. I have learned alot about consulting in 13 years of doing it, some of it the hard way, most of it the smart way I'd like to think, because I have no shortage of repeat customers, and when I do tell them they need to spend some money, they dont complain, because they know that I have tried everything else first, and left nothing to chance. And they never gripe about paying me, and I can guarantee all of my work, knowing that it's good, and I wont lose my ass on freebie do overs.

I just thought Id share my reasoning, since it seems to crop up as a heated topic every now and then.

[Stinger 0]

Right. But software is topped out as far as hardware goes right now. Even most games. Just take a look at what the minimum req's are. They have been that way, at about the same level for a little over a year. And CPU's, for the most part, for the General public, they have been more than enough since the 1.6ghz, and will continue to be until coding and bandwidth improve.

Okay, I see what you meant now.

Thats why all the hardware and PC companies are starting to hurt, and massive layoffs are occuring. Other advances have to be made before PC hardware makes the next big, count for something leap. For some people who tweak and overclock, its great. They have the money to spend, and can afford to gamble with their PC's. Most people cant afford it, or dont have an interest in going over spec and pushing their equipment.

So games like HLF2 and DOOM3 shold help to boost the field of industry...but a though, since mainly only gamers such as ourselves play them than the general public who buys most of the stuff wont play them (violence), then gaming companies need to come out with more games like the sims which are for lots of people.

Tweakers and hardware enthusiasts are actually the minority. Most people buy PC's and have to have them last 2 or 3 or 4 years, so they dont push them. And stock, people just run them the way the are designed, same with software.

Exactly, we just upgraded first time since hmm 2000 maybe. We have 4 computers including mine one for each person yay (btu the 486 doesn't count lol).

that darn ATI card that runs everything available

Didn't think u owned an Ati card after the nVidia sphiel *sp?

That is the biggest reason I give advice the way I do. As a professional, I and you will too, deal with the majority, and they are budget minded bigtime. They want, simple, fast, cheap, and straight forward answers, spending as very little as possible. That's why I never recommend a new part unless its bad, or a recommendation is specifically asked for. If Im assisting someone with a problem, and I know their hardware will handle it, I dont recommend new parts, unless we test, and the one they have is bad. If I do recommend a part, I find out what their budget is first, and give them options, from their budget on up to high end. I dont recommend hardware, aside from HDD's, that hasnt been out 6 months. Video cards are a good example. They are too expensive, and usually right out of the gate, are a driver nightmare. Clients and customers, and even friends will hate you for causing them grief, even more than costing them money unnecessarily. It's better to stay a step or 2 below, because word of mouth will kill your reputation.

I don't have any real clients that I get payed for but yes like at moy work they want lots of stuff cheap. Odd thing is that our IT dude is putting GF4 Ti4600's in the rigs he is selling them. He charges fair but they sure don't need them. We work in a prgrm called Doris that is about as graphically intensive as the cmd prompt and then IE6. I was gonna ask him what he was doing but he got me a mountain dew so I dont worry bout it.

The minority, such as yourself, and RooK, and a few others, dont call on professional help usually or even need to really ask for it. You play with your systems all day long, and know them inside and out. 95% of users do not. Most dont even want to know how it works, they just want a very simple, very straight forward, economical answer to their problems, because they dont have money to blow, they dont really care how a PC works, they only know they need it to work, and they dont have time to mess around trying this or that.

To most people, 150 bucks or more for a decent vid card is a bundle, especially when most people would pay to have it installed.

Even at a corporate level, you start recommending buying this and buying that, when the current equipment is working fine, and you just want to see it updated, is a big no no. Companies dont like to hear spend buy, spend buy. It simply costs too much.

Anyway, now everyone knows why I advise the way I do, and where Im coming from. I have learned alot about consulting in 13 years of doing it, some of it the hard way, most of it the smart way I'd like to think, because I have no shortage of repeat customers, and when I do tell them they need to spend some money, they dont complain, because they know that I have tried everything else first, and left nothing to chance. And they never gripe about paying me, and I can guarantee all of my work, knowing that it's good, and I wont lose my ass on freebie do overs.

I just thought Id share my reasoning, since it seems to crop up as a heated topic every now and then.

Well its some good reasoning. Go with what works and is proven and keep your name good since lots of people or clients wont require high end systems.

[Dark Ranger 0]

Excellent post phantom.

I can see where you come from, and I can agree on the fact most clients do not care for the top-of-the-line hardware, generally because they can't see the use for it. "What's that component do that this one won't?" kinds of questions have you groping for "It's faster", or "It cycles more polygons per second". To them, it doesn't really matter if it goes 300 times faster than what they have now. What does matter is, their rig works, and does what they need it to.

Now, those of us here who have the money to spend on faster or better hardware, so be it. But to recommend a 3000+ and nForce2 Deluxe to every peep who asks if building a computer is hard, is just not right. I am by no means accusing anybody. But I have to remind myself that most folks are not computer savvy, and as phantom mentioned, do not really care how or why their 'puter works. It is our job to simply accept it. I am realizing that fact, the more I work with friends and clients.

[Stinger 0]

Lots of people get into media terms and see 128MB as wow. Like I told my mom the vid card I was gonna get and mentioned 128MB, Now for the past month or so she has been going through ads saying brett here is a 128mb card. But it will be like a 9200 or 9600 etc. Not to day those are bad cards but most consumers see 128 as 128 and since they are the same y not go for the cheaper one. They don't know about AA and Pixel shaders etc. My grandma insisted on getting a P4 rig and I told her maybe to look into amd since it is cheaper in their situation (I like both brands not trying to start anything here) but she ended up getting a P4 rig ofc cause of all the media hype and such.

[Specter 0]

Actually, I do have an ATI card that i moved into my P3 because it wasnt Linux compatible. I had nothing but driver problems with it, and that's what prompted my tirad for Nvidia.

Its an ATI 9000 Pro 128.

[Stinger 0]

Actually, I do have an ATI card that i moved into my P3 because it wasnt Linux compatible. I had nothing but driver problems with it, and that's what prompted my tirad for Nvidia.

Its an ATI 9000 Pro 128.

Ah...it figures lol