Impressions of IBM/Hitachi Desktar 180GXP

[ImaginAsian]

The 180GXP came in today (120GB, 8MB Cache) and i managed to get this baby installed and loaded with WinXP. here's my initial impressions...

1. Formatting 120GB takes FOREVER!!! I think it took over half and hour for a full format.

2. Drive is pretty heavy, probably from the multiple platters on the 120GB model.

3. Powered and case cover on, the idle noise is practically none! Can't hear the spindle whiine or anything to tell me a HD is operating. When performing writes or hard seeks, i can hear the drive but its certainly softer then my previous Deskstar 75GXP and miles quieter then my Quantum Fireball KA (which has been quickly removed from my system). My rig is super silent now and I am glad I made this purchase.

4. The drive is blazingly fast. No benchmarks yet but man this thing rips through installs and file transfers like nobody's businesss.

5. Temp measurements will be forthcoming

Very satisfied with the drive and with a 3-year warranty, can't beat it. Now where the hell ldo i download ATTO or whaterver benchmarks you guys recommend for HDs?

[ImaginAsian]

ok found ATTO, here it is at 180FSB

the read speed is really helped by the 8mb cache

[026TB4U]

You need to change the length to 32mb. Rookie. :D

[026TB4U]

Here's my Atto for the WD 1000JB on the NF7-S SATA channel using the serillel adapter.

[ImaginAsian]

what does the 32mb total length mean - is that the test file size its trying to read/write?

[026TB4U]

Originally posted by ImaginAsian
what does the 32mb total length mean - is that the test file size its trying to read/write?

I think so. I've always seen the 32mb used, so that's what I use. :beatsme:

[Dramen]

IA, yup change to 32mb length, score is affected since your 8mb cache can swallow the 4mb length. Those ibm/hitachi scores are impressive enough, but just think if you did raid!!! :D

How much for the drive?

[ImaginAsian]

thanks for the info dra, will post some 32mb scores soon and yep i was wonderin why the read speed was in RAID territory hehe

after i saw Rando's scores with two maxtor serials raided, made me think hard about a dual 180GXP setup.

but i'd have to shell out another $140!

[ImaginAsian]

Ok, here's the results at 32MB, better then that POS WD Drive of 0-60's hehehehe

[Tex]

Originally posted by ImaginAsian
Ok, here's the results at 32MB, better then that POS WD Drive of 0-60's hehehehe

That one is almost identical to the one I hit with my 120gb 180gxp with 2mb cache. You beat my reads by 2k and the writes were even. For $99 bucks for the 2mb cache version I think it was a steal.

tex

[ImaginAsian]

sure looks like it tex, although i do gain an additional 2-years of warranty which i like.

i also do a lot of audio editing so i think the 8mb cache will come in handy for my needs.

ibm drives are always at the top of their class, a shame the 75gxp stigma has still stuck with them.

[Tex]

I just bought a 40gb 120gxp for frigging forty two bucks. The 75gxp just killed IBM's rep. But I think the 120gxp and 180gxp's have been solid. Too bad huh ? Its you and me that end up profiting. IBM drives are fast and cheap these days and made my hitachi to boot.

Tex

[Pigflipper]

I don't care if they are fast and cheap these days, we (my dad and I) bought 7 IBM drives between 99 and 02 and 3 of them failed in the first 6 months and another failed after 14 months.

[Tex]

The important part was now they are fast cheap and dependable. The gxp75's and to a lesser extent the gxp60's were flawed. How/Where they were mounted at times made it worse but they were fast and "flawed" drives. Bummer dude. Feel your pain. But won't stop me from buying a 120 or 180gxp either. Sorry...

Cheers

Tex