Sometimes pc assemblers just write their components with their specifications without telling what exact model they are going to use to build that particular pc configuration. Well these small model numbers sometimes can make a huge difference. Today I did some benchmarking on two different Western Digital 320GB Hard Disk models just so I can see if there is any difference in the performance. A simple benchmarking test with HD Tune Pro 4.01 showed some interesting results.
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As you can see the average read speed of the Western Digital Caviar WD3200AAKS is about 86.7MB/s which is a lot faster than the 60.0MB/s of the Western Digital Caviar WD3200AVJS. Similarly case is with the average write speed. The Western Digital Caviar WD3200AAKS has scored 85.8MB/s and the Western Digital Caviar WD3200AVJS 59.5MB/s . Having in mind that the classic hard disks (not SSD’s) are the slowest link in a modern PC configuration, these differences of 25MB/s have a lot of significance in the overall performance of a PC. So if you’re buying a new PC, better ask for that exact model of your hard drive and see how it compares to others.
The exact models used in the benchmarking process were:
Western Digital Caviar WD3200AVJS-00WDA0 and,
Western Digital Caviar WD3200AAKS-00L9A0 .
Here is a small gallery with both of them, and one old Western Digital 20GB just to break the monotony ;)
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Thank you for superb review highlight such a substantial difference in the performance of 2 drives of the same capacity from the same manufacturer.
I would like to do a RAID 10 setup using 4 drives.
I had no idea of this difference and have been purchasing WD hard disks when doing system upgrades.
I have 3 of the AAKS model drives and 4 AVJS drives. All have a capacity of 320GB.
The options I have are:
1. using the 3 AAKS drives with one AVJS drive. In this case the
second set will have a mixture of the 2 drives.
2. using 2 AAKS drives for the 1st set and 2 AVJS drives for the
2nd set.
3. using all the 4 AAVJS drives and keeping the AAKS drives as
backup / spares.
I’m Fedora 14 64bit with 16GB RAM and AMD Phenom II 945 processor. The 4 port SATA II RAID controller is the ATI SB 600 on board on a Gigabyte motherboard.
Please let me have you recommendations.
Thanks,
Acharya
Hello Acharya,
Sorry for this great delay, I have really forgotten quite a bit this domain of mine :)
Well to give you a hint about what to do I it depends on what are your goals with your setup? Do you like to squeeze maximum performance, or make a more reliable setup?
a. Max Performance would mean using the second setup you suggested because AAKS models are faster therefore you will have the first stripe performing faster, but since you have only three AAKS that’s the best way to squeeze faster performance. Using the first option would be quite the same, but having a mixture of the two drives won’t differ much from having two AVJS together in terms of performance.
b. Reliable setup of course would mean using the third option you suggested, because as we all know slower performing drives are much more reliable and energy efficient most of the time ;) so if energy savings and lower percentage of drive fail is your priority your better option is the third using all four AVJS drives for both sets.
Best Regards Acharya!
In the great design of things you actually receive a B- with regard to hard work. Where exactly you misplaced me personally was first on your specifics. You know, as the maxim goes, details make or break the argument.. And that could not be much more correct in this article. Having said that, let me inform you what did give good results. The authoring can be pretty convincing which is probably why I am making an effort in order to comment. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. 2nd, although I can certainly notice a leaps in reasoning you come up with, I am definitely not confident of exactly how you appear to unite the ideas that produce the actual conclusion. For now I will, no doubt subscribe to your issue however wish in the future you link your facts better.