Satisfaction with WD Raptor hard drives, take two

[Voodoo Rufus]

New poll to replace the old one, adding in the Raptor 150, taking out the 5400 categories.

To those who own, or have owned a Raptor, you're welcome to provide your thoughts on the drive.


Two words: Wicked Fast.

This thing makes me boot win2k in roughly half the time of my Seagate 7200.7 40GB drive. Silent runner once it spins up, but those seeks are noisy. Don't mind it since they aren't constant, helps me know the drive is running. I'm extremely satisfied.

Results from previous thread:

Happily moved from 7200 or better to raptor 36GB 97 29.94%
Happily moved from 7200 or better to raptor 74GB 143 44.14%
Dissatisfied moved from 7200 or better to raptor 36GB 8 2.47%
Dissatisfied moved from 7200 or better to raptor 74GB 13 4.01%
Happily moved from a 5400 or slower to raptor 36GB 8 2.47%
Happily moved from a 5400 or slower to raptor 74GB 8 2.47%
Dissatisfied moved from a 5400 or slower to raptor 36GB 0 0%
Dissatisfied moved from a 5400 or slower to raptor 74GB 0 0%
Neutral opinion, or no better than previous drive 47 14.51%
Voters: 324. This poll is closed

 

[damarble]

Woooo, 2nd vote and 1st reply!

I switched to a 160gb Raptor from a 7200 rpm 120gb WD and I'm pleased so far.

 

[harakusara]

I switched from a WD 7200 80 GB to a 74 GB raptor. Im very pleased.

I run xp on the raptor and the I have a raid 1 setup on 2 250GB 7200 WDs

 

[thaclassikz]

What are advantages of raid 1 except for the back up ?

 

[tuskenraider]

Faster reads.

I went from a 7200rpm to two original 36GB drives in RAID0. Yeah I was impressed. No vote that fits my scenario.

 

[AC3421]

I had 2 Maxtor 8mb cache 200gb hdd in RAID 0 on my setup in my sig and my single 74gb 16mb cache Raptor is faster than them in almost everything, from benchmarks to real world tests.

Awsome. Getting a second one around christmas with my 8800GTS and I will be flyin!!!

 

[Voodoo Rufus]

Faster reads.

I went from a 7200rpm to two original 36GB drives in RAID0. Yeah I was impressed. No vote that fits my scenario.

Just use whatever Raptor size you have. I didn't think about Raid. Too many combinations.

 

[fabulouscoops]

Moved from single 7200 rpm to two in RAID 0 to a single 74 GB raptor to 2 in RAID 0 and was happy each time.

 

[tuskenraider]

Well I guess for the record I'll note I went from a single 7200 rpm to 2 36'ers in RAID0 to a single and then to a 74 single then to a new 36 single and then to two new in RAID0. The singles weren't as fun(i.e. fast).

 

[RIG RIDER]

Big improvement for me to go from 2x 80Gig @ 7200 rpm HDD's to 2x 74Gig raptors @ 10,000 rpm.

 

[MVC]

There's no "best" response for me . I first moved from a P-ATA drive to a 36GB Raptor a long time ago, but I seem to remember being happy with the move. I then used another 36GB Raptor for a new build, and then used a 74GB Rapter for still another new build. And, I intend to use another 74GB Raptor for the computer I'm currently planning, so.... which response should I choose?

 

[Audioaficionado]

I've been very pleased with my 74 Raptor but the seeks are somewhat annoying as it runs frequently while 4xFAH are running 24/7.

I'll get a second one and mount them both in the 5.25 bays with isolation devices.

 

[Vento1]

I've used various drive makes and sizes i am very happy with my 74 gig raptors.

 

[Quest For Speed]

I have 3 74 Gig raptors. One for my OS and the other 2 set up as raid 0. Big speed improvement over my old 7200 80 gig drives.

 

[RangerXLT8]

I moved from 7200rpm to 36GB Raptor, but now have 3 in RAID. Mine are the old ones and due for an upgrade. I'm considering 2x74 when I have the funds in place.

 

[jcll2002]

theyre noisy as a$$ but i love it

 

[attack]

Noise wasn't bad for me but the performance boost just wasn't nearly what I expected. Was a waste of cash, money would have been better spent elsewhere at the time (moving to 2gb RAM at the time should have been what I chose).

 

[tom10167]

The seeking is a little loud but totally worth it.

I don't think a ....to 74 and a ...to 150 are necessary, the 74s and 150s have always had the same performance.

It'd be fun to slap a few more in and do some RAID 0 type stuff but eh.

 

[Neuromancer]

To those who own, or have owned a Raptor, you're welcome to provide your thoughts on the drive.


Two words: Wicked Fast.

Hee he is this is a continuation of thought? IE Raptors are allowed to say wicked fast and thats all?

jk


never hit me till now.

 

[Fireside85281]

I had gotten a 74 8mb first, then moved up to 150 X this fall. Love both of them, but the 150 loads games a bit faster. I'm always 1st or 2nd to load a map in BF2, CS:S, hell pretty much any game map.

I'm using the 74 as my windows partition, and now that I've tuned the system decently, it boots in under 10 seconds. Only one run of windows load bar and it's up!

I love them, but I wouldn't attribute how good my rig runs on just one part.