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#1
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2mb cache hard drive or 8mb drive
Hi
Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. |
#2
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No, don't upgrade *just* to get the larger cache, that's pointless. It will
result in a *very* minor improvement to go from 2mb to 8mb, virtually imperceptible unless using benchmarking tools like SiSoftware Sandra. In real world usage, it's virtually meaningless. Windows provides its own file cache management! So in reality, the HD cache is hit so little, it doesn't even matter. The Windows cache is much bigger, more flexible, and ultimately faster. That's why benchmarking tools typically turn OFF the Windows file cache before running, it would otherwise distort the results! For all intents and purposes, the HD cache is useless, and is more marketing hype than anything else, just one more means to distinguish their product from all the others, and get you to open your wallet one more time. Even if the HD has NO cache, you'd never notice it in real usage. The only thing that would benefit is something like MS-DOS, where there is no file cache management. HTH Jim "Ken" wrote in message ... Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. |
#3
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"Ken" writes:
Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. For a period of time some of the manufacturers cut the warranty period from 3 years they had provided to 1 year on the 2mb cache drives but kept the old longer warranty on the 8mb cache drives. But I think they have cut the warranty on all models now. |
#4
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"Ken" wrote in message ... Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. The "sweet spot" for a single user system since WinNT days has been about 256MB. Any more doesn't make it feel any faster. The limit is the hard disk and how fast it (physically) turns. Keep an eye on your disk light -- if it's on, you are being held back by the disk and even an infinitely fast CPU won't change things. |
#5
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"William W. Plummer" wrote in message news:OJafc.35422$wP1.129731@attbi_s54... "Ken" wrote in message ... Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. The "sweet spot" for a single user system since WinNT days has been about 256MB. Any more doesn't make it feel any faster. The limit is the hard disk and how fast it (physically) turns. Keep an eye on your disk light -- if it's on, you are being held back by the disk and even an infinitely fast CPU won't change things. You're one of those guys that upgrades every 4 years aren't you? |
#6
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Kill Bill wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote in message news:OJafc.35422$wP1.129731@attbi_s54... "Ken" wrote in message ... Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. The "sweet spot" for a single user system since WinNT days has been about 256MB. Any more doesn't make it feel any faster. The limit is the hard disk and how fast it (physically) turns. Keep an eye on your disk light -- if it's on, you are being held back by the disk and even an infinitely fast CPU won't change things. You're one of those guys that upgrades every 4 years aren't you? Lol - sweetspot is about 256MB..... --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 13/04/2004 |
#7
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Much faster access rate for data.
-- DaveW "Ken" wrote in message ... Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. |
#8
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Ken wrote:
Hi Is there going to be great differences in performance between a drive with 2mb cache compared to a drive with 8mb and is it worth the upgrade. Pointless upgrade. It is a good idea to spend the extra few $$ to buy one when replacing a drive, if for no other reason than the longer warranty some of them carry. -- Stacey |
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