Western Digital, Seagate, Hitachi or Samsung?

[cranker]

Right now the Caviar Blacks are really good for the price. They're all about the same and I would say the main difference is the manufacturer's warranty.
Some Seagates come with 3 yrs and some WD ones come with 5 yrs :)
On a different note, raiding a couple of the Caviar Black Duo Proc ones will cut your loading times almost by half. It's the best way to upgrade your storage system short of a SSD.

[technix]

Originally Posted by frontier204

For interpreting SMART numerical data I only trust the manufacturer's diagnostic program, although I do run self-tests from Windows. SeaTools is actually capable of running self-tests on non-Seagate drives (tried a Samsung F1 and a WD Caviar Green EADS). I also ran some self-tests using SpeedFan, and it seems to work.

Last time I checked, the Ultimate Boot CD contains all of the HDD diagnostic tools one may need (works for me since I am running a Samsung and a Seagate in my desktop, and a WD in my laptop):
Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

SpeedFan: SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer
SeaTools: | Seagate

I thought Ultimate Boot CD sounded and looked great! Everything you want all packaged and combined together. Very efficient and convenient. But, when I tried to get a diagnostic on my Samsung IDE/PATA laptop (2.5") HDD, I get an error that it's not supported. WTH? It's an OLD drive! It's PATA!!! It was totally discouraging. All it would take is adding the most recent HUTIL and making sure it worked (w/ the Ultimate Boot CD integration).

I had to download HUTIL from the Samsung support site. I'm using the .ISO version and running the utility. I cannot recommend Ultimate Boot CD.

[Digikid]

When it comes down to best of the best it is ALWAYS Western Digital.

[Oversized Rooster]

Originally Posted by Digikid

When it comes down to best of the best it is ALWAYS Western Digital.

100% agree.

[technix]

Why WD? They get poor reviews on newegg,btw.

I was wondering what capacity to get. Some people say to not go any higher than 1.5GTB as 2TB has the extra platter. Four platters could be a problem as it means more moving parts? But, 2TB is getting close to the best price/performance ratio right now. If not, 1.5TB drives are already there for some models.

I want to get a storage drive but can't decide between WD Greens and Samsungs. The concern is with WD xxEARS models as they have the Advanced Format and I still don't know about using that. Maybe more trouble than it's worth. I also use Linux and want a drive for it but it requires manual partition alignment from a console. There's about three or four various ways that allegedly work but I don't know which one to try. I guess it would be easier to experiment if I actually had the drive but do I really want to risk data on a new format that manufacturers are only recently introducing?

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by technix

Why WD? They get poor reviews on newegg,btw.

Newegg reviews mean less than nothing.

[Digikid]

Originally Posted by Zero82z

Newegg reviews mean less than nothing.

Ditto that.

[BrianHanna]

Originally Posted by enaberif

Lemme guess last Seagate you had fail was the notorious .11 batch they ****** up on?

that was the case with me, i got it fixed, but im using western digital now

[Soultribunal]

Sadly I have tried and tried to support Seagate but have given up on them as a Company.

I've got 7200.8/9/11/12 all in a neat pile at work. All Dead.
At home I've got 4 more, dead.

Where as I have a Hitichi Deskstar 80GB purchased Brand new when they first came out humming right along, and WD Drives of every ERA still going in multiple builds.
I have continued to buy Seagate until perhaps 6 months ago.

Sure, I know any PArt, and hardware can and will fail.
Its the Rate, much like the OCZ PSU's I had bad runs with, eventually enough is enough and you give up.

So, For Drives, WD would be my first Pick, Hitachi after. I can't suggest Samsung, as I have never used their HDD's so I won't recommend something I have not used personally.

My thoughts.
ST

[Digikid]

I had one Samsung HDD......the F1 series....then it died after it developed that Nforce 4 bug.

Too bad....it was a great drive. :(