Western Digital 150 GB Raptor X Serial ATA Hard Drive Review

Adrian Wong · 16th Jul 2008, 01:34 AM

Western Digital may be marketing their Raptor family of high-speed hard drives as enterprise-class hard drives but they are also very popular with hardware enthusiasts who just cannot resist its 10,000 RPM spindle speed. Everything just seems a little faster when you use a drive that spins at such a high speed.

To cater to this exclusive group of enthusiasts, Western Digital introduced the Raptor X, a variant of the 150 GB Raptor hard drive that replaces the metal top plate with a clear perspex lens that allows you to see the drive mechanism. This is the ultimate in hard drive 1337ness.

Unlike "regular" Raptor hard drives, the Raptor X is only available with a capacity of 150 GB using two platters. Let's find out just how much faster this drive is compared to 7200 RPM hard drives!

Link : Western Digital 150 GB Raptor X Serial ATA Hard Drive Review

Mac Daddy · 16th Jul 2008, 05:08 AM

Nicely done review and on the drive not something I would rush out and buy. Has its Pros and Cons but for me I would prefer the lower spindle speed with better maximum transfer as I have with my new WD drive

Chai · 16th Jul 2008, 08:39 AM

Hmm...not really fair to compare HDD from different generations. This HDD was easily the fastest back then. You should compare with the new VelociRaptor.

mikegas · 16th Jul 2008, 09:25 AM

Yup.. velociraptor next. Although this drive is fast enough for average user

Chai · 16th Jul 2008, 01:54 PM

I'm looking forward to VelociRaptor actually. But I don't think it's here yet. And the price isn't going to be that attractive...

Mac Daddy · 16th Jul 2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chai

Hmm...not really fair to compare HDD from different generations. This HDD was easily the fastest back then. You should compare with the new VelociRaptor.

True Chai but why the 10,000rpm spindle speed

mikegas · 16th Jul 2008, 08:13 PM

Adrian has seen it and touch it before ... not sure test it yet or not .. hehehe

Mac Daddy · 17th Jul 2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikegas

Adrian has seen it and touch it before ... not sure test it yet or not .. hehehe

LMAO !!

Chai · 17th Jul 2008, 09:26 AM

Transfer rate speed is only important if you are constantly transferring a lot of defragmented files, usually single big file will benefit from high transfer rate speed.

Random access time is the more important if you are concerned over loading time, when you are constantly accessing different files at the same time. This is something 7200rpm will never ever beat 10k rpm drives.

The thing about VelociRaptor is not just about the speed, but the noise and power consumption also.

16th Jul 2008, 01:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my BenQ Joybook 7000 notebook! Posts: 29,436 Reputation: 2830 Rep Power: 63	Western Digital 150 GB Raptor X Serial ATA Hard Drive Review Western Digital may be marketing their Raptor family of high-speed hard drives as enterprise-class hard drives but they are also very popular with hardware enthusiasts who just cannot resist its 10,000 RPM spindle speed. Everything just seems a little faster when you use a drive that spins at such a high speed. To cater to this exclusive group of enthusiasts, Western Digital introduced the Raptor X, a variant of the 150 GB Raptor hard drive that replaces the metal top plate with a clear perspex lens that allows you to see the drive mechanism. This is the ultimate in hard drive 1337ness. Unlike "regular" Raptor hard drives, the Raptor X is only available with a capacity of 150 GB using two platters. Let's find out just how much faster this drive is compared to 7200 RPM hard drives! Link : Western Digital 150 GB Raptor X Serial ATA Hard Drive Review __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

16th Jul 2008, 05:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mac Daddy Pickin' Da Gitfiddle Join Date: 19 Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,048 Reputation: 802 Rep Power: 11	Nicely done review and on the drive not something I would rush out and buy. Has its Pros and Cons but for me I would prefer the lower spindle speed with better maximum transfer as I have with my new WD drive __________________

16th Jul 2008, 08:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,122 Reputation: 3845 Rep Power: 70	Hmm...not really fair to compare HDD from different generations. This HDD was easily the fastest back then. You should compare with the new VelociRaptor. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

16th Jul 2008, 01:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,122 Reputation: 3845 Rep Power: 70	I'm looking forward to VelociRaptor actually. But I don't think it's here yet. And the price isn't going to be that attractive... __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

17th Jul 2008, 09:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,122 Reputation: 3845 Rep Power: 70	Transfer rate speed is only important if you are constantly transferring a lot of defragmented files, usually single big file will benefit from high transfer rate speed. Random access time is the more important if you are concerned over loading time, when you are constantly accessing different files at the same time. This is something 7200rpm will never ever beat 10k rpm drives. The thing about VelociRaptor is not just about the speed, but the noise and power consumption also. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

16th Jul 2008, 09:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
mikegas Getting there Join Date: 7 May 2008 Posts: 171 Reputation: 189 Rep Power: 2	Yup.. velociraptor next. Although this drive is fast enough for average user

16th Jul 2008, 08:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
mikegas Getting there Join Date: 7 May 2008 Posts: 171 Reputation: 189 Rep Power: 2	Adrian has seen it and touch it before ... not sure test it yet or not .. hehehe

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