What Hard Drive

[Jennifer]

Hiya fellow guru's,
I'm looking into buying a new hard drive for a computer I'm building....around 80GB's. I'm willing to spend no more then $130. I'm looking at the 7200rpm's simply because I do a lot of video editing and I have the need for speed http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif. What I'm not understanding is the buffer speed (2MB's vs 8MB's) and (ATA/133 data transfer). Which one is the faster of the two.....Buffer speed or transfer speed?
Thanks in advance for your responses,

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Jenn...

[mjc]

The buffer you are talking about is not a speed figure but a size...2MB vs 8MB. larger is better. And ATA/133 is the next step up from ATA/100.



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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Jennifer]

Thanks mj for the reply,
I was aware that ATA/133 was a step-up from ATA/100, but I'm still not sure if I'm looking for the larger buffer or the faster data.....could you be more specific on what would be better in my case?
thanks again
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Jenn...

[rond36]

Found these at newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=14&manufactory=1304&DEPA=1)
MAXTOR 80GB 7200RPM Model # 6L080J4 - D740X OEM, DRIVE ONLY
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Seek time: <8ms
RPM:7200
Cache 2MB
For $110.00
To use IDE ULTRA ATA133 (UDMA 133) you need to have a motherboard with a chipset that supports it, the proper drivers installed, and a 40 pin 80 wire Ultra ATA66/100/133 IDE cable without all three this drive will not operate at Ultra ATA133. Offhand I can't think of any motherboards that support Ultra ATA133 on the primary or secondary IDE chanels. My board supports it but only on IDE 3 and 4 (RAID)

And this one
WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 80GB 7200RPM MODEL # WD800BB -CAVIAR OEM, DRIVE ONLY
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Seek time: 8.9ms
RPM:7200
Cache 2MB
For $109.00

And this one
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Seek time: 8.9ms
RPM:7200
Cache 8MB
For $125.00

And this one
Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB 7200RPM ST380021A Hard Drive OEM
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Seek time: 9ms
RPM:7200
Cache 2MB
OEM(Drive alone)
For $111.00

And this one
IBM 80GB 7200RPM Model # IC35L080AVVA07, Part # 07N8084 -120GXP OEM, DRIVE ONLY
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Seek time: 8.5ms
RPM:7200
Data Transfer: N/A
Cache 2MB
For $95.00

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How to Use Fdisk and Format to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867)
How to multi-boot Windows XP (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/multiboot.asp)
Microsoft Expert Zone Multi-booting made easy (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/september10.asp)
MSKB How to multi-boot Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q306559)

[This message has been edited by rond36 (edited 06-02-2002).]

[Jennifer]

WOW rond ! Thanks for such a detailed reply......and all the links. This is really going to help, and I should now be able to make a educated decision.

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Jenn...

[old_kid]

Jennifer:

Staples is selling Maxtor 80Gig 7200 RPM 99 bucks after rebate

Sale started today 6/2/02 hope you see this in time

Sweet sweet deal - I am running down to buy one now

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Old dogs CAN learn new tricks

[mjc]

I would go with both the ATA/133 and 8MB cache if I could find it cheap enough....

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.