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Thread ID: 71950 2006-08-23 01:43:00 How important is the cache size of a hdd? Mantis (3703) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
480172 2006-08-23 01:43:00 How important is the cache size of a hdd?

I'm looking at getting a seagate barracuda 250gb to use in an external enclosure.

There are two variations at the shop, one with 8mb cache and one with 16mb...

Will it make much difference in performance? The cost differance is around $10

Thanks.

M.
Mantis (3703)
480173 2006-08-23 03:33:00 How important is the cache size of a hdd?

I'm looking at getting a seagate barracuda 250gb to use in an external enclosure.

There are two variations at the shop, one with 8mb cache and one with 16mb...

Will it make much difference in performance? The cost differance is around $10

Thanks.

M.
For $10 - Why ask - get the 16Mb.
pctek (84)
480174 2006-08-23 05:28:00 Higher number = more geeky = better mejobloggs (264)
480175 2006-08-23 06:12:00 How important is the cache size of a hdd?

I'm looking at getting a seagate barracuda 250gb to use in an external enclosure.

There are two variations at the shop, one with 8mb cache and one with 16mb...

Will it make much difference in performance? The cost differance is around $10

Thanks.

M.

It depends on the type of data you use, but generally speaking, more cache equals heaps more performance. Reading from the disk is very very very slow compared to reading from the cache memory. It's not quite as simple as this, because it depends on how the cache is designed and segmented but yeah, I would go for the 16MB one - the $10 is worth it.
Juha (10418)
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