maxtor hard drive

[fredduc]

Dear all,

I have some question on my brand new Maxtor hard drive.

Some general system info:

- Intel P4 2,4 Ghz / 1024 Ram / motherboard: Asus "P4PE/GBL/SATA" /
only ONE hard disk: a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 - 160 GB - model "6V160E0" /
Win XP Professional.

Windows recognised two Scsi and Raid controllers: WinXP Promise
Fastrack 376 controller (built in) and a Promise Raid Console Scsi
Processor Device.

Windows refers to this hard disk, in the Device Manager, as a "Promise
1+0 Stripe/RAID0 Scsi Disk Device".

I had to install Windows using a third party raid/scsi driver: I used
the Promise Fasttrack 376 controller (otherwise Windows installation
program - the one on a boot cd - didn't recognise the Maxtor, although
I could see it in my raid array: I set it up as a single striped
drive). But this installation runs fine at first sight.

BUT

- How to know whether this disk has 8mb or 16mb cache? It should be
16MB. I've read on the Maxtor website that a "M" in the model number
means 8MB and a "S" means 16MB buffer. But my model doesn't has this M
or S. So I don't get it? So how to check this?

- How to know if it is USING its cache?

- How to know whether to put the jumper at 1,5GbPS or 3.0GbPS? Now it
is default at 3.0GbPS, but how to know this is correct? And can I still
change the jumper settings now? Won't this result in data loss?

The underlying question: am I using this hard drive at its full
capabilities?


Thank you very much in advance.


Regards,

Fre.

 

[Rod Speed]

Dear all,

I have some question on my brand new Maxtor hard drive.

Some general system info:

- Intel P4 2,4 Ghz / 1024 Ram / motherboard: Asus "P4PE/GBL/SATA" /
only ONE hard disk: a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 - 160 GB - model "6V160E0"
/ Win XP Professional.

Windows recognised two Scsi and Raid controllers: WinXP Promise
Fastrack 376 controller (built in) and a Promise Raid Console Scsi
Processor Device.

Windows refers to this hard disk, in the Device Manager, as a "Promise
1+0 Stripe/RAID0 Scsi Disk Device".

I had to install Windows using a third party raid/scsi driver: I used
the Promise Fasttrack 376 controller (otherwise Windows installation
program - the one on a boot cd - didn't recognise the Maxtor, although
I could see it in my raid array: I set it up as a single striped
drive). But this installation runs fine at first sight.

- How to know whether this disk has 8mb or 16mb cache?
It should be 16MB. I've read on the Maxtor website that a "M" in the
model number means 8MB and a "S" means 16MB buffer. But my
model doesn't has this M or S. So I don't get it? So how to check this?

Everest should show that under Storage/Windows Storage
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

- How to know if it is USING its cache?

Very unlikely it isnt.

- How to know whether to put the jumper at 1,5GbPS or 3.0GbPS?
Now it is default at 3.0GbPS, but how to know this is correct?

Its clearly working fine that way.

And can I still change the jumper settings
now? Won't this result in data loss?

Shouldnt do.

The underlying question: am I using this hard drive at its full capabilities?

Yep. You wont even be able to pick the
cache size in a proper double blind trial.

 

[fredduc]

Thank you. I will try the program as soon as I'm at home.

But already this question: what do you mean by "Yep. You wont even be
able to pick the

cache size in a proper double blind trial."?

Greetings,

F.


Rod Speed schreef:

 

[Timothy Daniels]

what do you mean by "Yep. You wont even be
able to pick the cache size in a proper double blind trial."?

He meant: "Yes. The difference in data access speed
would be impossible for humans to notice with just their
senses." There might be differences in compile times of
large applications or in time for disk defragmentation, but
you'd still probably need a stopwatch. Intensive game play
might provide discernable differences, but I've not heard of
any tests of it.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Rod Speed]

Thank you. I will try the program as soon as I'm at home.

But already this question: what do you mean by "Yep. You wont
even be able to pick the cache size in a proper double blind trial."?

That the difference in performance is so small that you wouldnt be
able to pick it with two systems identical in all by the size of that cache.

 

[Arno Wagner]

He meant: "Yes. The difference in data access speed
would be impossible for humans to notice with just their
senses." There might be differences in compile times of
large applications or in time for disk defragmentation, but
you'd still probably need a stopwatch. Intensive game play
might provide discernable differences, but I've not heard of
any tests of it.

Impressive translation!

Arno

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Impressive translation!

And next, the Rod Speed translation:
"Aye, bugger me arse if ya ever see the diff."

*TimDaniels*

 

[fredduc]

I thank you all for your answers. I'll continue enjoying my Maxtor,
somehow a little mystery, isn't it?

....

F.



Timothy Daniels schreef: