Difference betw. 2MB and 8MB buffer for backup HD

[jack]

I know, I know... about 6 MB.
I was looking at a USB HD enclosure to try to deal with a separate HD
problem, and found that CompUSA has a deal on a Hitachi Deskstar 7k250
160 GB HD, with a free enclosure, for $60 (after rebates). Now, this
is a Parallel ATA with only a 2MB buffer. My thoughts are to use this
as a backup drive. How much of a difference will the smaller buffer be
for this use? Also, the enclosure is USB 2.0; no firewire, though from
what I've read if it's Firewire 400 it's no faster than USB 2.0. Or is
that wrong, too? TIA!

 

[S.Heenan]

I know, I know... about 6 MB.
I was looking at a USB HD enclosure to try to deal with a separate HD
problem, and found that CompUSA has a deal on a Hitachi Deskstar 7k250
160 GB HD, with a free enclosure, for $60 (after rebates). Now, this
is a Parallel ATA with only a 2MB buffer. My thoughts are to use this
as a backup drive. How much of a difference will the smaller buffer be
for this use? Also, the enclosure is USB 2.0; no firewire, though from
what I've read if it's Firewire 400 it's no faster than USB 2.0. Or is
that wrong, too? TIA!

In practical terms, not much of a difference. If given a choice, at the same
price point, opt for the 8MB model, but at $.38/GB the 7K250 sounds very
appealing.

USB2.0 480Mbits/sec

IEEE 1394 400Mbits/sec

 

[jack]

In practical terms, not much of a difference. If given a choice, at the same
price point, opt for the 8MB model, but at $.38/GB the 7K250 sounds very
appealing.

USB2.0 480Mbits/sec

IEEE 1394 400Mbits/sec

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, already a moot point, as
they're sold out. Online they said they were in stock, but turns out
the website is 1-day delayed in the store stock, and they sold out
yesterday. Aarrgghh...

 

[kony]

I know, I know... about 6 MB.
I was looking at a USB HD enclosure to try to deal with a separate HD
problem, and found that CompUSA has a deal on a Hitachi Deskstar 7k250
160 GB HD, with a free enclosure, for $60 (after rebates). Now, this
is a Parallel ATA with only a 2MB buffer. My thoughts are to use this
as a backup drive. How much of a difference will the smaller buffer be
for this use? Also, the enclosure is USB 2.0; no firewire, though from
what I've read if it's Firewire 400 it's no faster than USB 2.0. Or is
that wrong, too? TIA!

1) Firewire has lower specs on paper but it use is
typically as fast or faster.

2) However, either are slower than the potential of a
modern drive. If the drive were to be used inside a system
attached to SATA or PATA, SCSI, etc, the larger buffer would
make more of a difference. In an external enclosure, the
USB chips on both ends of the cable will be the
bottleneck(s), not the drive buffer size... might still make
a tiny difference but relatively insignificant for backup
and personal, general filestores.

 

[DaveW]

USB 2.0= 480 Mbps.

Firewire 400= 400 Mbps.

 

[jack]

1) Firewire has lower specs on paper but it use is
typically as fast or faster.

2) However, either are slower than the potential of a
modern drive. If the drive were to be used inside a system
attached to SATA or PATA, SCSI, etc, the larger buffer would
make more of a difference. In an external enclosure, the
USB chips on both ends of the cable will be the
bottleneck(s), not the drive buffer size... might still make
a tiny difference but relatively insignificant for backup
and personal, general filestores.

Thanks for the clarifications. Now if I could just find one in-stock!