Maximum PC

Which hard drive should I get?
MAXTOR 200GB SERIAL ATA/150 7200RPM, or Western Digital 200GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB CACHE.

Which model Maxtor drive is that? The Maxtor Diamondmax 10 with a 16mb cache is a solid choice. I have the 300GB model as my storage drive and a WD Raptor 74GB for my OS.

Anyone ever check out the new ibm deskstars? Yes its true in the past they had issues but i can attest that not only are they cheap they support 42 bit LBA that when turned on Gave me a 11mb sec boost iwhen i Benchmarked using Sandra. It even outpreformed my ata 133 mode 6 maxtor - the ibm is only mode 5. Unless im using SATA i build my rigs with em, ive seen them on tigerdirect for like 50 bucks for a 80 gig and mached to a ATA RAID controler give stupid fast results. 250 for raid 1-0.. Cant beat it with a stick

What are you using it for and how are you setting it up?

I think if you are just looking from brand to brand a lot of times it's a matter of preference. A lot of people won't buy one brand because they have had bad experiences in the past, while others have had the complete oppisite. I myself usually tend to stick to Western Digital drives, but a lot of times I think thats due to prices, and the fact that Maxtor really pissed me off. Their phone support was terrible at the time.

Out of your two choices, I would get the Maxtor. Now as for speed, you can't beat a Western Digital Raptor, of course with the drives you pointed out ranging in the 200gb, it's obvious your more or less wanting storage over speed.

Out of MY choice, I would get neither. I have always used Seagate drives with minimal problems, so that's my choice.

Let's just do a quick compare though, so you can decide easier.
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Maxtor-Seek time (9.3ms) NCQ-(y) Buffer-(8mb) Warranty (3years)

WD-seek time (8.9ms) NCQ-(n) Buffer-(8mb) Warranty(1year)

Seagate-seek time (8.0ms) NCQ-(y) Buffer-(8mb) Warranty-(5years)

Scwhing! As you can see, Seagate just pwned these other drives. Be a dear lad, and go grab yourself the 200gb SATA NCQ enabled Seagate ST3200826AS. You'll be glad ya did.

I have that particular seagate. It works fine, didn't benchmark it or anything though.

I have always been a WD guy nut just this last week I bought my first non WD drive. It is a Seagate 200 gig. I have not yet got the computer totally running. So I can not comment on how the Seagate preforms, but I have never had a spot of trouble with my WD's.

Umm if they have the same specs. whatever one is cheaper.

id say whichever has a better warranty, whichever company u like better, price, and tech support play in there

I've had 3 in the shop come back bad (ordered 4 per customer request)... I'd say those weren't good odds... Also of note - they don't "appear" to be all from the same batch so that rules a batch issue out...

Tuathal