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Hard disk Question(Which hard disk to install the OS)

4 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/hard-disk-question-which-hard-disk-to-install-the-os.145842/

guru_urug
guru_urug Original post #1
Aug 31, 2011 at 3:32 PM
I have 2 sata hdd. Both are of seagate brand.
One is 160GB(older one) and the other is 500GB.

I ran a benchmark on both of them and the results are below:

160GB HDD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : Crystal Dew World
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 37.926 MB/s
Sequential Write : 35.666 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 25.312 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 21.744 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 0.492 MB/s [ 120.0 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 1.144 MB/s [ 279.4 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 0.566 MB/s [ 138.1 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 1.141 MB/s [ 278.5 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [G: 67.7% (27.2/40.2 GB)] (x1)
Date : 2011/08/31 15:20:39
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)

500GB HDD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : Crystal Dew World
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 85.084 MB/s
Sequential Write : 72.908 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 31.270 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 46.120 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 0.444 MB/s [ 108.3 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 0.821 MB/s [ 200.5 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 0.600 MB/s [ 146.5 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 0.798 MB/s [ 194.8 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [I: 94.9% (427.8/450.9 GB)] (x1)
Date : 2011/08/31 15:18:16
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)

My OS is currently on the 160GB HDD
As the benchmark shows the 500GB offers almost double the speeds when it comes to sequential r/w but with random r/w the 160GB seems to do better.

MY QUESTION IS: Will I get a noticibly better performance by installing the OS(win 7 64bit) on the 500GB instead?
d6bmg
d6bmg #2
Aug 31, 2011 at 10:00 PM
^^ +1 for this suggestion. I was going to say the same thing..
doomgiver
Sep 1, 2011 at 12:11 AM
go for the 160 gb as the os drive, as its random read/write in smaller sizes is better.
as its the os drive, you will need to access smaller files freqquently, so it'll have an advantage.

as for the 500 gb drive, it has a faster sequential read, so it'll do goo as storage for large files like games, movies, etc..
guru_urug
Sep 1, 2011 at 1:48 AM
^^Thanks guys :)

I'll leave it the way it is then :mrgreen:
I store all my multimedia and games on the 500GB and OS on the 160