HD upgrades

[Joel Pelletier]

I just finished researching HD's for my Cube, and went with the 
Barracuda V 120GB w/2mb cache. The Maxtor or IBM w/8mb cache will be 
faster for LARGE files (large movie or image files) because of the 
large cache, but the Seagate will outperform with normal small files, 
etc. The Seagate is a bit quieter, and about 2-4 degrees hotter than 
the Maxtor (which seems like no big deal, especially with a fan in 
the Cube). Any ATA 66,100 or 133 drive will work with the Cube up to 
120GB, but the performance diff between the ATA 100 & 133 drives will 
not be realized in our 100Mhz bus machines and ATA 66 bus. Serial ATA 
is NOT compatible with our machines.

I cannot yet find any of the Barracuda 120GB ATA 8mb cache drives 
anywhere, and my guess is that, when (and if) released they will be 
significatly more expensive for a while. The Barracuda I just bought 
cost me $130 on eBay (new, pulled from a custom system), but I have 
spotted them online for around $200. For the large video and audio 
files I work with I use external ATA drives, including the Maxtor 
and/or Western Digitals with the 8mb cache, in a pullout Firewire 
case (and I will be getting some of the Seagate Barracuda V's with 
the 8mb cache as they become available).

BTW, my problems with my Cube (burning out the DC board trying to tap 
into the 5volt supply for the fan) continue - the DC board alone does 
not solve the problem, and it is currently being diagnosed by 
professionals. I may be needing a logic board, and will check back 
with this list if this is the case (thanks so far for the advice and 
help)!

Joel Pelletier
http://www.joelp.org