Looking for users with the new WD 7200rpm 2mb cache hd

[Bonehead]

I'm interested in the new WDAC41800 (and 29100) from Western Digital with 2mb(!)cache. At this time you can say it's the fastest overall performer 7200rpm EIDE hd but cost an awfull amount of cash so I like some user-reactions first(that worked with it for a longer time). I already read a (very positive)review of it. But maybe some of you have noted some (small) drawbacks like how is the idle-sound, can you hear a noticable pitch sound like +30db?.

[plucky duck]

The WESTERN DIGITAL'S EXPERT UDMA66 9.1GIG AND 18GIG drives are zippity zip.
They're f....a.....s......t......!!!
In UDMA33, it transfers at a respectable rate of an average 8.5mb/s.
As for the sound, it's terribly quiet when its idle and when its running.

Some guys say that a drive running at 7200rpm should use a fan to help cool it down, but I say bull...

Mine runs just perfectly fine as it is.
And mind you it's quite overclockable.
All the way up to 112mhz.
Didn't try higher though.

For $40 bucks cheaper you can get the 13gig western digital caviar, but I'd rather have this baby.

[raihanan]

I have the 18GB 7200rpm IBM GXP 22. It's pretty much the same as the WD expert. It's very fast, much quieter than I expected, and runs cooler than my 6.4GB backup drive (WD 36400). Probably paid too much for the IBM and should've bought the expert, but I'm very pleased with the performance.

-- Jeff

[Helly Hansen]

Hey Guys,
I had got the High School I volunteer at a donation of 20 evaluation drives direct from Western Digital Expert (29100) 2MB Buffer, 7200 RPM. I installed them in Macintosh PowerPC 5400/180's, 5200/75's, & 6400/200's and in one Gateway G6-333 (Intel Celeron 333) and the drives work flawless so far, It's been a few months. They are much quieter and faster than the Quantum Fireball/Sirraco's and old Western Digital Caviar 22500 & 32500's though those turned out to be pretty good drives except one Western Digital Caviar 32500 which Western Digital quickly replaced since it was under warranty. The Expert drives seem to run cooler than the old 4500 & 5200RPM.

All the teachers love the drives, the quietness & the new greater performance. It's really a big difference and the drives are so quiet that you can't really hear them at all. I guess these new drives mean good bye crunching sound!! Quantum drives are great too but they are really noisy and I don't think they have 7200RPM IDE's and are at the same old 512K Buffer mark. I have friends who really like the new 7200RPM IBM UDMA/66 drives which are really the same thing. Awful amount of cash? I can get the 29100's New for $178ea. I don't think that Is too high for a drive of this quality. Well I'm going to be selling new 8GB UDMA/33 drives for $129 4GB $99, 3GB $89 w/512K buffers and 3 year manufactures warranty so keep checkin in with my site. System builder quantity discounts will be available. Maybe this is desireable to someone? The drives should come in within the next couple weeks.

Brandon J. Sandifer
Sandifer Peripherals Inc.
www.gowiththebest.com

[This message has been edited by Helly Hansen (edited 06-03-99).]

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

Are these new Western Digitals manufactured in a partneship deal with IBM? I read that somewhere else. If it is that so, I would recommend without any hesitation.

[plucky duck]

yup, IBM does play a part in the manufacturing of the western digital drives.

BONEHEAD - buy it or I'll kill you. (mentally)

[Bonehead]

YES SIR!! (...but first I must scrape some money together!)