Random Read/Write Speed

This test reads/writes 4KB in a completely random pattern over an 8GB space of the drive to simulate the sort of random access that you'd see on an OS drive (even this is more stressful than a normal desktop user would see). I perform three concurrent IOs and run the test for 3 minutes. The results reported are in average MB/s over the entire time.

Iometer - 4KB Random Read

Since seek time hasn't changed, random read performance hasn't changed. The 10,000 RPM spindle speed means that nothing can touch the VelociRaptor lineup. Even the old 150GB drive is still roughly twice as fast as the latest TB drives from WD and Seagate.

Iometer - 4KB Random Write

Random write performance did see a measurable improvement however. This could be due to any number of things including firmware optimizations and the new controller.

Random write performance of the new VR200M is over 40% better than the fastest 7200RPM drives. Compared to the old VR150? A 27% improvement.

Sequential Read/Write Speed Performance Across All Tracks
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  • Aezay - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    The model used in this review is the new WD1002FAEX disk, which is the upgrade to the WD1001FALS model. This new drive is considerably faster, even compared to the 2TB Black (WD2001FASS).
    http://gigglehd.com/zbxe/files/attach/images/89985...
  • Imperceptible - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    Not according to this review: http://pcper.com/article.php?aid=870&type=expe...
  • Belard - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    Er... either way... that is more up to the user.

    RAID 0 adds several additional points of failure... Considering how fast G2 as it is. G3 with SATA 3.0 would be more exciting thou... :)

    I'd still go with a single drive. That is me.
  • Imperceptible - Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - link

    Replying to the wrong comment? This has nothing to do with RAID. Just simply mentioning that the WD Black 2TB is the fastest single mechanical drive and it would have been nice if it was used in this review. But in the real world, I'd only ever use it as a storage hdd, with an SSD as the main drive.
  • deputc26 - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    I as thinking the same, 2Tb Black is this drives nearest non-SSD competitor.
  • Romulous - Monday, August 30, 2010 - link

    I concur. The WD2003FYYS is no slouch.
  • vol7ron - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    First pass:
    there in while -> there in a while

    Also when typing a comment, if you forget the subject, this is the error message:
    "Account creation was unsuccessful. Please correct the errors and try again."

    I think "account creation" is a little misleading. Perhaps a "Please type in a subject" would be okay.
  • DanNeely - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    I'm a bit confused. If these are using 200GB platters both the 450 and 600GB versions are both 3 platter drives which doesn't really make sense. A 2 platter 400GB model would be a more reasonable step down from the top.
  • vol7ron - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    Perhaps the 450GB drives, which as Anand has indicated is using 150GB platters, are really using damaged 200GB platters due to the manufacturing anomalies.

    - just a hypothesis that needs testing.

    vol7ron
  • DanNeely - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - link

    Where does it indicate that the 450 is using a 150GB platter? The table on the first page lists it as a 200GB. The 150 is the prior generation model.

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