Quantum Fireball Plus LM Review

The Test

The AnandTech storage test bed is currently set up using Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 and Windows 2000. Each operating system is set up using its own 4 GB partition with Windows 98 using the Fat 32 file system, Win NT 4.0 using the NTFS file system and 2 instances of Windows 2000, one using the FAT 32 file system and the other using NTFS. Since Windows 2000 supports both file systems, we decided to set up two platforms to help compare the performance under both situations. This will help the reader make an informed decision as to which drive performs best under each file system, for users planning to upgrade to Windows 2000. Also, all of the tests were run using the Ultra ATA 66 protocol, using an 80-pin IDE cable. In all instances, the only installed software is the operating system and the benchmark programs. The test drive is being run as the D: Drive in all instances, operating as master on the secondary IDE channel. The operating system and all benchmark programs are contained on the boot disk, or the C: Drive, which operates as the master on the primary channel.

The complete test bed is as follows:

• Intel Celeron 500 MHz CPU
• Intel CA810E motherboard with native Ultra ATA/66 support
• 128 MB Corsair PC100 SDRAM
• Ultra ATA/66 40-pin, 80-conductor HDD cable
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6
• Microsoft Windows 2000 (FAT 32)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 (NTFS)
• Ziff Davis Winstone 2000 CC
• Ziff Davis Winstone 99
• Ziff Davis Winbench 99
• Adaptec Threadmark 2 (Windows 98 and NT4 only)

Each hard disk was partitioned and formatted before each suite of tests on their respective operating systems, as to prevent any skewing of the test results. For purposes of consistency, each benchmark was run a total of 5 times, with the final score being the average of those five runs. The machine was rebooted between each test as to minimize the effects of any carryover from previous tests.

In addition to the above tests, we have added a temperature measurement of the test drive, while it is in operation. This measurement will be made with a standard thermocouple probe taped to the outside of the hard drive’s cover. All measurements will be made with the tested drive mounted in a normal drive bay, in a closed case. This will most closely resemble the normal conditions the drive will run in.

The temperature measurement test will produce 4 readings for each drive. These readings will be: average room temperature during the measured tests; average case temperatures during the measured tests; average drive temperature during measured tests; and finally the peak temperature the drive reached during the testing. All temperature tests will be done during the Windows 2000 NTFS portion of the testing, to ensure consistency. The temperature will be recorded every 30 minutes during the suite of tests and the results averaged. The peak temperature result will come from the peak hold feature of the thermometer.

In the following benchmark results, the Quantum Fireball Plus LM results are compared with the results from previously tested, 7200-RPM hard drives, to help give a more accurate picture of where it stands. We have also narrowed down the tests to include just the Windows 98 SE and Windows 2000 (FAT 32) scores. For more insight into our choice of test bed and testing conditions, you can take a look back at the March 2000 hard drive roundup.