Canada Computers - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 SATA 3.0Gb/s 500GB 16MB Cache $61.99

[xsabrewulf]

seems like a good deal only for today though.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=021509&cid=HD.443.877

[Drew_W]

WD Blue $65 for 640gb is better deal when on sale at NCIX.

[k288]

WD Blue $65 for 640gb is better deal when on sale at NCIX.

When on sale? Is it on now or when was it?

[brucedlx]

I hate posts like that. "When on sale". Yes, perhaps a better deal existed in the past or will exist at some time in the future, but unless you're going to link to it then don't bother wasting peoples time. This is a good deal for the CURRENT time being.

[Riflem@n]

WD Blue 650GB $68

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018205&cid=HD.443.877

[Riflem@n]

WD Blue 650GB

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018205&cid=HD.443.877

Tho this 7200.12 is 500GB/Platter.

[Taft]

This is a good deal, and I too hate when people chime in to mention some past price that might not ever be available again.

[k288]

WD Blue 650GB

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018205&cid=HD.443.877

Tho this 7200.12 is 500GB/Platter.

How is this WD HDD? Speed and performance any good? I am afraid of the Seagate still ain't any good. Or was that only its 1 TBs that have problems?

[abstract808]

[QUOTE=k288;8614339] Or was that only its 1 TBs that have problems?/QUOTE]

Nope, all 7200.11 500GB+ made before Jan 2009 need a firmware update.

[Groove]

[QUOTE=k288;8614339] Or was that only its 1 TBs that have problems?/QUOTE]

Nope, all 7200.11 500GB+ made before Jan 2009 need a firmware update.

I'm not sure if that's 100% true

i have one from b4 January, never had any trouble with it - checked online with Seagates serial # checky thing - it said it wasn't one of the drives affected.

[brucedlx]

this is 7200.12 so it should be fine regardless right? and what does platter mean

[andr3y]

Seagate should be quieter that WD.

[peterk]

It looks like the 32MB cache version costs $5 more (regular price). They're probably trying to clear out the 16s

I only have a vague idea what cache means... and NO idea if it makes any difference whatsoever in the speed.

Any computer people care to explain in a bit more detail it's benefits?

[peterk]

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=021145&cid=HD.443.877

and what's the difference between this one? which is even cheaper, it seems.

[david_lin911]

Does Canada computer have a price guarantee for like 30 days?

[Fishy007]

It looks like the 32MB cache version costs $5 more (regular price). They're probably trying to clear out the 16s

I only have a vague idea what cache means... and NO idea if it makes any difference whatsoever in the speed.

Any computer people care to explain in a bit more detail it's benefits?

If you're using the drive to simply store files (like audio and video), then you won't see a difference between 16MB and 32MB. If you're using the drive as a system drive or for running games or programs, then you will likely notice a bit of an increase in responsiveness and speed....but it's not for certain.

The cache helps when you have files constantly being accessed or written to the drive. Think of the Hard Drive itself as a storage closet. The cache is a little set of shelves right outside the closet. Stuff you need often can be put on the shelves and stuff you don't use that often is in the closet itself. It's quicker to access the shelves than the closet.

[awestruck]

Does Canada computer have a price guarantee for like 30 days?

No they don't.

[k288]

I think I will wait for at least a 1TB, this deal is ok but don't seem that hot...

[GregH3]

[QUOTE=abstract808;8614388]

I'm not sure if that's 100% true

i have one from b4 January, never had any trouble with it - checked online with Seagates serial # checky thing - it said it wasn't one of the drives affected.

+1

[k288]

Problem is I doubt that Canada Computer or anyone would let you check the serial # first before paying...

[peterk]

If you're using the drive to simply store files (like audio and video), then you won't see a difference between 16MB and 32MB. If you're using the drive as a system drive or for running games or programs, then you will likely notice a bit of an increase in responsiveness and speed....but it's not for certain.

The cache helps when you have files constantly being accessed or written to the drive. Think of the Hard Drive itself as a storage closet. The cache is a little set of shelves right outside the closet. Stuff you need often can be put on the shelves and stuff you don't use that often is in the closet itself. It's quicker to access the shelves than the closet.

ah yes. that makes sense. These'll be good then I want to make a RAID file backup system. Lost a 80gb WD that was four years old last month. luckily I had most of myimportant files backed up. but I still lost some stuff when that one kicked the bucket. It's a sharp reminder that your hard drives WILL die someday, and if you don't have your files backed up...ur toast!

[rpotter28]

[QUOTE=k288;8614339] Or was that only its 1 TBs that have problems?/QUOTE]

Nope, all 7200.11 500GB+ made before Jan 2009 need a firmware update.

That's right.. And I bought 2-500GB drives at the end of March at Canada Computers. They flashed both with the new firmware for me. I went and built a Raid 1 linux server, and the one drive died with a week, and the other was reporting Smart errors. They took them back no problem, and I got WD Black series. Nobody paid for my time to rebuild the array, which takes about 90 minutes a drive for 500GB. I WILL NEVER BUY A SEAGATE AGAIN !

[bujanx]

Problem is I doubt that Canada Computer or anyone would let you check the serial # first before paying...

The Canada Computers on Rideau (Ottawa) will. I bought a hd about 3 months ago from there and didn't know about the problems with the .11 units. The guy selling it to me told me, and checked the serial # on the web for me.

[geralds34]

How much a performance difference between the WD Blue and Black?

Would be using the drive just for photo storage in a PC for Lightroom / photoshop work

[pitabread]

ah yes. that makes sense. These'll be good then I want to make a RAID file backup system. Lost a 80gb WD that was four years old last month. luckily I had most of myimportant files backed up. but I still lost some stuff when that one kicked the bucket. It's a sharp reminder that your hard drives WILL die someday, and if you don't have your files backed up...ur toast!



these actually are better than the 32mb cache since it's a single platter hard drive. Less moving parts = less energy/heat + less power.

[Brewmeanie]

How much a performance difference between the WD Blue and Black?

Would be using the drive just for photo storage in a PC for Lightroom / photoshop work

I'm not sure if there's really any noticable difference in performance, but the black edition do come with a 5yr warranty, while the blue got the usual 3 years

[Drew_W]

This is a good deal, and I too hate when people chime in to mention some past price that might not ever be available again.

OH give me a break. It's been an NCIX special fairly regularly - two weeks in a row before this week, then again two weeks before that.

CC having it for $68 as above is a better deal than the Seagate, and better $/gb.

[Brewmeanie]

http://www.pcvonline.ca/productDetails.aspx?prodID=6507

Roughly $67 for the 32m cache one at pcvonline.ca(PC village)

[pestul]

The Seagate 7200.12 drive is better than the WD 640. Single platter 500GB design.. and no flaws from the .11 drives.

[vanquisher]

This is a good deal, and I too hate when people chime in to mention some past price that might not ever be available again.

You should know 500Gbs' HDD have being selling between $55-$63 every 2 weeks for the past 6 months. I know because I bought 4 in that time. So comparatively this is a decent deal not a good deal. A good deal was last week's $55.88 for this exact drive.

[clock]

The Seagate 7200.12 drive is better than the WD 640. Single platter 500GB design.. and no flaws from the .11 drives.
Seagate used to be great, but I think it has been going down hill ever since a few years ago..

my last 2 seagate drive (320GB & 160GB) were a big disappointment...lower performance, run hotter and nosier than my WD HD.

[tester3000]

This drive is really fast. I get 250mb/s max read from a raid 0 with 2 of these 500gb 7200.12 drives. Even if it's more expensive/gb,,, buy it. Especially for a boot drive/apps drive. I bought it for $60USD and don't regret my purchase. This is probably the fastest 500gb HARD drive in the market right now. I'm lovin' it.:cheesygri

[jiffylube1024]

The 1TB version of the 7200.12 is $109 right now on the NCIX sale (scroll down to the hard drive section). Just ordered one myself!

If you check reviews, the 7200.12 500GB and 1TB are the lowest temperature drives in their whole class. It's mainly because they have so few platters - the 500GB is one platter and the 1TB is 2.


I've owned 7200.9's (ran warm), 7200.10 500GB's (ran hot as hell and several of my friends' failed early!), 500GB 7200.11's (solid drives, very fast, run warm to the touch), 750GB 7200.11 (run a bit warmer) and one 500GB 7200.12. The 7200.12 is the coolest and quietest of all of my hard drives.

[tester3000]

None of my seagate drives get hotter than 30oC. I've got them all stacked up against each other too. 2 x 7200.12 500GB + 7200.11 640GB + 7200.11 1.5TB:cheesygri

[steen]

The 1TB version of the 7200.12 is $109 right now on the NCIX sale (scroll down to the hard drive section). Just ordered one myself!
I ordered the 1 TB version from Memory House (http://www.memoryhouse.com/products/4092/ST31000528AS/Seagate/). Slightly cheaper after taxes & shipping for those in Ontario.