I'm shopping for a 2nd drive for sample storage (BFD2 library, etc...)

When I built my system 2 years ago, I was using a Samsung spinpoint 1TB drive as the main OS and Sonar drive and is still using this configuration (only added a green 2TB drive for backup later).

I can't find any Samsung spinpoint drive anymore locally (Samsung stop HDD production right ?).. 

What would be a good recommendation ?

Seagate or Western Digital (Sata 3, 7200 rpm) ?  1 / 2 or 3 TB ?

Will a 3 TB size slow down access ?

Thanks!

Albert,

Keep in mind - even in these modern times - it isn't the SIZE of the hard drive that will cause you as much trouble as HOW FULL it is. If you have tons of huge multisamples, etc, then the 3 TB drive might be a good idea. For most of us, the 2 TB would be a more cost-effective choice. (For me, even a 1 TB is enough).
I would recommend the Seagate SATA 3 7200 rpm drive (mainly because of my good experiences with Seagate drives), but a 3 TB drive would not necessarily slow your access... unless you somehow had heavily-fragmented samples scattered all over the platter. I have also had good luck with WD drives. But I would keep the "green" drive strictly as a back-up. I don't think you will get the best real-time read speeds from it.

Best wishes,
Joel

Joel,

I've just bought the Seagate SATA 3 7200 2TB and shall be installing it soon. The cost is right for me too.

The 3TB drive needs a driver installation (due to Windows 2.2 TB limit).. and I've decided not to go on this path.. though the driver should be problem free.

Thanks!

Windows 2.2 TB limit

Looks like you are using a 64-bit Windows version, so the limit is not a Windows limit. If you format a large (enormous) drive with a GUID partition table you can run anything available today or in the foreseeable future (maximum threoretical size is 9.4 zetabytes) with native Win 7 drivers. If you want to use a huge drive as a boot drive, you will need a UEFI "bios" on your motherboard, but that is not a Windows limit per se but a hardware limit imposed by your motherboard. You should be able to use a huge drive as a data drive even on a non-UEFI system if you boot from an LBA drive.


http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/11/29/enabling-large-disks-and-large-sectors-in-windows-8.aspx



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table

slartabartfast

Windows 2.2 TB limit

Looks like you are using a 64-bit Windows version, so the limit is not a Windows limit. If you format a large (enormous) drive with a GUID partition table you can run anything available today or in the foreseeable future (maximum threoretical size is 9.4 zetabytes) with native Win 7 drivers. If you want to use a huge drive as a boot drive, you will need a UEFI "bios" on your motherboard, but that is not a Windows limit per se but a hardware limit imposed by your motherboard. You should be able to use a huge drive as a data drive even on a non-UEFI system if you boot from an LBA drive.


http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/11/29/enabling-large-disks-and-large-sectors-in-windows-8.aspx



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table

Thanks for pointing out the facts. 


I only found out about the GUID option and UEFI requirement after I got the 2TB drive, thinking my Intel DP67BG board does not support UEFI.

I did found some Intel DP67BG UEFI reviews later on.. so I'm not sure if it's the same board with an option turned on, or via bios update, or it's a totally new update board.


Just finished formatting the 2TB drive.. took a few hours.

Edit : Well.. I just found out there is an option in the bios to enable UEFI boot.. guess I've just learned something new.. UEFI and 3TB drive requirements.