Performance in FileCopy Test

That’s the most exciting part of our roundup. We run FC-Test according to our standard methodology: we created two logical volumes, 32GB each, on the HDDs and formatted them in NTFS and FAT32. We created a set of files on the first logical volume and read it, then copied it into a folder on the same volume (i.e. within one partition) and to another partition. We use five sets of files:

• Install – 414 files with a total size of 575MB;
• ISO – three files with a total size of 1.6GB;
• MP3 – 271 files with a total size of 1GB;
• Programs – 8504 files with a total size of 1.4GB;
• Windows – 9006 files with a total size of 1.06GB.

NTFS starts the tests.

Due to the number of reviewed drives, we discuss the results in detail pattern by pattern. So we start out by creating a set of files on the drive. Dividing the total size of the pattern by the time spent for this operation we get the writing speed of the particular drive:

The drives from Maxtor are the best of all at creating files of the Install pattern. The Samsung SP1213C could only show some competition to them and this is no surprise – this drive has been fast and confident in other tests, too. The result of the Samsung SP1203N is interesting as it shows a very high speed, notwithstanding its small cache buffer.

The test devoted to creation of ISO-like files goes next:

The Maxtor team ousted the Samsung SP1213C and occupied all top positions of the table. Otherwise, there are no changes since the first pattern. Interestingly, the Maxtor with a 2MB cache buffer found itself in the “premier leaguer” of hard disk drives: size alone doesn’t matter if you can’t apply it with skill.

On the other hand, it’s also true that skill and size should go hand in hand to work wonders…

The Samsung SP1213C alone is challenging the Maxtor team for top places at creating MP3-like files. The slowest of the Maxtors (6Y120L0/60) has stepped up one step closer to the main group.

The next patterns – Programs and Windows – contain numerous small files.

The Maxtor team loses its ground on small files and there are only two 6Y120P0 models on different platters in the top part of the diagram. The Samsung SP1213C found itself on top at last, while the Hitachi IC32L120AVV207-1 and Samsung1203N were good enough, too.