Performance in FC-Test

For this test two 32GB partitions are created on the disk and formatted in NTFS and then in FAT32. After that a file-set is created. It is then read from the disk, copied within the same partition and then copied into another partition. The time taken to perform these operations is measured and the speed of the disk is calculated. The Windows and Programs file-sets consist of a large number of small files whereas the other three patterns (ISO, MP3, and Install) include a few large files each.

We’d like to note that the copying test is indicative of the HDD’s behavior under complex load. In fact, the HDD is working with two threads (one for reading and one for writing) when copying files.

We will discuss the NTFS results which are overall the same as the FAT32 ones as you can make sure by clicking the following link.

Western Digital’s HDDs are very good at writing as is reconfirmed by FC-Test. Take note that the 500GB Samsung, with higher-density platters than the 320GB Western Digital, can only beat the latter on very large ISO files. The 500GB Western Digital copes well with any files and is unrivalled in this test. The Hitachi is hopelessly slow in comparison with the leader.

The new drive from Western Digital wins the test of reading, too. The Samsung and the 320GB Western Digital are competing for second place: the Samsung is better with large files whereas the 320GB Western Digital is ahead with smaller ones. The Hitachi is the slowest drive again, but the gap is very small now.

The 500GB model from Western Digital wins yet another test. Then the standings are rather unusual due to the peculiarities of the HDDs’ firmware. The 320GB WD is now competing with the Hitachi, which has not been fast in the previous subtests, whereas the higher-density Samsung takes last place. Its firmware must be poorly optimized for such load.

The Samsung jumps from last to second place when the copying is done between two partitions. The HDDs are similarly slow with small files, though. The difference can only be seen with large files.