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, the ISO pattern having the largest files.

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

FC-Test produces too many numbers, so we will only discuss the NTFS data in the Install, ISO and Programs patterns which cover the entire range of file sizes typical of everyday computing. You can use the links below to view the full results:

• FC-Test FAT32
• FC-Test NTFS

Writing files might seem to be the best job for 3.5-inch HDDs, but that’s not so simple in reality. First place indeed goes to the WD Caviar Blue, but second place goes to the WD Scorpio Blue. The Scorpio Black is third. Seagate’s products all deliver modest performance. The compact 7200.3 is good enough at writing small files but slows down to the level of its predecessor with the ISO pattern.

Reading files is the bastion of 3.5-inch HDDs that 2.5-inch models cannot dream of attacking. The difference is especially visible with the large files of the ISO pattern, yet the overall picture is somewhat disturbed by the Seagate 7200.3 which is too good for a 2.5-incher. It performs like 3.5-inch drives with recording density of somewhat lower than 320GB per platter. Many 3.5-inchers of that generation are still working in today’s computers.

The two 2.5-inch drives from Western Digital go neck and neck, the higher spindle rotation speed of the 320GB Caviar Black being successfully made up for by the higher recording density of the 500GB Caviar Blue.

The 3.5-inchers are somewhat faster when copying within the same partition. However, firmware affects performance here: the Seagate 7200.11 and, unfortunately, 7200.3 are too sensitive to the average file size and lose to every Western Digital drive with the ISO pattern.

We can see the same dependence of Seagate products’ performance on the average file size when copying from one partition to another. Western Digital wins this test completely. Take note that the 3.5-inch Caviar Blue is in the lead with large files, but the 2.5-inch Caviar Black overtakes and outperforms it with smaller files.