7200RPM is a standard rotational speed for desktop hard drives. Faster RPM generally means faster performance when it comes to hard disk drives. In this article, we will look at benchmarks and real-world tests to determine which drive is the fastest overall 7200RPM hard drive on the market.
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ
The Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ is a high-performance hard drive aimed at gamers and enthusiasts. It has a 1TB capacity and uses the SATA 6Gb/s interface for fast data transfer speeds. The drive is designed for speed, utilizing a 2.5 inch form factor and spinning at 10000 RPM.
According to a review by CNET (https://www.cnet.com/reviews/wd-velociraptor-wd1000dhtz-1tb-sata-600-review/), the VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ provides excellent sequential read and write speeds. In their tests, it achieved over 200 MB/s sequential read and writes. The 10,000 RPM spindle speed allows the drive to access data very quickly.
In benchmarks done by Hot Hardware (https://hothardware.com/reviews/wd-velociraptor-1tb-10k-rpm-sata-iii-hard-drive-review?page=5), the VelociRaptor excelled at random read and write speeds. Its performance put it ahead of other 7200 RPM drives. The combination of high RPM and optimized caching enables fast real-world use.
Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010
The Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 is a high capacity budget hard drive option with a 1TB capacity. It features a SATA 6Gb/s interface and spins at 7200RPM, focusing more on reliability versus raw speed.
As a 1TB drive, the Barracuda Compute provides a good balance of price, performance, and generous storage space for the average user. The 7200RPM spindle speed ensures decent speed for a broad range of applications, while not being the absolute fastest drive available.
Overall, the Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 is a solid pick for those seeking a reliable 1TB hard drive without paying a premium for bleeding edge performance.
Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX
The Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX is designed for high performance gaming and intensive workloads. It has a 1TB capacity and uses a SATA 6Gb/s interface. This drive utilizes dual processors to help optimize performance (1).
According to Western Digital, the WD Black line has specially engineered firmware for faster processing. It is also equipped with a dual-core CPU for enhanced multi-tasking capabilities. The drive has a 65% higher transfer rate compared to standard 7200 RPM drives. In addition, it has a 5-year limited warranty and 2 million hours MTBF (mean time between failures) rating (2).
In benchmarks, the WD1003FZEX performs very well, with high sequential read and write speeds. However, real-world usage shows smaller differences compared to other 7200 RPM drives. Still, its focus on performance makes it a good choice for gaming systems or workstations running demanding applications (3).
Sources:
(1) https://www.westerndigital.com/products/internal-drives/wd-black-desktop-sata-hdd#WD1003FZEX
(2) https://documents.westerndigital.com/content/dam/doc-library/en_us/assets/public/western-digital/product/internal-drives/wd-black-hdd/product-brief-western-digital-wd-black-hdd.pdf
(3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnljAyFfmIw
Comparing Benchmarks
When comparing benchmark results, the Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ tends to have the fastest sequential read and write speeds among 7200RPM hard drives. In independent testing by Tom’s Hardware, the VelociRaptor achieved sequential read speeds of 189 MB/s and write speeds of 153 MB/s.
The Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 and the Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX were not far behind in benchmarks, with the Barracuda reaching 159 MB/s read and 156 MB/s write, while the WD Black hit 174 MB/s read and 168 MB/s write sequentially. Though very close, the VelociRaptor edges out the competition for fastest sequential speeds.
For random read/write performance, the VelociRaptor again leads with 4KB random read/write speeds of 62.7/81.5 MB/s based on StorageReview’s testing. The Barracuda achieved 56.5/59.1 MB/s while the WD Black reached 57.3/67.7 MB/s on random 4KB speeds. So while the VelociRaptor wins on paper, real-world random performance between these drives is quite close.
Overall, benchmarks clearly show the 10,000 RPM VelociRaptor as the fastest for both sequential and random read/write, though the other 7200RPM drives still offer excellent performance.
Real-World Performance Considerations
It’s important to note that synthetic benchmarks don’t always tell the full story when it comes to real-world performance. There are other factors like caching technology and firmware optimizations that can significantly impact how a drive performs under actual usage [1].
The Western Digital VelociRaptor utilizes a large 32MB cache and specialized caching algorithms to optimize performance during sustained workloads. The Seagate Barracuda Compute relies on Adaptive Memory technology to identify frequently accessed data and accelerate read/write speeds.
The Western Digital Black uses dual-core processors and a large 128MB DRAM cache to enable faster response times under heavy loads. It also has optimized firmware that helps maintain consistent performance across the full capacity of the drive.
So while benchmarks provide a general idea of sequential and random read/write performance, actual real-world use can vary based on factors like the size and frequency of file transfers, multitasking, and active programs running in the background.
Price Comparison
When comparing prices for the fastest 7200RPM hard drives, here’s how they stack up from major retailers:
The Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ has an MSRP of $299.99 but can be found for around $220 at retailers like Amazon.
The Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 retails for around $45. You can find it on sale for as low as $35 at retailers like Newegg.
The Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX has an MSRP of $99.99 but sells for $90 at retailers such as B&H.
When you factor in performance, the Western Digital VelociRaptor provides the fastest speeds but at a premium price over 4x more expensive than the budget Seagate Barracuda. The WD Black hits a nice sweet spot between performance and value.
Use Case Recommendations
There are several categories for recommend 7200RPM drives based on common use cases:
Gaming: For high performance gaming, the Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX is the top choice. Its improved caching technology and dual-core processor provide fast load times and responsiveness needed for high fps gaming and streaming. Though more expensive, it’s ideal for hardcore gamers wanting peak gaming drive performance.
Professional Workloads: The Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 offers the best value for productivity apps, creative workflows, and professional applications. With sequential speeds nearly matching the VelociRaptor and a lower price point, it provides excellent performance per dollar for demanding office and workstation use.
NAS/RAID: For network attached storage and RAID setups, the Seagate Barracuda is again a top choice. Its balance of performance, reliability, and affordability make it well-suited for high capacity storage and redundancy needed in NAS and enterprise environments. It can handle multiple users and heavy workloads at a reasonable cost.
Overall Use: As an all-around performer for mixed workloads, the Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ is an exceptional choice. It delivers great gaming speeds, works well for professional apps, and can handle NAS environments. While more expensive than other options, its leading benchmarks and versatility make it a smart choice for general robust use across many use cases.
Lifespan and Reliability
According to Backblaze’s Q1 2023 hard drive stats report https://www.backblaze.com/blog/backblaze-drive-stats-for-q1-2023/, the WD VelociRaptor has a lifetime annualized failure rate (AFR) of 1.2%. The Seagate Barracuda’s lifetime AFR is 1.4%, while the WD Black’s is 1.5%. So in terms of reliability based on Backblaze’s stats, the VelociRaptor comes out on top, followed by the Barracuda and then the Black.
However, Backblaze notes that these failure rates don’t tell the whole story. They point out that drive reliability depends a lot on the environment and workload. The VelociRaptor is older technology and was used in a different type of environment at Backblaze compared to the newer Barracuda and Black drives. So the failure rates may not be directly comparable.
In general, all three drives have decent lifespan and reliability, especially for high performance 7200 RPM hard drives which tend to wear out quicker than slower 5400 RPM models. Proper cooling and avoiding excessive vibration can help extend the usable lifespan. For mission critical data, using enterprise class drives or SSDs may provide better long term reliability.
Conclusion
When it comes to the fastest performing 7200RPM hard drive, the Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1000DHTZ stands out as the clear winner based on benchmark tests and real-world performance. With its 10,000 RPM spindle speed, the VelociRaptor posts significantly faster read and write speeds compared to other 7200RPM drives.
However, for most everyday computing tasks, the differences between the fastest 7200RPM drives are marginal. The Seagate Barracuda Compute ST1000DM010 and Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX still offer excellent performance at a more affordable price point.
If budget is no concern and you want the absolute fastest hard drive speeds for gaming, video editing, 3D modeling, and other demanding tasks, the VelociRaptor is the best choice. But for general home and office use, the Barracuda Compute or WD Black provide the best value and performance combination.
The most important factors in choosing a 7200RPM hard drive are your performance needs, budget, and workflow. Consider the speeds, cache size, warranty length, and overall reliability ratings before deciding which drive is the optimal choice for your needs.
