Need advice on IBM hard drives.....

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:35 pm

I'm in the process of getting the last few pieces of hard ware for my new computer. Maximum PC rates the new IBM GXP series highly.

I would like to know the pros and cons that other people have encountered with IBM drives. Right now I'm using Maxtor drives at home and Western Digital at work.

I'm looking at getting the most performance I can out of my new box. Do y'all know of any IDE drives that offer better speed and reliability than the IBM's do?

Thanks :2cool:

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:37 pm

You want the IBM 60GXP series

they have a 40GB or 60GB or 80GB model you will want to go for.....

but the IBM 60GXP series IS the fastest IDE drives there is

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 8:57 pm

Roundeye....I too was thinking about IBM drives.
I also read Maxium PC. Great mag eh?

Check this thread out.

I"m not pushing Maxtor, I have yet to use one, just giving you a little info about IBM drives and what others say about them.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jul 18, 2001 9:15 pm

I have several IBM Deskstars. Even since I got one years ago, back when the 8 gigers just came out, that was my first Deskstar, and I love them. Very quiet....the quietest drive you'll (not) hear. And very fast. I have not had one go bad on me yet. And they don't mind being overclocked. I've read they are high in reliability, and I don't see many going bad in our service department, like Maxtors and those, ugh, Quantum drives always do.

I'd keep getting them, but I'm getting hot for that new Barracuda 4 drive, with the liquid suspended bearings and 4 meg cache.

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 1:55 am

downhill,
After reading that thread I don't know if I want an IBM drive. Not much good to be said for them. In a RAID 0 set up, a drive failing would be a real bummer. I might stick with my Maxtor's, they've been good to me so far.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:46 am

Regarding that thread, everyone has their own bad luck and experience with drives, you have to look at the overall average. Writeups from solid online hardware sites like Anandtech, Toms, etc, and magazines, they rate IBM drives up there in quality. I've consistantly seen them rank high in reliability. My personal experience, I push the heck out of my systems 24/7, and the bunch if IBM drives that I have, still going strong. They get a workout too, traveling in my bumpy Jeep to LAN parties, etc.

The mail order places like Dell, they get funky OEM versions of drives specially made for them at bargain prices for their bargain machines. Just like CPUs. Not the same as Retail versions, they don't go through the same rigid quality tests.

I work for a VAR, and have seen many many many machines go through our service dept. I've replaced many many many drives myself doing onsites. I see all makes/models, etc, not just one. Maxtor is a drive I will never own, wouldn't use one if given for free.

CompGeek83 · Post by **CompGeek83** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 8:08 am

hehehe, im glad to know that the drive i just got is the fastest ide drive, thanks brent

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 8:24 am

I've been using Deskstars since I started and have never had a problem or one fail yet! What Brent said is true. Go get yourself a 60GXP and you won't be unhappy at all!

By all rights, mine should be acting up for everything that has been done to it and on it. I have no bad sectors, I have no problems at all and it's well past its warranty period. Thing purrs like a little kitten. This thing spins pratically 24/7/365.

Just thought I'd add my opinion. Go get the data and specs sheets and read through them. I don't know why the people in the other thread are having bad times with theirs!

http://www.storage.ibm.com/hdd/desk/ds60gxp.htm

Maliy · Post by **Maliy** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 2:17 pm

Here is the chart rated by pcworld which defenatly favors Maxtor.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/ ... g,4,00.asp

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 3:48 pm

Maliy, thanks for the link. I feel better about my purchase's now.

BroncoSport · Post by **BroncoSport** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 7:01 pm

When I first built the current box, I had bought an IBM Deskstar 20 GIG ATA66 5600, I ran into some really wierd problems (Windows wouldn't reco it but I could see all my files after rebooting to command prompt. I thought the MRB was screwed so I did a low level format...blah, blah, blah) Well anyway the drive was junk and I proceeded to IBM's site entered the serial #'s and they told me that it was still under warr, issued me an RMA and gave me specific instructions on how to ship it to them. I sent it off on a Monday (across the country, no less), went out and bought a Western Digital ( I couldnt wait) and in 8 EIGHT DAYS they sent me a BRAND NEW 30 GIG ATA100 Deskstar.

In my books IBM's service and warrantee KICKS ASS. Just thought you should know a first hand account.

Oh and by the way, going on 7 months now, three reformats and NO PROBLEMs. I also did a Sandra test on the Western and the IBM and the IBM scored about 20% faster (Both are ATA 100 running at 66)

my .02

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 9:00 pm

Thanks for all the input

The positive input may be just what I needed to sway me back into getting the IBM's for my next box.

I want speed, but reliabilty is my main concern. Like I mentioned RAID 0 + defective drive = you're screwed

BroncoSport

.........I also did a Sandra test on the Western and the IBM and the IBM scored about 20% faster (Both are ATA 100 running at 66)........

That's just what I needed to see, thanks

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 9:15 pm

isnt there a 75GXP?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 10:18 pm

Yes but the 60 is a new design, and fastest IDE out there.

RAID 0 + bad hard drive, yes you're screwed. Single hard drive + goes bad you're screwed. Yeah you can argue it's twice the chance of going bad, but once you get used to RAID 0....there's just no going back for me.

HMS White Star · Post by **HMS White Star** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 10:46 pm

Read my posts in that link, but IBM drives are Evil, bad, very not good, the opposite of good.

IBM's are evil, I don't care if you think it's the oem problem or not, but I can tell you I have Never replaced more drives than the IBM brand, (namely the 45 and 75 gig drives) when they where not the most popular drive, but they had the highest replacement rate of ANY drive of ANY manufacturer that I have EVER deal with, Period. I would never recommend anyone to buy ANY IBM drive, btw I have personal spoke with at least one other tech that I know who share the same opinion (I think he called deskstars, deathstars or some thing like that).

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 11:05 pm

Complete opposite for me, IBM's the least replaced. And I've had more computers go through my hands then a good percent of this forum put together, consiting of every variety out there, OEMs, mail order, clones, mom and pop shot built, catalog, etc.

I go through Quantums and Maxtors like toilet paper.

m4a2t0t · Post by **m4a2t0t** » Fri Jul 20, 2001 12:08 am

Originally posted by HMS White Star
Read my posts in that link, but IBM drives are Evil, bad, very not good, the opposite of good.

IBM's are evil, I don't care if you think it's the oem problem or not, but I can tell you I have Never replaced more drives than the IBM brand, (namely the 45 and 75 gig drives) when they where not the most popular drive, but they had the highest replacement rate of ANY drive of ANY manufacturer that I have EVER deal with, Period. I would never recommend anyone to buy ANY IBM drive, btw I have personal spoke with at least one other tech that I know who share the same opinion (I think he called deskstars, deathstars or some thing like that).

exactly ive had MAJOR problems with the IBM HDD's in the last puter.like my new HDD's better

Trancentral · Post by **Trancentral** » Sat Jul 21, 2001 10:26 am

Originally posted by Brent
You want the IBM 60GXP series

they have a 40GB or 60GB or 80GB model you will want to go for.....

but the IBM 60GXP series IS the fastest IDE drives there is

yeah there cool :2cool:

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Need advice on IBM hard drives.....

Need advice on IBM hard drives.....

IBM, noooo!!!! don't get IBM drive there Evil.

Re: IBM, noooo!!!! don't get IBM drive there Evil.