it would be interesting to get a set of the possibly identical drives and benchmark on various tests. they might be exactly 100% the same hardware but have slightly different software running on each. dvrs certainly have different access patterns then a normal pc and a couple tweaks could be done in the drives firmware for that.
-
Take part in a short activity and share your valuable opinion on new design concepts for AVSForum! >>> Click Here
-
Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.
Maxtor AV QuickDrives = DiamondMax 16s (with Same Model #s), No?
After searching for a discussion of the supposedly superior quality of the relatively new Maxtor Digital Entertainment "QuickView" HDDs (with 5400rpm + Fluid Dynamic Bearing Motors [FDBs], etc.), I decided to start up this debate again:
I claim that Maxtor AV QuickDrives and DiamondMax 16s with the same Model Numbers are actually the exact same HDDs, and that the "-QV" suffix on a Model Number only signifies that the HDD is actually labeled "QuickView".
Here's why:
Quoted (in part) from the 2004 Maxtor Product Line Card .pdf file:
Quote:
Quote:
As seen above, some of the older Maxtor DiamondMax 16 HDDs and the newer Maxtor QuickView HDDs actually share the same Maxtor Model Numbers, so I definitely think they're clearing out the ones with the DiamondMax 16 labels:
$70 Maxtor 4R120L0 ~QuickView 120GB HDD, at iSellSurplus.com
Plus, iSellSurplus.com is only charging a total of $5 S&H for everything in your shopping cart until Monday Night (2/28/05), so you really might want to check them out this weekend.
(FWIW, I bet the list prices for the Maxtor HDDs with a "QuickView" label will be going way up, and soon.)
I claim that Maxtor AV QuickDrives and DiamondMax 16s with the same Model Numbers are actually the exact same HDDs, and that the "-QV" suffix on a Model Number only signifies that the HDD is actually labeled "QuickView".
Here's why:
Quoted (in part) from the 2004 Maxtor Product Line Card .pdf file:
Quote:
| DiamondMax 16 DiamondMax 16 hard drives are designed to efficiently meet the need for storage space. Available in capacities from 60 to 160 gigabytes, the 5400 RPM DiamondMax 16 drive includes a 2MB cache buffer and an Ultra ATA/133 interface for data transfer speeds up to 133MB/sec. As aresult, the DiamondMax 16 is the premier choice for desktop and consumer storage needs. When you need a high-capacity data storage solution, select the DiamondMax 16. Model # RPM . Cap Interface Seek* Acoustics* Buffer 4R060L0 5400 . 60GB ATA/133 ≤12.6ms ≤2.5 bels 2MB 4R080L0 5400 . 80GB ATA/133 ≤12.6ms ≤2.5 bels 2MB 4R120L0 5400 120GB ATA/133 ≤12.6ms ≤2.5 bels 2MB 4R160L0 5400 160GB ATA/133 ≤12.6ms ≤2.5 bels 2MB *Seek time and idle acoustics are average values |
| AV Hard Drives QuickView® hard drives Maxtor QuickView hard drives are designed for digital video recorders (DVR), set-top boxes (STB), DVD/HDD combos, media centers and other consumer devices and applications. QuickView hard drives offer audio-visual performance and advanced features that enhance the digital entertainment experience. Model # RPM . Cap Interface Hrsâ€* 4R080L0 5400 . 80 ATA/133 80 4R120L0 5400 120 ATA/133 120 4R160L0 5400 160 ATA/133 160 â€*Recording hours provided by Jon Peddie Research. For details, see www.jonpeddie.com/capacity.shtml, a white paper entitled "Memory Capacity Requirements for Media Files." Calculations based upon NTSC TV standard. |
$70 Maxtor 4R120L0 ~QuickView 120GB HDD, at iSellSurplus.com
Plus, iSellSurplus.com is only charging a total of $5 S&H for everything in your shopping cart until Monday Night (2/28/05), so you really might want to check them out this weekend.
(FWIW, I bet the list prices for the Maxtor HDDs with a "QuickView" label will be going way up, and soon.)
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
The difference between an AV drive and a non-AV drive is in the firmware. An AV drive will not attempt to re-calibrate itself every so often. A normal drive recalibrates itself to deal with such things as the changes in metal at different temperatures. These events generally take about a half second and on some drives you can even hear it happen.
An A/V drive will not do this recalibration as it is assumed that the drives are being used for high-bandwidth video storage and playback and that constant data throughput is more important.
W
An A/V drive will not do this recalibration as it is assumed that the drives are being used for high-bandwidth video storage and playback and that constant data throughput is more important.
W
Quick View drives only have a 2 meg cache and the firmware has greater error tolerance because streaming a/v files is less critical of an occasional error. The case and hardware can be identical, but the drives are different.
Quote:
Is this easily flashable firmware? I've never deal with that yet.
| Originally posted by wmelnick The difference between an AV drive and a non-AV drive is in the firmware. An AV drive will not attempt to re-calibrate... An A/V drive will not do this recalibration as it is assumed that the drives are being used for high-bandwidth video storage and playback and that constant data throughput is more important. W |
Very interesting responses (as usual!) -- thanks to all of you.
You've convinced me that the DiamondMax 16 HDDs may not have the same firmware that goes onto the QuickViews, but I still doubt that Maxtor would use the exact same Model Numbers in their 2004 literature (as quoted above).
Are there other examples -- where a company gave the exact same Model Number to an item in two different lines, but they actually had different firmware?
Regardless, I just found a 2005 QuickView Data Sheet which only lists QuickView part numbers which start with the number 6:
Quote:
Maybe the first digit of Maxtor's Model Numbers stands for the 1st year after a part's initial introduction or something? I noticed, for example, that the DiamondMax 16 Data Sheet I have is dated 2003, and almost all of the Model Numbers start with a 4.
Regardless, thanks again, everyone!
You've convinced me that the DiamondMax 16 HDDs may not have the same firmware that goes onto the QuickViews, but I still doubt that Maxtor would use the exact same Model Numbers in their 2004 literature (as quoted above).
Are there other examples -- where a company gave the exact same Model Number to an item in two different lines, but they actually had different firmware?
Regardless, I just found a 2005 QuickView Data Sheet which only lists QuickView part numbers which start with the number 6:
Quote:
| (PATA interface) 6K040L0 6L080P0 6L100P0 6L120P0 6L160P0 6L200P0 6L250R0 6L300R0 (SATA interface) 6K040T0 6L080M0 6L100M0 6L120P0 6L160M0 6L200M0 6L250S0 6L300S0 |
Regardless, thanks again, everyone!
Quote:
AFAIK, both lines have only 2MB Cache Buffers, adone36.
Have anyone ever known of a situation where the case, the hardware, and the Model Numbers were all identical, but the drives were actually different?
| Originally posted by adone36 Quick View drives only have a 2 meg cache and the firmware has greater error tolerance because streaming a/v files is less critical of an occasional error. The case and hardware can be identical, but the drives are different. |
Have anyone ever known of a situation where the case, the hardware, and the Model Numbers were all identical, but the drives were actually different?
Since the OP said one series of drives had a "suffix of -QV" to the model number, that would seem to me to be a "different" part number.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
AVS Forum
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
