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. You can use the links below to view the full results:

• FC-Test NTFS
• FC-Test FAT32

We have the same leaders at creating files irrespective of the specific file-set. They just change their places a little. The Hitachi E7K1000 is always in the lead and is followed by the Hitachi 7K1000.B, Samsung F1 DT and WD RE3 in changing order. Seagate’s 4-platter drives take two last places. Seagate’s 3-platter model is somewhat faster but can only compete with the 4-platter Green drives from WD which have lower recording density and spindle rotating speed. The WD Caviar Green with 32MB of cache memory looks good in this test. It is almost as fast as the 7200rpm drives, outperforming the Caviar Black when processing small files.

The Hitachi E7K1000 and WD RE3 win the Install pattern. Most of the 3-platter 7200rpm drives go close to each other, except for the old Hitachi 7K1000 and the freaky 3-platter Seagate. The latter two drives even give way to the two 3-platter Caviar Green drives from WD. Seagate’s two 4-platter models are in last places again.

The same goes for the Programs pattern. Seagate’s HDDs don’t like small files at all. They are again slow, only competing with WD’s Green drives. But where is the difference due to the spindle rotation speed?

It can be seen when the drives are reading the large files of the ISO pattern. Seagate’s 3-platter model takes first place then, making the previous leaders move one step lower in the standings. Seagate’s 4-platter models feel at ease in that test, too. They are ahead of the 5400rpm drives under this load and almost as fast as the 3-platter 7200rpm models.

When copying within the same partition, the Western Digital RE3 never leaves first place. It is accompanied by the Hitachi E7K1000 with small files and closely followed by the pair of Samsung drives with large files. The WD Caviar Green with 32MB buffer looks good again, being as fast as 7200rpm models and occasionally outpacing some of them. We don’t mean Seagate’s drives, though. They are slow again, competing with the 4-platter models from WD’s Green series.

Copying from one partition into another changes the top standings: the Hitachi E7K1000 shows but modest performance here, so the top three positions are occupied by the two drives from Samsung plus WD RE3. And there are no changes among the losers.