Performance in FC-Test

Now I will check the real-life performance of the hard disk drives with the FC-Test utility which measures the time it takes to create (i.e. write), read and copy certain file-sets which differ in the number and size of the files included, and then calculates the speed of the drive. This utility gives you an objective picture of performance because it emulates the real operating situations for the hard drive.

The Windows and Programs patterns consist of many small-size files, while the MP3, ISO and Install patterns include fewer files of a bigger size. Two 32GB partitions are created on the drives for the copy operations, and the file-sets are then copied within one partition (Copy Near) and from one partition to another (Copy Far). The creation (writing) and reading of the file-sets is done in the first partition.

The drives will be first tested with FAT32.

The first diagram shows the speed of writing (creating) the file-sets. The Western Digital finds itself second after the Maxtor OneTouch III when using USB 2.0 or FireWire 400. But when connected via FireWire 800, the hero of this review is far faster than its opponents.

The WDG1T5000N can’t compete with the other devices when they are all using USB 2.0. When connected via FireWire 400, it takes second place after the Maxtor OneTouch III. But it is the FireWire 800 interface that allows the Western Digital drive to show its full strength. It enjoys a great advantage over its opponents then.

Copying files within the same partition, the WDG1T5000N is third with large files and second with small files – with the USB 2.0 interface. With FireWire 400 it is second after the Maxtor OneTouch III. FireWire 800 makes the Western Digital drive an unrivalled leader of our races.

The results of this test (copying files from one partition to another) are similar to those of the previous one. When connected via USB 2.0, the WDG1T5000N is second in two patterns that consist of a large number of small files and third in the other three patterns. When connected via FireWire 400, it is overall faster than the Seagate, but slower than the Maxtor OneTouch. But when you connect it to a FireWire 800 port, the drive leaves its opponents far behind.