2TB 32mb vs 64mb cache which one to go for?

pete_agreatguy · 21 Aug 2013 at 07:55

Hi all,

I'm wanting to get a 2TB hard drive for media storage which I plan to share across my internal network. Media files will be HD therefore I'm assuming they'll be large (around 2-4GB).

Is having the extra cache (64mb) better for this compared with having a 32mb cache or will I not notice a difference if it's only media streaming across a network (or locally)?

Thanks

rpstewart · 21 Aug 2013 at 11:03

The size of the cache will make very little difference at those sort of sizes. Platter density will make far more difference.

pete_agreatguy · 21 Aug 2013 at 11:08

Would there be a reason to get 64mb if say I was transferring files from one drive to another (say 10GB+)?

rpstewart · 21 Aug 2013 at 14:52

If you're transferring large files then you're limited by how quickly data can be read off the platter rather than from the cache.

It's a law of diminishing returns. The bigger cache just gives more space for cache misses.

AbsenceJam · 21 Aug 2013 at 15:30

You can absolutely ignore the cache figure on HDD's. It makes no real world difference whatsoever and there's barely anything in synthetic benchmarks.

pete_agreatguy · 21 Aug 2013 at 21:10

Thank you - huge help