Confusing Model Numbers!!

Chong Warrior · 11 Jul 2007 at 13:34

I've been looking at the Western Digital AAKS range as these seem to be the best. Thing is I've seen reviews of them and they are supposed to use the new perpendicular recording that the Seagates do. I don't think they're for sale yet, am I right?

Yet the 500gb AAKS is freely available and recommended as the fastest 500gb drive. I almost bought one yesterday but I couldn't find any mention of perpendicular recording and after having a read up I find out they don't use this! Yet the new models will. So is the current 500AAKS about to be replaced?

Why give them all the same model numbers? What's the point in having all these confusing numbers if they don't mean anything? :confused:

I'd class perpendicular recording as a pretty big difference and worthy of classing the drives differently surely? Or have I got it wrong and the new ones aren't AAKS? :confused:

Cheers for any help

Chong Warrior · 11 Jul 2007 at 22:21

semi-pro waster said:
Western Digital do tend to have confusing model numbers, is it possible you were looking at the KS series of drives? The AAKS drives should all use perpendicular recording that I know of.

That's what I thought, hence this post.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-120-WD

Chong Warrior · 12 Jul 2007 at 00:02

Found this:

As for the WD5000AAKS' technology, Western Digital has used longitudinal recording technology (meaning it does not use perpendicular recording), which means that data is stored on the drive in a horizontal orientation (parallel to the disk), rather than vertically (as is the case in perpendicular recording). In any case, this drive improves on the company's previous 500GB models by using fewer disk platters to store its data (three as opposed to four)

Careful

Chong Warrior · 13 Jul 2007 at 12:49

Mod said:
Careful

Fair enough, I suppose that was a bit cheeky

Can anyone else confirm this about the 500AAKS? If it has the new recording tech then I'll go and buy one but I'm not buying into an old tech now with brand new drives just around the corner.

Can't believe it's so difficult to find out this info, there's just nothing out there and that site is only one that seems to mention it. Can't trust just one source.

Come OCUK are they or aren't they??

Chong Warrior · 13 Jul 2007 at 14:42

Thanks for that mate

Just confirms my thread title really. They surely do this on purpose? :rolleyes: