Hitachi 500gb 7K500 vs T7K500

[>:|sh4d0w|:<]

Looking to pick up a hitachi drive, just wondering what the difference between the two drives was, both will be 500gb, SATAII, 16mb Cache. The 'T' version seems harder to source i have also noted.

Thanks guys

 

[rpstewart]

There seems to be a lot of confusion around these drives. Hitachi themselves say that the 7K500 is only available with a PATA interface yet they also have a SATA installation guide for it

I think what has happened is that the SATA version of the 7K500 has been discontinued and superceded by the T7K500. The spec differences are:

7K500
8Mb cache
5 platters for 500Gb

T7K500
16Mb cache on some SATA models
3 platters for 500Gb
NCQ support

Basically the T7K500 is the better drive but there also seems to be some confusion in labelling, for example OCUK list a 7K500 500Gb drive with a pic of a 7K500 but the spec of a T7K500. It might be worth confirming the drive model, the Hitachi model part number you want is HDT725050VLA360

 

[>:|sh4d0w|:<]

I believe the 7K500 comes with NCQ (according to a competitor) aswell but im not 100%. I did arrive at the same model number that you did, while doing my research. The model number for the 7k500 is HDS725050KLAT80 using this decoder confirms the difference in platter.

Model code deciphering guide:
H = Hitachi
D = Deskstar, C = Cinemastar, T = Travelstar, E = Endurastar, M = Microdrive, U = Ultrastar
S = Standard, T = Two/three platter, C = compact(?) (in combination with T this means 1.8 inch form factor), E = enterprise(?) in combination with T means desktop variant of Travelstar (for example E7K100)
72 = 7200rpm, 54 = 5400rpm, and so on
10 = 1000GB (maximum capacity of series)
75 = 750GB, 10 = 1000GB (capacity of the variant in question)
K = Kurofune (factory nickname for architecture capable of mounting up to 5 platters), V = Vancouver (up to 3 platters), P = Pathfinder (only 1 platter such as 7K80 and 7K160)
L = Low-profile (all 3.5 inchers)
AT = PATA, A3 = SATA 3Gbit/s, SA = SATA 1.5Gbit/s
6 = 16MB, 3 = 32MB, 8 = 8MB, 2 = 2MB

The T7k500 does seem like the more recent drive and with better features (eg option for 16mb cache), but according to this table
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/table3.htm
the 7k500 has an asterix by it, denoting it as the latests drive, when it was released earlier. Confusing.

Thank you for your help.