Western Digital - difference between 2 drives

gcogger

gcogger

gcogger

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I just bought (or thought I did!) a WD 500GB drive, from the green power series - WD5000AVVS. According to the WD website, it has much lower power consumption and significantly lower noise that the usual AAKS versions, but still has 16MB cache and runs at (up to) 7200rpm. I'm not expecting the performance to be quite as good, of course.

Looking at the drive I've received, I actually got a WD5000AAVS - thats AAVS rather than AVVS. Unfortunately I can't find any info about this version. I've tried contacting WD, but no reply as yet.

Does anyone happen to know the difference between these 2 drives? I need to decide whether to return it!

Thanks
 
That model has 8MB cache as opposed to 16MB, but its still a green series drive.

I would return it, since you paid for a model with 16MB cache.
 
decto said:
Hi,

Why don't you put the serial number into the WD website.... it should give you some more info about your drive

http://support.wdc.com/warranty/index.asp

You can usually read the s/n through the packaging

AD
Click to expand...

Good idea, but the website still can't find any info on this drive. I've even gone as far as registering it to try and get some info, but no joy. Thanks anyway.

mdjmcnally said:
You do realise that the AAVS is aimed at consumer electronics rather than PC's. If you want the green power version of the AAKS then you want the AACS.
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure what the difference is between the 2 ranges? The WD5000AVVS claims to have low noise, low power consumption and good reliability for continuous use scenarios. I'm going to be using it in a Mini-ITX PC that will act as a music storage server for my Squeezebox, so it seemed appropriate. Any idea what the pros and cons are of the Desktop vs Consumer Electronics drives?
 
Just looked at my WD Cheat Sheet. Here's all the different 500GB codes:-

AAKS - SE16 16MB Cache SATA
ABYS - RE2 16MB Cache SATA
AACS - GreenPower 16MB Cache SATA
AAVS - GreenPower 8MB Cache SATA
AAJS - SE 8MB Cache SATA
AVJS - AV 8MB Cache SATA
ABPS - GreenPower RE2 16MB Cache SATA
AVVS - AV-GreenPower 8MB Cache SATA
AAJB - SE 8MB Cache PATA
AAKB - SE16 16MB Cache PATA

That's all of them.
 
The CE versions are like Seagates NL35 series, ie designed to go into the boxes like a Hard Disk DVD-Recorder under the TV.

For what you want then the AVVS would be better for you, then an AAVS, as that isn't aimed at the 24/7 market.
 
Slackworth said:
Just looked at my WD Cheat Sheet. Here's all the different 500GB codes:-

AAKS - SE16 16MB Cache SATA
ABYS - RE2 16MB Cache SATA
AACS - GreenPower 16MB Cache SATA
AAVS - GreenPower 8MB Cache SATA
AAJS - SE 8MB Cache SATA
AVJS - AV 8MB Cache SATA
ABPS - GreenPower RE2 16MB Cache SATA
AVVS - AV-GreenPower 8MB Cache SATA
AAJB - SE 8MB Cache PATA
AAKB - SE16 16MB Cache PATA

That's all of them.
Click to expand...

That's odd :confused:

I found the specs for the AVVS on the WD site here:
WD5000AVVS

The specs state that it's a 16MB buffer; but I've seen other places saying that it's 8MB, same as in your list.

:confused:
 
Thnaks for all the help guys - I've returned the drive. They didn't have the correct one in stock and, since I need something today, I've bought a standard WD5000AAKS. Not much choice really, and at least it was cheaper :)
 
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