Introduction

Still, the share of S-ATA hard drives on the market is very low, but should change to the end of the year clearly this. Until it is but so far, many will buy the ‘normal’ P-ATA hard drives. We have a model of Maxtor in the test this time. The Maxtor DiamondMax specifically plus 9 with 120 GB capacity and 8 MB cache. After the testing of the Hitachi hard drives we were of course on this also with 8 MB cache-equipped model stretched from Maxtor.

Facilities

Unlike many other current HDD Maxtor used inside the DiamondMax plus 9 6Y120P0 already platter with a capacity of 80 GB. When the model two operate platter with 7.200U/min, the engine has a fluid bearing (fluid dynamic bearing, FDB). Maxtor calls as capacity exactly 120 GB, Windows XP are 114,49GB formatted display. As an interface developed by Maxtor, ATA/133 interface is used, buffered with 8 MB cache. For the average access time be specified by Maxtor 9, 4ms, in the search mode are about 7,3Watt consumed about 12Watt, in idle mode. Against mechanical influences from the outside, the DiamondMax plus 9 has the Maxtor plc (shock protection system), so the plate alone is up to 300 g, in operation still 60 g, each a shock time of 2ms.

The occupancy of the jumper can be seen on the top of the plate, you must control so before installation, if the HDD is configured correctly. Maxtor delivers in the plates as an OEM version, as well as retail kit. In addition a mounting frame, screws and a P-ATA 80-wire cable are included in the latter. In addition, fitting instructions and the software ‘MaxBlast’ included in that facilitates the configuration and the connection of the hard drive into the operating system.

Test system

We use the well-known test system on the basis of A7V8X by ASUS for the test. The P-ATA interface (VIA and promise) both support the Ultra ATA/133 standard, the plate can act so with its full potential. Here again, the test system in particular:

• CPU:
  • AMD AthlonXP 1800 +
• Motherboard:
  • ASUS A7V8X BIOS 1.011 Turbo mode
• Memory:
  • 1 * 256 MB Corsair PC2700 DDR RAM Cl2
• Video card:
  • ELSA Erazor III ViVo 32 MB
• Hard drives:
  • IBM DTTA 351010 10GB
• Controller:
  • Promise FastTrack 376 (OnBoard)
• Peripherals
  • Plextor PX-W1210A
• Software
  • Windows XP Professional SP1
  • VIA Hyperion 4in1445

Benchmarks

On the basis of the suggestions of our readers we are hard drives P-ATA in the future of both controllers, most VIA 8235 (light blue) and the onBoard promise 20376 (blue), study on their suitability. In addition, we have an existing IBM Deskstar 120GXP ICL35060AVVA07-0, on our test system nachgebencht. The previous IC35L with 40 GB was on an Intel system has been gebencht, therefore, the measured values were not directly comparable. Thus, the result database is growing and already quite interesting a good deal. Otherwise, the test system as well as the benchmark course remains untouched. As usual type of we the values of the Seagate S-ATA Barracuda V in the second graph (red). The Maxtor in green are displayed the values for the better visibility of current test subject.

For the test run, the acoustic management has been the Maxtor on the value of ‘ 254′, so the plate is while the loudest, but also the fastest access. If it was necessary for the benchmark, formatted the hard disk in Windows XP with the NTFS file system and default values. Here, you used benchmark programs:

• HDTach 2.61
• tecBench disk benchmark
• Business winbench 99 2.0

Read speed

The Maxtor disk is still a current Maxtor product, we look at how she beat compared the reading speeds against the already-tested drives.

It looks somewhat disappointing! Overall, the Maxtor is only slightly better than that can 120GXP, about a year old IBM but at least the Seagate S-ATA can be plate behind. On average the Maxtor against the Hitachi loses almost 8 MB / s drives almost 5 MB/s, the maximum values The minimum values remains at least in contact with the top of two Hitachi plates.

As you can clearly see the used controller is not decisive in reading values.

And because we were impressed by but, what the Maxtor most reached VIA the controller at the burst. Almost 108MB / s, no doubt, the Maxtor here slowly approaches the limits of the theoretically possible on ultra/ATA133 133MB/s. After the lowering on the ultra DMA5 mode (Ultra ATA/100) most VIA controller, came Maxtor then even on good 85 MB / s, which is located just behind the other disk. Here the better interface does so positively.

Write speed

After the somewhat disappointing results when reading performance let us look at now the write values.

On average the Maxtor is slower than the Hitachi hard drives only about 1-2MB/s. But even all at the maximum write speed 10 MB/s (25 percent) slower than the 2 MB cache version of the Hitachi 180GXP. Only for the minimum values that can keep up Maxtor, here it is with the 2 MB Hitachi about neck and neck right up front.

Access times

The access times of the drives also play a large role, we have again carried out the comparison to the first 500 MB and access across the entire surface.

Too bad, here she can not convince Maxtor, despite the fastest setting of acoustic management. The was Maxtor in the silent mode (value = 128) to access times when the full access even to about 19ms fell. Keep to the best you have the DiamondMax plus 9 but that this very silent works goes and has roughly the volume level of the Seagate. The two Hitachi and the older IBM go significantly louder to works for access.

Processor load

The operation of hard disks on VIA controller, the processor saves, we have already identified in the other reviews. How much help needed the Maxtor the data transfer?

Surprisingly little, as you can see. Itself of the burdensome promise controller the Maxtor 6Y120P0 with only a bit more than 5 percent is content. Since the Hitachi can not keep up hard drives, even most VIA controller they need in about as much processing power, such as the Maxtor at the promise controller.

Working speed

We come to the last test, which provides us with important data for the practicality of the disks.

At the business of bench is the new Maxtor most VIA but almost at the very end, only the older IBM is somewhat weaker. At the promise a different image, here the DiamondMax plus 9 mixes with at the front, it shows the positive influence of 8 MB cache, the models with a small cache are considerably weaker.

At the high end of bench, the picture looks slightly different. On the promise controller operates the Maxtor slightly weaker, can do well on the VIA controller clear ground, is located here, even before the 8 MB cache version of the Hitachi.

Temperature

Almost all modern disks are thanks to the SMART (self monitoring and reporting technology) equipped with hardware monitoring features. This includes sensors for the temperature, which can be read with programs such as MBM. We show the values here idle (idle) and under load. The controller doesn’t this matter, even if with this on the chart for technical reasons is specified.

Strikingly, the high temperature is the Maxtor under load. Clearly 40° Celsius be exceeded, even the IBM equipped not with fluid bearings reached only 39° Celsius. The Hitachi remains, however, very cool and increases their temperature hardly even under load.

Conclusion

Overall impression no outstanding the Maxtor DiamondMax plus 9 (6Y120P0), she can contact only with the burst read, reading from the cache RAM of disk in the scene. This is due to the Ultra ATA/133 interface, the development of which comes from the laboratories of Maxtor. During normal operation, the interface shows but no improvement in the services. At the theoretical benchmarks is the Maxtor almost always the back, she can take to not forward even when the real-world benchmarks and must settle with second place behind the 8-MB cache Hitachi Deskstar 180GXP.

Unfortunately also Maxtor has moved significantly to reduce the warranty period, warranty is granted only a year. However, who is looking for a quiet hard drive which shows no major weaknesses in practice, is well advised with the Maxtor. For many, there is also the possibility to acquire a positive point the hard disk in the kit. Maxtor DiamondMax plus 9 with 2 MB offers to cache as model 6Y120L0, unfortunately no test pattern available; was us about this the price is currently 115,-€ to also one year manufacturer’s warranty.

&Lt; div > Maxtor DiamondMax plus 9 6Y120P0 < div > positive properties

• 8 MB cache
• Noise
• Fluid bearing
• Available as ‘Kit’