Comparing disk performance

[Jim Jagielski]

This is the output of the "Time Drive" application from the LaCie
SilverLining disk. I have used it to look at the performance of two types
of hard disks: the Seagate 330MB Wren Runner (4385M) and the Seagate 175MB
Wren (sorry, don't recall the part number).

Anyway, the Volume "Mac Internal" is the 175MB Wren, whereas the Volume "Wren
Runner" is, obviously, the Wren Runner...

Note that this was run under the Mac OS (6.0.7) on an accelerated MacII
(the 50MHz DayStar PowerCard) so we might be hitting the SCSI port speed limit
on the Runner... Once my IIfx upgrade is up and running, I'll do this again.

Oh yeah, one more thing. I've made the "Time Drive" application available
via anon-ftp on my Mac (jagubox, 'natch :). It might be a good idea for other
people to try it on their disks and post their results...

==============================================================================

Program by Roger D. Bates.
(C)1990-1991.  LaCie, Ltd.  All rights reserved.

----------------------------
Volume: Mac Internal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Size: 172764K

 test size = 512K
 (using a temporary contiguous file of size 512K)

Pass 1:
 Latency = 8.33 ms (3601 RPM)
 Ave. Seek = 19.58 ms, (access = 27.91 ms)
 Max. Seek = 41.00 ms, (access = 49.33 ms)
 Write transfer rate = 1123 KBytes/Sec.
 Read  transfer rate = 1310 KBytes/Sec.

----------------------------
Volume: Wren Runner  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Size: 4858K

 test size = 512K
 (using a temporary contiguous file of size 512K)

Pass 1:
 Latency = 8.33 ms (3601 RPM)
 Ave. Seek = 5.92 ms, (access = 14.25 ms)
 Max. Seek = 7.33 ms, (access = 15.66 ms)
 Write transfer rate = 1310 KBytes/Sec.
 Read  transfer rate = 1497 KBytes/Sec.

----------------------------
Volume: Mac Internal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Size: 172764K

 test size = 1024K
 (using a temporary contiguous file of size 1024K)

Pass 1:
 Latency = 8.33 ms (3601 RPM)
 Ave. Seek = 19.33 ms, (access = 27.66 ms)
 Max. Seek = 40.67 ms, (access = 49.00 ms)
 Write transfer rate = 1143 KBytes/Sec.
 Read  transfer rate = 1367 KBytes/Sec.

----------------------------
Volume: Wren Runner  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Size: 4858K

 test size = 1024K
 (using a temporary contiguous file of size 1024K)

Pass 1:
 Latency = 8.33 ms (3601 RPM)
 Ave. Seek = 5.92 ms, (access = 14.25 ms)
 Max. Seek = 7.33 ms, (access = 15.66 ms)
 Write transfer rate = 1310 KBytes/Sec.
 Read  transfer rate = 1534 KBytes/Sec.

=============================================================================
--
===========================================================================
#include <std/disclaimer.h>
                                 =:^)
           Jim Jagielski                    NASA/GSFC, Code 711.4
     jim at jagubox.gsfc.nasa.gov               Greenbelt, MD 20771

"If we increase the size of the penguin until it is the same height as a man
 and then compare the relative brain size, we know find that the penguin's
 brain is still smaller. But, and this is the point, it is larger than it WAS!"