2007: 500 GB Spinpoint T166 (HD501LJ)
Samsung’s 2007 desktop hard drive line was the Spinpoint T166, with the number representing a 166 GB per-platter capacity. Pay attention to the model number: the HD501IJ is the 500 GB Spinpoint F1, while the T166 is called the JD501LJ. The T166 series was available at 500 GB capacity, but also at 320, 160 and 80 GB. All drives spun at 7,200 RPM, came with a Serial ATA/300 interface with NCQ support, and featured 16 MB cache memory in the case of the 500 and 320 GB models, or 8 MB cache at all four capacities. We already compared 8 MB and 16 MB cache capacities in 2007 and found little difference, so we recommend against spending additional money for the higher cache model unless the price difference is negligible.
Due to the rotation speed of 7,200 RPM, the Spinpoint T166 has a few disadvantages when compared to the newer models. On the one hand, the fast rotation speed results in lower operating shock tolerance: 63 g is specified for the T166, while the EcoGreen drives were specified to withstand 70 g. At the same time, the 10-second drive ready time at initial spinup is faster than the 12-13 seconds stated for the EcoGreen drives. Those take more time to spin up, as Samsung strives to keep startup power consumption low.
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"Most people don’t think about Samsung when they talk about hard drives"
How do you figure that?
How about you test these drives with the AAM(AUTOMATIC ACOUSTIC MANAGEMENT) turned off?
I'm pretty sure it will be quite an interesting benchmark.
Though it is a very informative article, I find the temperature measurement for the T166 (500gb) drive inconsistent with my own T166. Using SMART drive information, it runs idle at 31C. Not 45C.
Wow good article
buth i need a help too.
i wan't to buy a new HDD and i need help to decide wich form the two HDD it's the best: HE103UJ (7 years worrantin) or WD1002FBYS (8 years warrentin) :|
Someone can help me ? the hdd i will use it for storrage or for run the OS (Vista/Windows 7 x64)
I have the 2007 and 2008 model, and I want to get their 2009 1.5TB 7200RPM model at some point, as well as an SSD (possibly Samsung). I'm a bit of a storage geek, and, from where I sit, Samsung is the best storage solution.
Nice guide, handy for those looking for HDDs.
I like WD
i use western digital, simply because, i've got a sammy 1.5TB on RMA for the 4th time since i got the drive a few months ago, whereas the WD i got at the same time (a 1tb drive) is still chugging away. i've had several sammys die, never lost a WD in 5 years.
There is now a 512 gigabyte SSD from Toshiba and Super Talent.
I agree with anon, I also have had 4 Samsung drive failures. Price performance is irrelevent when reliability is compromised. I am going back to Seagates.