IBM Deskstar 40g ATA-66 HDD

[Kubie]

In the past, IBM's Deskstar HDDs were coming apart faster than you could replace them. I know, I had one.
My question is if that pertained only to 7200rpm ata100 "XP" models?

I have a 5400 rpm DTLA-305040 that is very quiet and trouble free. I have a chance to use it in a build for a friend but don't want to lose the friendship.
Can some one help with info?
TIA
Carl

[Cricket]

Hi Kubie,

I've used 6 IBM hard drives over the years...5 were 7200 RPM HDD's and one is a 5400 RPM model. All 5 7200 RPM hard drives have died and the 5400 RPM hard drive is the only IBM I have left that works. I wouldn't be surprised if your 5400 RPM model keeps running strong for a long time too.

Cricket

[Kubie]

Thank you for the input Cricket.
This drive is very quiet and smooth for being 3 years old.
I would like to have the speed of ATA100 and 7200 rpm, but I was told to put this pc together as cheap as possible.
(They are on the poor side of things)

Carl

[HAL9000]

I have a 20GB that was originally in my home machine... but is now in my work machine... approaching 4 years old... no probs.

Kubester... does this apply to you?

[Kubie]

Hal,

It would have applied to me over a year ago when my 30gig 7200rpm ate the frog.
Mine just got noisier and noisier. I ran the Disk Fitness floppy and it said "Excessive Shock". This was after running for 15 months just fine.
The drive is history and not here.

Carl

[glc]

The 75GXP is the series that gave them the name "Deathstar". My 7200 rpm 20 gig ATA66 34GXP is working fine.

[RJ]

Both my 60GXP and 120GXP died and I had to RMA them.

RJ

[Kubie]

Thats good enough for me fellas. I'll install the IBM and I believe it will give them good service.
Thanks for all the replies.
Carl

[Blakhart]

Just warn them.

[glc]

That's a 40GV series drive, those are reliable.

[Blakhart]

Regardless of its name, the technology used in them is the same. From the way it stores track data in a chip after powerup, to the glass platters used in the disk. I suspect that the slower rpm models may be best, reliabilty-wise, but some have had the faster ones without trouble for years. Keeping them cool is always a good idea. The trouble often comes from power failures of any nature, along with shutdown before the hdd has written the data back to the disk needed for the next startup. This drive may well need a ups. Ok any drive can use a ups.
Some thoughts for ya.

[glc]

Hmm - further research says that this drive is actually ATA100, and is essentially a 5400 rpm version of the 75GXP with 512kb cache instead of 2mb............better warn him. Those are glass platters.