WinBench 99 measures the WD800BB's
access time at 13.3 milliseconds. Subtracting the standard 4.2 milliseconds of
rotational latency yields a measured
seek time of 9.1 milliseconds. Though this is still a hair off of WD's claimed 8.9 ms spec, we should note that this represents a significant reduction from
WD400BB's score... this despite increased
density and an extra
platter.
Despite its high density, the 800BB's outer-zone transfer rate tops out at just 34.9 MB/sec. This figure is lower than all 20 gig/platter drives save WD's own. To the drive's credit, however, it maintains transfer rates above 34 MB/sec over more than half of its capacity, all the way to the 42 gig point. Inner-track rates finish at a respectable 24.1 MB/sec.
WinMarks...
