Competition in the storage market is getting heated. This is indicated by the release of a new model, low-powered, and high capacity hard disk. Just like a hard disk that comes to our testing table.
Hard disks that came was Samsung EcoGreen F4 HD204UI. This hard disk is a Samsung solution in Green Computing. Capacity that we get is a 2 TB disk that has 5400 RPM of rotary speed and 32 MB cache. Interface used was still using the SATA 3 Gbps or the second generation. A hard disk is not yet require a 6 Gbps SATA interface because there is currently no hard disk that can reach the upper limit of the first-generation SATA speeds.
SATA II controllers that Samsung used is a Marvell-made chipset. Then, what about the performance of this low-powered class hard disk? Can it compete with those hard disk that already exist in the market?
Unexpectedly, it turns out that Samsung which only has a rotation speed of 5400 RPM is able to run on 100 MB/s!
One weakness that Samsung EcoGreen had is the random data transfer performance. At least, that’s what was reported by I/O Meter.
Results which are presented by Crystal Disk Mark is also no different from the two previous benchmark. This hard disk is reliable in the sequential performance, although slightly slower in its random performance.
When tested using PCMark 7, Samsung EcoGreen indeed was behind the benchmark one.
In the real-world performance, this hard disk is able to compete with other low-powered hard disks on the market. Slightly lower performance can be seen from the transfer of small files to the HDD.
Speaking of performance, this hard disk is fast on all factors except one thing, random write. Sequential performance that it had even close to the speed of a fast class hard disk. This makes Samsung EcoGreen F4 is very suitable to be your data hard disk.
Because of suitable for being data hard disk, of course, it can be used for any kind of needs, from home to office needs. You’re the ones who using the NAS, can get benefit from high performance and low enough temperature. However, for the needs of the use in running operating system, although its performance is qualified, you should use a hard disk of a higher class.
Good Points:
+ High sequential performance on 5400 RPM.
+ The Temperature is not too hot
Weakness:
- Random performance is slightly below its competitors.
Technical Data
Hard disks that came was Samsung EcoGreen F4 HD204UI. This hard disk is a Samsung solution in Green Computing. Capacity that we get is a 2 TB disk that has 5400 RPM of rotary speed and 32 MB cache. Interface used was still using the SATA 3 Gbps or the second generation. A hard disk is not yet require a 6 Gbps SATA interface because there is currently no hard disk that can reach the upper limit of the first-generation SATA speeds.
SATA II controllers that Samsung used is a Marvell-made chipset. Then, what about the performance of this low-powered class hard disk? Can it compete with those hard disk that already exist in the market?
Testing Platform
- Motherboard: Intel H67 LGA 1155
- Processor: Intel Core i3 2100 3,1 GHz
- RAM: Kingston DDR3 8 GB
- Storage: Kingston SSD V+100 64 GB
- Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 5550
- Power Supply: CoolerMaster GX 550 Watt
- Input Device: Genius Keyboard and Mouse
- Monitor: 18,5 inch LCD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 64 bit
Testing
HDTune
Unexpectedly, it turns out that Samsung which only has a rotation speed of 5400 RPM is able to run on 100 MB/s!
I/O Meter
One weakness that Samsung EcoGreen had is the random data transfer performance. At least, that’s what was reported by I/O Meter.
Crystal Disk Mark
Results which are presented by Crystal Disk Mark is also no different from the two previous benchmark. This hard disk is reliable in the sequential performance, although slightly slower in its random performance.
PCMark 7
When tested using PCMark 7, Samsung EcoGreen indeed was behind the benchmark one.
Transfer Test
In the real-world performance, this hard disk is able to compete with other low-powered hard disks on the market. Slightly lower performance can be seen from the transfer of small files to the HDD.
Conclusion
Competition in the market of low-powered hard disk will increasingly heated by the presence of Samsung EcoGreenF4. 5400 RPM of Rotary speed makes your hard disk working at a lower temperature (at least that’s what we found when testing time). In addition, the performance result of the hard disk turned out pretty good, it can even be a threat to its competitors.Speaking of performance, this hard disk is fast on all factors except one thing, random write. Sequential performance that it had even close to the speed of a fast class hard disk. This makes Samsung EcoGreen F4 is very suitable to be your data hard disk.
Because of suitable for being data hard disk, of course, it can be used for any kind of needs, from home to office needs. You’re the ones who using the NAS, can get benefit from high performance and low enough temperature. However, for the needs of the use in running operating system, although its performance is qualified, you should use a hard disk of a higher class.
Good Points:
+ High sequential performance on 5400 RPM.
+ The Temperature is not too hot
Weakness:
- Random performance is slightly below its competitors.
Technical Data
| Producer | Samsung |
| Info | http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/ |
| Price | – |
| Distributor | Eternal Asia |
| Telephone | — |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Rotation | 5400 RPM |
| Interface | SATA 3 Gbps |
