Test Methodlogy - Page 1

- Introduction

This article has the propose to explain how our tests are performed and give some additional information that doesn't covered at our hardware reviews. Our main interest when designing the test platform was to have the ultimate performance among with the higher stability. The tests of hard disks is complicated issue and our tests try to unveile each drive's performance and any possible problems.

- Test Machine

For our tests we chosen Intel's P4 platform. Our test machine assempled from the following parts

- MotherBoard: AOpen AX4B Pro
- CPU: P4 at 1.5Ghz
- Memory: 512MB DDR266
- CPU Cooler: AOpen AC715E
- SVGA: AOpen GF3-DV
- Case: AOpen H600A (400W)
- Mouse: AOpen W-23G
- Network: AOpen AON-325
- Sound: AOpen AW320
- SCSI Controller: Adaptec 29160 (firmware 3.10)
- Promise ATA133 Controller
- CD-RW Drive: AOpen CRW3248 (firmware 1.00)
- DVD+RW: AOpen RW5120A (firmware 1.37)
- FireWire Card (IEE1394)

All tests are performed under WinXP Pro operating system with all latest fixes/patches. All disks are installed as MASTER in the secondary IDE Bus. At the Primary IDE Bus IBM's DTLA 30730 (ATA100) disk is being used. All tested drives are logical fixed drives ,under DOS 6.22, with Fdisk command. No partitions are specified. All cables are ATA66/100/133 certified in order to have the maximum performance.