Myth #61 : |
Using an AV-optimized hard disk drive in a desktop / server can cause data corruption. |
Truth : |
It's ironic but we are the creators of a HDD myth ourselves! In our AV-optimized hard disk drive reviews, we mentioned that the new ATA Streaming commands would skip error correction or even reads and writes if they were taking too long to complete. This is an intentional feature of the ATA Streaming command set because it allows for the smooth streaming of video and audio streams for the loss of a few pixels. The confusion about whether these features would affect the proper recording of files in a desktop or server was further compounded by Western Digital's clarification of the time limit for error correction in their AV-GP drives. Well, we are no longer confused now. All those features are present in AV-optimized drives, and work as we described. However, they are only enabled and used in systems that are specifically designed to use the ATA Streaming commands, e.g. CCTV systems. The SATA controllers used in desktop and server will not use these ATA Streaming commands and are therefore not be affected by these features. For more information, please take a look at our article on this issue - AV-Optimized Hard Disk Drives Are Safe To Use. You can also take a look at the performance comparison of two AV-optimized drives and their desktop analogues. |
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Myth #62 : |
You cannot boot off GPT-formatted hard disk drives if you are using Microsoft Windows. |
Truth : |
This is only true for 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows. As a rule of thumb, most users are advised to just stick to MBR, as superior as GPT is. If you are using a 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows, you can actually boot off GPT-formatted drives, albeit with two caveats :
So while this myth may be true in the past, it is no longer true with the advent of UEFI-enabled computers and the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows Vista. For more details on GPT versus MBR, please take a look at our article - Should You Select MBR Or GPT When You Install A New Drive? |
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Myth #63 : |
Vacuuming the insides of your computer will fry the hard disk drive and other components. |
Truth : |
This myth has been circulating around since 2005 but we missed it, for some reason. Basically, the premise is that when you use a vacuum cleaner to suck away the dust inside your computer case, the dust particles will generate static electricity as they get sucked away, killing the hard disk drive and other sensitive components inside the computer. The short version is that they have been needlessly worrying about nothing at all. Vacuuming inside your computer case isn't going to fry the hard disk drive or any component inside the case. There are also those who claim that the damage is wrought by the plastic vacuum tubing (usually made from PVC) when it touches the electronics. That's when an electrostatic discharge (or shock) happens, killing the electronics with the static charge accumulated from the dust that travels through the tubing. Well, that's not going to happen either. If you don't believe us, take a look at the Static Cannon test in Episode 20 of MythBusters, where they blasted sand blasted a PVC pipe to try and generate static electricity. They discovered that even a prodigious amount of sand blasting through a PVC pipe did not generate any static electricity. In some versions of this myth, use of "canned air" or "air dusters" is advocated as a safer choice. We would recommend that you do not, because most canned air dusters use fluorocarbon gases that may be potent greenhouse gases, unless they are specifically labelled as "ozone-friendly" or "Zero ODP". Canned air dusters also have a bitterant added, which leaves a residue on whatever it's sprayed on. |
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Myth #64 : |
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Truth : |
Ever since the first Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD) appeared, some users assumed it was a type of solid state drive (SSD) and was therefore impervious to vibration and shock. Needless to say, they were rudely awakened to the fact that it isn't a type of solid state drive. The SSHD is a hard disk drive with a solid state cache. Therefore, it is every bit as sensitive to shock and vibration as any regular hard disk drive. In fact, if you check the specifications of SSHDs, you will notice that they have the same shock and vibration ratings as regular hard disk drives. In short, if you are using an SSHD, please treat it as you would a hard disk drive - with great care. |
Myth #65 : |
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Truth : |
This myth is again based on the (wrong) perception that the Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD) is a type of solid state drive (SSD). You can blame the catchy but ambiguous name for that. Because SSHDs are a combination of a regular hard disk drive with a large SSD cache, they actually have more points of failure. If either component (SSD or HDD) fails, the entire drive fails. In fact, the SSHD has an additional lifespan limitation that the HDD does not - the number of writes the flash memory cells in the SSD cache can support before they "die". In addition, the SSD cache itself imposes additional thermal load on the HDD, which could affect its long-term reliability, especially in the tight confines of a notebook. Now, SSHDs are a great way to get pseudo-SSD performance without shelling out top dollar for an SSD, or living with limited storage capacity. Take a look at our review of the 1 TB Seagate Laptop SSHD, for example. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that they are more reliable than regular hard disk drives. |
That's It For Now!
Even though this guide already lists over 60 myths, it is still a work in progress. I will add more to this guide whenever I come upon any interesting myths about hard disk drives. If you have any hard disk drive myth you would like to see debunked, tell us!
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