jeb1138
Carioca
Tom's Hardware Guide released a Firewire/USB 2.0 harddrive performance comparison today. For those not familar with Tom's Hardware Guide -- it is a very good, well-respected hardware performance site.
The good news: Firewire still whomps on USB 2.0! OK, maybe not exactly whomps, but beats at least. The Western Digital firewire drive beats the USB 2.0 drive on every test and has a lower CPU utilization as well. The Maxtor firewire drive doesn't do so well, but still performs respectably.
The bad news: ummm....bad news?
Only three drives were tested (and one USB 1.1) so this isn't the analysis to end all analyses, but it confirms the fact that firewire will hold its ground against USB 2.0 and is, as Tom's Guide says, "the clear choice" for real-time data storage applications, such as digital video.
And to think that Apple invented firewire 12 years ago, with commercial devices out the door 7 years ago. In defense of USB 2.0: it is slightly cheaper. But it also doesn't cut it for some applications, and when Gigawire arrives (soon?) Firewire is bound to drop in price, ain't it?
...mmmm....thinking about Gigawire....
The good news: Firewire still whomps on USB 2.0! OK, maybe not exactly whomps, but beats at least. The Western Digital firewire drive beats the USB 2.0 drive on every test and has a lower CPU utilization as well. The Maxtor firewire drive doesn't do so well, but still performs respectably.
The bad news: ummm....bad news?
Only three drives were tested (and one USB 1.1) so this isn't the analysis to end all analyses, but it confirms the fact that firewire will hold its ground against USB 2.0 and is, as Tom's Guide says, "the clear choice" for real-time data storage applications, such as digital video.
And to think that Apple invented firewire 12 years ago, with commercial devices out the door 7 years ago. In defense of USB 2.0: it is slightly cheaper. But it also doesn't cut it for some applications, and when Gigawire arrives (soon?) Firewire is bound to drop in price, ain't it?
...mmmm....thinking about Gigawire....