How to know hard drive transfer rate?

baldmonk · baldmonk #1 (**permalink**)

10-22-2007, 04:29 AM

Hi there,

This is a noobee query! I've got this mac pro in the studio.
It has fcp on it patched through aja kona LH.
Memory is internal only. No RAID. That is a problem if i want to capture or record video if the hard drvie doesnt have the high transfer rate required for uncompressed 10 bit.

How do i check the transfer rate of my internal drive.
In the info it says
Serial ATA: Intel ESB2 AHCI
Speed: 3.0 Gigabit

What does it tell about transfer rate? Is there any other place i should check?

Appreciate ur help.

Thanks!

goobimama · goobimama #2 (**permalink**)

10-22-2007, 05:22 AM

Go to the Activity Monitor and the HDD tab. I don't think it's the most accurate way to know things though....

mac57 · mac57 #3 (**permalink**)

10-24-2007, 12:36 AM

If you are willing to spend a little money, you could get SpeedTools:

http://www.intechusa.com/

The honest truth is I bought this package for this very reason: I wanted to benchmark the hard drive performance and I couldn't find any other way. I was very pleased with the results.

Of course SpeedTools comes with TONS of other goodies. Have a look at the above link. I would heartily recommend it.

Oh.... and WELCOME to Mac Forums!!!

baldmonk · baldmonk #4 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 02:17 AM

Thanks mac57!

Unfortunately I will need to check the spec with what I have for now.

FCP manual says Serial ATA has theoretical data throughput limit of 150 MB/sec. I wonder if it means I can capture Uncompressed SD video (24 MB/sec) safely?
Trouble is, the Digibeta VTR hasn't arrived yet, so can't try it out!

Any inputs much appreciated!

goobimama · goobimama #5 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 06:13 AM

I get a steady 33mBps of data transfer from my WD MyBook firewire400 external drive. The maximum should be 50MBps for firewire400 and 100mBps for firewire800. I don't think any 'normal' drive touches those speeds. 24mBps is within safe limits...

Though you can forget about these kind of transfers on USB....

andrebnu · andrebnu #6 (**permalink**)

10-25-2007, 08:14 PM

there's actually a free option called MBBench

andrebnu #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 18, 2007 Location: Blumenau, Brazil Posts: 280 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 2,33GHz C2D 2GB RAM 256MB video + LCD Samsung 20" 206BW + Maxtor OneTouch III 500GB	10-25-2007, 08:14 PM there's actually a free option called MBBench If you believe you can do something, you can. If you don't think you can do it, you can't. Either way, you're right!
	QUOTE Thanks

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baldmonk #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 2	10-22-2007, 04:29 AM Hi there, This is a noobee query! I've got this mac pro in the studio. It has fcp on it patched through aja kona LH. Memory is internal only. No RAID. That is a problem if i want to capture or record video if the hard drvie doesnt have the high transfer rate required for uncompressed 10 bit. How do i check the transfer rate of my internal drive. In the info it says Serial ATA: Intel ESB2 AHCI Speed: 3.0 Gigabit What does it tell about transfer rate? Is there any other place i should check? Appreciate ur help. Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

goobimama #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 28, 2006 Posts: 2,542 Mac Specs: iMac Core Duo 20", iBook G4, iPhone 8GB :)	10-22-2007, 05:22 AM Go to the Activity Monitor and the HDD tab. I don't think it's the most accurate way to know things though....
	QUOTE Thanks

baldmonk #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 2	10-25-2007, 02:17 AM Thanks mac57! Unfortunately I will need to check the spec with what I have for now. FCP manual says Serial ATA has theoretical data throughput limit of 150 MB/sec. I wonder if it means I can capture Uncompressed SD video (24 MB/sec) safely? Trouble is, the Digibeta VTR hasn't arrived yet, so can't try it out! Any inputs much appreciated!
	QUOTE Thanks

goobimama #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 28, 2006 Posts: 2,542 Mac Specs: iMac Core Duo 20", iBook G4, iPhone 8GB :)	10-25-2007, 06:13 AM I get a steady 33mBps of data transfer from my WD MyBook firewire400 external drive. The maximum should be 50MBps for firewire400 and 100mBps for firewire800. I don't think any 'normal' drive touches those speeds. 24mBps is within safe limits... Though you can forget about these kind of transfers on USB....
	QUOTE Thanks

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