[gentoo-user] Seagate hard drives with dual actuators.

[Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com>]

Howdy,

One of my PVs is about 83% full.  Time to add more space, soon anyway.
I try not to go past 90%.  Anyway, I was looking at hard drives and
noticed something new.  I think I saw one a while back but didn't look
into it at the time.  I'm looking at 18TB drives, right now.  Some new
Seagate drives have dual actuators.  Basically, they have two sets of
heads.  In theory, if circumstances are right, it could read data twice
as fast.  Of course, most of the time that won't be the case but it can
happen often enough to make it get data a little faster.  Even a 25% or
30% increase gives Seagate something to brag about.  Another sales tool.
 Some heavy data users wouldn't mind either.

My question is this.  Given they cost about $20 more, from what I've
found anyway, is it worth it?  Is there a downside to this new set of
heads being added?  I'm thinking a higher failure rate, more risk to
data or something like that.  I think this is a fairly new thing, last
couple years or so maybe.  We all know how some new things don't work out.

Just looking for thoughts and opinions, facts if someone has some.
Failure rate compared to single actuator drives if there is such data.
My searched didn't help me find anything useful.

Thanks.

Dale

:-)  :-)

P. S.  My greens are growing like weeds.  Usually they ready to pick by
now but having to wait for the tree to be cut down and cut up delayed
that.  Should be ready by Christmas, I hope.  Oh, planted oats, clover,
kale and some other extra seeds I had in open area.  I saw a LARGE buck
deer the other night snacking on the oats.  My neighbor would rather see
it in his freezer tho.  o_0