Comparing: Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT012-9WS14C vs LITE-ON LST-16S9G 16GB

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About Hardware Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT012-9WS14C

Seagate ST320LT012-9WS14C is a 320GB capacity hard disk drive (HDD) with a slim 2.5-inch form factor, ideal for laptops, notebooks and other portable systems. Designed using a SATA II (3Gbps) interface and a rotation speed of 5400 RPM, this HDD emphasizes power efficiency and quieter operation compared to higher-speed HDDs.

It uses 1 platter and 2 read/write heads, a common configuration for 320GB capacity, with light weight and low power consumption-suitable for mobile devices. Equipped with 16MB of buffer cache, its performance is sufficient for daily tasks such as saving documents, running light applications, or storing multimedia files.

This Seagate ST320LT012-9WS14C performance test was conducted using an HP 1000 1b05AU laptop that still relies on 4GB DDR3 Single Channel RAM with two DIMM slots. The operating system used during the test was Windows 7 64-bit, which is a typical environment for entry-level laptops in this era of HDD usage. The hardware combination reflects the real usage scenarios of older generation laptop users who still rely on mechanical hard disks as the primary storage medium.

In tests using CrystalDiskMark benchmark software, the Seagate ST320LT012-9WS14C hard disk recorded a fairly stable performance for the 5400 RPM HDD class. The sequential read speed reached 84.67 MB/s, while the sequential write speed stood at 83.84 MB/s. These results show that despite being an older generation HDD with modest specifications, its performance is still adequate for everyday light computing needs such as document storage and media playback.

Although its performance falls short of modern SSDs, the Seagate ST320LT012-9WS14C remains a reliable and cost-effective choice for users who need additional internal storage on older laptops, educational systems, or as external media (with a USB case). Its compact size and low power consumption also make it suitable for use in netbooks and other energy-efficient devices.

Device Test:

Device: HP 1000 1b05au
RAM: 4GB DDR3 Single Channel 2 DIMM
OS: Windows 7

Wednesday, 26 December 2012 14:27:32 | Update: 1 month ago

About Hardware LITE-ON LST-16S9G 16GB

The LITE-ON LST-16S9G 16GB M.2 SATA is a compact solid-state drive designed to meet the storage needs of devices with limited space, such as mini PCs, older laptops, or embedded systems. With an M.2 2242 form factor and a SATA III 6Gbps interface, this SSD delivers sufficient performance for basic needs, particularly as a boot drive or operating system medium. Despite its 16GB capacity, its internal components are of decent quality for an entry-level class.

This SSD uses the TOSHIBA TH58TEG7DDK8A4C NAND flash chip, known for its durability and stability, combined with SK hynix's DRAM cache (H5TQ1G63EFR) featuring 1GB DDR3 SDRAM specifications—a rare find in SSDs of its class. The use of the Silicon Motion SM2246EN controller adds further value, as it is widely recognized in the SSD world as a reliable and efficient controller for handling light to moderate read/write tasks. This combination makes the LITE-ON LST-16S9G sufficiently capable for tasks such as booting, running a lightweight OS, or storing system configurations.

Performance testing was conducted on a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 14ITL6 device with 12GB DDR4 dual-channel RAM and the Windows 11 22H2 operating system. The SSD was installed via an M.2 SATA-to-SATA adapter and connected via a USB 3.0 enclosure. Test results showed sequential read speeds of 280MB/s and write speeds of 45MB/s on the CrystalDiskMark benchmark, while AS SSD recorded read speeds of 279MB/s and write speeds of approximately 41.67MB/s. This performance is stable and consistent with the characteristics of a SATA SSD in the low-capacity class, although the write speed is relatively slow for large file transfers.

Despite its limitations, such as limited storage capacity and low write speeds, the LITE-ON LST-16S9G remains an attractive option for users needing a small SSD for specific purposes. It is suitable for use in lightweight operating systems like Linux, custom devices like routers or media players, and as an upgrade solution from an HDD in older systems that only require improved boot speeds and basic application responsiveness. With its generally affordable price and high-quality internal components, this SSD can be a cost-effective yet functional alternative in the world of digital storage.

Device Test (testbed) :

Adapter: M.2 SATA to SATA -> SATA to USB 3.0 (HDD Enclosure)
Device: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 14ITL6
CPU: i5-1135G7
RAM: 12GB DDR4 3200MHz Dual Channel (8+4)
OS: Windows 11 22H2

* I have tested this hardware in used condition, so its performance may have deteriorated.

Monday, 30 June 2025 20:45:05 | Update: 2 weeks ago