Comparing: DDR3 SODIMM 1066MHz [Disk] vs TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100

Specification Comparison Table

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About Hardware DDR3 SODIMM 1066MHz [Disk]

DDR3 SODIMM 1066MHz is a third-generation memory module with a speed of 1066MHz that is commonly used in laptops and small devices. With the SODIMM form factor, these modules are often the standard choice for mobile computing systems, serving as the main memory for running operating systems, applications, and light to medium multitasking processes.

However, in this particular experiment, two 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM modules from Micron and ADATA (2GB capacity each) were uniquely configured as a RAMDisk, a temporary storage space that uses RAM capacity to simulate a storage drive with much higher access speeds than SSDs or HDDs.

The 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM-based RAMDisk test was conducted on an HP 1000 1b05au laptop device, powered by an AMD E1-1200 processor. The system is equipped with a 2x2GB DDR3 SODIMM 1600MHz RAM configuration, but due to processor architecture limitations, the memory only runs in single channel mode with an effective speed of 1066MHz. The operating system used is Windows 7, and to create and manage the RAMDisk, two popular applications, SoftPerfect RAMDisk and ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver, were used. The configured RAMDisk size was 2GB, utilizing some of the available RAM capacity.

Even though the device specifications are old and have limited memory bandwidth, the RAMDisk configured in this system was still able to show excellent performance in the read and write speed benchmarks. Based on tests using CrystalDiskMark, the read speed reached 746.24 MB/s, while the write speed touched 828.18 MB/s. In a follow-up test using ATTO Disk Benchmark with a 64MB block size, the read speed increased to 1020.00 MB/s, and the write speed reached 1080.00 MB/s. These results prove that even on older systems, RAMDisk configurations are still capable of delivering very high I/O performance, far surpassing conventional storage such as HDDs or even some SSDs.

Analysis

The results show that a 1066MHz DDR3-based RAMDisk is still capable of delivering data transfer speeds on par with entry-level NVMe SSDs, even outperforming many SATA SSDs and leaving conventional HDDs far behind. This makes RAMDisks an ideal solution for temporary use such as:

• Application caching,
• Temporary file storage,
• Fast computing with high I/O,
• Software or script testing without the risk of contaminating the main file system.

Although limited to a small capacity (2GB in this test), RAMDisk is still very useful for specific needs, especially for users with more than enough RAM or older devices that want to maximize their performance.

Test on:

Device: HP 1000 1b05au
Specs: 
CPU: AMD E1-1200
OS: Windows 7
RAM: 2x2GB Single Channel 2 DIMM 1066MHz (Does not support dual channel due to limitations of the CPU, currently running single channel mode and 1066MHz)

Wednesday, 26 December 2012 14:27:32 | Update: 2 weeks ago

About Hardware TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100

The TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100 is a 1TB hard disk drive (HDD) designed to meet the storage needs of laptops, external enclosures, and other compact computing devices. Featuring a 2.5-inch form factor and 3Gbps SATA II interface, this HDD offers a balanced combination of large capacity, power efficiency, and reliable performance for various daily use scenarios.

With a rotation speed of 5400 RPM and a buffer cache of 8MB, the TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100 provides a fairly smooth usage experience for activities such as storing multimedia files, installing lightweight applications, or as a backup storage medium. The internal design of this HDD consists of 2 platters and 4 read/write heads, which is technically capable of maintaining stable performance as well as energy efficiency. The HDD is also designed with a low noise level, making it ideal for portable systems or devices that prioritize comfort of use.

In performance testing using a USB 3.0 enclosure connected to a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 14ITL6 laptop (Intel i5-1135G7 CPU, 12GB DDR4 dual channel RAM, Windows 10 and Windows 11 22H2 OS), the drive recorded CrystalDiskMark scores of 104.88 MB/s read and 103.59 MB/s write speeds. These figures are quite representative for a 5400 RPM spinning HDD running over a SATA II interface in an external environment via USB 3.1 Gen 1.

Equipped with Toshiba's shock resistance and reputation for reliability, the MQ01ABD100 is a cost-effective storage solution that is perfect for users who need a large space for files, data backup, or external media. While not a top choice for high-performance like SSDs, this HDD is still a standout in terms of capacity and durability for long-term use.

As such, the TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100 is a solid option for older laptop users, external enclosure users, and anyone who needs large capacity with low power consumption and an affordable price.

Device test (testbed):

Device: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 14ITL6 (using HDD Enclosure USB 3.0)
CPU: i5 1135G7
USB: USB 3.1 Gen 1
RAM: 12GB DDR4 3200MHz Dual Channel (8+4)
OS: Windows 10, Windows 11 22H2

Tuesday, 24 October 2023 17:29:45 | Update: 2 weeks ago