Just as in the previous PATA chart, we are also taking a close look at our Serial ATA drives and determining exactly which models and capacities offer the best overall value. We do this through the tried-and-true method of determining hard drive value, or "price per GB", which is then used as a sorting criteria to ensure the best $/GB deals rise to the top. Of course, no method is foolproof, and other factors like performance or features certainly come into play, but it does give us a different view on which brands, speeds and capacities offer the best bang for the buck.
The Serial ATA value chart continues the same trends as we found with PATA hard drives, with the 250GB to 320GB hard drive range offering the best overall value, and remaining the place to get the best SATA bang for your buck. In July, this drive range accounted for the top fourteen drive values, a drop of one compared to June. The top drive value this month is the Samsung SpinPoint 250GB, although the impressive Seagate 7200.10 320GB is not far behind. At the other end of the scale, we find the Western Digital Raptor drives sit in their usual position at the bottom of the chart, as this line of high-end 10K RPM drives has always been about pure performance and reliability, not value.