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, and the 250GB to 320GB hard drive range continue to offer the best overall value, and represent the best SATA bang for your buck. These accounted for the top thirteen SATA drive values in September, which is a repeat of August's performance. The lowest $/GB rating is still 30-cents, and we have three drives that qualify: the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB, the Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB, and the Samsung SpinPoint 250GB. 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.