HD Vs. CF Card: Load/Save Times

Could someone help me get a final answer here? I spent some time searching, but found conflicting opinions. I want some actual numbers!

Here's what I propose for a test:

1) Large file Test: Load/record a very long sample, 10 MB or so. Save it to both CF card and HD, and time each. Then load from both CF card and HD, and time each.

2) Multiple file Test: Time the saving of a program and multiple small samples to both CF Card and HD. Then compare the time it takes to load the same program and multiple short sample files from CF card and HD.

I'll probably install a HD eventually, but only if it's as fast or faster overall than the CF card. Very curious, thanks in advance!

i think your looking at this all wrong. the hdd option is not for speed. although it is very comparable to the cf. its not faster because its two different tech's. but its a convenience. if you only have 2gb of work then you havent really done much with your mpc. i have 10gb of just samples and sounds. and i have compiled that myself. i dont own a single sample cd. my advice would be focus on your work. and when you find your limitation of the cf to be a hinder. then buy the dard drive.

Thanks for the advice... although that came off very condescending. Please don't make assumptions about my experience based on the fact that I'm using CF cards.

Will someone step up and put the speed question to rest?

HD is problably 2-3 times faster .. This is true with most samplers...

MPZ60,

2-3 times faster?? Do you have a 1000/2500 with a HD? I would love some actual numbers...

http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~greg/CFbench.html

should give you a rough idea, though the 2.5" hard drive in the MPC is only going to be 4800 or 5400 rpm, not 7200 so the hard drive figures will be off.

as far as real-world MPC usage goes though, I doubt you're going to notice a difference. I don't

DVS01,

Interesting link... but this data is for a standard PC! An MPC won't address either medium as fast as a PC would, due to the weaker processor, connection types, who knows...

Will you consider dong the tests I wrote in my first post? It would only take a minute and give us a final answer...