http://media.hardwareanalysis.com/articles/small/10292.gif" alt="Sustained Transfer Rate" border=0>
This graph shows sustained transfer rates at both the beginning and end of the data area. Transfer rates are higher at the beginning of the data area (outside of the platter) than at the end (inside of the platter), because the platter has a constant angular velocity, and therefore a higher linear velocity nearer to the outer edge.

Again, no extrapolation is necessary here. Neither of these drives are able to sustain a transfer rate much greater than 40 MB/s, so the ATA-133 standard isn't likely to have an impact here. Likewise, using the controller card versus the on-board IDE channels did not affect sustained transfer rates in any way.

Notice again, though, that the D740X soundly outperforms the previous generation drive. Improvements in both beginning and end transfer rates are on the order of 15%.