Write to hard drive speed

[Digiface]

How fast data can be writed to hard disk, so it still is safe? I mean can fast downloading speed (i.e 500kB/s) do damage/harm to hard drive?

[niknik]

Don't worry about it, HD are prepared to handle both "streamed" data as well as "bulk" writes.
More so, data usually goes through several layers of cache before it reaches the actual physycal disc plates:
1) the downloading program usually caches the data, and only writes it to the disk when it reaches a set value (for instance, 8Mbytes).
2) The operating system also caches the data, to maximized efficiency when writing to the disk
3) The hard disk itself also has an internal cache to the same effect.

Besides, regular HDs can handle 20-40Mbytes of data per second.

[check]

More like 50+mbytes :) My four hard drives (the oldest being a WD 250gb 4mb cache PATA) all clock in between 65 and 85mbytes/sec.

In other words, your download speed, whether in bits or bytes is totally miniscule compared to the drive's ability.

[Digiface]

Thanks for answers!