Author Topic: Laptop hard drive... 5400 or 7200 ? (Read 76,224 times)

Darwin · « **Reply #50 on:** December 30, 2007, 05:48 AM »

Thanks Vegas, that does help! Darwin begins scheming...

Armando · « **Reply #51 on:** December 30, 2007, 05:47 PM »

Thanks for the info vegas!

Armando · « **Reply #52 on:** January 11, 2008, 11:38 PM »

As I suggested before, I finally got the Hitachi Travelstar 7K2000 200GB ((HTS722020K9SA00)

Data transfer went without a hitch-- I think it took about 3 hours (didn't find any precise log info about the whole operation) with True Image to clone about 78 GB of data (the Hitachi was in an external enclosure and plugged via USB). Of course, when I finally put the Hitachi in my laptop, it just booted normally as if nothing ever happened... Well, almost.

- Speed HAS improved, although not as much as I thought (especially for backups and indexing -- understandably since there many other factors involved here) : loading huge documents, databases, bringing the computer out of hibernation, etc. is faster. Maybe, what... 30% faster ?

- Temperature is about the same (maybe 1C more),

- A bit more noisy it seems (nothing to complain about though),

- And, mush more space.

I must say I'm happy overall.

wraith808 · « **Reply #53 on:** January 15, 2008, 12:17 AM »

I would also add that it depends on price... the jump between 5400 and 7200 can be daunting. But if price is no issue, the 7200 will always be better. I made the jump on mine because of gaming, and it made almost as much of a difference as my memory upgrade!

Darwin · « **Reply #54 on:** January 15, 2008, 12:42 AM »

Oh... there you go again, tempting (tormenting) me! However, I am saved by the the fact that my notebook features a PATA interface, and the new 5400 rpm Samsungs and the latest generation Seagates, Toshiba and Hitachi 7200 rpm drives are all SATA only. Vegas, you note that you have a new Seagate 7200 rpm drive but that it is ATA100/PATA interface, correct? What model is it? Curiosity is killing me (or at least is going to seriously dent my bank account

).

Lashiec · « **Reply #55 on:** January 15, 2008, 03:28 PM »

Darwin, did you get permission from your wife to buy that second monitor?

Darwin · « **Reply #56 on:** January 15, 2008, 06:21 PM »

Quote from: Lashiec on January 15, 2008, 03:28 PM

Darwin, did you get permission from your wife to buy that second monitor?

Yes! But I didn't bother... I have an Intel integrated graphics card in an old Centrino notebook and I decided that for now I'm not interested in splitting the 64MB of shared memory between the two displays. I mean, I'm sure it would work, but I figure there's not much point getting an expensive secondary monitor until I've verified that it will work! I'm too lazy to go 10 minutes up the street and plug my friend's Samsung monitor into my notebook to see what happens.

PPLandry · « **Reply #57 on:** January 15, 2008, 08:15 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on January 15, 2008, 06:21 PM

Yes! But I didn't bother... I have an Intel integrated graphics card in an old Centrino notebook and I decided that for now I'm not interested in splitting the 64MB of shared memory between the two displays. I mean, I'm sure it would work, but I figure there's not much point getting an expensive secondary monitor until I've verified that it will work! I'm too lazy to go 10 minutes up the street and plug my friend's Samsung monitor into my notebook to see what happens.

I have a 4 year old centrino with integrated graphics and I can guarantee you that working on dual-monitors is beautiful (64MB is plenty unless you're doing games. My laptop has 1400x1050=1.5Mpix, the external has 1600x1200=1.9Mpix. Total is 3.4Mpix. At 32bit per pixel, that comes to a total of 14 MB... well under your 64MB). I saw not difference in performance, Windows manages dual screen beautifully, and that 21" samsung 204B is wonderful in landscape and portrait mode.

Darwin · « **Reply #58 on:** January 15, 2008, 08:21 PM »

Pierre - your parents should have called you "Eve"

Just when I thought it was safe to enter an electronics store, too...

PPLandry · « **Reply #59 on:** January 15, 2008, 09:07 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on January 15, 2008, 08:21 PM

Pierre - your parents should have called you "Eve" Just when I thought it was safe to enter an electronics store, too...

And I do love apples

tomos · « **Reply #60 on:** January 15, 2008, 09:56 PM »

ahhhh...
it's one of those

I love donationcoder

days

Darwin · « **Reply #61 on:** January 15, 2008, 11:56 PM »

Quote from: PPLandry on January 15, 2008, 09:07 PM

Quote from: Darwin on January 15, 2008, 08:21 PM
Pierre - your parents should have called you "Eve" Just when I thought it was safe to enter an electronics store, too...
And I do love apples

vegas · « **Reply #62 on:** January 16, 2008, 02:39 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on January 15, 2008, 12:42 AM

Oh... there you go again, tempting (tormenting) me! However, I am saved by the the fact that my notebook features a PATA interface, and the new 5400 rpm Samsungs and the latest generation Seagates, Toshiba and Hitachi 7200 rpm drives are all SATA only. Vegas, you note that you have a new Seagate 7200 rpm drive but that it is ATA100/PATA interface, correct? What model is it? Curiosity is killing me (or at least is going to seriously dent my bank account ).

My model is the Seagate Momentus 7200.1 ST910021A 100GB 7200 RPM ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive for $109 @ NewEgg. Now a discontinued item (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822146230), but I would imagine similar performance from later revisions or competing models, reviews permitting.

Darwin · « **Reply #63 on:** January 16, 2008, 03:01 PM »

Thanks Vegas! That answers both (related) questions... Sadly, I HAVE that drive, but a SATA. I ordered it in haste without checking the connection and it now sits in an enclosure...

The price of the 7200.1 drives is dropping all the time, perhaps I'll try one.

vegas · « **Reply #64 on:** January 16, 2008, 03:11 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on January 16, 2008, 03:01 PM

Thanks Vegas! That answers both (related) questions... Sadly, I HAVE that drive, but a SATA. I ordered it in haste without checking the connection and it now sits in an enclosure...

The price of the 7200.1 drives is dropping all the time, perhaps I'll try one.

Have you tried returning it? NewEgg is quite flexible on their returns policy, especially if you have been a customer for a while, also if you call to speak with a representative. Worth a try if you don't want the SATA version.

Darwin · « **Reply #65 on:** January 17, 2008, 10:33 PM »

I can't return it - I bought it at either TigerDirect or NCIX for about $80, open box, and they WON'T take returns on such merchandise. I wouldn't mind that much except that it is almost useless as an external harddrive. My 5400 rpm ATA units are fine but this one is almost impossible to get power to (via a powered hub) and get recognised by Windows

So, I don't acutally use it...

lanux128 · « **Reply #66 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:00 AM »

pardon my ignorance but what is "open box"?

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #67 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:02 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on January 18, 2008, 04:00 AM

pardon my ignorance but what is "open box"?

A previously opened and returned box. Kinda like a refurbished item, but just not used.

lanux128 · « **Reply #68 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:05 AM »

does that mean the person who purchased didn't like it or was it faulty? & what about the warranty?

Darwin · « **Reply #69 on:** January 18, 2008, 06:08 AM »

Good question, lanux. I'm not sure why someone would buy a notebook harddrive and then return it, but my understanding is that it can't be re-sold unless it is working, and non-faulty, condition. It does work - when I can get it to be recognised. I'm sure the issue is with powerconsumption and this does give me pause about actually obtaining one to install as my primary harddrive - they must really suck the juice!

lanux128 · « **Reply #70 on:** January 18, 2008, 08:15 AM »

the reason i ask these questions is because sometimes i come across attractive bargains for these 'open box' products but its definition varies from seller to seller and most of them will come with a limited time warranty such as 1-3 months. but i guess one have to be lucky as well with 'open box' merchandise..

Darwin · « **Reply #71 on:** January 11, 2009, 12:47 AM »

Lanux - I bought an open box Seagate Momentus G-Force 320GB 7200 rpm notebook drive (ST9320421ASG) and took delivery of it yesterday. It's AWESOME! I expected there to be some difference running it, but not that it would be so obvious in every aspect of my use of the computer. It replaces a 250 GB Western Digital 5400rpm drive. This was a decent drive, but the 7200 rpm drive boots much more quickly and everything feels "crsiper" in use. I haven't timed anything (like boot time) but will try to do so and report back here.

Bottom-line: the upgrade from 5400 rpm to 7200 rpm is well worth it!

lanux128 · « **Reply #72 on:** January 11, 2009, 02:15 AM »

that's fantastic, Darwin! it's good that you went for 7200rpm, the seek-time jump will be an obvious advantage from my experience.

note: i'm thinking of expanding my desktop's hdd to 500gb but might go for 640gb if the cost per MB is lower for the bigger drive.