Tech Support > Computer Hardware > Laptops/Notebooks > 100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm versus 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm versus 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 2nd, 2007


I am customizing a thinkpad. I read some discussion about 5400 rpm
vs 7200rpm and cannot make a deciison.

If I am getting a laptop that is Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz
4MBL2) with 2GB RAM, and (also gettign Intel Turbo Memory 1GB - this
is hrad druve cache), what should I choose between the two below for
hard drive that are the same price?

100GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm [$60.00] [Popular upgrade]
38% of customers who purchased a T Series upgraded to this hard drive

versus

160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm [$60.00]

Posted by BillW50 on September 2nd, 2007


In news:1188770331.049935.254200@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com,
amandaf37@gmail.com typed:
Well the 7200rpm 100GB drive will be faster. Since the hard drive is the
bottleneck of virtually all computers, this is important for those that
really need the speed.

--
Bill


Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 2nd, 2007


On Sep 2, 3:24 pm, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
Okay. I wish they have 160GB option in 7200 rpm.

How do I find out the size of the biggest HD I can replace in case of
the original the HD crash?



Posted by Barry Watzman on September 2nd, 2007


It's just a trade off between capacity and speed (and, if are willing to
spend more $$$, you can have both).

Personally, I was faced with the same choice and went for capacity
(160GB/5,400 rpm). But that is based on my needs and how I used the
laptop .... and may not apply to you.

However, consider that with 160GB/5,400, you will be able to do
everything that you could do with the 100GB 7200rpm drive, it will just
be slower. The reverse is not true, if you go with the faster/smaller
drive, and you NEED the extra space, you will be stuck.


amandaf37@gmail.com wrote:

Posted by BillW50 on September 3rd, 2007


In news:1188774729.696291.248530@19g2000hsx.googlegro ups.com,
amandaf37@gmail.com typed:
Well 160GB @ 7200rpm do exists out there. But they are not cheap. You
can buy 320GB @ 7200rpm too. There might be larger ones as well.

You mean for a given laptop? If so, this seems to be a secret in most
cases. As 99% of the time or better, this information is never given.
Although there are usual limits. One of them is 120GB. The one you are
looking at also has a 160GB option. And you should be ok (no guarantee)
up to 320GB @ 7200 rpm anyway.

--
Bill


Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 4:55 pm, Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOS...@neo.rr.com> wrote:
True. I am also thinking to have a second hard drive via ThinkPad
Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter or a docking station.

BTW, If I put a 3.5" HD in an enclosure and turned it into an
external drive. I will then be able to use it with the laptop too,
right?


Posted by BillW50 on September 3rd, 2007


In news:1188778112.632289.180610@d55g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com,
amandaf37@gmail.com typed:
Yes! As long as the external hooks up by USB, Firewire, or some other
method that is compatible with the laptop.

--
Bill


Posted by Bert Hyman on September 3rd, 2007


In news:1188774729.696291.248530@19g2000hsx.googlegro ups.com
amandaf37@gmail.com wrote:

Not just 160GB, but 200GB.

Hitachi 160GB 7K200 HTS722016K9SA00 $190
Hitachi 200GB 7K200 HTS722020K9SA00 $215

at newegg.com.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

Posted by Barry Watzman on September 3rd, 2007


There ARE 160GB (and I think even 200GB) drives in 7200 rpm, but they
are expensive (more than twice, and possibly 3x more than a 160GB 5,400
rpm drive).

Another option is to get the cheapest, smallest, slowest drive you can,
then replace the drive more or less immediately on receipt of the
laptop. However, it means either moving or reinstalling everything,
sometimes a non-trivial task if there are hidden "maintenance"
partitions on the drive.

amandaf37@gmail.com wrote:

Posted by Barry Watzman on September 3rd, 2007


Re: "You can buy 320GB @ 7200rpm too"

Not for a laptop, with a 2.5" drive. Not yet.

BillW50 wrote:

Posted by Barry Watzman on September 3rd, 2007


Use it, yes. But perhaps not boot from it, and it may not have the
speed of an internal SATA drive (indeed, using it as a USB external
drive may negate the difference between 5,400 and 7,200 rpm).


amandaf37@gmail.com wrote:

Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 5:04 pm, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
The one I am looking at is 100GB (7200 rpm) and 160GB (5400 rpm).
If I take 100GB (7200 rpm) option and when it crashed, I wonder
whether I can put 160 GB (7200 rpm).




Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 5:24 pm, Bert Hyman <b...@iphouse.com> wrote:
I meant in the option list I get to choose in customizing for
thinkpad. May be I should go for dell.



Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 5:22 pm, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:



Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 5:37 pm, Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOS...@neo.rr.com> wrote:
I know. I meant I want to have a 160GB (7200rpm) option withthe T61p
thinkpad that I am custmizing.

Then I will lose warranty on the hd purcahsed; also time is an issue
to even go fund someone who can help me. Beside I don't want to take
a chance voiding the warranty of other parts..


Posted by amandaf37@gmail.com on September 3rd, 2007


On Sep 2, 5:38 pm, Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOS...@neo.rr.com> wrote:
That explains why circuit city has a Toshiba with 320GB but 5400 rpm.



Posted by BillW50 on September 3rd, 2007


In news:1188782337.451667.65580@57g2000hsv.googlegrou ps.com,
amandaf37@gmail.com typed:
I don't know if any laptops come with 320GB @ 7200rpm. But they do sell
them and will fit a laptop.

--
Bill


Posted by BillW50 on September 3rd, 2007


In news:1188782003.163432.29330@22g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com,
amandaf37@gmail.com typed:
Oh you should have no problems with replacing it someday with a 160GB @
7200 rpm HD.

--
Bill


Posted by Barry Watzman on September 3rd, 2007


Yes. No problem. Any size (GB) and any rotational speed.

amandaf37@gmail.com wrote:

Posted by Barry Watzman on September 3rd, 2007


You keep the original hard drive, and if there is a problem with the
laptop you just put it back in. No one will ever know that you changed
the drive (and, whether you did or not, changing the drive should not
void the warranty anyway).

Of course the warranty on the new, larger hard drive comes from the hard
drive manufacturer, not the laptop manufacturer.


amandaf37@gmail.com wrote: