160GB v 100GB 7,200RPM HD in MBP's.

Hi i am waiting for a Core2Duo from Apple i was due a replacement on a MBP CD that was faulty several times and i have been informed that i will be receiving a Core2Duo 2.33 ghz 120GB model as a new replacement. I am happy with my replacement but I am just concerned and disappointed a little over the drive speeds.
I had the 7,200rpm drive before in my MBP and i am concerned a little that the 5,400rpm drive is slower than the 7,200rpm. I wonder why Apple did not offer the 7,200rpm in the 15 inch MBP's but they offered them for the 17 inch models? The 120GB drive is slower by 33% than the 7,200rpm drive.
What is your take on the 160GB drive being just as fast as the 7,200rpm because it is denser? I do not know if i can believe that.
Well i have asked Apple to put the 7,200rpm drive back in mine as i know that they have them hand but i do not know if they will. I have also asked them if they cannot give me the 7200rpm drive could i have the 160GB and pay extra if i needed to but i do not know if they will do that either.
If they do not i may just change my hard drive back to a 7200RPM when i get if it does not void my warranty.

 

You know, you paid for the 7200 RPM drive just like me. You should have the right and ability to get that drive in your new MBP. They really should give you a free upgrade to the 160 or put the 7200 in. Or maybe you should consider yourself luck yyoure getting our MBP replaced with a C2D.
The 160 GB drive uses perpindicular recording/reading. That is supposed to make it much faster than the normal reading/writing methods.
The difference between 7200 and 5400 isnt' 33%. It's more like 10% difference or so. It depends also on the model and amount of cache, as well as the read/write method. I believe there is a good sticky thread comparing HD speeds in either accesories or hardware sections.
Unless yore doing video or audio editing, you don't really NEED 7200, I woudl go for teh 160gig.
For those of us who do work like that, we need that extra speed. An extra few ms of lag in data retrievel will effect the work. It won't for the average user.

 

I think I would just be ecstatic that they are giving you a new Core2Duo. There are several improvements made in the new models. 7200RPM is not a huge performance increase.

 

Thank you for your advice. I am pleased with the upgrade.
However, i would prefer not to have the slower drive. It is good to hear though that the 120gb drives are not 33% slower than the 7,200rpm drives though.
I had the middle model before with 256 of vram and 2gb of ram and the 7,200rpm drive.
I do not do anything to intensive with my laptop but i do like things to be as fast they can be.
It would be great if i could get my 7,200rpm drive back or have the option to go for the 160GB but if not maybe i will live with the 120GB drive for a while and see how it goes but i am not really sure.
Thank you for your help and the links i will go and check those out.