Dell XPS M1210; 5400 or 7200 RPM HDD? Is the 7200 RPM worth it?

Hey guys,

I just ordered my Dell XPS M1210, but am having second thoughts about its configuration. I initially ordered a 5400 RPM 120 GB hard drive, but from various testimonials on the web, it seems the 7200 RPM makes a very noticable difference in general performance/responsiveness/loading times.

My Dell order is still in the first stage (Order is just processed). What are your guys' opinions about calling up Dell and asking for an 80 GB 7200 RPM drive for an additional $50 CAD instead? I will use this laptop mostly as a mobile media platform (ie. movies, music, some light gaming), garnished with your regular internet usage and some graphic editing via Photoshop.

7200 RPM HDD over the 5400 RPM drive. From your guys' personal experiences with your notebooks, is it worth it?

Thank-you for any and all comments.

 

This is the answer: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=59053

 

Yes, the switch from 5400 RPM to 7200 RPM was incredibly noticeable and more than worth it. I wouldn't worry too much though. Stick the 5400 RPM in a 20$ enclosure and make an external HD or sell it and buy a 7200 RPM from newegg if its too late.

 

I have to disagree, somewhat. I purchased my E1505 with the Hitachi 60gb 7200rpm and recently opted for a larger 160gb 5400rpm drive. Honestly, I hardly notice a difference at all. You could probably tell a difference using benchmark software, but with real-world usage, you won't.

My 5400rpm drive runs 5-7C cooler than the 7200rpm, plus my battery life has improved.

Just my two cents.

 

Yes if you are running games and damanding HD program's but if your not, and running just movies (not editing) and music then a 5400 is good for you

 

Whoa, there might be a problem. Yesterday, when I checked my Order Status, it was in its first phase, "Order Processing", so I thought I had a lot of time to make any modifications to my order. This morning, it's now 2 phases past on "In Production".

Can I still make any modifications at this point? Thanks.

 

yes you can still make the changes with your rep but then he'd have to cancel the current order and make a new order which will obviously delay your shipment.

 

Would that be worth it? I was really looking forward to the lappy ASAP . But I guess it'd just bite me in that bum later on when I start regretting my purchase, eh?

 

I don't think upgrading will be that much of a difference for you considering you're only doing some light gaming, music, movies and what not. I was in the same situation as you are but with the A/V package which I eventually decided to go for so I had to wait longer for the laptop..oct 23 =\

 

Well, I tried calling Dell, but since it's Saturday, I couldn't get through to my CSR as he wasn't working today. The guy said it was too late at this time, unless I cancelled the order and re-placed it (as you guys have said). But this would have to be done apparently through Customer Care on the Monday.

The rep gave me the full name and ext. number of my CSR and I'll see about contacting him tomorrow.

 

5400 RPM to 7200 RPM makes a considerable differenceduring day to day tasks. Start up, shut down, accessing, and writing files to the hard drive are all much faster.

This is something you can easily upgrade later when you feel the need. It isn't really that expensive either.
If you don't manage to change your order I wouldn't worry too much.

 

How does one easily upgrade after? Even if I could buy the drive separarely (can I?), I wouldn't know how install it, unless it's very elementary. Then, I don't know what I'd do with a spare 5400 RPM SATA Laptop HDD.

 

the drive costs like 160 bucks. or thats what i got it for. i got the hitachi HTS721010G9SA00 hitachi travelstar 7k100 - 100gb @ 7200rpm. it's sick fast, loads games like doom 3 very quickly. my m1210 came with a 60gb 5400rpm, i got the lowest because i knew i wouldn't have it long. my main gripe is reinstalling on a totally new hard drive. my windows media center has little problems such as i get an error everytime i shut down while installing updates, a repair might help. that part really annoys me lol, and the tidbits like i don't have the media button etc, i think i could reinstall, but i haven't gotten around to it.

BTW its 4 screws, takes 1 minute to swap hard drives. its got the pictures of cans, the hard drive picture, on the 4 screws underneath. its very simple. the hd chassis flexes to pop out the hard drive once u pull it out of the system.

 

oh yah, once you put it in, if you're not restoring an image say from you other hard drive do this:

turn it on, put the operating system reinstallation disc in, slam on f12, click boot from cd, start the format procedure. look for southern girl's write up, for more docs on installation. it'll save you a ton of time.

 

Installing a hard drive is incredibly easy.

Anyway, you can listen to what Lejon said and use Southern Girl's writeup. It seems like you're pretty new to computers though, so I'd personally get it from Dell to save yourself ALOT of trouble.

You can get a 80 GB 7200 RPM HD off of newegg.com for like 80$ or somewhere around there. As I've said before, you can buy a enclosure off of newegg too for like 20$ and put the other hard drive in there. You'll have a nice small portable external hard drive then.

 

I am using the 7200rpm on XPS1210.

I read that its a bit faster but more demanding on the battery, but the HDD is the main bottleneck in computers these days, so i would recommend it!

Buying from 3rd party should be cheaper, and i think the best is to do, as suggested, to get an external holder, and a new HDD, as Dell is normally more expensive when upgrading, and if u are using your laptop as your main machine, its much better to have a second external for backups. If your new lappy (touch wood) breaks, you can still work on your stuff with your second HDD on other computers, when its being repaired.

thats what i think.... hope it helps

 

Well, you guys have sold me on the 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA HDD. But to save money, I'm simply trying to revoke my previous order through Dell Canada to upgrade and it's getting aggravating.

I called yesterday to speak to a CSR that managed to give me the full name and ext. number of the guy I bought the laptop from. Apparently, I have to cancel my order and write up another one, of which he has no authority to do (has to be done via Customer Care).

I just called today, in which they told me my CSR doesn't actually work in the building and the extension number I got was actually for the India building. I asked " Excuse me?", to which he replied, " Yeah, it's still Dell Canada, but the calls are routed to India." " So the work is outsourced?" " Yes."

Lovely. So I dial the toll-free India number he gave me, using the 5 digit extension number I got yesterday. "I'm sorry, but the office is closed. Please try again the next business day." It's going to get to the point where when I'm able to get through to my CSR, it'll have been too late.