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    Importance of hard drive speed?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Spicy_Curry, Oct 20, 2010.

  1. Spicy_Curry

    Spicy_Curry Newbie

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    How important is hard drive speed? I'm planning on using a laptop for gaming and I've come across 2 similar models whose only significant difference is hard drive speed. I've read online from some people that there is a significant difference between 5400 rpm and 7200 rpm and that it can lag your game, I've also read however that it has little or no affect on performance. Any and all help is appreciated.
     
    Spicy_Curry, Oct 20, 2010
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  2. bchreng

    bchreng Notebook Evangelist

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    My experience is that, provided you have sufficient RAM, it shouldn't matter during actual gameplay. It will affect load times though. Once that's out of the way, everything should run off the speedy system RAM. If there's ot enough, then you'll experience hiccups here and there as information is swapped in and out.
     
    bchreng, Oct 20, 2010
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  3. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    IMO the difference isn't much, then again that's after I've used a SSD. If I were to subjectively and graphically represent the difference in speed between them and a hybrid, I'd say:

    5400 RPM < 7200 RPM << Hybrid <<< SSD (Samsung/Indilinx/Toshiba) < SSD (Intel/Sandforce/Marvell)

    From my experience, you would be hard pressed to notice a difference between one '<' unless you were really looking closely.
     
    sgogeta4, Oct 20, 2010
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  4. Spicy_Curry

    Spicy_Curry Newbie

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    Thanks for the help!
     
    Spicy_Curry, Oct 20, 2010
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  5. JohnnyFlash

    JohnnyFlash Notebook Virtuoso

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    Faster drives cut down on load shutters during the game as well. Oblivion for example is always loading stuff, so you get momentary stutters.
     
    JohnnyFlash, Oct 20, 2010
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  6. Paralel

    Paralel Notebook Evangelist

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    This was my experience with Dragon Age. My 7200 RPM drive just couldn't keep up with my CPU & GPU as a result I would get stutters when it had to load data from the HD. Switching to a current gen SSD completely solved the problem.
     
    Paralel, Oct 20, 2010
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