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    1.8" SATA NON-SSD Harddrive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by graycolor, Jan 7, 2011.

  1. graycolor

    graycolor Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone have experience with a non-ssd 1.8" drive. I just ordered a T410s and it's coming with 250GB with 5400 rpm. Are we talking PATA slow?
     
    graycolor, Jan 7, 2011
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  2. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    The 250GB has increased density and has AHCI mode so is faster than 5400rpm ZIF HDDs. It's still slower than a 2.5" HDD. Can see benchmarks in http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5827&p=2 . If want something faster consider replacing it with a SSD: http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...1361-1-8-sata-ssds-available.html#post6978065 .
     
    User Retired 2, Jan 7, 2011
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  3. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    try it out. if it's good enough, enjoy it and consider buying a nice fresh ssd in half a year, or one year. it really depends on the hdd and your usage. it might be good enough for you.

    i know mine where 100gb 4200rpm ide drives, now they where slow. that one should be quite a bit faster, at least.
     
    davepermen, Jan 7, 2011
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  4. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    1.8" and 5400 RPM - not just slow - dog slow.

    Sorry.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jan 7, 2011
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  5. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    Have you used a 250gb one specifically? could make a big difference.

    4200rpm I agree of course no chance of any speed
     
    niffcreature, Jan 8, 2011
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  6. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    No, I haven't used one, but don't have to.

    The size, the speed and the platter density are all conspiring to make this drive as slow as possible.

    The speed at 5400 RPM is slow even on 2.5 and 3.5" drives. The increased density always makes a mechanical HDD slower (it has more error correction to do - both physical (in the sense of having to more precisely align and re-align the heads) and logical (with greater density you get exponentially more read/write errors which much be accounted for).

    The size is the biggest drawback though - even if it can match the RPM's of bigger HDD's - the angular velocity is not on par.

    Take this all together, along with the manufacturer's knowing that extreme speed is not the primary consideration of the target market at this small size/form factor and the consequent de-tuning or non-tuning of the 1.8" drives by them and the 'dog slow' designation stands - even when compared to the best/better PATA 2.5" (or larger) drives.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jan 8, 2011
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