The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    250GB 5400rpm vs 160GB 7200rpm

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by phish, Jan 1, 2008.

  1. phish

    phish Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey I know that there have been other threads on this, but I couldn't find a definitive answer. I just ordered a Dell XPS 1530 and I had the option of either the 250GB 5400 rpm or the 160GB 7200rpm and they are the same exact price. Will I notice a significant speed boost in the 7200? Enough to compensate for the 90GB less storage im getting? And how much more battery will it use?
     
    phish, Jan 1, 2008
    #1
  2. Incursis

    Incursis Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    133
    Messages:
    373
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Incursis, Jan 1, 2008
    #2
  3. dvmxps1530

    dvmxps1530 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    43
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Faster. NOt much. If you play games you better go with the fastest configurations. the 7200 is the normal in most desktop HD speed..
    and yes it will drain the battery faster. although some people disagree.
     
    dvmxps1530, Jan 1, 2008
    #3
  4. Acorn

    Acorn Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    521
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    We have to pay $50 more in Canada to get the 250gb...
     
    Acorn, Jan 1, 2008
    #4
  5. phish

    phish Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i will be doing some gaming, but not much. just playing games like counter strike once in a while, nothing too intense. i have a 4 year old dell with integrated graphics card and a 4200rpm HD and it has worked pretty well
     
    phish, Jan 1, 2008
    #5
  6. phish

    phish Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thats what you get for being canadian
     
    phish, Jan 1, 2008
    #6
  7. Lite

    Lite Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    342
    Messages:
    1,398
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    go with the extra storage , I would
     
    Lite, Jan 1, 2008
    #7
  8. Acorn

    Acorn Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    521
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Be nice...
     
    Acorn, Jan 1, 2008
    #8
  9. phish

    phish Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    haha sorry, i just couldnt resist
     
    phish, Jan 1, 2008
    #9
  10. Atsushi

    Atsushi Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Atsushi, Jan 1, 2008
    #10
  11. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I disagree, get the larger drive. The speed differences wont be much. But the size difference is huge.
     
    nizzy1115, Jan 1, 2008
    #11
  12. kamikazefly

    kamikazefly Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    hardly...i know theres a test here somewhere conducted between a Hitachi 100 or 160gb 7200rpm and a WD 5400rpm.

    it turns out the 7200rpm hardly produces anymore heat and uses the same amount of power as a 5400rpm.

    it depends what you use it for. gaming or say...video editing...go with the speed. like ATSUSHI said...external storage is cheap. but you cant get speed if your HDD is already slow. then you'll regret i suppose. i made that sacrifice and the irritation you get when booting in or loading a game or large file really gets to you after a while.
     
    kamikazefly, Jan 1, 2008
    #12
  13. LGS

    LGS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    168
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If it was me, I'd get the 250GB. I'm good with it running 5400RPM. I need the extra space.
     
    LGS, Jan 1, 2008
    #13
  14. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    746
    Messages:
    1,552
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Go for the 7200 RPM drive. As some other people have already said, you can always buy external storage.
     
    Leon, Jan 1, 2008
    #14
  15. phish

    phish Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    yeah but i dont want the hard drive to kill my battery
     
    phish, Jan 1, 2008
    #15
  16. Atsushi

    Atsushi Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Don't worry, a faster hard drive won't REALLY kill your battery, it might take 15-20mins off it MAX.
     
    Atsushi, Jan 1, 2008
    #16
  17. Stone825

    Stone825 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    404
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Umm. Go with the 5400RPM Drive. I am using a 5400 drive on my Alienware and I haven't noticed and speed decrease. Really, you only need a 7200RPM if you are going to be doing a ton of gaming/ton of video editing. Even then, I would go for an extra 90GB free any day.

    Go for the 250GB
     
    Stone825, Jan 1, 2008
    #17
  18. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

    Reputations:
    478
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Sponsi, Jan 1, 2008
    #18
  19. fabarati

    fabarati Frorum Obfuscator

    Reputations:
    1,904
    Messages:
    3,374
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    The rotation speed isn't the only indicator of speed. The higher density a drive is, the faster it is. So a 250GB 5400 is faster than a 120GB 7200. I believe the 160GB 7200 is just slightly faster than a 250 GB 5400.

    And I disagree with those that say "you can always get more external storage". Internal storage is faster and much more portable. Having continous storage is quite more practical.
     
    fabarati, Jan 1, 2008
    #19
  20. vengance_01

    vengance_01 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    61
    Messages:
    1,062
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Well If this is for the 1530 and a gaming is on the list, I would get 160Gb 7200RPM, but if you are getting the 1330, a 250GB Drive would be better. It would use a bit less power and create a bit less heat.
     
    vengance_01, Jan 1, 2008
    #20
  21. Stone825

    Stone825 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    404
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I'll say it again. I have the 160GB 5400RPM for my Alienware M9750. I have not noticed any speed decreased compared to my Raid 0 7200RPM on my desktop.

    In addition: External storage sucks. It is always easier to put stuff on your computers hard drive, without having to place it on an external drive. If you are going to go the route of the 7200RPM drive (I don't recommend), then buy a Western Digital Passport drive which is a 2.5" external drive which only uses USB for its power, eliminating the need for a power brick.
     
    Stone825, Jan 1, 2008
    #21
  22. fabarati

    fabarati Frorum Obfuscator

    Reputations:
    1,904
    Messages:
    3,374
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Oh, and a faste hardrive won't increase you gaming performance. It will decrease loading times. It won't affect FPS.
     
    fabarati, Jan 1, 2008
    #22
  23. manzi

    manzi Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    598
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well ask your self, will u need the battery power or will it be plugged in? I personally would go with the 350gb as you always need more spcae, and trust me, theres hardly any difference in speed, people on the forums just add hype to it becuase their notebook has it.
     
    manzi, Jan 1, 2008
    #23
  24. kamikazefly

    kamikazefly Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i agree with everything you say. apart from that a 160gb 5400 rpm being on same speed levels as RAID0 CONFIGURATION? no way man. RAID runs much faster...to the extent where you don't need a program to notice.
     
    kamikazefly, Jan 1, 2008
    #24