500GB 7200rpm vs. 1 TB 5400rpm

Title says it all. I'll be gaming a lot and I'm not sure how much memory I need.

 

HDD capacity is not memory.

With SNB or IB and Win7x64 consider 8GB as the current minimum.

I would suggest the 750GB Seagate Momentus Hybrid (8GB SSD+750GB HDD) instead of your choices above:

See:
Seagate 750GB Momentus XT 7200.1 SATA 2.5in Hybrid Drive w/ 32MB Cache at Memory Express

 

Yes you're right, but those are my only options in terms of HDD

 

The 1TB @5400 then.

 

If those are your only choices (I assume with a new notebook...) then I would chose the cheapest option and still consider the Hybrid I suggested as an (immediate) aftermarket upgrade.

You could either sell the one that came with the system or put it into an external enclosure for backup use. Either way, the hybrid will be a better balanced O/S + Data drive than the two choices you have now.

Even if I needed the capacity: I still would not chose the 1TB 5400 RPM solution - computing at it's finest circa 2004...

Good luck.

 

The density of the 1TB does offset the 5400 spindle speed. But for a OS drive Id still go for the 7200RPM drive as the 1TB is really meant to be a data drive.

EDIT: Not a 100% makeup for spindle speed loss, but a good offset.

 

Density does not offset spindle speed - it is also counteracted by more error correction and more time for the head(s) to align and lock onto the smaller tracks.

Spindle speed + Higher density means faster performance, but demands higher quality components and engineering know how.

With Hitachi out of the HDD arena, there is little reason to consider any current 2.5" HDD imo.

 

Density can offset the lack of spindle speed by a bit, but I still would take a standard 7200 over a high density 5400RPM drive any day of the week. Im not saying density is a 100% makeup for a lack of spindle speed, rather a good offset. I should have stated not a 100% makeup in my previous post not to confuse some.

As for not choosing mechanical because hitachi is out of the game, well I never knew they were and Im doing just fine. Im a momentus/scorpio guy and I have drives from both that are circa 2007/2008 and newer in server/workstation/average computer environments and they are working flawlessly.

 

Fair enough.

But 'working flawlessly' is not enough for me (w/regards to HDD's) - I am too used to them working at the peak of performance (and replacing them as soon as new models come out) and no other manufacturer understood HDD's like Hitachi did - the best combination of performance/noise/power/heat and $$ ever.

 

Back in the day they were great and I have used a few hitachi drives. Would I buy one? Probably not as momentus and scorpio have been there for me the past few years. But thats not to say if I read a good review that I wouldnt consider them.

As for lifespan, well both my personal finaces and company are tight on money so stretching out hardware and recycling hardware is a BIG concern. Hence the old hardware I have littered around both work and home.

 

I opened up a lot of laptops and desktops. Never ran into a Hitachi HDD, they were just not available with any system or laptop and I'm not sure what I've missed. Is there a reason they were left out? I've never seen one!

 

They made some nice travelstar drives and I have seen a few here and there. But when modding/building a laptop or desktop I never went out of my way for one.

 

My N50 came with a Hitachi drive. I've seen some externals come with hitachi drives. I've never seen a laptop come with a Samsung drive personally, but i'm sure there are some. It's all a matter of pricing to the manufacturer.

Indeed, the 7K750 did hit the sweet spot between performance and noise for me. I hear the drive click once in a while and that's it.

Regarding 7200 500GB vs 5400 1TB, you'll pay a small penalty in random performance, but that's about it.

 

What laptop is the OP getting? I'd go with the 1TB and get an aftermarket SSD.

 

TwiztidKidd, Reason they were left out: probably $$$ (to save a few pennies...).

Depending on how long you've been 'computing' - yeah you missed out (back in the day).

As of today though: a Crucial 256GB+ or an Intel 520 240GB+ 'experience' is what you're missing. Definitely the 'Hitachi's' of the modern world.

(And by 'Hitachi's', I mean the best balance of reliability, speed and $$$).

 

So you'd call Hitachi an aftermarket HDD. I have two M4 Crucial 238GB (256) on RAID on one of the laptops. It was always Seagate or WD or Toshiba when manufacturers had to pick one.

 

No, Hitachi's were not aftermarket: they were in the premium brands (ThinkPAD's, etc.).

 

Y580, there is a more expensive option with a 32gb ssd. Does windows come installed on the HDD or the SSD? Also, what would I save onto that SSD, my games?

 

With a 32GB mSATA SSD you wouldn't access it directly: you would use it as a cache (like the Hybrid I mentioned above) and it would be invisible and transparent to Windows and the user.

This mSATA SSD along with the 1TB platter drive is what I would recommend (even over the Seagate Hybrid's).

 

Get a 750gb 5400rpm/7200rpm as they maybe more reliable if its a well known brand like western digital and if its a good new hdd model.

 

This makes me want to cry. I'm so glad for my one Hitachia 7K750. It's going to follow me for as long as it's alive.

 

Yep, mine too, good price (before the floods), almost as fast as a scorpio black and silent. It had a lot going for it, since WD acquired Hitachi, it disappeared though and i can't seem to find it anywhere anymore.