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    500GB Notebook Harddrives benchmarks posted on Tomshardware

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Phil, Jul 11, 2008.

  1. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Just noticed this:

    Samsung also states an average access time of 12 ms, which translates into an effective access time of 19 ms. This is the slowest average access time we’ve yet measured in our test lab, and it has an impact on the PCMark Windows XP Startup benchmark.

    However, the Spinpoint M6 HM500LI offers the fastest throughput we’ve ever measured for 2.5” hard drives: 76.5 MB/s is much faster than the 70 MB/s of its 320GB predecessor, and it’s faster than any of the competitors with the exception of flash-based SSDs. An almost 40 MB/s minimum transfer rate also is a new record for notebook hard drives. As a result, the HM500LI leads the file write benchmarks, and even dominated 7,200 RPM drives when it comes to throughput.

    Another small downside is power consumption: the new HM500LI requires as much power as a 7,200 RPM drive, and clearly more power than Hitachi’s offerings.
    http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/500gb-notebook-hdd,1960-6.html

    Too bad they haven't tested the 320GB 7200rpm drives yet, afaik.
     
  2. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    yeah i read that yesterday. The 2 500gb hds are unappealing to me however. The 5k500 is 12.5mm thick, and the hm500li has very poor access times. Better off going for the 7k 320gb hds imo.
     
  3. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Hence why I went for the Seagate Momentus 7200.3
     
  4. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Squeezing 3 platters into the space for 2 might have resulted in higher rotational resistance.

    I'll try to make do with 320GB until higher capacity 2 platter HDDs arrive.

    John
     
  5. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB 7200RPM drives with perpendicular recording will be 2 250GB platters and coming out Q4 2008.
     
  6. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    Not impressed at all.
    I guess this made me decide to get the WD 320/7200.
     
  7. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I think thats the best drive at the moment.
     
  8. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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  9. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Just a reminder, whether this matters to you or not, the Newegg one does not have Free Fall Sensor.
     
  10. Chucklz_smiley

    Chucklz_smiley Notebook Consultant

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    yeh i think the 320gb's are still the way to go, i also found the price difference was massive, i can buy nearly 3 WD 5400 320gb drives for the price of one 500gb
     
  11. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    Has there been any word on what is going on with the Hitachi 7k320 or if they plan on making a 500GB drive?
     
  12. INEEDMONEY

    INEEDMONEY Homicidal Teddy Bear

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    What do you mean what's going on with the 7k320? There in limited quantities right now, but they're for sell. Hard to find. A few members have em already.

    Western Digital can be found and Seagate should have there's out in 2-3 weeks...
     
  13. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    OWC has a bajillion Hitachi 7k320s. They are actually VERY easy to find. The harder ones to find are the Seagate Momentus 7200.3, but like I posted in another thread, I found the first retailer to have it in stock, which I actually ordered yesterday with free EXPRESS shipping. Sweet deal.


    Hitachi does have a 2.5'' 500GB hard drive at 5400RPM but the height of it is 12.5mm which means it does not fit in standard 6mm height notebooks.

    However Samsung has their 5400 spinpoint as well as a few other manufacturers that is compatible with current 15.4'' with the standard height of 9.5mm. Seagate is coming out with the first 500MB 7200RPM 2.5'' hard drive in Q4 2008.

    Hope that clears things up! :)