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    Boot from pcmcia

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by aloof, Oct 9, 2006.

  1. aloof

    aloof Notebook Enthusiast

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    I currently use a 4200 rpm hd to boot from. Would the performance increase or decrease if I booted from a 7200 rpm SATA drive thats connected to a Serial ATA PCMCIA 1.5GB/s Cardbus Adapter? I know pcmcia isn't as fast as express card but thats not an option right now. So would I see any increase with this setup?
     
    aloof, Oct 9, 2006
    #1
  2. mach_zero

    mach_zero Casual Observer NBR Reviewer

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    Why wouldn't you simply change out the internal hard drive? It would be musch less hassle and a lot more portable. Changing it out shouldn't violate your warranty, or at least it doesn't with most manufacturers as they consider it a user upgradeable part.
     
    mach_zero, Oct 9, 2006
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  3. aloof

    aloof Notebook Enthusiast

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    7200 rpm 3.5 is alot cheaper than it's laptop counterpart
     
    aloof, Oct 9, 2006
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  4. ajfink

    ajfink Notebook Deity

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    But a much bigger hassle.
     
    ajfink, Oct 9, 2006
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  5. mach_zero

    mach_zero Casual Observer NBR Reviewer

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    Well, let's see. If you purchase, say, an 80GB 7200 RPM 3.5 HDD for $40, SATA PCMCIA card for $40, and an external enclosure for the drive for $30, that's about $110. On the other hand, you can get a 7200 RPM 80GB SATA notebook drive for about $120. All I'm saying is, at least to me, the extra $10 is worth the convenience.
     
    mach_zero, Oct 9, 2006
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  6. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    Perhaps they already have the drive.
     
    ZaZ, Oct 9, 2006
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  7. aloof

    aloof Notebook Enthusiast

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    Right, I already have a 500gb 3.5 HD. Anywhere I can get that in 2.5 form without a time machine?
     
    aloof, Oct 9, 2006
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  8. mach_zero

    mach_zero Casual Observer NBR Reviewer

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    Ah, then it would be much cheaper. Whether it's faster I can't really say as I've never seen any benches regarding that sort of thing. For the cost, I don't think it would hurt to try and if nothing else you'll end up with a nice storage drive.
     
    mach_zero, Oct 9, 2006
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  9. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    The biggest notebook hard drive is a 200GB one, but it has a pokey 4,200RPM rotation speed. The fastest big drive you can get is the 160GB 5,400RPM.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 9, 2006
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  10. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    But then you would effectively make your laptop ONLY a desktop. You pull it away from that 3.5" enclosure and you'll probably BSOD (or get some other nastygram). AFAIK PCMCIA would be fine, since it has enough bandwidth for most things.

    But still, you'd have to carry around the 3.5" drive (with power adapter since it doesn't have a battery). Are you okay with that?
     
    Greg, Oct 9, 2006
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  11. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    Seagate is supposed to be coming with a 160GB 7200RPM notebook drives, but they aren't here yet.
     
    ZaZ, Oct 9, 2006
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  12. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'd love to get that... :D
     
    Greg, Oct 9, 2006
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  13. aloof

    aloof Notebook Enthusiast

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    When I want portability I'll use the internal but when its anchored down, which it is most of the time, I prefer a performance gain.
     
    aloof, Oct 9, 2006
    #13