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    HDD Free-fall Sensor Vs. Laptop's 3D Shock Sensor/Accelerometer

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by aidil, Nov 1, 2009.

  1. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm about to upgrade the stock 160GB 5400RPM HDD in my Fujitsu LifeBook S6410 laptop with larger one. I've already bought Western Digital WD3200BJKT 320GB 7200RPM HDD, but one thing is postponing me from doing the upgrade, that is the new HDD has built-in Free-fall Sensor while the laptop is already equipped with 3D Shock Sensor which functioning the same.

    I know I can always turn off the Fujitsu 3D Shock Sensor, but still I would like to know whether the Free-fall Sensor built inside the HDD would perform better than laptop's accelerometer.

    Anyone has comment on this?
     
  2. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    I know it's still rare for anyone to opt HDD with in-built free-fall sensor when buying one... But can't belive nobody has been in the same situation... :(

    Anyone?
     
  3. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

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    not sure about your case but I've read that in some macbooks the built-in accelerometer doesn't play nice with the controller of the hard drive sensor.
     
  4. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks pipspeak for replying. I've googled that issue down and found that Macbook with accelerometer users prefer hard drive without built-in free-fall sensor.

    I can imagine that when the 2 sensors are installed in 1 system they might confuse each other or might hit the hard drive performance. That's why I'm planning to turn off the Fujitsu's 3D Shock sensor/accelerometer.

    But still, I'd like to know which sensor is the best to use, the one in the laptop or in the hard drive.

    If turns out that it's better to use the laptop's accelerometer just as those Macbook with accelerometer users do, then I might consider buying another hard drive without the in-built free-fall sensor (WD3200BEKT or WD5000BEVT) and put back the WD3200BJKT on the secondary hard drive bay of my Dell Studio 17.
     
  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    There is probably no 'best' one to use. You are going to have to choose.

    Choose Wisely.
     
  6. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    You're right. It'll be wiser to save money & use what I've already had.

    I'll give the BJKT a try inside the Fujitsu. I think I have to start the current hard drive cloning process right away.