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    Hard drive 4200 vs. 5400 RPM

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by digicamhelp, Jul 17, 2007.

  1. digicamhelp

    digicamhelp Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Why do the hard drives on some of the more expensive notebooks have slower RPM?

    For example, 160 GB hard drives have 5400 RPM while the more expensive notebooks with 200 GB hard drives are rated at 4200 RPM.

    This is one of the last hurdles I must get over before making my purchase. Thanks in advance for your help.
     
    digicamhelp, Jul 17, 2007
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  2. baddogboxer

    baddogboxer Notebook Deity

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    200GB HDD's just started to break the 4200 mark at least mainstream (notebooks of course).
     
    baddogboxer, Jul 17, 2007
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  3. digicamhelp

    digicamhelp Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    So, is a 160 MB hard drive at 5400 RPM better than a 200 MB hard drive at 4200? Which runs cooler, or is the difference negligible?
     
    digicamhelp, Jul 17, 2007
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  4. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    The 4200rpm HDD has more capacity, but the 5400rpm HDD will be faster. I strongly recommend not getting a 4200rpm HDD. It will be a bit a bottleneck to overall system performance.

    HDD manafacturers may have not produced on a large scale high capacity, 5400rpm HDD, and so, they use a slower HDD to keep the cost down, and in some circumstances, capacity may be more important than speed.
     
    Lil Mayz, Jul 17, 2007
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  5. baddogboxer

    baddogboxer Notebook Deity

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    My opinion Temp doesn't matter. Some say not just speed but specifics of each HDD. 160 is faster and I think it matters for me. but 7200's are faster so like all things depends what you do and what you need. I have a budget notebook and 160@5400 a little of everything, capacity, speed and price!
     
    baddogboxer, Jul 17, 2007
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  6. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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    160GB at 5400 RPM seems to be the sweet spot in price/performance/capacity. I'd try to get 160GB at 7200 RPM, but that is just because I'm a performance prude.
     
    StormEffect, Jul 17, 2007
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