The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
← Previous page

    Having trouble finding good hard drive...

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Greg, Sep 7, 2008.

  1. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Phil, Sep 9, 2008
    #51
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Wow...Buy.com isn't doing so well @ Reseller Ratings. Anyone had recent business with them?
     
    Greg, Sep 9, 2008
    #52
  3. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    I don't but maybe for a hard drive the reseller rating is not so important, as in case you'll need service you'll have to go to Seagate.
     
    Phil, Sep 9, 2008
    #53
  4. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Better to stick to the one at PC Connection. (G-Force ?!)

    (320GB 7200.3 at ZZF is out of stock.)
     
    Andy, Sep 9, 2008
    #54
  5. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Yeah, I noticed that...a G drive is worth the extra few dollars.

    Shoot though, now I'm trying to find RAM at PCConnection...if I spend ~$11 I get free shipping. Difficult to beat NewEgg's RAM though...they've been great with me in the past for that.

    I need RAM too, so I'll be back.
     
    Greg, Sep 9, 2008
    #55
  6. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    G.Skill RAM is good. If you can find the equivalent at PCC., good enough.
     
    Andy, Sep 9, 2008
    #56
  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    466
    I'm not worried about the brand name...I'm worried about capacity.

    Most of the time I plan on using XP, I've done fine with 2GB in the past. But perhaps an upgrade is overdue...?
     
    Greg, Sep 9, 2008
    #57
  8. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    2GB is fine for XP. For Vista (32) you'll need about 3GB, because with 2GB, 45-50% of your RAM will be used up when idle (0.9-1.2GB used when idle in Vista).
    G.SKill backs the RAM with a proper lifetime warranty and has lower timings....
     
    Andy, Sep 9, 2008
    #58
  9. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Yeah, that's what I was thinking...but I know how to make Vista work well with 2GB anyway.

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2797391

    I am planning on doing a similar review for the 4500MHD Intel GPU, and wanted to make sure I had adaquate RAM. According to Dustin, he only needed 2GB to make the gaming work even with Vista.

    That's enough for me.
     
    Greg, Sep 9, 2008
    #59
  10. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Alright, thanks guys.

    I went ahead and ordered the Seagate 7200.3 250GB drive with Free Fall Sensor, and 1GB 1DIMM of DDR2-800 RAM from OCZ.

    All of it came out to $110.92, with no shipping or taxes charged :D. Awesome.
     
    Greg, Sep 9, 2008
    #60
  11. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

    Reputations:
    4,071
    Messages:
    4,208
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Greg, you're double-posting... :p

    Congrats on your purchase :D
     
    Han Bao Quan, Sep 9, 2008
    #61
  12. owkia

    owkia Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    That much RAM usage while idle in Vista is largely due to Superfetch, which will free up as much RAM as needed if you do happen to use it all up (which probably isn't likely in itself anyway). It's actually making use of the extra RAM instead of having it all sit there doing nothing. If you don't want your computer to actually use its RAM, take the modules out and set them on your desk. Now that pesky Vista can't waste your precious RAM.
     
    owkia, Sep 10, 2008
    #62
  13. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

    Reputations:
    2,071
    Messages:
    5,234
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    What? Did you just say that a 250gb drive uses a 160gb disk? How does that work??

    ...

    Anyway, I agree with all of owkia's comments about Vista's RAM use.
    Of course how much RAM you need depends on what you're running though.
     
    swarmer, Sep 10, 2008
    #63
  14. Myleftnut

    Myleftnut Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I would think the 250gb uses 2x125gb platters whereas the 160 and 320 uses 160gb platters.
     
    Myleftnut, Sep 10, 2008
    #64
  15. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Read the datasheets....its clearly stated 2 disks/3 heads.

    Two 160GB disks, 80GB each surface, and one 80GB surface has a missing head, so only three 80GB surfaces are usable. Access times should be better since data is split between 3 heads, instead of 4, which is more efficient.
    Owhh....Thx for letting me know.. :rolleyes:
     
    Andy, Sep 10, 2008
    #65
  16. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Phil, Sep 10, 2008
    #66
  17. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    There was no WD2500BEVT Phil :rolleyes:

    I had been tracking the release of the WD3200BEVT, and it was released 5 months after the release of the WD2500BEVS/E. (Its likely that they use different density disks)

    And I am currently looking for the datasheet of the HM251JJ, 250GB 7200RPM, faster than most 320GB 7200RPMs in some sbenchies. (Checkout Tomshardware -> new chart layout :D)
     
    Andy, Sep 10, 2008
    #67
  18. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Phil, Sep 10, 2008
    #68
  19. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Yeah, could be. Similiarly, the WD2500BEVS also could be having 2 disks/4 heads.

    I am looking fwd to buy the WD2500BEKT from a local high street store, so when I do, I'll upload a detailed comparison between the 320/250GBs.
     
    Andy, Sep 10, 2008
    #69
  20. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

    Reputations:
    2,071
    Messages:
    5,234
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Interesting... that adds up to 240gb... where does the extra 10gb come from?
     
    swarmer, Sep 10, 2008
    #70
  21. Mohdoo

    Mohdoo Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So theses 7200.3s are better than the black scorpios by WD? I know one of the great things about the WD was the lack of heat. How are the 7200.3s with heat?
     
    Mohdoo, Sep 10, 2008
    #71
  22. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    IDK, but the math works out only with the 240GB....
     
    Andy, Sep 10, 2008
    #72
  23. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    According to this review the WD is faster.

    According to the benchmarks some of our users ran the Seagate is faster.

    I think the Seagate is faster and Techreport had an early version of it.

    The Seagate is cooler as far as I know.
     
    Phil, Sep 10, 2008
    #73
  24. Mohdoo

    Mohdoo Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Purchasing the seagate, many thanks :)
     
    Mohdoo, Sep 10, 2008
    #74
  25. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Phil, Sep 10, 2008
    #75
  26. Mohdoo

    Mohdoo Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Mohdoo, Sep 10, 2008
    #76
  27. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

    Reputations:
    4,071
    Messages:
    4,208
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    It's not in stock...problaly will never be...lol
     
    Han Bao Quan, Sep 10, 2008
    #77
  28. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    It could be true because 250GBs were going for $79. Prices in Europe have fallen too.

    Maybe Seagate is clearing out stock for the 7200.4 500GB.
     
    Phil, Sep 11, 2008
    #78
  29. sreesub

    sreesub Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    U can order it at PCUniverse even though it is back ordered. THere is also a coupon welcome08 that will give you 5% off. With shipping it is still below $90.
     
    sreesub, Sep 11, 2008
    #79
  30. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    You can probably register here, and get some more cashback, etc.... :p
     
    Andy, Sep 11, 2008
    #80
← Previous page