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.

    How much faster is a 160GB 5400RPM SATA HD than a 200GB 4200RPM?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by SarcasticMrKnowItAll, Apr 21, 2007.

  1. SarcasticMrKnowItAll

    SarcasticMrKnowItAll Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I think this is the right forum for this question. Anyway, I have a history of loading up on music, pics and videos really fast, so a 200GB seemed right, but then I heard that the HD mentioned in the topic title is slower and more likely to fail. I could backup using DVDs, so I'm just curious if anyone could give me some specifics on the disparity in speed.

    Thanks in advance
     
    SarcasticMrKnowItAll, Apr 21, 2007
    #1
  2. sesshomaru

    sesshomaru Suspended Disbelief!

    Reputations:
    316
    Messages:
    1,918
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    A 5400 RPM, 160 Gig drive nears the performance of a 7200 RPM, 100Gig drive. While a 4200 RPM drive is just what it looks like-Slow. In this case, the bigger size does not make a difference. Part of the reason why the 160G, 5400 RPM drive is faster, is that it employs perpendicular technology. Although, If you are really particular about speed, 160 Gig, 7200 RPM drives are beginning to show up.
     
    sesshomaru, Apr 21, 2007
    #2
  3. RogueMonk

    RogueMonk Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    369
    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Neither drive is more or less likely to fail. They are the same in that regard.

    The 4200 rpm drive will be slower, but not lots slower.
     
    RogueMonk, Apr 21, 2007
    #3
  4. otaku

    otaku Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    1,293
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    5400 is pretty much the sweet spot for notebooks after that your compromising battery life for perormance (that and storage space) 4200RPM imo is much to slow.
     
    otaku, Apr 21, 2007
    #4
  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,197
    Messages:
    28,841
    Likes Received:
    2,166
    Trophy Points:
    581
    John Ratsey, Apr 21, 2007
    #5