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    Looking for 7200RPM HD upgrade

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by strangesweet, Aug 1, 2008.

  1. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    strangesweet, Aug 1, 2008
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  2. Jamaicanyouth

    Jamaicanyouth Notebook Evangelist

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    You are better off sticking with the 5400 rpm drive or get a larger capacity 7200 rpm drive.
     
    Jamaicanyouth, Aug 1, 2008
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  3. Storm3016

    Storm3016 Notebook Evangelist

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    Not that i disagree, but you could at least explain why dude....
     
    Storm3016, Aug 1, 2008
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  4. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    But isn't 7200 RPM faster than 5400RPM?
     
    strangesweet, Aug 1, 2008
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  5. Phil

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    Yes the WD you mentioned is faster than 5400rpm drives.

    Go for the WD it's an excellent choice. Search for WD1600BEKT on these forums and you'll find more info.

    Your other option would be a Hitachi 200GB 7k200 for $92 dicussed in the other harddrive thread that's running at the moment.
     
    Phil, Aug 1, 2008
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  6. mittman84

    mittman84 Notebook Guru

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    Because at a certan point a larger 5400rpm is faster than a smaller 7200rpm HD. I have the choice between a dual 320GB 7k HD (160 x 2) or a 250GB 5400rpm HD. What would be better? Obviously a 320gb 7k would be faster, but I didn't know what would happen since it isnt truely a 320gb, it is two 160gb 7200rpms. These are the options I am looking at for the dv7t (160 x 2 is the only 7200 they offer). What would be faster? Thanks guys
     
    mittman84, Aug 1, 2008
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  7. Phil

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    Unfortunately it's impossible to tell without knowing what brand and model they are exactly.

    In the best case it would be a one platter drive like Hitachi 7K320 160GB or WD1600BEKT which would mean it's really fast.

    But it could also be an older Fujitsu or Toshiba that are not the best performers.

    I'd buy it with the cheapest harddrive options and then replace with the best harddrives you can buy yourself.
     
    Phil, Aug 1, 2008
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  8. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    strangesweet, Aug 1, 2008
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  9. Slaughterhouse

    Slaughterhouse Knock 'em out!

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    Would there be any difference in performance of say a 200 GB 7200 RPM vs a 320 GB 7200 RPM hard drive? Obviously there's a difference in space but I wonder if that translates into performance? Is it worth the $85 upgrade?
     
    Slaughterhouse, Aug 2, 2008
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  10. Phil

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    Again it depends on what brand and model harddrives you're comparing.

    But generally speaking they perform quite similar. Except if the 200GB happens to be the Hitachi 7K200, which is faster than 320/5400.

    You can find most of these drives here: Tom's hardware.
     
    Phil, Aug 2, 2008
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  11. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    That's one the fastes harddrives at the moment. Only the Hitachi 320GB 7K320 seems to be faster.

    These will be the fastest drives untill 500GB/7200rpm drives appear at the end of the year.
     
    Phil, Aug 2, 2008
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  12. Dook

    Dook Notebook Virtuoso

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    In most cases, yes. The higher aerial density(when comparing equal RPM) equates to better performance.
     
    Dook, Aug 2, 2008
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  13. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    So Scorpio Black 160GB 7200RPM is slower than 250GB 5400RPM (bundled from HP dv4t which I'll be getting in few weeks)
     
    strangesweet, Aug 2, 2008
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  14. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Have to disagree with that one. In all the real life benchmarks I've seen they come close but the 320GB are not faster than the 200GB/7200rpm. The only way they are faster is in synthetic benchmarks (like HDTune) which are not a good indication of real life performance.
    Example: here.

    If you could show me real life benchmarks of 200GB/7200rpm being outperformed by 320GB/5400rpm I'll believe you.
     
    Phil, Aug 2, 2008
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  15. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    No the 1600BEKT is faster because it is 7200 rpm and has one platter with 160GB, instead of the 250GB which has two platters of 125GB and 5400rpm.
     
    Phil, Aug 2, 2008
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  16. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for the answer. Yes, although 320GB is nicer, I already have 250GB WD external HD and I don't use up a lot of notebook HD, so I think 160GB is fine considering price.

    Do I just swap HD and insert recovery CD and would it run the recovery system automatically or do I have to change some BIOs options?
     
    strangesweet, Aug 2, 2008
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  17. Dook

    Dook Notebook Virtuoso

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    He was asking about a comparison of 7200rpm drives. Please re-read the question.
     
    Dook, Aug 2, 2008
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  18. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Yes you are right I misread the question :)
     
    Phil, Aug 2, 2008
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  19. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    I have a question. I was looking at Bestbuy.com and they have Scorpio model as well.. but the model number is different. So I was wondering if they're samething. I prefer buying offline because of shipping (I live in Hawaii and S&H is ridiculously expensive).

    I can also use 10% Best Buy Coupon too.

    BB model just says 'Western Digital - Scorpio', but if you enlarge the image, it says Scorpio Black.

    WD3200KTRTL
    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...gital&lp=8&type=product&cp=1&id=1213047091665

    WD3200BEKT
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136280
     
    strangesweet, Aug 3, 2008
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  20. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    i recommend the 7.2k ........... pls remember that in most application the speed of the slowest part of the computer determines its actual speed. the hdd is the slowest part (excluding the optical drive as it is not needed usually). so i recommend a faster drive
     
    kuncheesh, Aug 3, 2008
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  21. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    It's the retail version of the 3200BEKT. A bit expensive but a very good drive.
     
    Phil, Aug 3, 2008
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  22. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    In regards to your post on first page about '200GB 7k200 for $92', where could I find such deal? I looked through 5 pages of Hardware Component forum, but couldnt find it.

    BTW that's the Hitachi Travelstar right? I actually did buy this one before for my Vaio, but I found out it was the motherboard's problem, so I returned it.
     
    strangesweet, Aug 3, 2008
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  23. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Aug 3, 2008
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  24. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    Retail version of 7K200 comes with HD enclosure. Well, it looks like it's sold out at Best Buy for the moment.
     
    strangesweet, Aug 3, 2008
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  25. Paulxp

    Paulxp Newbie

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    Hello! I have one question only... When will be available WD Scorpio Black 320 GB (model WD3200BJKT with sensor) in stores ?
     
    Paulxp, Aug 3, 2008
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  26. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Probably within the next month or so when stock of the drives builds back up. Whenever something new gets released, the manufacturer sends say like 75% of their stock to different etailers, and when it gets released all of the techies buy them up, so shortly after they are all sold out. When stock builds back up again they will be available. The sensor model should be out soon, but it really shouldnt be the turning point in the buying decision since it does not do very much.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Aug 3, 2008
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  27. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hello, I heard my name mentioned :p . Yes, it is the Hitachi Travelstar. I got it at Zipzoomfly for a great price with rebate. The rebate has expired, but they still have great prices on drives at the moment.
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 3, 2008
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  28. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    Thank you very much for the great information!
     
    strangesweet, Aug 4, 2008
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  29. mason_721

    mason_721 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is this true? How does one go about replacing a hard drive in a brand new notebook? Will it void the warranty as well?

    I am considering picking up a dv5t. I am torn between the 7.2K 160GB, or the 5.4K 320GB. If I get just a plain small 5.4K 120GB, and I swap it out for say a Western Digital 7.2K 320, will I void my factory/extended warranty?
     
    mason_721, Aug 4, 2008
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  30. devanmmc

    devanmmc Notebook Guru

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    it wont void the warranty on most i would say. i know it wont void the warranty on my asus. Also, my recovery disc worked with the new drive in it. i think, but have not tried, to force windows to boot up after cloning it to a new drive.
     
    devanmmc, Aug 4, 2008
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  31. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Aug 4, 2008
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