New hard drive(s) or new laptop?

Alright, these seagate drives suck. Period. nothing but issues with them since i got them 2 weeks ago. from loud clicking noises to stuttering to the point where the computer wont respond. My response: never again will i buy a seagate product.

now my question is this. spend $400 on new hard drives (i figure if im upgrading, might as well get an ssd) Intel x25m 80 gb and hitachi 7k500 or just wait for the Asus G73JH-A1 to come out and get the SSD and intel 820Qm processor with it.

 

My choice would be to wait for the Asus.

 

Depends on whether you really need the new drives right now, or whether you can wait. An SSD can make your machine feel like it can last another 5 years easily, but if you can put up with them for a little while longer, the Asus would be a great deal.

Personally, I'd wait for the Asus G73. It's an amazing price for such a powerful machine, and will outpace a Clevo W870CU, in most games.

Alternatively you could just get a couple of 7K500's and still have enough money for the G73, if you can save up another $160 or so.

 

what would be the point in getting 2 7k500's when the G73 already comes with dual 500gb 7200 rpm drives?

i think thats what im going to do. i was going to pay off a bill with my tax return, but this computer problem is enough to make me want to throw the laptop out the window.

 

Oh yeah, forgot about that...

 

diablo85,

What I would do is get the 160GB Intel G2 (best SSD out right now) along with a Hitachi 7K500.

If this setup doesn't appease your need for speed, then you can always sell your current notebook, keep the SSD & Hitachi HD and put them in the new system. Why would you want to trade a 500GB Hitachi 7K500 for what the G73 comes with? Because even though they are 7200 RPM drives, they most likely will be Seagates, thats why.

I too have had horrible experience with the Seagate 7200.4's and am unwilling to put in the time to even try them (again) in a different system.

Good luck.

 

valid point tiller, but at the same time the 160gb intel costs over $200 more than the intel 80gb. not to mention the fact that although i would like to store my video games on an ssd for quicker loading, the fact that my steam games alone take up 100gb, along with ~30gb for my OS and programs, i would quickly fill up the ssd over 70%. if i were to get the 80gb intel, i wouldnt even be at 50% of the ssd filled as i would just use it for the OS and programs i use daily. i plan on ordering the hitachi 7k500 after i get paid again. hopefully there will a sweet deal on newegg around that time. and hopefully the G73 will be out shprtly thereafter.

 

While the 160GB Intel does perform better than the 80GB, it will be very hard (actually impossible) to notice the difference without using benchmark software.

I expect some people will claim that they can notice the difference. I'll take that with a grain of salt.

 

Phil, I know you're a benchmark kind of guy - but I have read reports in the SSD thread of people having both the 80GB and 160GB G2's and didn't know why the 160GB was faster until I pointed it out to them the 80GB and 160GB are not equivalent, performance-wise.

So, it is noticeable without benchmarking them, for some.

 

And you are sure they never ran a benchmark?

Can you point me to the post?

 

as OS that 'stutters' after a new drive is installed is usually a symptom of a problem with driver software.

check your chipset and disk controller driver levels.

 

diablo85, I totally agree with your reasoning for saving the $200, but note that by doing so you will be effectively negating the gains the SSD offers.

What I would do in your situation (if you can) is buy both size G2 models and perform a back to back test on each. Return the one that doesn't offer any additional performance for the money. (Having a no restocking fee outlet is mandatory for these 'test' type of situations).

From everything I've read, the 160GB is the one you'll keep. Even at 70% full or so, the 160GB G2 is still faster than the 50% filled 80GB model. (Remember, you can always still install games over to the Hitachi anything that would fill the SSD over 70%, right)

I just feel even if the performance was the same, an 80GB model will become 'obsolete' far sooner and lose its resell value faster than an 160GB model will. Not pushing one way or another except to provide you with addition information that may make your rethink your original decision.

Either way, seeing for yourself what a difference an SSD will make on your current setup will be helpful when specifying your next new platform.

Good luck.

 

Phil, sorry, no time for that (currently, the SSD thread has 3200 posts, lol...), but I will keep this thread in mind if I do happen to run across it.

 

It may have to do with the fact that their 80GB gets too full. Then I would easily believe it.

 

True, that is the 'easy' explanation, but don't think that was the case though...

 

I do... if you have any real life benchmarks between 80GB and 160GB I'd love to see them. I can't find any.

Edit: between a new 80GB G1 and a G2 160GB the differences in synthetic benchmarks are quite small
http://www.hardware.info/nl-NL/prod...prices/Intel_X25M_80GB_SATA2_SSDSA2MH080G1C5/
http://www.hardware.info/nl-NL/prod...s/Intel_X25M_Postville_160GB_SSDSA2MH160G2C1/

Of course after a while the G1 80Gb will degrade.

 

as far as installing games over to the hitachi, yes i could, so long as they arent attached to steam as i would keep OS, program files, and steam files on the SSD if i did indeed invest in the 160gb intel.

its something that ill look into, but cost wise, i think ill be better off with just an 80gb intel and the 7k500. my budget that i will not go a penny over is $2500 as that still leaves me with 2000 to put towards other (more important) things.

 

diablo85,

I like a person who knows what is important and one with the will power to see it through.

Stick to your budget!

 

uh...thanks. i guess??