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    Noob question about upgrading a hard drive.

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Amnesiac, Oct 30, 2009.

  1. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    I currently have a 200GB Hitachi 5400RPM drive in my notebook. Is it upgradeable to something like a Western Digital Scorpio Blue, or even an SSD? I have taken some pictures of the connectors that the hard drive uses, and also some pictures of the drive itself.

    Also, would the performance gain from going from a 5400RPM drive to a 7200RPM drive be worth it, or is the difference negligible?

    *Note: I have posted links to the photos instead of putting them in the message because the pictures are huge, and are too big to thumbnail.

    http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww188/Raptor015/LaptopHardDrive7-1.jpg
    http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww188/Raptor015/LaptopHardDrive6Edited.jpg
    http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww188/Raptor015/LaptopHardDrive6Edited.jpg
    http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww188/Raptor015/LaptopHardDrive4Edited.jpg

    Is it upgradeable? Or does it use proprietory connectors that require a certain drive? Sorry, I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to laptop hard drives.

    And yes, I do realise it is in it's caddy.
     
    Amnesiac, Oct 30, 2009
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    That's just a standard 2.5" SATA HDD. Almost any HDD can replace it, as long as it's 2.5" SATA.
     
    Lithus, Oct 30, 2009
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  3. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    To upgrade, you just carefully unplug the connector from the HDD, and buy another 2.5", then replug. Careful not to rip the wires.

    I had a 5400 RPM 320 GB and now a 7200 RPM 500 GB. I dunno if I was imagining it but in games such as Crysis it loaded more quickly. Can't testify to daily usage since I never had Vista on my 7200 RPM. I think if you are doing a lot of file transfer and file modification (photo editing, video, etc.) then 7200 RPM is worth it, otherwise 5400 RPM is good for most uses. Apparently a HDD with more storage space is faster since the data is more densely-packed, and therefore if spinning at the same speed the data is easier to get accessed.
     
    fred2028, Oct 30, 2009
    #3
  4. pmassey31545

    pmassey31545 Whats the mission sir?

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    See above posts. And just make sure your MOBO and BIOS can support whatever size you put in. I think mine(sig) will support 2X500Gb. Just check to make sure before you spend money on something you can't use.
     
    pmassey31545, Oct 30, 2009
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  5. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    How am I supposed to unplug the connector? I had the HDD out of the laptop, so wouldn't that count as unplugging it? Or is there some adapter or something that is still on the HDD or on the part that the HDD connected to?
     
    Amnesiac, Oct 30, 2009
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  6. yay

    yay Notebook Consultant

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    Yes the picture with the hard drive that you have posted is unplugged from you computer. Now you just have to plug /put your new replacement back in. That's it!
     
    yay, Oct 30, 2009
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  7. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Oh that's good then. I thought that he meant some sort of adapter connector was still attached.
     
    Amnesiac, Oct 30, 2009
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  8. Wiz33

    Wiz33 Notebook Deity

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    Also, depending on how much stuff is installed in your old HD and if you don't want to re-install everything. Investing in a program like Arconis True Image will clone your current HD to the new one if you get an external enclosure. Then you can simply swap the new one in and reformat your old HD as an external HD.
     
    Wiz33, Oct 30, 2009
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  9. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    I don't think that it will work that well since I have a dual booting drive at the moment.
     
    Amnesiac, Oct 30, 2009
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  10. mtarm1

    mtarm1 Notebook Evangelist

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    mtarm1, Oct 31, 2009
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