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    Question about HD RPM

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JMiles, Jun 20, 2006.

  1. JMiles

    JMiles Notebook Consultant

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    Hello,

    I am purchasing a Dell Inspiron E1705 with the following specs...

    Intel® Core™ Solo Processor T1300 (1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
    Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
    17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
    256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS
    2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz

    Would it make a huge difference if I selected a 5400rpm HD instead of a 7200rpm HD? I know 7200rpm is better but do I really need it? Thanks in advance.
     
    JMiles, Jun 20, 2006
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  2. Iter

    Iter Notebook Evangelist

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    Pretty sure, i'm using a 7200rpm HD with a low-end CPU AMD Sempron 2600+ and 256+512MB DDR333. It is fast and very smooth during running the Windows and application. If you need to run some huge programs, it can improve the performance overall.
     
    Iter, Jun 20, 2006
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  3. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    But it will lower the battery life and produce more heat.

    JC
     
    NetBrakr, Jun 20, 2006
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  4. fizzleation

    fizzleation Notebook Consultant

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    in terms of heat, there are several threads in this forum that say otherwise. Battery ife will be affected but it shouldn't be huge and it is more than worth it if you are using demanding applications

    Samuel
     
    fizzleation, Jun 20, 2006
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  5. tennisplayer121

    tennisplayer121 Notebook Geek

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    I wouldn't go with a 5,400 at all. Especially since I see you have the 7900 gpu... I would definitely go with the 7200 rpm.
     
    tennisplayer121, Jun 20, 2006
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  6. fizzleation

    fizzleation Notebook Consultant

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    another good point, why bottleneck? your load times will also be much better!
     
    fizzleation, Jun 21, 2006
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  7. sheff159

    sheff159 Notebook Deity

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    Yes a good saying for computers and hard drive, that also fits well here since hes getting the 7900. "Your computer is only as fast as its slowest part" that being the hard drive wether or not you have a 5400 or a 7200. The 7200 is just that much better. Also if your going to be playing say half life 2, get the fastest hard drive you can get, since that game dosent run of the disc, but directly off the hard drive. The load times on my aging desktop (5400rpm hard drive) are around 3 minutes, and there often in that game.
     
    sheff159, Jun 21, 2006
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  8. JMiles

    JMiles Notebook Consultant

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    Alright, thanks for the tips and pointers :)
     
    JMiles, Jun 21, 2006
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  9. RogueMonk

    RogueMonk Notebook Deity

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    No it won't. This is a misconception based on first generation 7200rpm drives as compared to 4200 rpm drives. Current generation 7200rpm drives consume no more power and produce no more heat than an average 5400 rpm drive.
     
    RogueMonk, Jun 21, 2006
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  10. Iter

    Iter Notebook Evangelist

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    It doesn't take much power i expect. When i am using it with mobmeter, the temp. only up to 52 degree C.
     
    Iter, Jun 21, 2006
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  11. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    I see, thanks.

    JC
     
    NetBrakr, Jun 21, 2006
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  12. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    I replace my 4200 with a Hitachi 7K100 7200 rpm drive. On the drives the 7200 pulls 10% more power (1.00 amps vs 1.10 amps). Don't know what 5400 rpm drives pull. But the side affect is that your double the speed (50-55mbps vs 25) of the drive. So you end up netting 80% in productivity vs battery. A nice side affect is you are no longer waiting on your HD.
     
    blue68f100, Jun 21, 2006
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  13. Tokuman

    Tokuman Notebook Evangelist

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    I doubt you are concerned about battery life on a 17 incher, since it gets no battery life anyway. I am running a E1505 with the 5400 and I can't think of paying 150 dollors more to get the samed size drive, for performance that I don't need.
     
    Tokuman, Jun 21, 2006
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