SSD with a Hybrid HDD or a traditional HDD?

Currently, I have a 120 GB Intel 320 SSD and a Seagate 320GB HDD. Windows, programs, and the User folder are on the SSD. Program Data and everything else are on the HDD. I'm running out of space on my HDD so it seems to be time for an upgrade. I have a 500 GB 5400 RPM Seagate in my old laptop that I could use, so how much worse would that be compared to a 7200 RPM drive?
Anyway, Newegg has the Seagate Momentus XT (500GB Version) for $70. What I'm wondering is, with an SSD as a primary drive already, will the Momentus XT do much for me or is my money better spent on a traditional drive?

 

While you won't feel the umph of using a hybrid HDD as a sidekick to an SSD as you would with it as your main drive, the solid state cache on the XT is nice if you're dealing with lots of small files. For larger files there will be little to zero difference.

7200 vs 5400. These days anything 5400rpm considered old news. Id get a 750gb running at 7200 over a 1tb at 5400. Heat/noise difference are minimal compared to performance gain. There are plenty of benchmarks on Google

The 500gb xt for $70 is a fantastic deal however. Get it

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Not entire true. Because of below...

A higher density in the 5400 would mean the two drives would perform similarly. You would see a difference between a 500GB @5400 and a 750GB @7200 but it is not necessarily true for the two drives you have compared.

This is true. That is a pretty good deal.

 

You are absolutely correct. My comparison was an over generalization and the performance difference will depend on the specific drives. Even at the higher density however the 5400 drive will perform 5-10% slower if comparing top grade to top grade drives. However, this results in zero real life difference lol.

Anyways. Get the xt!

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While the throughput may be similar, a 7200RPM drive will offer better latency, which has a bigger effect on how fast the drive feels. I'd still vote for a larger 5400RPM drive as you don't need speed for storage.

 

I would go with convectional drive if there is a cost difference, but same price, the XT or which ever is cheaper with the longer warranty.

There is an XT thread where some user were trying to determine if the XT was caching properly as a secondary drive. I use it as a primary drive but looking hard at the 480GB Muskin SSD.. still waiting on the $200, 5 year warranty price point.

 

The question now though, is will 500gb be enough?

I agree that you don't need speed for storage, but I have more than just documents on my secondary drive. I have all my program data and all my games on it. Will a 5400 slow down games or programs much?

Convectional drive? I think I have a convection oven... Haha sorry, I couldn't resist.


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LOL, now typing conventional 100 times...