Seagate FreeAgent: 5400 vs 7200 RPM

I need a new backup HD and the Seagate FreeAgent has some great reviews. So I start looking here and there for best prices on a 500GB unit and I find there are about a dozen different model numbers! Some are 5400 rpm, others are 7200 rpm, all have different specs for various functions. What I want is a good, reliable external HD. I do NOT care about "style" or "new." Some excellent backup software would be a plus. Function comes first and I will not be traveling with it, so size is less important than function. Any recommendations? I do not expect to run apps from the drive, either. A "last-year's model would be fine, too!

Thank you for any feedback here . . .

 

If you want something cheap and good these should work fine

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8475063&type=product&id=1185271084002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822101081

 

Cheap is not really an issue, either, with most 500 GB drives pretty much being cheap these days. Reliability is the Big Issue. My ancient (4 yrs old) Seagate 80 GB drive still works great, is huge by today's standards, but it's full! So let's talk excellent and price isn't a consideration.

 

I believe both models are fairly reliable, perhaps the WD is more well known but I think both drives will get the job done. They both have 1 year warranties so if its a bad drive it should fail before then.

If you want go with an excellent drive and from what I have read comes with very intuitive backup software that works nicely

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148240

 

Yeah, but . . . I liked that one from the beginning, but have you read the reviews? Even the reviews on that newegg page are about half very negative and consistent in the problems they reported. Big red flag, I'd say. Seems like Seagate put more emphasis on style and diminutive size than on the function of the drive. Almost everyone says it gets way too hot, and as many report that the software is buggy.

Again, if the drive is bigger and even if it makes a little fan noise, I'd rather that than a tiny unit that will self destruct from its own heat!

 

it got fair ratings on cnet's rating, whether people like their opinions or not, they are generally viewed as giving accurate information. Seagate does seem to have the best bundled software though, if you dont mind using freeware (which in my opinion is pretty good too) you open up to a lot more options.

 

Assuming that I did go with the Seagate unit, we're back to the numerous different models. For a backup that us used for only that purpose, would a 5400 rpm unit run cooler than a 7200 rpm one? Is there any advantage to the higher speed other than faster access times?

 

Just a quick followup here. I did a LOT of research on reviews of all the current external drives. Most are so-so, some are absolutely dismal with many complaints about the same issues. The one that kept coming up with the best reviews was the SimpleTech [re]drive R500U 500 GB Turbo. I ordered it from Amazon at $85 including shipping.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Since you're Freeagents use a USB connection, you will see pretty much no improvement by going faster than a 5400RPM drive. I'd even suggest a 4200, if they even make those. Your bottleneck will not be drive speed, it'll be bus speed.

Unless you have an eSATA port and get the xTreme version of the Freeagent, but I really doubt that.