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    What'd be a suitable HD-upgrade for a four-year-old laptop?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Aimless, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. Aimless

    Aimless Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hullo everyone!

    I'm thinking of upgrading my laptop's hard-drive, but I haven't been able to figure out what to get. Specifically, I can't figure out whether or not modern hard-drives will be compatible with my laptop, and whether or not I'll see any benefit from choosing one running at 7200 RPM rather than at 5400 RPM.

    My laptop is an old Pavilion dv5000 with an SB400 southbridge, and the HD is a 100GB Momentus ATA drive from seagate running at 4200 RPM.

    From what I've gathered, I should be looking for some newish single-platter HD around 200-250 GB in size, running at 5400 RPM.

    My questions:

    1. What more do I need to know about my comp or about a HD before I buy it?

    2. Would I see any significant benefits from using a 7200 RPM drive? Would such a drive be louder and hotter than a 5400 RPM drive?

    3. Do you guys have any recommendations for reliable good-value drives meeting the above criteria? :)     I've mostly heard good things about Samsung's and WD's drives.



    Any and all help you can offer would be appreciated... I am completely at a loss here >_<

    PS. This laptop won't be my primary computer for long, so I'm not particularly interested in getting a massive HD. Mostly just interested in a performance-boost and reliability, as well as low temp.
     
    Aimless, Dec 21, 2009
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  2. Mr.KL

    Mr.KL Notebook Evangelist

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    Bra, check your BIOS to determine max capacity speed etc.
     
    Mr.KL, Dec 21, 2009
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  3. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    First, I'll assume your HD is SATA, correct?

    Going with that assumption, I would recommend any current HD that is 7200 RPM. Most likely cooler than the 'old' HD you have now, even at 5400 RPM and of course, much faster.

    The higher capacity models are usually the new ones with the latest 'tech' inside. Even if you don't need the capacity, get the bigger one because it will be faster, cooler and use less power compared to a smaller, but older tech model of the same brand.

    The one I recommend is the Hitachi 7K500 - the current capacity/speed king.

    See:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145275


    Keep your eye out for specials on this model - I picked mine up for $80.

    Good luck and Happy Holidays!
     
    tilleroftheearth, Dec 21, 2009
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  4. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    If your drive is ATA go for Samsung HM160HC. Fastest ATA drive with excellent power consumption.

    WD has a 320GB ATA drive that is fast but uses more power.
     
    Phil, Dec 21, 2009
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  5. Aimless

    Aimless Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks!

    It's an ATA drive and I don't think there are any SATA connectors, so that recommendation def. helps :)
     
    Aimless, Dec 21, 2009
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  6. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Aimless,

    Sorry for the SATA link then! I did see your 'ATA' description of your HD, but searching for DV5000 brought SATA spec's for that model.

    With that said, I second Phil's recommendation too!

    Cheers!
     
    tilleroftheearth, Dec 21, 2009
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  7. Aimless

    Aimless Notebook Enthusiast

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    No worries :)

    Btw, that drive might be hard to get hold of here in Sweden at a reasonable price (ie. less than that of a modern drive =P)...

    ... if that proves to be the case, are there any that come to mind as being a close second??
     
    Aimless, Dec 21, 2009
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  8. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Phil, Dec 21, 2009
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  9. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Completely agreed with Phil.
    HM160HC is the best drive for you.
    I do NOT think your laptop supports the 320gb drives. I have heard many complaints of some of the older HP's not reading large drives.
    You should be safe with 160gb. You may need to format it to 137GB, and 23GB in order for windows to install, but it isnt hard to do.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Dec 21, 2009
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  10. Aimless

    Aimless Notebook Enthusiast

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    Aaahh I knew there was something I was forgetting...! Thanks a bunch mate =) christmas miracle
     
    Aimless, Dec 21, 2009
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  11. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    K-TRON,

    why couldn't he/she also format the 320GB HD to less than 137GB for the C: partition and still use it? Two or three partitions later and the full use of the space is available! ;)
     
    tilleroftheearth, Dec 21, 2009
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  12. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Well that could be very possible.
    I dont know the prices in Sweden, but the HM160HC is half the price of the WD3200BEVE.
    coming from a 100gb drive, 160 would be huge, let alone 320.

    Its up to how much of a budget there is. You dont really need to be investing so much in an old laptop anymore. The cost of the HM160HC is the cost that breathes new life into an old laptop.
    My Dell Inspiron 8500 has the HM160HC in it. It loads as fast as my Hitachi 7K320. It cranks for a ~6yr old laptop

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Dec 21, 2009
    #12