Faster hard driver or core 2 duo?

Which laptop would you guys select...

A laptop with a 100GB (7200rpm) hard drive & core duo 2.0ghz

or

A laptop with a 60GB (5400rpm) hard drive & core 2 duo 2.0ghz

All other options being equal and price is the same.



Why is this in the HP forum you might be asking...because its a HP NC8430 I am debating over.

 

Thats a tricky one. The hard drive in the first one would certainly help with load times, and also has a lot more storage space on it. But the other one, has a faster processor.

If i had to choose between them, I would opt for the second one. I say that because it does have a faster processor, and also has 64-bit. Another thin g is that upgrading a processor is quite difficult, not to mentoin the extra cost, whereas upgrading a hard drive isn't too hard.

 

If you are not going to be gaming a lot, go with 60GB and Core 2 Duo, since the Core 2 Duo is 64-bit and is ready for the 64-bit version of Vista. You could always upgrade the HD later. If upgrading to Vista is not so important, then go for the 100GB and Core Duo. It will better at gaming.

 

I'd get the second one...it is far easier to upgrade a hard drive, and it doesn't void a warranty.

 

I'd get the second one, because I'd want to have lots of RAM (which makes HDD speed less important), I have lots of HD space on my desktop (so I can live with a smaller disk on a notebook), and as a programmer who likes to play around with my computer, I'd like 64-bit support.

If you have no *specific* need for 64-bit, I'd probably get the one with the faster HDD.

 

I might be off the mark here, but wouldn't a 7200RPM HD use more battery power as well? If so, then I'd vote that unless you have a specific need for the 7200, the Core 2 Duo choice would do nothing other than benefit you.

 

The Core 2 Duo, while marginally faster and marginally better with battery life, will not provide any other practical advantages. You do not need 64-bit support, period, and it's likely that 64-bit Windows will not be as usable as 32-bit Windows for some time.

A 7200rpm drive will provide immediate benefits in loading times.

 

If I were you I would get the Core 2 Duo. You can easily get your own 7200 RPM hard drive later. It is more difficult to upgrade the processor. Also, for most people a 60 GB hard drive is plenty. Besides, even the 5400 RPM hard drive is fast enough for most people even for gaming.

 

Agreed -- its a whole lot easier to upgrade the processor than the hard disk, so I'd go with the Core2 Duo and smaller drive.

I did upgrade the disk on my nc8430, went very smoothly.

 

I think you meant to reverse that...





But, as the crowd says, it is much easier to upgrade the hard drive later on.

Go with the Core 2 Duo.

 

Has anyone here actually upgraded the processor in a Hp/Compaq notebook? I upgraded the CPU a couple times in my current desktop, and was curious if it would essentially be the same thing once you get everything apart.

 

Pretty much once you access the processor, the process is the same as in a desktop. The only hard part in a laptop is accessing it. Fortunately HP has a service manuals available but I still hate to disassemble the whole darn laptop.

 

id go with the 2ghz because its alot easier upgrading the hdd and some times you cant upgrade the processor plus it would be cheaper to upgrade the hdd anyway.