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    Need to replace hard drive...got some questions

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by dblb48, Jun 9, 2009.

  1. dblb48

    dblb48 Notebook Consultant

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    Im going to replace my 160 gb hd because I need to in order for my comjputer to work, haha. So i was going to go w/ a 500 gb or a 320 gb hd. My questions are: I am looking at a 500 gb at 7200 rpm w/ 16 cache...is it worth the extra 30 dollars as opposed to the cheaper one at 5400 rpm and 8 cache? Or should I go with a 320 at 7200 rpm and 16 cache for about 60 bucks cheaper? thanks for any help
     
    dblb48, Jun 9, 2009
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  2. mullenbooger

    mullenbooger Former New York Giant

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    It really depends on you as well as the specific models. If you tell us the brand and model number we can tell you which ones are faster. If the 7200rpm 500gb drive is the seagate, I believe that is currently the fastest notebook hard-drive. If the 5400rpm is a 2-platter 500gb, then that and the 320gb 7200rpm drives should be roughly similar in speed (i think the 320gb 7200rpm is slightly faster). Is it worth 60bucks to get a smaller drive, I dunno, depends if you need the space.
     
    mullenbooger, Jun 9, 2009
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  3. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    If speed is important you'd do well to get a 7200 rpm disk. They draw the same amount of power (I am using the word with great precsion).
    -Renee
     
    Renee, Jun 9, 2009
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  4. mattmcss

    mattmcss Notebook Deity

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    I would probably go with the 320GB 7200 RPM drive with 16mb cache, I don't know this for sure but I know the first batch of 500GB 7200 rpm drives had problems, not sure if they've been revised since.
     
    mattmcss, Jun 9, 2009
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  5. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes. yes, Matt.
    -Renee
     
    Renee, Jun 9, 2009
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  6. mattmcss

    mattmcss Notebook Deity

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    Issues with the first gen have been fixed?
     
    mattmcss, Jun 9, 2009
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  7. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    Power consumption is not identical from drive to drive. A 7200rpm disk will generally consume more power, but that isn't to say faster drives have not become more efficient, just that isn't a general fact.
     
    jaredy, Jun 9, 2009
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  8. dblb48

    dblb48 Notebook Consultant

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    thanks for the insight guys. Also, Im running a T61.
    I heard in another thread that the t61 wont support SATA 3.0 GB/s, so I need a 1.5...is that true because I have googled it and it seems as if though the T61's motherboard will support all of em...
     
    dblb48, Jun 9, 2009
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  9. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

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    A SATA 3.0 GB/s type drive will work just fine. The bus is just limited. You are not going to hit any speeds that would warrant being concerned about that limitation unless you were using an ultra fast SSD.
     
    jaredy, Jun 9, 2009
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  10. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    A 7200 rpm disk will draw more current but for a shorter amount of time which is why I chose power. Btw, Hitachi rates them the same.
    -Renee
     
    Renee, Jun 9, 2009
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