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Thread ID: 27989 2002-12-08 05:05:00 5400 or 7200rpm HDD speed fergie (424) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
104168 2002-12-08 05:05:00 Hi
is 7200rpm any better than 5400rpm (hardrive speed) is it worth the extra $30 or so dollars?
Also, Does the HDD cache size and seek time make much of a difference?
cheers
fergie (424)
104169 2002-12-08 05:08:00 Depending on what you use your computer for but if you can afford it, personal opinion would be go for the 7200 regardless. I did notice a difference between 7200 that we have now and a slower but unknown spin rate of a the drive before. duckyduck (197)
104170 2002-12-08 05:39:00 ok
I mainly use my PC for games (thus reason for new HDD), so would it speed up installing them etc?
Also, I sometimes image the cd to HDD and run it from that (save cd's)
Also, a little music, office programs etc
fergie (424)
104171 2002-12-08 07:03:00 You will notice the difference. Its worth the $30 extra. godfather (25)
104172 2002-12-08 07:33:00 Go for the 7200. It sped my PC up by at least 40% where as a CPU change from 120Mhz to 333Mhz only sped it up by about 20%.

I always go for the 7200 now.
Big John (551)
104173 2002-12-08 08:43:00 general rule is 5400rpm are quiet cheaper and run cooler but lose out on some speed and more importantly seek speed. for a such a minimal $$ a 7200rpm is the way to go for a gaming machine. tweak'e (174)
104174 2002-12-08 16:20:00 I instralled an ATA 133 7200 hard drive and have not noticed any difference.But I don't play games on it. Guess it all depends on what you use it for.
Jack.
JJJJJ (528)
104175 2002-12-08 20:48:00 I'd go with it, even though it may be a little noisier... Apparently the outter disc spins at speeds of close to 800km p/h! That's what I remember hearing anyways! Chilling_Silence (9)
104176 2002-12-08 20:53:00 I bought a 7200rpm drive around april this year. At the LAN gaming thingy I was at last weekend, it was interesting to see how much difference it made.

Even though we all have almost identical machines (all AXP 1800+, but with differing gfx), I was into the game and playing before most of the other guys with slower hdds were half way through the "loading" screen.

I would never consider buying another 5400rpm drive after using a 7200.
Stormwarden (388)
104177 2002-12-08 20:55:00 I would go for the 7200rpm HDD. The speed difference is great and for the price difference is probably one of the best upgrades you could do for performance gains, and maybe one of the least known ones??
Everyone always goes on about more RAM, faster CPU, faster video card etc. but hardly ever say anything about HDD rpm speeds.
Also with todays technology I don't think they are any louder than 5400rpm drives. I have sometimes had trouble telling if a 7200rpm HDD is actually going!
CYaBro (73)
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