Advice on a new HDD?

[AntiFreze]

Currently I have an old 40gb ATA hard drive with an additional 80gb hard drive that is going out. I'm upgrading to Vista and just want a single drive. I'd like to spend between $50-$100 and be over 200gb. Here are what im deciding between:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148262

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136074

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD502lJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $62.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152098

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
- $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136073

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136319


The difference between 250 and 640 doesnt mean too much to me. I store just a little bit of music, no movies, and dont mind uninstalling old games to make room. One of my concerns is noise. I'd really like a quiet drive.

so... any recommendations?

 

[masteryoda34]

The WD 640GB drives are good because they only have 2 platters. (Making them faster, quieter, more power efficient.)

 

[AntiFreze]

yeah, I think I'm going to go with that one. it was either that one or the 16mb cache 320gb for $54.99. I think $30 validates double the cache and double the size.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: AntiFreze
I think $30 validates double the cache and double the size.

Definately

 

[California Roll]

You can buy 1tb drives for less than $100 these days, unless you're deliberately looking for a smaller drive?

 

[Denithor]

WD6400AAKS Caviar Blue - 640GB - 16MB cache

Priced at $75 this is about the best $/GB available right now. One of the best performing <$100 hard drives out today as well.

 

[Fallengod]

The WD 640GB black is what I went with. I was just in the similar situation recently wanting a storage drive.

I found the buy.com seller on ebay and had the 30% cashback so, ended up getting 640GB black with 5 year warranty for like $65 shipped heh. Cant beat that.

I personally think the black with the longer warranty, less power usage and heat is worth the little bit extra over the blue but.....to each his own.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: AntiFreze
yeah, I think I'm going to go with that one. it was either that one or the 16mb cache 320gb for $54.99. I think $30 validates double the cache and double the size.

Another downside to to 320GB is, from what I've read, there are two versions of the 320AAKS out there. One has 1 320GB platter and the other has 2 160GB platters so you're not guaranteed to get a single platter drive. I was going to get two of these and Raid 0 them ended up going with the 640AALS instead based on this info. Personally, I just picked up a 640AALS and I love it.