Better HD or CPU to make best difference to an OS in particular?

[Innoka]

I have voucher to spend at a computer store.
My current HD runs at about 16mb/s, and I could buy a nice new one of over twice the size that will run at 32mb/s.
Would that be faster overall than raising processor speed from about 650 to a 1000? I already have plenty memory.
What makes an OS run faster, quicker CPU, HD or RAM? I've seen operating system run with tiresome pauses on lower specified older machines, but not known which component was the main fault. Windows 2000 in particular can be quite slow responding.

 

[Innoka]

Just one bump.
Or it's a silly question, huh?

 

[Smbu]

Well, I'm not sure if the transfer rate would help that much unless you were moving very large files.

The speed of the hard drive would make a difference though, especially if you make it your boot drive. I noticed a definite increase in speed and responsiveness when I upgraded my boot drive from my Maxtor 10gb 5400rpm IDE drive to my IBM Ultrastar "Discovery" 36LZX 9.1gb 10k rpm U160 scsi hd.
Much more so than oc'ing my P3 700 to 1ghz, more so than upgrading from 128mb to 256mb of RAM and more so than upgrading from 256mb to 512mb of RAM.

 

[Innoka]

Thanks Smbu.
Is the first C:\ the fastest partition to put the OS on, or the last? Transfer rates vary a lot from place to place by the looks of it.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

I would say definately the hard drive assuming you have a processor greater than 500Mhz. If not, go with the CPU (except that would probrably mean you need a new Motherboard, etc.)

Go with a 7200 RPM 2MG cache HD. I like Maxtor for no particular reason other than the fact that I own a 27 gig maxtor and it works great.

chiao