Laptop HDD - highest density platters?

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
looking for a 7200rpm laptop hdd - which drives have the highest density platters? this 5400rpm unit is driving me nuts :disgust:
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
What size do you currently have? They do make 500GB 7200RPM 2.5" drives now, I would imagine that would have some of the highest speeds possible... however, at 500GB the platter density is high enough such that even a 5400 RPM one will be plenty fast.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
In a laptop you don't need to nit-pick platter density.
A 320GB Seagate Momentus 7200.3 is what you need. ;)
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
hm check storagereview i guess
density does still matter...
we are long past when hd drives were dog slow, but its still nicer to get the best u can if possible.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
currently running a 160GB unit, but size is not important - i could get away w/ ~80GB easy, so i figured i would just get the largest single platter drive. the laptop just feels slow - ordered more ram, messed w/ the "energy saver" setting in power management helped, but coming from a decent main rig w/ 15k scsi and ssd's, it is kind of a dog. only currently have 1GB so i was hitting pagefile a bit w/ illustrator, photoshop, premiere and sometimes solidworks open, so that will be gone once i get the additional ram, but i would like to move the hdd up a bit for all around responsiveness.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: bob4432
i would like to move the hdd up a bit for all around responsiveness.

SSD? Since size isn't important, how about one of the smaller drives using the new Indilinx controller? OCZ, G.Skill and Super Talent all make drives using that controller, and you'll get the best performance short of an Intel SSD, for a lot less. You can get a 60/64GB model for around $200. OCZ is called Vertex and Super Talent UltraDrive ME. Don't recall what the G.Skill was called. Others may be coming as well.

Or, if you have the money, get an Intel.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: Zap
Originally posted by: bob4432
i would like to move the hdd up a bit for all around responsiveness.

SSD? Since size isn't important, how about one of the smaller drives using the new Indilinx controller? OCZ, G.Skill and Super Talent all make drives using that controller, and you'll get the best performance short of an Intel SSD, for a lot less. You can get a 60/64GB model for around $200. OCZ is called Vertex and Super Talent UltraDrive ME. Don't recall what the G.Skill was called. Others may be coming as well.

Or, if you have the money, get an Intel.

for the $$$ i think i will hold out on those. i remember the change from 5.4 -> 7.2 on the desktop years ago and that would suffice :)
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: tynopik
Seagate Momentus 7200.4

but really, Intel X25M-80

thanks for the info/suggestion but this laptop is not getting one of those ssds, at most it would get a ocz vertex or that class, but more than likely just a plain 7.2k hdd. i don't need the performance of my desktop, but 5.4k is really slow.

will be watching hot deals though just in case :)