Notebook HDD

[Synomenon]

I'm going to be building a new SFF HTPC (Small Form Factor Home Theater PC). I'd like it to be cool and quiet. I've got most of the parts down and am now contemplating on the hard drive. I don't need that much capacity so I've settled on 80GB. I won't be using the box as a TIVO type thing. Just movies and music.

I don't care how much the hard drive costs so I was wondering how those new 7200RPM SATA laptop drives perform. I could get a standard 3.5" SATA hard drive, but I've read that most of them are pretty noisy and some get pretty hot. How would these two compare in terms of performance:

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822135106

Capacity 80GB
Cache 8MB
RPM 7200 RPM
Average Seek Time 8.9ms
Average Write Time 10.9ms
Average Latency 4.2ms
Interface Serial ATA150

----------------------

Seagate Momentus 7200.1 ST980825AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Notebook Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822146228

Capacity 80GB
Cache 8MB
Average Seek Time 10.5ms
Average Latency 4.2ms
RPM 7200 RPM
Interface Serial ATA150

 

[Bobthelost]

The performance will be crap compared to a desktop drive, but it should be enough for movie playback and music. In terms of heat i wouldn't worry, when they are said to run hot it's in comparison to other slower notebook drives, in a desktop with even a hint of airflow you should be fine.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article278-page3.html

Is a review of a 7200 drive. Although they are more worried about noise than heat the forums would be a good place to see how 2.5" drives perform in desktop situations, a lot of people there like them for thier very low noise properties.

 

[Synomenon]

Even with pretty much the same specs. as the 3.5" drive I linked to, the notebook drive I linked to will perform worse? I don't quite understand. They do have pretty much the same specs. except for their physical size...

 

[Bobthelost]

It's the size that determines the performance. Think of how fast the outer edge of the larger 3.5" drive is moving compared to the 2.5" drive. It's a larger disc so even at the same rotational speed a larger area will move under the head, larger area = more data. So the 3.5" disc will be able to read/write faster.

Then there's the fact that 2.5" drives are predominantly for laptops, where they are required to use as little power as possible to extend battery life. This will constrain other factors that affect performance.

If you want more info on why exactly this is true then storage reveiw has a wonderful reference section that covers the physical aspects of HD design.

 

[markkleb]

I just finished my comp, it uses a via mobo and the case was built out of legos. Its 8" x 8" x 3". I used a aptop hdd at first , when I had problems i switched to a cheap white label 20 gig 7200 3.5" hd. My little comp was 10 times faster.
Now I just have to figure where to put the monster hdd. lol