5400 or 7200 rpm?

[virus1]

i am in the market for a macbook pro/ macbook (upon announcement), and i was wondering what speed is needed for video. (SD)(FCP5)

is it worth it for the extra 20GB, or the speed?

[illegalprelude]

20 extra GB will get you no where. you will need an external HDD for sure if you wanna get some serious cuts in.

Also, 7200 writes alot faster and wil be nice for editing

[ipacmm]

I would get the 7200 and then buy a few external HD's just as illegalprelude said. You will use up all the space really quick if you are doing video.

[MovieCutter]

20 extra GB will get you no where. you will need an external HDD for sure if you wanna get some serious cuts in.

Also, 7200 writes alot faster and wil be nice for editing

Actually, with the 40GB it takes to install Final Cut Studio, the 120GB isn't a bad idea. I had that in my last Powerbook and easily handled all forms of SD and even some HD footage. You're without a doubt going to need an external drive. I used an internal 5400RPM 120GB drive, with a 60GB external 7200RPM drive while I had the PB. With the MBP, I got the 7200RPM, but only because that was the configuration that was available when I needed it at the local Apple Retail Store. If you want to put anything else on your drive BESIDES Final Cut Studio (photos, music, etc.) I'd get the 120GB drive.

[virus1]

Actually, with the 40GB it takes to install Final Cut Studio, the 120GB isn't a bad idea. I had that in my last Powerbook and easily handled all forms of SD and even some HD footage. You're without a doubt going to need an external drive. I used an internal 5400RPM 120GB drive, with a 60GB external 7200RPM drive while I had the PB. With the MBP, I got the 7200RPM, but only because that was the configuration that was available when I needed it at the local Apple Retail Store. If you want to put anything else on your drive BESIDES Final Cut Studio (photos, music, etc.) I'd get the 120GB drive.
well, i do a lot of videos on itunes, but i just want to make sure it will be fast enough for video. anybody else? (its not that i don't trust you, its just that there are usually many different situations that i might want to hear about)

[miniConvert]

I'd say the 7200. You want the bits and pieces inside to be as fast as you can get them, especially if you're going to need external storage anyway whether you get the extra 20GB or not.

[LethalWolfe]

If you're choosing between more internal storage or more speed I'd look at the storage first. If don't think you'll fill up the HDD then opt for the faster drive. But I'm really not sure how much of a difference, if any, you'll notice between a 5400 and 7200 RPM system drive while .

If it was me I'd allocate money to RAM and a good external HDD before I'd be looking at the internal HDD.


Lethal

[Demon Hunter]

You need an external, and that will be 7200 rpm, so 120GB makes sense to me.

[milo]

You're going to put all your data on an external drive, so the internal won't make much difference. I wouldn't bother spending any extra cash upgrading the internal drive.

[dmw007]

I say go with a 7200 rpm HDD for your MacBook(Pro).


Barefeats.com has a good review on this matter-

http://www.barefeats.com/5472.html

[dmw007]

BTW, I really like your 'tar virus1! :)

[Espnetboy3]

I have 2 LaCie D2 7200rpm 160 gig externals and they are very nice for editing. Im a big fan. Yes LaCie is a bit more expensive but they seem extremely stable and great.

[Kingsly]

I went with the 120 Gb, but then again, you should never use the system drive as a scratch disk. Get an external, and it will almost certainly be 7200.

Final Cut Pro: What Kind of Hard Drive Should I Buy? (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58636)

(BTW, I have, on occasion, edited off the internal drive [120GB, 5400RPM] and it works fine. I also stream lost to my projector from iTunes)

[virus1]

BTW, I really like your 'tar virus1! :)
haha.. thx everyone.. te tar is new with my new sig "i completely understand you" campaign..!

i probably cant afford to spring for a mbp, but i will get the biggest drive avalible on my macbook.. (common, apple)

[illegalprelude]

About 5 months ago
Newegg. 320GB 7200 Westerndigital internal HDD + External Inclosure (basicly case lol) that has Firewire 400, 800 and USB 2.0 out with cables and a built in fan cost me $200. :cool:

[puckhead193]

I know if i were to get a new MBP I would get the larger drive, as i only have an 80 gig in mine and its almost used up from software updates, programs, music, photos etc,i would say for the the high GBs! most of your editing will be done on external drives. (just remember to set your scratch drive before you start your project http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=194258&highlight=scratch+disk :o )

[Mechcozmo]

Get the 5400rpm drive, because it is larger. It's fast enough for minor editing. But you'll need more space and a non-system disk anyways for your major editing. Grab a 200GB 7200rpm FireWire drive as your scratch disk and just use the internal as program storage space.

[xPismo]

Well I'll tell you my decision was to go for the 80/5400 rpm powerbook drive due to cost and battery life (which I found is a slim and still debated difference) drain of the 7200. Yes, its been a while. 80 was big. :)

I'm mainly offlining with the internal drive as scratch, or editing DV on it _with_ a 7200rpm 120gb external fw400 drive. I'm looking again at adding some more storage. Probably replace this HHD - as its making some new noises - and twin it up with a second fw400 enclosure. Both with 300s or 250's. I don't know how much I want to spend on ATA when SATA is just 'round the corner.

You're going to put all your data on an external drive, so the internal won't make much difference. I wouldn't bother spending any extra cash upgrading the internal drive.

I would. It makes a shocking difference. Remember, all those apps and the OS are calling from the drive all the time. Barefeats.com is a great source for information on how much macs gain from fast drives. Its worth it.