Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which HD is better to have?


  • Total voters
    60

applemax

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 22, 2005
1,032
3
So, buying a pro in 1/2 hour. 2.16, 2gb ram, and HD. But which HD??? 100gb 7200 or 120gb 5400? I know there are many threads on this, but this is a poll. Quick and easy, just put your vote in.

--EDIT--

PLESE ALSO POST A REPLY SAYING WHY YOU VOTED FOR THAT OPTION

--EDIT--

Cheers

When I say better, I mean, which is more useful and probaly more useful in the long run
 

robbieduncan

Moderator emeritus
Jul 24, 2002
25,611
893
Harrogate
I've ordered the 120Gb. I am constantly close to running out of space on my current 80Gb drive. In 2 years or so I will probably be in the same situation even with 120Gb, let alone 100Gb!
 

hikingnclimbing

macrumors member
Jan 10, 2006
69
0
Gorham, ME
I'd be worried about the heat generated with 7200 RPM. You have to think about whether the additional speed is really that big a deal to you. For me, it wasn't, so I didn't spend more just for more speed. But having the extra GBs of space is nice.
 

spercharged69

macrumors 6502a
Jul 10, 2003
641
491
New York, NY
When I loaded up MacRumors this morning I was like, "I bet there's at least one 'WHICH HARD DRIVE SHOULD I BUY GUYZ HE;LP PLZ' thread."

Thank you for making my dreams come true. :*

Arn should just make a new forum, "5400 vs 7200 debate and discussion".
 

Malcster

macrumors 6502a
Apr 26, 2005
586
207
Bristol, UK
7200rpm for me, not worried about the minimal extra heat or slight battery drain.

Main reason being im not going to upgrade it myself at any point, it is also the main bottleneck in a computer these days so want it be as un-bottlenecked as possible! (hmm not sure thats english but hey! :D )
 

wPod

macrumors 68000
Aug 19, 2003
1,654
0
Denver, CO
7200 go for speed. . . if you need more space get an external drive. (though i am disapointed FW 800 is not on the new MacBook Pros)
 

godbout

macrumors regular
Jun 22, 2005
182
0
Montreal, Canada
I voted 7200 beacuse like others said you are getting this thing as pimped as possible for the speed. In a couple years if you need more you have two options, get the bigger faster internal drives then or get an external drive for files that you don't need as much on the go.
 

majorp

macrumors 6502
Nov 28, 2005
314
0
UK !!!
will you be able to upgrade the HD yourself (even though it might/will lose your warranty)? can you upgrade the powerbook one?
 

Malcster

macrumors 6502a
Apr 26, 2005
586
207
Bristol, UK
Yup, powerbook hd can be upgraded, its not a very user friendly experience tho, another reason i suggest you get the best bit you can in there when they build it.
 

asencif

macrumors 6502
Dec 21, 2005
323
0
Speed

I voted go for the 7200RPM Drive. Yes it has been debatable, but the 7200RPm is faster overall and depending on what you are doing, the read/write ability speed makes a difference especially if you are into video or high end graphics. If you are someone that will fill up 100GB pretty quick then you most likely will eat up 120GB quickly as well forcing you to buy and external HD anyway. So speed in this case. If it was let's say 100GB vs 160GB then I might consider the space more.
 

Malcster

macrumors 6502a
Apr 26, 2005
586
207
Bristol, UK
asencif said:
I voted go for the 7200RPM Drive. Yes it has been debatable, but the 7200RPm is faster overall and depending on what you are doing, the read/write ability speed makes a difference especially if you are into video or high end graphics. If you are someone that will fill up 100GB pretty quick then you most likely will eat up 120GB quickly as well forcing you to buy and external HD anyway. So speed in this case. If it was let's say 100GB vs 160GB then I might consider the space more.

I agree completely, if your serious about storage then 20 gigs is nothing. Your better off with a 7200 *inside* the machine where it affects performance and a decent external drive.
 

kerpow

macrumors 6502
Jan 16, 2004
331
0
London
I said 7200. 20gb is nothing, if you're worried about disk space you'll want to buy an external drive whether you have 100 or 120 onboard.
 

Koodauw

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2003
3,951
190
Madison
I went with speed, I could never fill a 100 GB HD, let alone 120, and the increased speed I could benefit from.
 

applemax

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 22, 2005
1,032
3
Thanks for all your help guys. So I have decided. Here's my order:

2.16ghs
2GB RAM
and ... wait for it...




100GB 7200RPM HD


Unpacking video coming soon.:D
 

tivoboy

macrumors 68040
May 15, 2005
3,978
791
ibm laptops

the only thing I can comment on about the 7200 rmp drives that came in some of my T43 IBM thinkpads. Hey, don't stop reading just because I said thinkpad!

Anyway, the speed of the drives is noticeable, but the vibration and heat. (the HD sits under the right palm rest) is ALSO noticeable. and, it makes more noise constantly than the regula 5400 rpm drive. I have since gone completly away from the 7200 versions.
 

nospleen

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2002
2,719
1,560
Texas
applemax said:
Thanks for all your help guys. So I have decided. Here's my order:

2.16ghs
2GB RAM
and ... wait for it...




100GB 7200RPM HD


Unpacking video coming soon.:D

Coming soon, yeah right, try April!! :p :D
 

ebuc

macrumors regular
Aug 5, 2003
105
0
Nor'East
5400

5400 - 20 more gigabytes is definitely worth it, and I doubt the speed difference is that noticable.

Additionally, wouldn't a slower hard drive conserve battery life?

Personally, I'd like to see that Toshiba 160GB option (if its out yet).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.