HD Upgrade Opinion - Speed vs capacity

[Halon X]

I'm looking at upgrading the HD in my new Aluminum MacBook and have two options. Cost and impact on battery life are not deciding factors.

#1. Speed ----- 320GB, 7200 RPM
#2. Capacity -- 500GB, 5400 RPM

Which would you choose?

Capacity difference is obvious. How noticeable would the speed difference be between the two? As I understand it, the increased size of the platters on the 500GB drive provides a bit of a speed boost to a comparably sized 5400 RPM drive. 320GB is still a lot of space.

 

[toolbox]

For me would be space, because if you have a 7200 RPM it's likely to generate more heat then the 5400 RPM. This is because the drive spins quicker.

 

[pw1388]

Depend on your needs. If you really need that extra space to do whatever u need to do then get more space but if your happy with 320gb then go with speed.

 

[consumedsoul]

Neither...

I choose... wait 1-2 months = 500gb 7200rpm.

I'm looking at upgrading the HD in my new Aluminum MacBook and have two options. Cost and impact on battery life are not deciding factors.

#1. Speed ----- 320GB, 7200 RPM
#2. Capacity -- 500GB, 5400 RPM

Which would you choose?

Capacity difference is obvious. How noticeable would the speed difference be between the two? As I understand it, the increased size of the platters on the 500GB drive provides a bit of a speed boost to a comparably sized 5400 RPM drive. 320GB is still a lot of space.

 

[shinji]

speed, it is noticeable.

 

[nden]

How about SSD? 64GB, energy saving too.

 

[flopticalcube]

Kind of depends on which drives you are looking at. Some 7200RPM drives use less power and generate less heat than most 5400RPM drives. If you are not going to use more than 250GB than the 7200RPM drive should be faster most of the time. If you are going to use more than 250GB, the 5400RPM drive might be quicker.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I wouldn't bother with a higher capacity drive myself, I'd go for the speed.