New 2.66Ghz MB pro 320Gb, 5400 or 7200 rpm??

[AshyLarry]

Hey guys, first post. After all these years using Windows, I've decided to buy the new macbook pro that just came out on the 8th. I am getting the 15" one with the 2.66Ghz processor and the dual video card configuration. Now, I'm debating if I should spend the extra 60 bucks on the 320Gb hard drive and get the 7200rpm hard drive instead of the 5400. I will be using it mostly for school for things such as creating/running programs (computer science course), watching movies, using Word, Powerpoint and excel and just the casual internet browsing. Will there be a huge difference in the noise and heat the faster one produces? I really don't want to regret not upgrading the hard drive with such a powerful laptop. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[iknowyourider]

I would be very tempted to upgrade. My friend recently upgraded his older MB to a 320 / 7200. I listened to it (right after boot up) and it was silent, even opening apps. He said the fan does run a little more often but I'm not sure that he's sure about that. I forgot to ask about the battery. I was mainly concerned about the noise.

 

[dukeman]

Buy a drive from some other vendor and do the upgrade yourself. Pop out the 500 and throw it in a USB enclosure for a backup drive / scratch drive.

 

[eVolcre]

Hey guys, first post. After all these years using Windows, I've decided to buy the new macbook pro that just came out on the 8th. I am getting the 15" one with the 2.66Ghz processor and the dual video card configuration. Now, I'm debating if I should spend the extra 60 bucks on the 320Gb hard drive and get the 7200rpm hard drive instead of the 5400. I will be using it mostly for school for things such as creating/running programs (computer science course), watching movies, using Word, Powerpoint and excel and just the casual internet browsing. Will there be a huge difference in the noise and heat the faster one produces? I really don't want to regret not upgrading the hard drive with such a powerful laptop. Thanks for the suggestions!

I just bought a WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7200 rpm drive for 80 shipped. Instead of paying Apple 60 for the upgrade, buy a new one and like someone else said, put the stock HD into an enclosure as an external.

eV

 

[fehhkk]

For what you'll be doing, it won't have any difference 7200 or 5400.

For your info, the 320GB 5400rpm drive in the 2.66GHz 15" is a Hitachi Deskstar 5K320 if you wanna look up the specs for it.

 

[AshyLarry]

Thanks for all the info and opinions guys, but I'm still not too sure what I'm gonna go with. The upgrade is 56 bucks canadian. I already ordered a WD 400Gb portable hard drive for 100 bucks which was a pretty good deal.