RPMs OR Buffer?

[kingcrowing]

Im looking at getting a new 40GB HD from OWC for my laptop, the two im looking at are the 40GB w/ a 16MB Buffer @ 5400RPMs and the 40GB w/ an 8MB Buffer at 7200RPMs, it's a 466MHz iBook if that makes any difference, its $60 more for the Higher RPM drive and I'm really not sure what will make a bigger difference, thanks a lot!

PS- Im going to be running OS X panther or tiger on it

 

[tsk]

I'd go with the 7200RPM drive. I'm fairly certain you can expect much better performance from it.

 

[wiseguy27]

It's very likely that the 7200rpm drive will draw significantly more power compared to the 5400rpm (compare and confirm with the exact models you're looking at) - so if battery "up time" is a priority for you, then the faster rpm drive may probably not be suitable. Otherwise the 7200rpm is a much better choice.

 

[Kerry Sanders]

It's very likely that the 7200rpm drive will draw significantly more power compared to the 5400rpm (compare and confirm with the exact models you're looking at) - so if battery "up time" is a priority for you, then the faster rpm drive may probably not be suitable. Otherwise the 7200rpm is a much better choice.

Actually, the newer 7200 rpm laptop drives use less power and produce less heat than the older 5400 rpm models. I put a Hitachi 60 gig 7200 rpm drive in my Windows laptop that I use for work and it runs very quiet and is 5 degrees C cooler than the previous 5400 rpm drive that came in the system.

 

[cube]

Actually, the newer 7200 rpm laptop drives use less power and produce less heat than the older 5400 rpm models. I put a Hitachi 60 gig 7200 rpm drive in my Windows laptop that I use for work and it runs very quiet and is 5 degrees C cooler than the previous 5400 rpm drive that came in the system.

I would still check this against a newer and bigger 5400RPM drive which could be cooler and more energy-efficient, while approaching the performance of the 7200 because of areal density.

 

[FelixDerKater]

7200.

 

[tsk]

I would still check this against a newer and bigger 5400RPM drive which could be cooler and more energy-efficient, while approaching the performance of the 7200 because of areal density.

The only 7200RPM laptop drives I'm aware of are the Hitachi's which are as energy efficient as any of the 5200's I saw. I think Fujitsu also may have a 7200 RPM which I don't know about.

I think in general, it's misleading to claim that battery use may suffer (or that they'll overheat). I'd be interested to see any specs that support any of these claims as well. From my own research, 7200RPM are the newest and as such have the best power features. The 5200RPM's are also fairly nice power wise but just don't have the speed of the 7200RPM.

Reguardless, the original post was about buffer size vs RPM's and I'm still fairly certain the extra buffer won't make much difference.

 

[cube]

The only 7200RPM laptop drives I'm aware of are the Hitachi's which are as energy efficient as any of the 5200's I saw.

The Seagate Momentus 100GB is more energy efficient than the 7K60, according to specs. It's not as fast, but it's not bad.

 

[live4ever]

Hitachi also just released a new 100GB 7200 model today.

http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/11/100gb/index.php