Which is Faster Laptop Hard Drive: 200GB 7200 RPM or 320GB 5400 RPM?

[jbg232]

I know that the 200gb drive has faster rotational speeds for accessing the drive using the head, but with the higher platters (and greater disk density) of the 320gb drive I thought that might edge it out in performance. Does anyone know of any head to head reviews of these two laptop hard drives in comparison?

 

[Grimace]

I don't have specific links to point toward, but the 7200rpm drive will be significantly faster. I'd go for that one, and have external storage as needed.

 

[greentree_uk]

drive speed is vastly affected by the amount of data you have available if you are gonna be using 140gb of that 200gb drive then go for the 320 it'll be faster. but if you are going to use only 80gb then the 7200 should edge it out. but I haven't looked at bench marks. 7200rpm drives are good, but not if they're full

 

[jhkingsr]

Read post #18 on this thread.

 

[jbg232]

Read post #18 on this thread.

Awesome, thanks! 320GB it is then!

 

[tuxtpenguin]

Interesting. I would have thought the 7200 would beat out a 5400 any day.

 

[jbg232]

Interesting. I would have thought the 7200 would beat out a 5400 any day.

That's what I thought as well, but now I'm 5400 all the way - you can't argue with benchmarks!

 

[RaceTripper]

I've had both in my MBP. Honestly, I have not noticed any real world difference in performance between using the two. I didn't benchmark them but I sure can't tell any difference. I had the 7K200 for about six months and I've had the Scorpio 320 for about two months.

Just saw today that the 7K200 is running about $130. I paid $210 for mine.