Hard Drives: 7200RPM 60GB vs. 5400RPM 80GB

[rickslate]

I can't even fill up a 20GB drive so I'd take drive speed over space any day of the week.

My main concern in going with the 7200 drive is that some users have reported these run louder than others. I just want to separate fact from fiction and get a definite answer on this.

I can't stand the thrashing sound that computers make when they're doing a lot of work or performing some random operation while the computer is dormant. Is this noise elevated on the 7200's?

[baraider]

this topic has been beaten to dead....

i have a 7k60 and there is no noise...i didn't do anything to change the default setting...

the 7200 much faster than 4200...if you go from 5400 to 7200, i don't know if you notice..

[emorphien]

the 7200 much faster than 4200...if you go from 5400 to 7200, i don't know if you notice..

You will in my experience.

I've got a Dell 8100 that came with a 48GB 5400rpm drive, and eventually got replaced through warranty with a 60gb 5400rpm drive. When that one croaked I ordered a 7200rpm 60gb drive (and put the 60gb 5400rpm drive Dell sent me in an enclosure). My boot times are about 1/2 to 2/3 what they used to be and general responsiveness has improved considerably. Going in to and leaving hibernate mode (which I use almost all the time) is also much faster (1/2 the time maybe).

This laptop is roughly 4 years old, it doesn't run any hotter and it's not louder although it does sound a bit different. Little or no change in battery life either.

it's like a whole new machine and certainly will last me quite a big longer with this upgrade, although I'm still replacing it with a T this summer.

[stgreek]

I can't even fill up a 20GB drive so I'd take drive speed over space any day of the week.

My main concern in going with the 7200 drive is that some users have reported these run louder than others. I just want to separate fact from fiction and get a definite answer on this.

I can't stand the thrashing sound that computers make when they're doing a lot of work or performing some random operation while the computer is dormant. Is this noise elevated on the 7200's?

The definite answer is: NO. NOT louder, but MUCH faster.

[senthil]

Any Deals Currently available.... for 7k60?

I missed the Dell 30$ of free shipping deal yesterday.

[baraider]

i was reading people ordering it for 139 or something from delll yesterday...when i check it's 179 now...man...please let us know if that deal pops up again

[JHEM]

i was reading people ordering it for 139 or something from delll yesterday...when i check it's 179 now...man...please let us know if that deal pops up again

I post them as they become available, but you've got to check in the Off Topic forum.

Regards,

James

[kjarrett]

I can't even fill up a 20GB drive so I'd take drive speed over space any day of the week.

My main concern in going with the 7200 drive is that some users have reported these run louder than others. I just want to separate fact from fiction and get a definite answer on this.

I can't stand the thrashing sound that computers make when they're doing a lot of work or performing some random operation while the computer is dormant. Is this noise elevated on the 7200's?

Mine is whisper quiet and rippin' fast. Get the 7200.

-kj-

[emorphien]

i was reading people ordering it for 139 or something from delll yesterday...when i check it's 179 now...man...please let us know if that deal pops up again

I ordered mine from Dell for $150 back in December. I think they may have had a 15% off sale or something though.

[JHEM]

I ordered mine from Dell for $150 back in December. I think they may have had a 15% off sale or something though.

I paid $120.50 each for the last lot I bought back in October through Dell Small Business, plus tax of course, but free shipping.

These sales come and go with no regular frequency, just like the most recent LCD display sale they currently have going. First time I can recall them occurring two months in a row.

Regards,

James

[heyzeus123]

Hi Everyone,

I have to chime in on this 7K60 drive discussion. First let me preface the fact that all my experience is with the 40gb E7K60 varient of the Hitachi 7200 rpm drive.

1. The E7K60 runs hotter than the new 5K100 or the older 5K80 drives, specifically you can feel the heat on the palmrest of the Thinkpad T42.

2. The E7K60 is noisier (and has a little more vibration) at idle than the 5400 rpm drives, specifically there is a slightly louder whirling sound and periodic very light buzzing noise (probably thermo-calibration) that the 5400 rpm drives do not have.

3. The E7K60 feels faster that the 5K80 drive, but the new 5K100 drive is almost (within 10% - 15%) as fast, and the 5K100 drives are quieter, runs cooler, has better power consumption and power cycle specs.

CONCLUSION: I am using the 5K100 drive as my daily drive. The deal killer for me is that the E7K60 runs just a little too hot against my palmrest for my comfort level. And the extra noise at idle is a little annoying compared to the almost quiet 5K100.

If you want the absolute fastest drive for your Thinkpad then the 7K60 is the king (for now). But, if you are at all sensitive to heat and noise/vibration, I recommend you can get the new 5K100 from ZipZoomFly.

BTW, I have just returned and exchanged my original 40gb E7K60 and got a refurb 40gb E7K60. The drive is seem new has the same problem as my original drive.

Cheers,
Michael

[kaplanfx]

Does this 5K100 ship in any of the current t42 models? Which models does the 7K60 ship in? What is the 60GB 7200 drive included in some of the t42 models?

Thanks
-kaplanfx

[pae77]

The E7K60 is designed for applications where instant (i.e., always) on is desirable, (not laptops) hence it never powers down, hence it is not surprising that it runs a bit hotter. It is not ideal for laptops because it is desinged to never power down so power consumption is greater than necessary.

The regular 7k60 has power management that is designed for laptops.

[aamsel]

This HAS been beaten to death.
Really.

I think it is time to say "do searches" for 7K60, etc.

There are thousands of threads here and elsewhere on the web.

The 7K60 is the fastest laptop drive available now, period.

If you get one and it is loud, it is defective, however, there will be a slight bit more vibration from one due to the rotational speed.

Andrew
Austin, TX

[rayfranco]

The 7K60 does make more noise than the other drives. See reference below:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/200 ... hd-04.html

However, as also stated in the reference, the noise is not enough that any of the editors that reviewed it ever complained. In another article from the same site, it states the fan noise will drown it out.

The higher noise level is also indicated in Hitachi data sheet.

The7K60 is the Standard that every new HDD is compared to. For the the price, you will not find a better HDD.

[daeojkim]

My opinion is that even between 5400 rpm there seem to be a lot performance difference between older and newer models. There will be a larger performance difference between older 5400 rpm and the 7200 rpm HDs. But the newer 5400 rpm w/ 8MB cache have much improved performance and performance gap with 7200 rpm is significantly reduced. But ofcourse the 7200 rpm will be always faster than a 5400 rpm.

I am waiting for the 7200 rpm now and I will post the permance benchmark between those drives.

[heyzeus123]

I have the 40gb E7K60 (7200rpm), 40gb 5K100 (5400rpm), and the Fujitsu 40gb (5400rpm) drives in my T42. Here are my impressions:

E7K60 (similar if not the same as the 7K60) - FAST and relatively quiet, but noisier, more vibration, and much hotter at idle than the 5400rpm drives. It also makes a buzzing noise randomly at idle. You may be fine with this drive, but for me it runs too hot and has too many strange noises emanating.for it at idle.

5k100 - FAST and very quiet, no vibrations, nor strange noises at idle. This is my regular drive.

Fujitsu 40gb - AVERAGE drive, very quiet, no vibration, this drive came with my T42, but was too slow compared to the other components in my Thinkpad, so I upgraded to the 5K100.

So the upshot is if you are sensitive to noise, heat, or vibrations in your palmrest, get the 5K100, you won't regret it. Otherwise get the 7K60, it is ths fastest drive you can get.

Michael

[The Weissman]

E7K60 (similar if not the same as the 7K60)

That old saw again? They might be similar, but they are NOT the same. The E7K60 was NEVER intended for use in laptops.

[akerman]

Go for the 5400.. the noise the 7200 makes is really, really annoying at times. What does it help that the IBM cooling fan almost never comes on, and is dead quiet when it does come on, if the hard drive makes more noise than most DELL fans anyway.

Plus it gets hot at times.

[heyzeus123]

Here's an old posting comparing the E7K60 and the 7K60.

http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic ... hichpage=3

NOTE: There are 5 pages to this posting. Use the dropdown menu on the table header or the 'next' or 'previous' links to get to the other pages.

The upshot of the posting is that the 7200rpm drive are noisier and have more vibration than the 5400rpm drives. Whether you notice the extra noise or vibration depends on the laptop and the user.