Hard drive question

[sun365]

I am looking into perhaps upgrading my X31 from an Hitachi 60 GB 5400 to an 80 GB 7200.

I see these two drive that seem identical but different price. Can anyone tell me what the difference is?

This one is 79 and free s/h
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146046



whereas this one is 93 + s/h
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146047

[ronbo613]

One is 60G, the other is 80G. It will cost you about $15 for 20G, not a bad deal.
I just out the 80G model in my T30. Check out my review there on newegg.com, or this post.

[sun365]

I feel totally stupid. I don't know how I missed that.

My current configuration is X31 with 1.5 gb ram, using extern monitor and loads of external HD and other USB devices plugged in. I use this as my Desktop/Laptop/Everything computer and it's always on. Do I have to be concerned about moving to a larger and faster HD as far as overheating, overstressing?

[ronbo613]

Don't worry, I've got the market cornered on stupid questions here, you've got a long way to go to catch up.
I use mostly USB 2.0 external hard drives for storage(I have a USB 2.0 PCMCIA card for my T30) so I wouldn't need a big drive in the laptop. I was worried about heat and battery use, that's why I went with the 80G instead of the 100G model. I think the system temperature is about the same as with the stock 5400rpm drive. I think these drives are designed and built better so they actually use less power and generate less heat than the older drives.
I don't know much about the X31, check here to see if that drive will work.

[sun365]

Thanks for the link, esp since it mentions the X31 so I feel more confident.

I have more than a TB of USB drives connected, and I prefer not to have too big a a HD for the Internal since it becomes hard to manage, backup, etc. (the USB are considered as work space, temporary, etc and should always be (or soon to be) backed up on DVD). I have two powered 7-port USB hubs and they are about full. But during the past few weeks I gave up on the idea to upgrade to the X60s - way too expensive, and does not give me more than 2 GB of RAM!! And I really like the X31. So I just upgraded the RAM to 1.5 MB, and it has made a huge difference. At the same time the machine is making some noise, I'm not sure if it's the HD or the Fan. (the HD does not seem to be misbehavin, and passed the Hitatchi health test...) So I was thinking that $100 to get a drive that will make an appreciable difference - how can I go wrong. I am basing this on a lot of messages that I have read on this board, saying that the 7200 was real impressive. I am not concerned about battery drain, since both my batteries are close to dead anyway, and I use it mostly plugged in. (Rare is the Starbucks without an outlet.) I would almost consider going with the 60 (same size as I have now) but as you pointed out for another $20 dollars how can you turn down storage. So I think I'm going to order the 80 7200 in the next few minutes

thanks for listening