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    160GB (5400rpm) vs 120GB (7200rpm)

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Spydc, Oct 29, 2007.

  1. Spydc

    Spydc Notebook Guru

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    It is true that the 160gb (5400rpm) is similar performance wise to the 120gb (7200rpm)?
     
    Spydc, Oct 29, 2007
    #1
  2. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    Yeah, its about the same.
     
    Crimsonman, Oct 29, 2007
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  3. jtmat

    jtmat Notebook Evangelist

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    You would have to provide model numbers and such... crimsonman is being a jerk.

    Nobody can tell just by looking at the info you provided on which would be faster. In addition, it depends on what you are using the computer for... in my case, the 7200 smokes the 5400 it replaced...
     
    jtmat, Oct 29, 2007
    #3
  4. fabarati

    fabarati Frorum Obfuscator

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    But the 120GB 7200 RPM should be faster, since a 160GB 5400 RPM is slightly slower than a 100GB 7200 RPM.
     
    fabarati, Oct 29, 2007
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  5. CitizenPanda

    CitizenPanda Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    The 120gb 7200 rpm drive is faster (should be quite apparent).
     
    CitizenPanda, Oct 29, 2007
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  6. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    You all are forgetting that the denser the disk, the faster it is. So, a 100 GB 7200 RPM hard disk is faster than a 50GB 7200 RPM hard disk. Whether or not at 160 GB 5400 RPM is faster than a 120 GB 7200 RPM disk, I dunno; but don't forget that it's not all about speed.
     
    vespoli, Oct 29, 2007
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  7. fabarati

    fabarati Frorum Obfuscator

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    True, Density matters. Which is why a 160GB 5400 drive gets close to a 100GB 7200 drive. But a 120GB drive is denser than a 100GB drive. Though A 120GB could be based on 2 60GB platters, while the 100GB drive is one 100GB platter. But then the 100GB 7200 is faster than a 160GB 5400 drive by a fair bit.
     
    fabarati, Oct 29, 2007
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  8. CompFreak247

    CompFreak247 Notebook Consultant

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    Not to mention a 7200 smokes much larger sizes of 5400 in seek time. The 7200 should be noticeably faster...
     
    CompFreak247, Oct 29, 2007
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  9. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    In synthetic benchmarks 7200RPM disks will give better scores, but whether or not you can experience any noticeable difference in real life is a different matter. Also keep in mind that 7200 disks have their shortcomings too: need more power and generate more heat.

    Given all that, I’d take the 7200 RPM only if it cost same (± $10); else the larger disk.

    Take a look at these benchmarks; larger 5400 disks perform very close to smaller 7200RPM disks in majority of the cases.
     
    PhoenixFx, Oct 30, 2007
    #9