Sony SR - HDD and VGA question

Hey,

Its important cuz i'm about to order today.
I'm thinking about ordering my SR290 CTO with the smalled HDD and buy upgrade here.

1. The best i could find here is Seagate ST9320421AS ? what do u think about it ?
2. the sony HDD from the CTO, what brand/model are they ?
3. how important is the G-Force, since the Seagate above dont have it.
4. How hard is it to replace the HDD in the SR ?

Another Bonus question
if i'll take the ATI3470 over the 4500MHD, what downsides i'll have ?
since i dont really play games, but i think its good to have unless it have big downsides...

THANKS !!!

 

1. It's nice. Fastest tranfer speeds there is on the 320GB 7200rpm. But the WD 320GB 7200rpm should be feeling a bit snappier since it has better seektimes and I/O maybe not as quiet i belive? (though mine is quiet with rubbergromets mounted between hdd and nb). Hitachi's 320GB 7200rpm should be the most quiet of the 320GB 7200rpm-drives and about the same performance as the rest.

2. Probably a Fujitsu 4200rpm or 5400rpm drive with 8MB cache. Sony usualy use Fujitsu.

3. Only important if you're clumpsy or move around the computer from time to time when it's turned on. You yourself can only value the option if it's good to have or not, because you probably know what the g-force does?

4. Very easy on almost every notebook (i'd say 99% of em). Just a couple of screws here and there. Only change hardware when the notebook is fully turned off and with the battery and AC-adapter not inserted.


I'd choose the better GPU as you will not be able to upgrade the GPU later on, and you'll probably think "oh darn, i should have gone for the better GPU when i had the chance...", the most common misstake people does when buying a notebook i must say.
This doesn't apply to those who never use the GPU though.

 

2.) My SR came with a toshiba hdd
3.) The SR has built-in hdd free fall sensor
4.) extremely easy, http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=283218

If you're not gonna play games, it is pointless to get the ATI card, it won't help a bit with movies, pictures, photos, or anything. Unless you use photoshop cs4, or any other 3d graphics stuff.
Downsides are shorter battery life (6 hours with the x4500, 3:30 with the ATI card), the laptop will run hotter.

 

Thanks for your answers, i finally can make the order and feel good .
I dont have Hitachi down here, nothing i could find atleast.

I'll check about importing one, but for now i think i'll go for the Seagate. i just saw Tomshardware test on it, and it won overall.

Regarding the vga, since i wont play, and i really need the battery i'll go with the Intel.
How bad is it ? i mean Sims 2 will work there ?(its for my gf)

 

Yes I'm pretty sure the Intel can run that game just fine, that game is pretty old..

 

ok, Thanks