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    Used laptop drives - yay or nay ?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wearetheborg, Jun 10, 2008.

  1. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    I need to get a laptop drive for a laptop. Size/speed is not imp.
    So, I can either go with a used laptop drive off ebay, or buy a new one.
    I do value warranty (I can live without it, but I give value to it).

    So, should I go with a new drive or a used one ?
     
    wearetheborg, Jun 10, 2008
    #1
  2. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    new.. get that 3 yr warranty... not some 7day DOA warranty
     
    bigozone, Jun 10, 2008
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  3. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    Depends how much you care about the data/the system. Keep in mind that the "safe" lifetime of a drive is ~3 years, and any used drive will be less than that.

    Personally, hard drive is the only part I wouldn't buy used.
     
    Hep!, Jun 10, 2008
    #3
  4. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    Are used that cheap? Are new that expensive? I think that might be the last component I would buy used? As it is mechanical, RAM works or it doesn't and not the same kind of physical wear and tear, same with CPU, GPU, screen and on and on. Aren't the HDD and DVD the only mechanical devices in most notebooks? I would stay away from those.
     
    powerpack, Jun 10, 2008
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  5. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    I was considering getting a 80GB or so 5400 rpm used for about $30.
    For new it would be 250Gb 5400 rpm for about $95

    If I get used, I can wait more for HDD prices to drop. Eventually I' get a new one (say 500GB drive).
     
    wearetheborg, Jun 10, 2008
    #5
  6. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    $9.99 more new from NewEgg 80GB 5400, link. I guess I just can't buy used? Take a look.
     
    powerpack, Jun 10, 2008
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  7. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    Thanks.
    After tax and shipping, it'll be $50. I'd rather get a 250GB for $95 shipped :(
     
    wearetheborg, Jun 10, 2008
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  8. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Dont go for a 250gb drive.
    Save your money and get the samsung 160gb 5400rpm drive. It uses one platter and has a benchmark of 52mb/sec on average.
    The 250gb drive can only do about 43mb/sec average.
    This drive, the HM160JC can be had for about $75

    I wouldnt get a used harddrive, you never know what is wrong with it.
    Usually laptop harddrives last only about 5000 hrs, so an already used one is going to burn out faster than a new one.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jun 10, 2008
    #8
  9. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    What about the seek and access times, is the 250 one slower ?


    Well yes, I dont expect the used drive to las forever, but even if it lasts for 1 year, I'll be happy. After one year, better higher capacity cheaper drives will come out.
     
    wearetheborg, Jun 11, 2008
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  10. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Never trust used HDDs.
     
    stewie, Jun 11, 2008
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  11. heshanj

    heshanj Notebook Evangelist

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    this has been said many times already..but im gonna say it anyway: dont buy a used HDD. in singapore, u can get a brand new 160GB Seagate momentus (best brand, IMO) 7200RPM drive (very fast) for around US$60. dunno how much it costs in the US, but even a 5400RPM is good enough...just make sure its brand new, i say
     
    heshanj, Jun 11, 2008
    #11