7mm 500gb for x220?

I have an mSATA SSD for running windows and programs and the stock 320gb Hitachi that I use for data and media files in my x220. I'd like to replace the 320gb with a 500gb HDD. My main concern is quiet and reliability, rather than speed.

Which HDD should I get? Newegg lists four options. Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

 

This one. option #2 Newegg.com - HGST Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

It has 5 star reviews all over the web, it is the only one of those option you have listed with SATA 6.0 GB/S, other 2 are 3.0, meaning it will be significantly faster. Also, it is 7200 RPM, and has a 32mb cache compared to 16 mb and 8 mb. THAT is a huge performance boost. At only 5$ more, it is a no-brainer. Thats the one you want.

 

My main interests are reliability and quiet operation, rather than speed, as I'll be using the drive mainly to store data, music, videos, etc. It is often the case that higher performance means more noise and less reliability. I wonder if it's any worse for noise and reliability than my existing 320gb 7200, which is fine for noise.

 

Why not just get an external HDD? I wouldn't trust an ultraportable laptop with anything more than semi-permanent storage on an internal HDD considering how much it gets moved around.

 

I have the Z5K500. In general, it's pretty quiet, though this can vary a bit from one drive to the next. The 320GB that came with my X220i was silent, but the 320GB 7200RPM than came with the X230 review unit was the noisiest of the three. Any hard drive can fail. As always make sure you've got a good backup.

 

A 6Gbps mechanical drive isn't anything to write home about. There is going to be little difference vs. a 3Gbps drive unless you are talking about SSDs. Unless you really care about access time, go with the Z5K500 instead of the Z7K500 as it will have better battery life. You can compare them here:
Travelstar Z7K500 | HGST, a Western Digital company
Travelstar Z5K500 | HGST, a Western Digital company

 

I don't care about access time, within reason. The z5k500 advertises "Quiet Operation – Enjoy a richer audio-listening experience" and has quieter noise specs, 1.9, 2.1 v 2.3, 2.4 bels, which is more important to me.

Anyone prefer Seagate or WD?

Unit variation is a good point. It's hard to get stats on reliability and, as ZaZ says, any unit can fail.

 

I've used them all -- WD, Seagate, Hitachi (now WD), Samsung (now Seagate), Toshiba -- but tend to prefer WD.

 

I like WD because they've got the best replacement policy should the drive fail, but I don't think WD makes any 7mm drives.

 

WD makes a 6.8mm drive. See the link in my OP

 

I ordered my x230t with 500GB 5400rpm (hitachi z5k500) keeping in mind that I will either be adding a 128GB msata ssd or replacing the hdd with 256GB ssd. It was a easy decision for me choosing the hdd between 500GB 5400rpm or 7200rpm since the price difference was big (something like $50).

Since you are using a msata ssd already, I think either way it would work fine. They won't be spinning most of the time anyways, and even when they are spinning they are relatively quiet, much quieter than the other 9.5mm height drives. Go with z5k500 if you absolutely want it to be quiet, otherwise, get the z7k500 for more speed which helps when doing bulk transfers.


As ALLurGroceries already pointed out, sata 6.0 Gbps won't make any difference for a mechanical drive. You're only going to get that fast speed for the 32MB worth of cache, and that's only when you are lucky.

Another thing which might matter or not, the 5400rpm hitachi drive has only 8MB cache.

 

FWIW, I finally got around to ordering a 500gb drive. I'm getting the Hitatchi z7k500, on sale at Newegg for $60 with promo code.

 

If you haven't yet bought anything, Newegg has a sale till 1/30 on a highish end HGST 7mm 500GB 7200 for only $59 with promo code: EMCXWVS34

It is likely the best long term solution, given that you get more options on different ways to use it over the next years.

See: Newegg.com - HGST Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

 

That's the deal I was talking about in #12