Are 7200 rpm laptop disks worth it?

[RussA]

I've got a laptop (Dell 8600, 1GB, 1920x1200) and the hard disk is too small, and runs at appx 4Krpm. So, I could upgrade to a much bigger disk ~ 160GB @~5400 rpm or a slightly smaller (100GB)@~7200rpm.

So...... is the 7200rpm going to give a useful increase over the 5400rpm disk, making the lower capacity of the 7200 disk a pill worth swallowing? I don't desperately need the additional 60GB beyond the 100GB available with the 7200rpm disk, however I know I'll probably fill it up...

Thoughts very much appreciated, particularly as to whether the 7200rpm is going to make that much of a difference over the 5400rpm or is it not that useful to have the disk speed increase.

 

[FirebarUK]

In my experience they are always worth it. Would heartily recommend a 7200rpm disk

 

[ShakenNstirred]

i had 2x 5400rpm drives in my laptop and i have changed them to 2x 120gig 7200rpm drives and the change was well worth it

 

[RussA]

Thanks Firebar - I'd sort of come to the same conclusion.

Ta.

 

[Stephen B]

just ordered a 200g 7200 16meg drive for my Dell M90, I'll post my findings shortly, pretty sure I only have a 5400 rpm sata in there atm

 

[Avalon]

4.2k to 5.4k is a noticeable change, 5.4k to 7.2k is again very noticeable but like most things it depends what you are doing. Eventually the law of diminishing returns kicks in noticeably but not for a while yet!

 

[RussA]

Found this, and it certainly seems to underline the difference the speed of the disk can make. Check out the game load times...

www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2840