Hard drive set-up query

[~D~]

Hi, I'm looking to build a new PC next early year and I have a query about hard drive set ups.

I'm considering getting a Western Digital Raptor 74 Gb (10,000rpm) for Windows and game installations, and then getting a 500Gb (internal) drive for media/downloads etc. The seek time of the Raptor is 4.6ms, which seems a lot better than all drives I've viewed of similar size (others having at least 8.5 seek time)

What I want to ask is whether the performance gain of the 10,000rpm and 4.6ms is worth the extra cost?

Also, two more questions if I may: how loud are the 10,000rpm drives and what is the difference between the Raptor and Raptor-X (both have the same seek time, cache and interface).

Thank you in advance

 

[semi-pro waster]

I personally don't think that Raptors are worth the additional spend because many larger drives aren't that much behind in real terms for speed but other people disagree.

Raptor and Raptor X are the same drive but the Raptor X has a clear top to it so you can see the internals (pointlessness ++) and it has a half the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). The argument is basically academic as you are still talking into the hundred thousands of hours but it is still there.