Just installed a WD Scorpio Black into my laptop and wow!

linktoinsanity · 14 Jul 2009 at 16:27

Have to say, I was expecting an increase in loading times, but now my laptop performs better than my old P4 does (it was always slower at loading beforehand but better at most other things) and my windows experience in XP Home is miles better as well.

I was going to get an SSD but with the prices so much higher for less storage I thought I'd just spend £40 (as opposed to £200) and get a higher capacity drive. I had an old Fujitsu 320GB 5,400rpm drive before and now have the WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7,200rpm instead.

I think now is the right time to upgrade laptop drives from 5,400rpm to 7,200rpm with SSDs being so expensive and these drives costing less, especially as my laptop can finally multitask much better than before.

This thread is mainly to clarify that a 7,200rpm drive in a notebook computer really makes a difference...

Stonedofmoo · 14 Jul 2009 at 18:04

Yeah I heard that. I always recommend a 7200rpm when my friends laptops have a hard disk failure, the price difference isn't so great from a 5400rpm drive anyhow.

james.miller · 14 Jul 2009 at 18:08

my wd black made a substancial difference to my vaio fw11s

which came with a 4300rpm drive.....

miniyazz · 14 Jul 2009 at 18:09

Of bigger concern is power draw and heat production. But if those aren't an issue, then getting 5400 over 7200 is probably silly.

linktoinsanity · 14 Jul 2009 at 18:41

The scorpio black apparently runs cooler, quieter and just as power efficiently as most 5,400 drives whilst still running faster. Whilst I haven't noticed it being much quieter than my old drive it certainly seems the other two.

electric ant · 15 Jul 2009 at 20:18

The Scorpio Blue 500gb 5400rpm seems like a good bet, with speeds at near enough the same level as 320gb 7200rpms (due to higher data density, 250gb on 2 platters vs 160gb on 2 platters) plus will run cooler and quieter than the Blacks.

Lummox · 15 Jul 2009 at 20:37

I have ordered a Scorpio black for my laptop today. Looking forward to installing it and putting Windows 7 RC on it.

RJC · 15 Jul 2009 at 20:58

Ordered mine this afternoon, should be here tomorrow.

AbsenceJam · 15 Jul 2009 at 22:26

electric ant said:
The Scorpio Blue 500gb 5400rpm seems like a good bet, with speeds at near enough the same level as 320gb 7200rpms (due to higher data density, 250gb on 2 platters vs 160gb on 2 platters) plus will run cooler and quieter than the Blacks.

This was a choice I had recently but the Black won it because of access times and multiple operations. When they come out with a 500GB Black things should be nice.

Stonedofmoo · 16 Jul 2009 at 07:39

I think the Seagate 7200.4 momentus is the fastest drive out at the moment for mechnical laptop drives. That's 500Gb and 7200rpm

AbsenceJam · 16 Jul 2009 at 10:52

Stonedofmoo said:
I think the Seagate 7200.4 momentus is the fastest drive out at the moment for mechnical laptop drives. That's 500Gb and 7200rpm

It's actually not very good despite the spindle speed - http://techreport.com/articles.x/17010 . Seagate haven't made a really good drive for the longest time.

james.miller · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:36

thats a good result for the blue! it seems they arent much slower then the scorpio blacks, either

Lanz · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:28

Whats the fastest single platter laptop drive nowadays? The 320GB WB Black?

Was thinking of getting on for my HTPC.

james.miller · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:34

i believe so. but for a htpc, it'd probably be a better going for the wd blue - there isnt a lot in it between them, be it power consumption, speed or noise, but the blue is quieter (just) so if anything, that would swing it for me

its not like you'd notice the difference in speed

randal · 17 Jul 2009 at 15:38

I had a WD Scorpio Black in my old lappy, and I've got one in my MBP - can't rate these drives enough.

Loading times on laptops are now on par with desktop PCs, heat isn't an issue with these drives either as mentioned above. The only thing I've noticed is the spin is a bit noisier. Well worth it though.

Lanz · 17 Jul 2009 at 16:52

I'm looking for something as quiet as a WD Green 1TB.

Grimley · 17 Jul 2009 at 17:01

james.miller said:
i believe so. but for a htpc, it'd probably be a better going for the wd blue - there isnt a lot in it between them, be it power consumption, speed or noise, but the blue is quieter (just) so if anything, that would swing it for me its not like you'd notice the difference in speed

That was my method of thinking when I bought a 2.5" for my HTPC. I didn't need the speed & saved myself a few quid in the process.

james.miller · 17 Jul 2009 at 17:02

Lanz said:
I'm looking for something as quiet as a WD Green 1TB.

id say they are both quieter, going by my own experiance - i have a 1tb wd green on my htpc and a wdblack 2.5" in my laptop

especially, teh 2.5" drive would transfer a lot less vibration through the htpc case which is the biggest cause of noise , really.

Duke · 17 Jul 2009 at 17:21

I replaced my PS2 40GB 5400RPM hard disk with a 7200RPM one and that is a touch quicker as well, so worth the few quid over the 5400 ones.

james.miller · 17 Jul 2009 at 17:22

Duke said:
I replaced my PS2 40GB 5400RPM hard disk with a 7200RPM one and that is a touch quicker as well, so worth the few quid over the 5400 ones.

OMG NO, ITS GOING TO DIE IN A FIREY DEATH OF OVER-HEATY FIREBALLS AND STUFF!!!111one1 :rolleyes:

and to think i've been saying, for 3 years now, the 7200rpm drives do not cause ps3's to over heat