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Roburt · Sep 3, 2007, 05:15 PM

I know the 7200 is faster, but my use will be primarily for websurfing, music playing, word processing, spreadsheets and the like, PLUS

I want to use Aperture to deal with many thousands of pics, and perhaps get into video editing. Right now, I don't have an HD camcorder but expect to do so. I can see using Final Cut down the road but my initial video stuff will be using iMovie, which I understand will require much less from the computer.

I was thinking I could set things up to store photos and video on an external drive connected by the firewire port, so other than having some photos also stored on the internal hard drive just to have when I'm out and about, I'm not sure how much the faster internal will help me. Of course, I'm not quite sure yet how to deal with using an external drive for some purposes but not all, given the need/desire to take most everything with me when I go mobile but the recognition that I simply can't hold all my photos and video on a laptop hard drive.

Thoughts, recommendations, etc., both as to which internal HDD to buy, as well as tips/pointers on use of an external for the photos/video, and back up.

Thanks in advance.

mduell · Sep 3, 2007, 06:20 PM

I currently like 5400RPM disks because they're available in larger capacities than the 7200RPM disks for the same price. What you lose in rotational speed you make up in areal density, so the bulk transfer rates are about the same. And the performance/free space curve heavily favors having more free space to keep performance up.

For externals, 500GB is a good price/size tradeoff, and only about $150 in a FW400/USB2 enclosure. For now you can do manual or scripted file copies, and then swtich to Time Machine when Leopard comes out.

Roburt · Sep 3, 2007, 07:08 PM

Thank, mduell. Still wondering, though. If I go online and buy a new macbook pro, should I stick with the 160GB 5,400 that comes stock, or should I check the box and get the same capacity (160GB) 7,200 drive for another $150 or so. Sounds like you're saying to buy stock, and then go to the store and buy a larger 5,400 drive to replace the brand spanking new 160GB drive that comes stock, right? If that is the case, I have two questions. First, how big can you safely go? Can you do a 5,400 500GB drive in a laptop? Sorry if that's a dumb question, but I've never heard of folks having that size HD in a laptop before. Second, I assume that voids the apple warranty unless Apple, or someone like Comp USA installs it, right? If so, will they install a drive you bring in, or do they make you buy it from them. In Apple's case, I would think it would cost a bunch more than buying from OWC or something. Thanks again.

Roburt · Sep 3, 2007, 07:11 PM

oops, in re-reading you post, it looks like you are recommending to put the $150 toward an external drive, which I was already planning on purchasing. So, to revise my last follow up question post, do you think it would be better to replace the stock internal 160GB 5,400 drive with a larger 5,400 drive, rather than upgrade to the 160GB 7,200RPM drive when I buy the computer?

mduell · Sep 3, 2007, 07:31 PM

Yea, I wouldn't recommend the $150 to upgrade from 160G/5400R to 160G/7200R; that's Insane Apple Prices (tm). If you want 7200RPM, buy the 200G/7200R Hitachi for $190, but I think you're better off with the 250G/5400R for $190 from Newegg (OWC's prices are a scam!). 250G is the largest 2.5" drive at any speed. You do need an Apple Authorized Service place to do the swap to keep your warranty. CompUSA charges $30 to do the swap, local Mac specialists are probably a tad more.

You can then take the 160G/5400R drive you just pulled out and throw it in a $10-20 USB2/eSATA enclosure for portable storage, or sell it, or shoot it, or whatever you want to do.

For your backup, go with a 3.5" ("desktop) drive ($120ish for 500G) and a FW400/USB2 enclosure ($30ish). Assembly can be done yourself and takes about 5 minutes.

You don't need to (and maybe even you shouldn't) do the internal drive swap right away. Try the 160G/5400R and see how you like it in terms of space and speed.

Roburt · Sep 3, 2007, 07:41 PM

Thank you!!!

Appleman · Sep 3, 2007, 11:41 PM

I just ordered the 160Gb 7200 rpm MacBook Pro and will see how it goes.
For a laptop that is sufficient for now, and for the more heavy data stuff just attach a FW800 external @ 7200, when that is full buy another one, etc.
Just my 2c

Simon · Sep 4, 2007, 02:35 AM

I you want the biggest get the 250 GB WD Scorpio. If you want the fastest get the 200 GB Hitachi.

200G 7K = Hitachi Travelstar 7K200 200GB 7200rpm SATA notebook drive
160G 7K = Seagate Momentus 7200.2 160GB 7200rpm SATA notebook drive
250G 5K = Western Digital Scorpio (WD2500BEVS) 250GB 5400rpm notebook drive

mduell · Sep 4, 2007, 04:30 PM

Sure, when the disk is empty. Put 180G on the disk, and the 250G/5400R will be much faster than the 200G/7200R.

Simon · Sep 5, 2007, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by mduell

Sure, when the disk is empty. Put 180G on the disk, and the 250G/5400R will be much faster than the 200G/7200R.

And hence the advice to take the big drive if you need lots of space. Different requirements, different solutions. With the same amount of free space the 7K200 will be considerably faster than the WD2500BEVS. It's all just a trade-off between high capacity and high throughput requirements. There's not "one disk that fits all'.