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| 5400 vs 7200 rpm HD http://forums.winstep.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3576 |
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| Author: | john-r [ Wed May 26, 2010 7:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | 5400 vs 7200 rpm HD |
I have following choices for a laptop (for my wife): 1. Integrated graphics, 7200 rpm hard drive, 4 GB RAM (HP machine) 2. Graphics card w/1 GB, 5400 rpm hard drive, 6 GB RAM (Asus machine) My wife uses the laptop mainly for Internet & e-mail, occasionally MS Word. The price for both machines is $700. The Asus was advertised as a gaming machine, but has been reduced in price drastically (at Best Buy) because the CPU is not the latest i3-i5 and the gamers want the latest. MY QUESTION: should I go for the Asus despite the 5400 rpm hard drive (keeping in mind what it will be used for). When I do a Google, a lot of people talk as if the faster hard drive is a big plus (all other things being equal, which is not the case here). Also, I suppose I could always upgrade the hard drive if needed (I assume that is possible with a laptop). The Asus just appears to be such a fabulous deal!!! Thanks for any opinions. |
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| Author: | winstep [ Wed May 26, 2010 9:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
You failed to mention which Windows version is being used in which laptop. 6 GB RAM is only worth it if using a 64 bit version of Windows, because the 32 bit versions can only use 3 GB and something (depending on the graphic card's memory and other factors). Integrated graphics smells like Intel. Intel graphic chipsets suck, but if you're not using the laptop to play games it's ok - in which case the faster hard drive is a big plus. Personally, I would get the Asus *and* add a $147.99 (at Newegg) Kingston 64 GB SSD to it (just to store the OS - remaining data files would be stored in the 5400 RPM hard drive). From what I read, SSDs do WONDERS for the performance of laptops. |
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| Author: | winstep [ Wed May 26, 2010 11:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Take a look at THIS video to see two otherwise identical laptops booting Windows, one with a 7200 RPM HDD and another with a SSD. |
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| Author: | john-r [ Thu May 27, 2010 12:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
My wife does not need a ss drive. I think I will get the Asus & it will probably do fine for her. If she needs to upgrade the HD, I can always get a 7200 rpm drive for $40. Interestingly, my 5-year old desktop has just met its maker. It was freezing all the time & after hours of troubleshooting, I finally discovered that the 2 front intake fans were not running. I suspect it is due to motherboard (any other ideas?). In any case, I was contemplating a new desktop, so that has forced me into action. I am actually running the current one with the side panel removed without any problems. My new one will have 2 Intel SSD in Raid 0 (+ data drive) and an ATI Radeon HD 5870 - 1GB. Can't wait. |
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