The New Hard Drives - 4200 rpm vs. 5400 rpm?

Question

Level 2

234 points

The New Hard Drives - 4200 rpm vs. 5400 rpm?

Hi,

Many thanks in advance for your attention.

The new MacBooks (and MacBook Pros) offer two Hard Drives.

160GB at 5400 rpm

and

200GB at 4200 rpm.

I do a lot of video editing. Isn't the 4200 (slower) HD inferior?

Why would more GB be offered at a slower rpm?

- Ross

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 19, 2007 10:03 AM

Reply

Answer 1

May 19, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Ross Corsair

Yes, the 200GB model is slower at storing and reading data. More GB is offered at slower speed quite simply because it's the edge of technology right now.

Reply

Answer 2

PB PM

Level 4

2,480 points

May 19, 2007 2:01 PM in response to Ross Corsair

Sometimes the RPM isn't the whole story. I've seen reports stating that actual seek times on larger, but slower RPM drives can be just as fast as faster, but smaller drives. The example I saw was, this: A 100GB 7200 rpm drive actually has similar seek times as a 160GB 5400 rpm drive.

Reply

Answer 3

jayv.

Level 4

1,303 points

May 19, 2007 5:42 PM in response to PB PM

Keep in mind that some drives have perpendicular technology in them, improving their performance even if the rpm is slower. the 160 GB 5400 in the current MBP's is one of those.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpendicular_recording

Reply