I want a new new hard drive, what should I get?

Question

I'm definitely getting a new hard drive for my desktop computer and I may get a new hard drive for my laptop as well. For my desktop I want something in the 500GB - 1TB range for under £100. For my laptop I want something around 250GB, for under £75.

I was looking on the internet and I'm confused because I thought all hard drives were the same size. I mean size as in like... normal size not size as in GB. For example, I've seen drives that are 3.5" and others ones that are different sizes. How do I know if it will fit in my desktop computer or laptop. Also, are laptop hard drives smaller than desktop hard drives?

Please also explain to me what the difference is between SATA and the other type (s)? Also, what is the buffer for, example I have seen "buffer:32MB" listed. And finally, does it matter what the RPM is for a HDD? I've seen one listed at 7200RPM and I was confused because... I thought RPM was for cars... lol.

Answer 1

For desktops all hdds are 3.5" and laptops are 2.5" laptops are usually 5400-7200speed and 4-16mb buffer. The higher the buffer the better it will seek times and speed. Make sure if your laptop and/or desktop takes IDE or sata . Most newer computers within the past 1-2yrs are all sata drives and will have sata or ide connections on the mobo. RPM is the speed at which the plates spin on the hdd. You can pick up a 500gb-1TB desktop drive for $49 - 500gb or around $149 -TB all day on the internet. Then if you choose sata for your desktop make sure your power supply in the desktop has a sata power connection. If it doesn not then you will not be able to run any sata devices. Thanks

Answer 2

desktops  are 3.5" in size and laptops are 2.5"

Here is a 1TB Hard Drive for ONLY £85!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143288

and your laptop ONLY £44 for 250GB

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131277

any more help needed just email

Answer 3

Hitachi, Samsung, and Fujitsu now make 500gb drives for laptops.

Laptop drives are 2.5".  Desktop drives are 3.5".  This is because laptops have limited room for hard drives.  Or rather, there is more room in a desktop case.  Hard drives started off much larger in desktops.

RPM means Revolutions Per Minute.  Anything that spins has an RPM rating.  Anything that Revolves.  If you spin a ball on a table, it is revolving X number of times every minute.

IDE and SATA refer to the type of cable/connection on the end of the drive.  SATA looks like plastic blades with metal contacts on them.  IDE looks like two rows of pins.

Buffer is the amount of memory on the drive itself for pre-loading information that you want, to speed up transferring information to and from it.

Answer 4

Your Desktop takes a 3.5" size disk.  Your laptop takes a 2.5" size disk.

There are 2 types of drive interfaces, IDE (UltraATA) and SATA (Serial ATA).  They are not compatible with each other, The type you need is determined by your machines - you need to look at your owners manual and find out what your machine supports.

You should be able to find a desktop drive for well under your budget.

RPM is the rotational speed of the platter of the drive - the faster the better. 7200 is standard on desktop drives

Your laptop drive could be 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM, the 7200 RPM ones are more expensive and out of your budget range.