View Full Version : 7200 RPM SATA 2 laptop HDD on SATA 1 controller?
lagzor
Aug 16th, 2009, 12:39 AM
I am thinking of upgrading my current laptop's HDD to a 7200 RPM SATA II WD Scorpio black. However, it turns out my laptop only supports SATA I speeds (Intel P945 chipset).
I know it would still be compatible, but would I be getting my money's worth or any noticeable performance increase from my current SATA I hard drive?
If not, what is the fastest SATA I laptop drives currently available?
P.S. I am pretty much looking for pure performance (heat / noise isn't really too big of a concern, but not gonna spend SSD money)
Silver Bullet
Aug 16th, 2009, 11:06 AM
Should work no problem. I won't worry about it.
rabbit
Aug 16th, 2009, 06:10 PM
> I know it would still be compatible, but would I be getting my money's worth or any noticeable performance increase from my current SATA I hard drive?
If you're going from 5400RPM to 7200RPM, there should be a performance increase, although at a cost to battery life.
I don't think SATA 150/I or SATA 300/II will make a difference, seeing as my desktop WD Blue 7200RPM drive maxes out at 85MB/s, burst.
Oversized Rooster
Aug 16th, 2009, 11:38 PM
There is no 2.5 inch or 3.5 inch 7200rpm hard drive that will saturate the maximum transfer speed possible under the SATA1 specification, so don't worry about it. Only an SSD would be held back by the SATA1 spec.
The fastest 7200rpm laptop hard drive you can get is either a Western Digital Scorpio Black or Seagate Momentus 7200.3.
The 7200.4 newer Momentus drives do achieve a slightly higher average transfer rate but for some reason the access times on the 7200.4 is horrible and a simple Western Digital Scorpio Blue 5400rpm HD can match this!
lagzor
Aug 17th, 2009, 07:50 PM
The 7200.4 newer Momentus drives do achieve a slightly higher average transfer rate but for some reason the access times on the 7200.4 is horrible and a simple Western Digital Scorpio Blue 5400rpm HD can match this!
So a WD Blue is as fast as the 7200.4? Does that mean its cheaper to buy that instead of a Black (in terms of relative performance gains?) (but I guess it doesn't matter since I already ordered a black lol)