1tb 7200 RPM 32MB vs 2Tb 5400 RPM 128Mb, which would be faster

[Chris Solomon]

I am running out of space on my primary HDD (500Gb 7200RPM). I am looking at upgrade options. The first drive I was going to get (ST1000LX001 1TB SSHD 32Gb NAND) is currently unavailible due to the NAND shortage (making the larger size NAND really expensive). so i was considering using either my a Hitachi 7K1000 (1Tb 7200rpm 32Mb cache) drive i already have, or getting a larger Seagte 2Tb (ST2000LM007 2Tb 128Mb cache). My system doesn't have any issues with heat, SO it can handle the heat of a 7200 RPM drive just fine (it came with a 7200 rpm drive). but I am wondering which of the two drives, would be faster from booting windows and applications. My steam library (all 1.5 Tb's of it) is kept on the secondary drive which i already upgraded from 1Tb to 2Tb (was originally 500Gb).

I can't afford a SSD of a size that would be an upgrade in capacity to what i'm using now, So if your going to say "get a SSD" don't bother to post. I can't afford a $300-$400 drive. I am looking primarily for upgrading capacity. If the drive just happens to increase performance a little, that is a bonus.

I just need to know which drive would work for that purpose better.

Drives:

Hitachi 7k1000
Cap: 1Tb
Cache: 32Mb
RPM: 7200

Seagate ST2000LM007
Cap: 2tb
Cache: 128
RPM: 5400

[SundownKid]

Make sure to get a 7200RPM drive, other than that it doesn't matter what brand or size. Get as much as you need.

They make plenty of 7200 RPM 2TB/3TB/4TB drives.

[Chris Solomon]

so having a much bigger cache size won't make a difference in the perfomance?

[SundownKid]

I would just get the most modern model available

Either Seagate Barracuda 2TB+ or WD Black 2TB+, 2TB are not much pricier than 1TB

[Chris Solomon]

also i am unable to find a 2.5 drive with a 9.5 drive height in the bigger capacities. My system can handle up to 9.5 height

[SundownKid]

Your system requires 2.5 inch drives? Is it a laptop? Desktop drives are 3.5"

[Andrius227]

Avoid 5400 rpm drives like a plague. They are absolute trash for gaming. They are only usefull for media storage, like movies and photos.

[Chris Solomon]

Messaggio originale di SundownKid:

Your system requires 2.5 inch drives? Is it a laptop? Desktop drives are 3.5"

It's a big honkin 19" laptop

[Chris Solomon]

Messaggio originale di Andrius227:

Avoid 5400 rpm drives like a plague. They are absolute trash for gaming. They are only usefull for media storage, like movies and photos.

but for storage of the game files, it's ok to have them on the slower 2tb 5400 rpm drive i put in already right? the page file and windows system files are (currently) on the 500Gb 7200RPM drive

I also don't see any 9.5 or 7.0 drives above 1tb at the 7200 rpm speed.

[Andrius227]

Messaggio originale di Chris Solomon:

but

Messaggio originale di Andrius227:

Avoid 5400 rpm drives like a plague. They are absolute trash for gaming. They are only usefull for media storage, like movies and photos.

but for storage of the game files, it's ok to have them on the slower 2tb 5400 rpm drive i put in already right? the page file and windows system files are (currently) on the 500Gb 7200RPM drive

It can be enough for some games, but many games require instant and constant streaming of data.

I had a 2tb 5400rpm drive that i tried using for gaming. Don't remember all the games i tried, but i remember one, the Euro Truck Simulator 2. It kept freezing constantly as i drove, since it needed to load stuff in front of me without loading screens. I imagine many other open world games, or games with larger maps, would struggle on a 5400rpm drive.

[Chris Solomon]

I have some open world Games.... Also,I wonder if thats why i keep getting that stupid Server Not Responding count down timer in Star Trek Online. I will try some of the games that are open world again to see if performance has degraded any. I assume that games like Just Cause 1/2 and Farcry 1/2 are considered open world games. Also possibly STO (Star Trek Online).

you can see all the games i have here. are any of them considered open world?
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197991439098/games/?tab=all

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yea I wouldn't "install" anything to a 5400/5900rpm drive; those are for general storage.
Much to slow to run certain games off of.

Given the laptop you have, it should also have more room for more drives.
Is that not true for the laptop model you have?

[upcoast]

For a laptop just stick a $120ish 500GBish ssd in and call it a day if you need more space than that add a 2-4TB external usb drive.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GRmb8K

There 525GB $125 and problem solved ^.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes please consider something like Crucial MX300 SSDs; very good bang for buck.
Even the 750GB and 1.1TB are not that badly priced when comparing to many others out there.

HDDs are slow, and as a result, so is the entire machine whenever the OS is run off of one.

Now that 2TB you already have, that's fine for most older games, or indie games where read speed won't be a huge factor.

[Rove]

You should look for drive transfer rates or reviews online for the specific drives, the information is there, probably also from the manufacturers. I have a feeling the 2TB might actually be faster in spite of slower spindle speed but only way to knwo for sure is to look at some benchamrks or manufacturer drive transfer stats.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Also have to consider that HDD speeds never actually hold up over time if you are not defragging the drive, which many folks simply do not take the time to do, or understand that there is even a need to do that.