2.5" vs 3.5"

[pena]

How much difference in speed 2.5" and 3.5" drives have?

For example, WD scorpio black 320GB 7200rpm 16MB vs samsung 1TB 7200rpm 32MB.

How about the noise levels? Which drive is quiter?

I'm planning to install OS in that drive and use video/photo editing softwares. Will there be clear difference in speed in that kind of use?

 

[jsrudd]

In general 2.5'' drives are for laptops and 3.5'' drives are for desktops. A lot of times the 2.5'' drives focus on power savings but I don't believe the WD black does. Also 2.5'' drive cost significantly more per GB and max out much lower than a 3.5'' drive. A lot of cases aren't set up for 2.5'' drives unless you have an adaptor. That being said the newer raptor drives are 2.5'' drives in a 3.5'' case (they're at 10000rpms though).

 

[sub mesa]

Velociraptor is a desk-top class 2,5" disk, and also SSDs often come in 2,5" form. Otherwise this form factor is mostly for laptops. Although i believe 3,5" will die out and 2,5" will become dominant.

 

[cjl]

The notebook 2.5" drives are noticeably slower, especially for random access. Note that 2.5" drives designed for desktop use (such as the Velociraptors) don't have this problem.

 

[mamw93]

Samsung will do better with less heat because of the 32MB of Cache Buffer. But if you compare 2 HDD's identical in Cache Buffer, capacity, and RPM the 3.5" won't do much better. The 2.5" drives have more access times and seek times.

 

[cjl]

Samsung will do better with less heat because of the 32MB of Cache Buffer. But if you compare 2 HDD's identical in Cache Buffer, capacity, and RPM the 3.5" won't do much better. The 2.5" drives have more access times and seek times.

Actually, the Samsung will create more heat, because 3.5" drives need more power than 2.5" drives. It will be faster though.

 

[pena]

Ok thanks guys. I will go with the Samsung.