5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

I recently replaced my antique Toshiba laptop with a new shiny new HP, which I freely
admit is at least partly a toy since I'm retired and do my real work on a PC. The
new laptop arrived with a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD. I added a 250GB NVMe SSD to use for the
system drive and set up 2 partitions on the HDD, E: for working data and F: for
storage and backups. I'm planning to replace a memory module and go from 12GB to
16GB total (not much difference, but I'm prejudiced against uneven modules in twin
slots). While I have the laptop open, I could change the current HDD to something
else like a 7200 RPM HDD or preferably a SATA SSD. But my thinking is that I'd not
notice much difference in day-to-day operations since the system drive wouldn't be
affected. System backups would probably go noticeably quicker getting sent to SSD,
but no real need to upgrade unless there are obvious improvements beyond that. Is
there some aspect I'm missing here that might justify an upgrade? Please! I can't
come up with anything no matter how hard I try.

Larc

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On 2021-01-09 1:48 p.m., Larc wrote:
I recently replaced my antique Toshiba laptop with a new shiny new HP, which I freely
admit is at least partly a toy since I'm retired and do my real work on a PC. The
new laptop arrived with a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD. I added a 250GB NVMe SSD to use for the
system drive and set up 2 partitions on the HDD, E: for working data and F: for
storage and backups. I'm planning to replace a memory module and go from 12GB to
16GB total (not much difference, but I'm prejudiced against uneven modules in twin
slots). While I have the laptop open, I could change the current HDD to something
else like a 7200 RPM HDD or preferably a SATA SSD. But my thinking is that I'd not
notice much difference in day-to-day operations since the system drive wouldn't be
affected. System backups would probably go noticeably quicker getting sent to SSD,
but no real need to upgrade unless there are obvious improvements beyond that. Is
there some aspect I'm missing here that might justify an upgrade? Please! I can't
come up with anything no matter how hard I try.

Larc


If my memory serves me right the 5400 RPM drives run cooler than the
7200 RPM ones, So in a laptop I would stay with the 5400, in a desktop
I would probably go with 7200.

Yes, in the memory area I would definitely go with 2 8GB modules, I too
always want matched pairs in a twin slot system.

Rene

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On 2021-01-09 2:27 p.m., Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2021-01-09 1:48 p.m., Larc wrote:
I recently replaced my antique Toshiba laptop with a new shiny new HP,
which I freely
admit is at least partly a toy since I'm retired and do my real work
on a PC.Â* The
new laptop arrived with a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD.Â* I added a 250GB NVMe SSD
to use for the
system drive and set up 2 partitions on the HDD, E: for working data
andÂ* F: for
storage and backups.Â* I'm planning to replace a memory module and go
from 12GB to
16GB total (not much difference, but I'm prejudiced against uneven
modules in twin
slots).Â* While I have the laptop open, I could change the current HDD
to something
else like a 7200 RPM HDD or preferably a SATA SSD.Â* But my thinking is
that I'd not
notice much difference in day-to-day operations since the system drive
wouldn't be
affected.Â* System backups would probably go noticeably quicker getting
sent to SSD,
but no real need to upgrade unless there are obvious improvements
beyond that.Â* Is
there some aspect I'm missing here that might justify an upgrade?
Please!Â* I can't
come up with anything no matter how hard I try.

Larc


If my memory serves me right the 5400 RPM drives run cooler than the
7200Â* RPM ones, So in a laptop I would stay with the 5400, in a desktop
I would probably go with 7200.

Yes, in the memory area I would definitely go with 2 8GB modules, I too
always want matched pairs in a twin slot system.

Rene


I should have mentioned that the SSD may run slightly cooler than the
HDD which is always a good thing in a laptop

For instance in my Desktop I have a 512 GB Seagate HDD side by side with
a 256 GB Samsung SSD the HDD runs 32 deg C and the SSD runs at 28 deg
C, plus the SSD is about 5 times faster.

Rene

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

Larc wrote:
I recently replaced my antique Toshiba laptop with a new shiny new HP, which I freely
admit is at least partly a toy since I'm retired and do my real work on a PC. The
new laptop arrived with a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD. I added a 250GB NVMe SSD to use for the
system drive and set up 2 partitions on the HDD, E: for working data and F: for
storage and backups. I'm planning to replace a memory module and go from 12GB to
16GB total (not much difference, but I'm prejudiced against uneven modules in twin
slots). While I have the laptop open, I could change the current HDD to something
else like a 7200 RPM HDD or preferably a SATA SSD. But my thinking is that I'd not
notice much difference in day-to-day operations since the system drive wouldn't be
affected. System backups would probably go noticeably quicker getting sent to SSD,
but no real need to upgrade unless there are obvious improvements beyond that. Is
there some aspect I'm missing here that might justify an upgrade? Please! I can't
come up with anything no matter how hard I try.

Larc

The main improvement from replacing 1TB 5400RPM with 1TB SSD,
would be shock resistance. But you are probably not a teenager
with the laptop in your backpack while you ride a bike. And
the odds of the laptop receiving a blow while being transported
are low. And besides, to hurt the 1TB 5400RPM hard drive
while it's protected inside the laptop, the laptop would
practically have to be destroyed to ruin that drive.

If the hard drive is for backups, you're probably running
a good mix right there. While real backups would reside in
an external backup device, temporary backups of the 256GB NVMe
would be OK there.

There are backups for device fragility reasons (NVMe goes nuts
and erases files). A real plan would be a "Disaster Recovery Plan".
For example, my old employer kept our backups... in another country.
That gives earthquake protection (even though a 5.0 is more our style here).

Changing the RAM config, that depends on whether the CPU is
single channel or dual channel. With dual channel, a pair of 8GB
would work good. If it's single channel, there's no reason to
be changing a thing. You can look up the processor on Ark.intel.com
or cpu-world.com and try and get more information about it.
Applications like CPU-Z can give you some info to start with.

https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

"zip english 32 or 64-bit version" === portable version ?

Paul

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:08:17 -0500, Paul wrote:

| Changing the RAM config, that depends on whether the CPU is
| single channel or dual channel. With dual channel, a pair of 8GB
| would work good. If it's single channel, there's no reason to
| be changing a thing. You can look up the processor on Ark.intel.com
| or cpu-world.com and try and get more information about it.
| Applications like CPU-Z can give you some info to start with.

Thanks, Paul. Not sure what this is exactly. Ark doesn't seem to specify anything
about channels other than the CPU accommodating 2 RAM channels. It has 4 cores and 8
threads. CPU is Intel i5-1035G1. I currently have 2 sticks of RAM (8GB and 4GB)
installed. My plan is to replace the 4 with another 8, same make and model.

Larc

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On Sat, 9 Jan 2021 15:01:17 -0600, Rene Lamontagne wrote:

| If my memory serves me right the 5400 RPM drives run cooler than the
| 7200* RPM ones, So in a laptop I would stay with the 5400, in a desktop
| I would probably go with 7200.
|
| Yes, in the memory area I would definitely go with 2 8GB modules, I too
| always want matched pairs in a twin slot system.
|
| Rene
|
|
| I should have mentioned that the SSD may run slightly cooler than the
| HDD which is always a good thing in a laptop
|
| For instance in my Desktop I have a 512 GB Seagate HDD side by side with
| a 256 GB Samsung SSD the HDD runs 32 deg C and the SSD runs at 28 deg
| C, plus the SSD is about 5 times faster.

The system drive on NVMe will get the most use. The HDD is mainly just a storage
facility, so shouldn't be seeing enough action for its heat to matter much. Seems I
may as well keep the 5400 RPM HDD and maybe consider upgrading if it ever fails.
Thanks for your help, Rene.

Larc

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On 2021-01-10 8:57 a.m., Larc wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:08:17 -0500, Paul wrote:

| Changing the RAM config, that depends on whether the CPU is
| single channel or dual channel. With dual channel, a pair of 8GB
| would work good. If it's single channel, there's no reason to
| be changing a thing. You can look up the processor on Ark.intel.com
| or cpu-world.com and try and get more information about it.
| Applications like CPU-Z can give you some info to start with.

Thanks, Paul. Not sure what this is exactly. Ark doesn't seem to specify anything
about channels other than the CPU accommodating 2 RAM channels. It has 4 cores and 8
threads. CPU is Intel i5-1035G1. I currently have 2 sticks of RAM (8GB and 4GB)
installed. My plan is to replace the 4 with another 8, same make and model.

Larc


I agree, pretty good plan. :-)

Rene

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

Larc wrote:
On Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:08:17 -0500, Paul wrote:

| Changing the RAM config, that depends on whether the CPU is
| single channel or dual channel. With dual channel, a pair of 8GB
| would work good. If it's single channel, there's no reason to
| be changing a thing. You can look up the processor on Ark.intel.com
| or cpu-world.com and try and get more information about it.
| Applications like CPU-Z can give you some info to start with.

Thanks, Paul. Not sure what this is exactly. Ark doesn't seem to specify anything
about channels other than the CPU accommodating 2 RAM channels. It has 4 cores and 8
threads. CPU is Intel i5-1035G1. I currently have 2 sticks of RAM (8GB and 4GB)
installed. My plan is to replace the 4 with another 8, same make and model.

Larc

That's dual channel. You can swap an 8GB in there and the
BIOS will run the two sticks, at the slower of the capabilities
of the two sticks. So if one is CAS12 and the other CAS13,
the setting for all sticks is CAS13 (slower). A difference that
small would be "down in the noise". You would not change out
all the RAM "just so it could be CAS12" for example.

To detect a difference, I'd start by running the 7-ZIP
benchmark. As it's sensitive to RAM.


0) Check user manual, for any procedural steps different
than the following RAM replacement procedure.

1) Benchmark the 7ZIP utility from https://www.7-zip.org/
2) Shut down (full shut down, not sleep or hibernate).
3) Remove battery pack (so no power present in SODIMM slot).
4) Unscrew RAM access area. Pull 4GB. Insert 8GB SODIMM.
Put old SODIMM in antistatic container. Replace cover.
5) Install battery pack.
6) Boot and bench 7ZIP again.

That will give the largest improvement in performance,
if any is to be had. Most RAM characteristics are smothered
by CPU cache, but 7ZIP is one utility that relies on
all subsystems being at their peak.

To give an example, I have two processors here that are
fairly similar, except one has more cache than the other.
The one with more cache runs 7ZIP 50% faster than the other.
The effects of your RAM upgrade should be smaller than
what happens with cache differences. But hopefully, still
a measurable difference.

Many other test cases might not see a diff.

Paul

5400 RPM HDD vs 7200 RPM HDD vs SATA SSD
 

On Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:32:47 -0500, Paul wrote:

| That's dual channel. You can swap an 8GB in there and the
| BIOS will run the two sticks, at the slower of the capabilities
| of the two sticks. So if one is CAS12 and the other CAS13,
| the setting for all sticks is CAS13 (slower). A difference that
| small would be "down in the noise". You would not change out
| all the RAM "just so it could be CAS12" for example.
|
| To detect a difference, I'd start by running the 7-ZIP
| benchmark. As it's sensitive to RAM.

There shouldn't be any difference. The 8GB stick that replaces the 4GB will be
precisely the same as the existing 8GB, both Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CTD DDR4-2666. CAS
latency is 19. I'm as big a stickler about matching brand and model of twin memory
modules as I am about matching size.

Larc