do they make 2.5" HDD with 5400rpm and 16mb cache?

marwan · Post by **marwan** » 06 Jun 2008, 23:52

I want to upgrade my Playstation 3 HDD and i know that the PS3 benefits from the cache and not the rpm speed(7200rpm performs the same as 5400rpm or worse in some cases).

I think i read somewhere a while back than Toshiba came out with a 2.5 HDD, 5400rpm with 16mb cache, but im not sure of it's capacity.

i'm looking for 320GB or 500GB with the above specs.....can someone direct me to a place where i can buy one from? if all fails, i'll just get a 2.5 HDD with 5400rpm and 8mb cache.

thanks!

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 07 Jun 2008, 12:15

I have the Toshiba 2.5" 16MB cache 5400RPM drive - they only did it in 80GB, so it's not exactly huge.

You're choices are really...

Hitachi/160/7200/16
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=773811

Toshiba/160/7200/16
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=798934

Samsung/320/5400/8
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=800122

Hitachi/500/5400/8
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=802975

Bear in mind that as capacities go up, so does data density. :)

But I don't think you'll find a 16MB cache drive on any of the larger ones.

redgun · Post by **redgun** » 07 Jun 2008, 21:19

i don't know if this is any use to you, put i thought it might be worth a try:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=459

fastest conventional HDD build so far, iirc.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 07 Jun 2008, 22:09

The 300GB Velociraptor drive might be in a 2.5" form factor, but it's taller than normal 2.5" drives.

I'm not sure how much extra height the PS3 has available, or whether the HDD bay is only 9.5mm tall.

Either way, I'd be worried about the heat that drive would put out when stuffed into the confines of a PS3... :(

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 08 Jun 2008, 00:53

Amusing that someone asks about a slowest drive and you point em to about the fastest.

Although the Velociraptor is a 2.5" drive, it's in a 3.5" form factor with heatsink and all. So I very much doubt it'll fit a ps3 except maybe if you ruin your warranty and mod it or make an external mount of somekind.

Eh, there's a thought, make an external box with a 1tb drive.

BlueMak · Post by **BlueMak** » 08 Jun 2008, 04:36

If it is in a 3.5" form factor, why is it called a 2.5" drive? Wouldn't this be a problem for the vast majority of laptops?

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 08 Jun 2008, 04:48

Yeah very much so, and as I understand it, it's not aimed at laptops at all, mainly server rooms to put in place of 3.5" drives to get better performance, oh and probably nutcases with too much cash for their own desktops too ;)

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 08 Jun 2008, 15:14

WD put the Velociraptor in a 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor heatsink more for looks and usability for the consumer than any real need to have that size heatsink on it. As far as I can remember from what I read in a couple of reviews of it, anyway.

I'd quite like one of those drives, I admit. Not sure I want the price they're asking - Â£200 for 300GB is a little on the pricy side. I can get 2TB for that! And I might well do, as the TB drives aren't exactly slow.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 08 Jun 2008, 19:12

A 2.5" drive and it runs at what 10k rpm? yes, it does need a heatsink. My regular 10k raptors easily run at 50degC. In their intended raid purpose it gets a lot of heat in not a large space.

packerfan · Post by **packerfan** » 08 Jun 2008, 19:18

And I think I read it is like 12-15mm or around that while standard drives are 9.5mm so it likely wont fit.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 08 Jun 2008, 19:33

A 2.5" drive and it runs at what 10k rpm? yes, it does need a heatsink. My regular 10k raptors easily run at 50degC. In their intended raid purpose it gets a lot of heat in not a large space.

I didn't think they were aimed at the server market. Servers are gonna go for 15k SCSI if they want speed. And yes, I know that the older Raptors ran hot, but I swear I saw a review saying they ran it without the heatsink and it made no difference to the temps... :?

And I think I read it is like 12-15mm or around that while standard drives are 9.5mm so it likely wont fit.

Aye. Too tall - might be 2.5" wide, but they don't adhere to the other requirements for the laptop-type 2.5" drives.

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 08 Jun 2008, 23:08

In a typical desktop, like that of most reviewers, the heatsink won't likely make any diff. But in a datacenter where space and heat removal are at a premium, I wouldn't doubt it will. As for scsi, sata is basically trying to take it's place without as much expense, I wouldn't say as reliable but cost-wise some peeps might consider em.

[email protected] · Post by **[email protected]** » 08 Jun 2008, 23:11

12-15 mm thats klike the old ones oon PI and PII lappies, iv still got one!,

marwan · Post by **marwan** » 08 Jun 2008, 23:21

ammm....so like....back to my PS3 HDD. topic.....maybe?

how are the Toshiba 2.5 drives? any good? or should i go with a Western Digital? which of those have the faster drives? Samsung?

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 08 Jun 2008, 23:57

If having 16MB of cache is that important for you, go for the Toshiba - the 80GB one I have served me well for several years.

On the other hand... me being me, I'd go for the largest one that you can afford. The 320GB Samsung (I've had no problems with their desktop drives, and have no reason to believe that their laptop drives would be any different) looks appealing, but having 500GB of HDD in a PS3 is mighty appealing...

marwan · Post by **marwan** » 09 Jun 2008, 00:55

thanks paradigm, if the 2.5 max at 80GB, then i'll chuck it out of the window, my PS3 has a 60GB, 80GB is a worthless investment since im also looking for capacity.

so i guess i'll drop the 16mb cache in a 2.5 drive and go for high capacity(320 or 500GB) with 8mb cache, 5400rpm. but my delima is, which brand should i go for, i don't want a loud drive, i hear the samsung and Toshibas are fairly quiet.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 09 Jun 2008, 13:54

Check my links again - the Tosh is a 160GB drive.

Samsung's are as close to silent as I've ever found in a drive. I have no experience of Hitachi drives - although I have experience of old IBM laptop drives... and it wasn't a good experience, either.

BlueMak · Post by **BlueMak** » 09 Jun 2008, 14:59

I bought the first 2.5" 7200rpm 60GB drive by Hitachi a few years ago. I found it a very good drive. I don't have much more experience with their drives, but I am satisfied so far.
The original drive of the laptop was also a Hitachi drive I think, but it was a 4500 or something and it was a slow ass drive.

Why do you feel the need for a 16MB 7200 drive for a PS3?

Mesh · Post by **Mesh** » 09 Jun 2008, 22:41

A 5400rpm was originally asked for, however it seems to tend towards being more trouble/cost then it's worth. Of course a 7200rpm is likely to generate more heat so keep that in mind.

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 10 Jun 2008, 15:12

I'd be loath to put anything in the PS3 that could make it hotter, to be quite honest. Mine runs quietly, but the air coming out of it can get rather warm after an extended gaming session. Still, it's well ventilated and out in the open, so maybe I worry over nothing...

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