Laptop Hard Drive 5400 vs 7200 at DVinfo.net

Pete Cofrancesco · September 22nd, 2009, 09:47 PM

I'm getting a laptop for the express purpose of capturing video on location plugged into a power source. It comes with a 250g/5400rpm hard drive I'm thinking of upgrading it to a 500gb drive and trying to decide on 5400 vs 7200. The 7200 is only a little more expensive. Like I said battery life isn't an issue, how about noise and heat. I'm assuming performance wise 7200 would be better... any opinions?

Harm Millaard · September 23rd, 2009, 12:24 AM

If the sole purpose is to capture and later transfer to a desktop for editing, a 5400 RPM disk is enough. But leave search index and compression off.

Bill Koehler · September 23rd, 2009, 10:14 AM

I use a five year old laptop for capturing HDV direct to disk from my Sony HDR-HC9 all the time - it frees me from having to worry about the limitations of a 60 minute tape.

I agree with Mr. Millaard - even the lowliest 5400 rpm drive is good for 30+MB/sec., about 10 times the bandwidth that you need. Where the faster drive might payoff is speed of copying to something else, but it's likely the connection (USB2 ?) will impose its own limits.

Ervin Farkas · September 25th, 2009, 09:29 PM

Even good old 4200 rpm external/USB laptop drives will work fine if all you need is capturing. Just make sure NOTHING else is running on that laptop while capturing.

We all think you're talking about capturing DV or HDV though... and not uncompressed HD or DVCPROHD...

Pete Cofrancesco · September 26th, 2009, 09:27 PM

Yeah I'm capturing DV, and its not that I think 5400 won't do the job, its that I'd like more space and there isn't a big price difference between 7200 and 5400, now a days like there used to be.

Harm Millaard · September 27th, 2009, 07:14 AM

Pete,

Also take into consideration heat, noise and battery life. The faster the RPM's, the more heat and noise and the less battery life.

September 22nd, 2009, 09:47 PM	#1
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Laptop Hard Drive 5400 vs 7200 I'm getting a laptop for the express purpose of capturing video on location plugged into a power source. It comes with a 250g/5400rpm hard drive I'm thinking of upgrading it to a 500gb drive and trying to decide on 5400 vs 7200. The 7200 is only a little more expensive. Like I said battery life isn't an issue, how about noise and heat. I'm assuming performance wise 7200 would be better... any opinions? Last edited by Pete Cofrancesco; September 23rd, 2009 at 06:04 PM.

September 25th, 2009, 09:29 PM	#4
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Even good old 4200 rpm external/USB laptop drives will work fine if all you need is capturing. Just make sure NOTHING else is running on that laptop while capturing. We all think you're talking about capturing DV or HDV though... and not uncompressed HD or DVCPROHD... __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

September 23rd, 2009, 12:24 AM	#2
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	If the sole purpose is to capture and later transfer to a desktop for editing, a 5400 RPM disk is enough. But leave search index and compression off.

September 23rd, 2009, 10:14 AM	#3
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	I use a five year old laptop for capturing HDV direct to disk from my Sony HDR-HC9 all the time - it frees me from having to worry about the limitations of a 60 minute tape. I agree with Mr. Millaard - even the lowliest 5400 rpm drive is good for 30+MB/sec., about 10 times the bandwidth that you need. Where the faster drive might payoff is speed of copying to something else, but it's likely the connection (USB2 ?) will impose its own limits.

September 26th, 2009, 09:27 PM	#5
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Yeah I'm capturing DV, and its not that I think 5400 won't do the job, its that I'd like more space and there isn't a big price difference between 7200 and 5400, now a days like there used to be.

September 27th, 2009, 07:14 AM	#6
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	Pete, Also take into consideration heat, noise and battery life. The faster the RPM's, the more heat and noise and the less battery life.