Laptop hard drive replacement

[jbrid]

My hard drive seems to be buzzing. I want to replace it with a larger drive. I have a couple questions regarding what hard drives are compatible with my laptop.

Here's the current system:

Dell Inspiron 700m

x86 1.7 MHz

1 GB RAM

BIOS Version: Phoenix Technologies LTD A04

Hard Drive: Hitachi HTS548040M9AT00, 40 GB, 5040rpm, ATA-6

Initially, I thought that any 2.5"/5040 RPM/ATA-6 hard drive would work. I read somewhere that my BIOS version (A04) cannot support anything larger than 120GB. Then, I read that anything larger than 80 could cause instability based on the system overall.

Any thoughts/recommendation?

Also, what manufacturers do you prefer? Seagate, Western Digital, etc...

Thanks!

[jbrid]

Then, I read that anything larger than 80 could cause instability based on the system overall.

To clarify this point. I read this:

Theres no logical reasoning as to why you coulding put a 120GB drive HOWEVER the thermal conditions of the small enclosed space you have might cause problems down the road so a 120GB drive might produce more heat than the standard 40GB drives you usually find in a 700m. The heat in question could cause all sorts of stability havoc on your system and could end your drive's life early.

[Donaldo]

Also, what manufacturers do you prefer? Seagate, Western Digital, etc...

Thanks!

Western Digital.

[asianman6924]

hey consider SSDS (solid state hard drives)

Its a hard drive that has no moving parts.

you get faster performance and longer battery life

check it out

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.as...lid-State-Disks

[jbrid]

hey consider SSDS (solid state hard drives)

Its a hard drive that has no moving parts.

you get faster performance and longer battery life

check it out

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.as...lid-State-Disks

That's a great idea! I never thought of that. However, the price of SSD's is a serious deterent.

[box]

Then, I read that anything larger than 80 could cause instability based on the system overall.

To clarify this point. I read this:

Theres no logical reasoning as to why you coulding put a 120GB drive HOWEVER the thermal conditions of the small enclosed space you have might cause problems down the road so a 120GB drive might produce more heat than the standard 40GB drives you usually find in a 700m. The heat in question could cause all sorts of stability havoc on your system and could end your drive's life early.

The regular hard drive that I buy now is Samsung because it runs warm, especially during format and backup. I don't know if a laptop one would heat up more than the desk top one.

[Fr.jack hackett]

Cant say as i've ever notice my Samsung drives running particularly warm, quite to opposite tbh. they are noted for running a touch cooler generally due to the platter bearings being 'fluid dynamic' whatever....... according to hard drive inspector right now the HJ160 in my lappy is running at 39c, thats after several hours running (ambient temp ooh 25-26c) the Seagate this setup was cloned from the palm rest got noticeably too warm after a hour or so. been using samsung 3.5in in my desktops for years to with similar lower temps although theres far better airflow.

As to putting an SSD in apart from the cost issues, is the I/O capabilities of your chipset capable of getting the best from the SSD. have you considered one of the 7200 rpm 2.5 drives?

[DKT27]

I don't know about Laptop but for PC, Seagate and Samsung are good. Samsung is a touch cooler.

[Fr.jack hackett]

:P in 3.5's i'll happily take a Hitachi Deskstar too the recent twin platter 320gb model also seem to be cooler than the previous 3 platter models. cheaper here in England than the Samsungs too...