Table of Contents
Introduction
Hard drives are non-volatile secondary storage devices that provide permanent additional storage space to computers or other devices. A hard drive is a very important component for your computer system since a lot of important data is stored in it.
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Not only does it contain the data that you personally saved, it also has a lot of other data in it that helps in the smooth working of your system. Other than your pictures, videos, music, and documents, it also has codes for your operating system and drivers for the different accessories installed in your computer.
A hard drive’s performance depends upon its spin speed which is also known as RPM (Revolutions per Minute) in technical terms. This is an important factor because the faster your disk moves, the faster you would be able to extract any data from your hard drive. Hard drives with greater RPMs are better as they function quickly and more efficiently as compared to those with lesser RPMs.
Comparison between 5400 RPM HDD and 7200 RPM HDD
Hard drives for computers and laptops are constantly advancing as time progresses. Nowadays, you can even find hard drives that move at 15000 RPM; however, the problem with them is that they can be quite expensive and can create a lot of hassle. The two most-used basic RPM hard drives are the 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM hard drives and each has its own pros and cons.
The 7200 RPM hard drives are great in the most obvious sense: they spin at a much faster rate and give more rotations per minute; due to this, the reading and writing of data on the hard drive is faster and you can extract and save your data without any delay. On the other hand, a 5400 RPM hard drive will be relatively slower and will take a longer amount of time to carry out the same task. A 7200 RPM hard disk drive has a major advantage over the lesser RPM hard disk; however, speed is not the only factor that needs to be kept in mind.
A 7200 RPM hard disk drive is likely to get more heated and the reason for that is that it spins at a faster speed and hence uses up more power. Due to the faster spinning speed, a 7200 RPM hard drive will be noisier compared to a 5400 RPM hard drive. A 5400 RPM hard disk drive will also be cheaper, but that is at the cost of getting a slower hard drive.
A 7200 RPM hard drive gives 120 MB/s read and writes while a 5400 rpm hard drive gives 100 MB/s read and writes; the speed difference is quite measurable since the former is 20% faster than the latter.
Before buying a hard drive, you should be aware of which factor you prioritize the most. If it is efficiency that you are looking for then a 7200 RPM hard drive is the best option; if affordability is your top priority then you can go for the 5400 RPM hard drive instead.
Advantages of 7200 RPM HDD vs. 5400 RPM HDD
As the name suggests, the major difference and advantage is that of the RPM, which is the Revolutions per Minute. A hard disk is basically made up of platters, a motor spindle, and a needle head. The main difference between these two hard drives is that a 7200 RPM drive makes more revolutions per minute as compared to a 5400 RPM drive. This speed of the revolutions matters because it is the speed at which a hard disk drive is capable of writing and reading data. A hard disk drive with a lesser RPM will obviously function slower.
The faster a hard drive is able to read files, the faster it will aid you in extracting your required data.
5 Best 7200 RPM Hard Disk Drives
WD Blue 1TB
Hard drives are used to store data on your devices and, since the entire purpose of this object is storage, it is important to keep storage space in mind. The WD Blue hard disk drive gives up to 1TB of data storage space; this makes it perfect for storing a large number of pictures, videos, audios, and documents on your HDD without worrying about running out of space.
This HDD comes with a data lifeguard feature, with the help of which the algorithms can keep the drive in good condition for a long time. It also provides the users with a lot of compatibility as it can be used with different computer systems. It has a shock guard feature included as well which helps save it from any external damages that may occur due to bumps and other impacts. It has an amazing SATA 6 GB/s interface and intelliseek feature which results in noise reduction and less consumption of power.
Pros
- Large storage capacity of 1TB
- Fast performance speed due to it being a 7200 RPM hard disk drive
- Intelliseek feature to maximum utilization of the drive
- Minimum amount of energy used
- NoTouch ramp load technology feature, hence minimum damage to the drive even after continuous use
Cons
- The latency of the drive is moderate
- It is expensive
Verdict
Performance wise, the WD Blue 1TB is a good hard disk with good storage space and great features that add years to the durability of the drive.
WD Black 4TB
The WD Black 4TB is the best and fastest hard disk drive in the market right now. It fulfills the two main requirements that people look for in a hard disk drive: speed and space. It is 4TB and hence provides the users with a huge amount of space.
This is the best choice for anyone who is looking for a sturdy and spacious storage device. It gives the users maximum capacity for storage and can be used as a secondary storage device as well. It has SATA 6 GB/s interface and 7200 RPM. The buffer size is about 64MB. There is a five year warranty given with the disk. The price of the drive isn’t very low but, when compared to the storage space, it proves to be very affordable and cheap. The performance of this one is much better and stronger than the previous version of the drive released by the same company. It is also relatively quieter and so won’t be as noisy as other drives.
Pros
- It is very fast
- It is pretty affordable when compared to the 4TB of space provided
- Includes a 5 year warranty
- Amazing performance
Cons
- Not as cheap when compared to other hard drives
- Can become noisy after a while of usage
Verdict
The WD Black 4TB is the best option for everyone who is looking for a good performance speed and read/write speed but in an affordable price range. This is also a great option for all those who are looking for a device that can offer a great amount of storage space.
The Western Digital 1TB hard disk drive is perfect for professionals who are operating businesses and carrying out other technical work on their computers; it is also great for gamers. This is another 7200 RPM hard drive that performs great and is fast.
This hard drive is available in up to 6TB of storage space and has Western Digital’s StableTrac and Dynamic Cache Technology – this advanced technology in the drive helps greatly increase its durability. Other than durability, the performance of the drive is increased as well since the new technology tackles both things side by side. It has a dual core processor which also results in an increase in the processing speed and the performance of the drive. It has SATA 6 GB/s interface. Unlike other hard disk drives, there is a warranty time period of about 5 years given with this hard drive; this is particularly useful in case something happens to damage the hard drive or if it starts to wear off after an initial time period.
Pros
- It offers a large amount of storage of up to 1TB
- There is SATA 6 GB/s interface in it
- It is compatible with a lot of computer systems
- It has StableTRac and Dynamic Cache Technology
- There is a 5 year warranty
- It is perfect for gamers to store a large amount of data and gaming files
Cons
- It is a little noisy and tends to make clicking sounds
- The warranty time is limited
Verdict
The is an amazing hard drive when it comes to speed and durability. There are lots of new technologies built and installed in it which gives it a superior position over the rest in the market. The inbuilt technologies include Corruption Protection, NoTouch Ramp, and Vibration Control. Also, there is a huge warranty time period provided with this hard drive, further making it a good choice.
Seagate 2TB Barracuda
Since almost all of the storage functionality of a computer system depends upon the hard drive installed in it, it is very important to get a good hard disk drive; however, some of these hard drives can be very expensive. The 2TB BarraCuda hard drive by Seagate is one of the best in terms of affordability and performance. It gives a top tier performance, all in a good and affordable price range.
This hard disk drive is a member of Seagate’s Guardian series. It has a cache of 64 MB, along with a speed of 7200 RPM. The reason for its performance being top notch is that it extracts your files fully with a good speed. It also transfers files at a very fast pace and thus steals the show when it comes to performance. Another great factor about this hard disk drive is that it is very affordable and cheap. The affordability of this drive makes it a top contender for many people since it is easily available under $50 and gives the same level of performance and speed as other pricier hard drives.
The BarraCuda has a 3.5-inch drive. The read/write speed of this hard disk drive is exceptional and a lot better than most expensive hard drives’. It is a unit that can work well with a lot of systems and the read/write feature gives it a push to the top because, for many users, good read/write speed is the topmost priority.
Pros
- It gives great performance and speed
- It is very affordable
- The read/write speed is pretty good
- The price-to-performance ratio of the disk drive is amazing
Cons
- The warranty is only for two years
- The 4k random speed isn’t very good
Verdict
We would suggest the Seagate 2TB BarraCuda hard disk drive over others because of the greater affordability factor. It offers the users up to 2TB of storage space and is a good unit to install in your computer systems. The 4k speed isn’t great, but that isn’t a top priority for most users anyway and hence can be ignored. The read/write speed makes it amazing; the time period of the warranty is less than you would hope for, but still something is better than nothing.
Seagate 6TB IronWolf Pro v11
The Seagate 6TB IronWolf Pro v11 hard disk drive provides a great amount of storage space: as much as 6TB. It is known to work well for those who want a sturdy hard drive. It is sturdy in terms of its durability and data protection.
This unit is capable of handling multi-drive environments. It is the fastest hard drive and has a speed of 7200 RPM. The great thing about this hard disk is that it is compatible with 1- to 24-bay Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers, creative pro NAS, media servers, and personal cloud storage devices. It also includes IronWolf Health Management, which helps in the protection and recovery of your data. It has a read/write speed of about 214 MB/s. This hard drive is also available in a lot of storage space variants: from 1TB to 12TB.
Pros
- IronWolf has a two-year data recovery rescue system with which you can recover lost data with ease
- There is a five year warranty
- It is compatible with a lot of different computer systems
Cons
- It tends to make high-pitched noises
- It has a mixed CIFS performance
Verdict
The Seagate 6TB IronWolf Pro v11 hard disk drive is a good option if you don’t mind the noise. There is also a huge variety of storage space sizes available for you to choose from.
Things to Consider When Buying a Hard Disk Drive
If you are looking to buy a hard drive for your computer, these are some things that you should keep in mind:
Rotational Speed
The rotational speed or the RPM of your hard drive is an important factor. It is crucial to know what the RPM speed of your hard disk is beforehand. There are hard drives with 4200 RPM, 5400 RPM, 7200 RPM, and even 10,000 RPM. The greater the RPM is, the faster your hard drive will be able to process data.
Capacity
Another very vital factor is the capacity of the hard drive’s storage space. Since the entire purpose of getting a drive is for secondary space, it is important to note that the space you are getting should be enough for you. You can get TBs of storage space in these hard disks.
Internal or External?
Lastly, it is important to know whether you want an internal drive or an external one. An external drive has more benefits, since it enables you to have your videos, photos, and other data with you on hand. They also have a greater shelf life and offer more durability and data protection.
Final Recommendation
For us, the best hard disk drive from the ones given above is the WD Black 4TB. The reason for it being our top pick is that it provides a huge amount of storage capacity, five years of warranty, and is quite affordable when compared to the storage space provided. It is great in terms of efficiency and performance as well.
Conclusion
There are a lot of hard disk drives available in the market these days; each has its own benefits and drawbacks. From the two we compared, we concluded that it would be smarter to get a 7200 RPM instead of a 5400 RPM. With a 7200 RPM hard drive, you will be getting more space, more speed, and greater efficiency. Some hard drives end up making a lot of noise, while others have technologies that lessen the amount of noise.
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