500GB laptop HD

cormie

Hi,
I'm looking to replace the 160gb HD in my Dell Vostro 1500 with a 500GB one.

Had my eye on this http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=378960 but then I saw some SATA ones and that on ebay. Now I don't have a clue what SATA is, I just know every HD I've ever had is IDE as far as I know.

I like WD's track record with HD's, they seem to be reliable and good quality so I'd like to stick with WD. If anyone can confirm whether I should jump and get the scorpio or consider other avenues please let me know. I just need it for basic internet/email/music, no video processing or anything strenuous like that which needs superfast access.

Any feedback appreciated

tman

The Scorpio is a decent drive, I have a 250GB one in my PS3 and a 320GB in my laptop and have no complaints whatsoever... Quick enough, silent and runs nice and cool... Pretty much ideal!

SATA is the replacement of IDE, any laptop bought within the past year will most definitely need a SATA drive and not IDE.

cormie

Thanks for the reply So if my vostro has an IDE at the moment, will it not be able to take a SATA? I should probably just get the scorpio anyway, I'm sure it's fine for what I need it for Now what to do with my old 160gb is the question!

tman

According to a bit of googling, the Vostro 1500 has a SATA drive, so I'd say go for the one you linked...
And yep, IDE and SATA drives use totally different connections, so you couldn't really stick an IDE drive in a SATA laptop and vice versa (it is possible to get adapters, but fitting them inside a laptop would be a nightmare)

You could always stick the 160GB drive in something like this and have a makeshift portable drive...
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339051

cormie

Jebus, I didn't even realise the scorpio was a SATA itself. I just assumed it was IDE and I just assumed the one in the Vostro was too

So I guess that's the one to go for Thanks for clearing that up!

Voodu Child

no video processing or anything strenuous like that which needs superfast access.

As it happens, the linked drive (WD5000BEVT) is one of the fastest laptop drives (non SSD) on the market anyhow, so its a great choice either way. Thats what id be going for if I was after a 500GB drive.

I also +1 to the recommendation to get a external enclosure for the existing drive (if you don't already have one). It'll save it going to waste, at least you can use it for the odd bit of backup or whatever, and it'll also make things easier if you need to transfer files over.

cormie

Thanks Voodu!

Can anyone tell me why the "blue" one is €12 dearer than the other one? I ordered the other one here: http://www.elara.ie/products/results.asp?srch=scorpio+500gb&anyallexact=all&manu=&productcode=&mancode=&submit2=Search, what have I missed out on for an extra €12 I wonder? I did a quick google and the product code on the one I ordered also seems to relate to a "blue" one

Voodu Child

They're both WD5000BEVT, so they're both 'blue' (ie 5400rpm) and ostensibly the same drive.

The RTL2 version is presumeably some sort of minor variation or firmware update, or maybe just a different product code (I think RTL stands for 'retail'). They should be essentially the same, so obviously the cheaper one was the right one to go for.

cormie

Thanks for the input, yeah I thought the RTL might stand for retail, and what I've been told before is this just means it comes in a retail package (a fancy box and what not). So I'd be damned if I'm spending extra for presentation of a hard drive :P