BleepingComputer.com: what should I look for buying a hard drive

I am going to buy a new hard drive, what should I look for in my new one. Is there any specifications that are more important than others. I found one 750gig 5400rpm and one 500gig 7200rpm which would you choose.
thanks

Hi

Generally the faster the spin speed the faster the data transfer. Another important factor which you haven't mentioned is the drive's cache size. Again, the bigger the cashe the better.
Do you know what type of drive your motherboard suppports?
There are two types to choose from, Serial ATA (SATA) and PATA (Parallel ATA). For a further explanation follow this link. http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2005/techtips-010605.htm
Within each type of drive there are different standards. SATA and SATA II, and for the parallel drive ATA33, ATA66,ATA100 and ATA133.
Each type are backwardly compatible although there will be a loss of performance. E.G. you can connect a SATAII drive to a motherboard that only supports SATA but will only get SATA performance.

So to sum all of this up, you need to buy the right type of interface, a fast spin speed and a large cache.

The ones I am looking at are 750gig 16mb cach 5400spin sata and500gig 8mb cach 7200rpm sata2, which sounds better assuming my motherboard supports sata2. This will be the second drive in my computer does the specification of my old drive matter.
What is the best way to find the hardware supported by my computer?

Thank you for your input.

Just tell us your system manufacturer and model...or, if the motherboard has been replaced or it the system is custom-built...tell us the motherboard manufacturer and model.

That allows someone to look up the specs.

Louis

I have a hp pavilion a1410y.
thanks

http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Hewlett-Packar...able-Desktop-PC

Doesn't appear to me that system supports SATA drives.

Louis

That description was pretty basic I think, I could not say if it does or not. I am doing some looking I'll post if I find anything.
My pc is only about 1.5 years old and has a PCIE slot it would seem to me it would support it.
thanks eboknight

FWIW: PCI-E has nothing to do with SATA.

The simplest way for you to find out...was to take a look at the motherboard. SATA connectors are nothing like PATA hard drive connectors.

Or...if you have a owner's/user manual...look it up.

Louis

Is there a difference in performance in the different types. I do not know where my manual is of course. Is there any way you could send me a link or describe the different connections so I could tell the difference. It would be greatly appreciated but if not I'm sure I can find some pictures by searching eventually.

Thanks again eboknight.

Motherboard manufacturer's name: ECS RC410-M

I found out that my motherboard is SATA compatible but I do not know if a SATA2 drive will work.
Is there a difference if so how do I find out if a SATA2 will work for me.

Thanks eboknight

I am going to leave my existing drive in my PC will that effect the new drives performance?

SATA II drives are backwards compatible with SATA I specs.

<<I am going to leave my existing drive in my PC will that effect the new drives performance?>>

I don't know what you are asking.

Louis

I am leaving the existing hard drive in the PC and adding the new one so I will have two hard drives. I am not sure what my existing hard drive is but, if it is slower than the new one will it affect the new ones performance.

Hard drives operate independent of each other...with the exception of when they are set up in what is known as a RAID.

Basics of RAID - http://ezinearticles.com/?Basics-of-RAID&id=11919

Louis