I'm considering upgrading my PC storage and trying to decide between two 2TB 5400 RPM HDDs: a WD Purple and a Seagate Skyhawk. Alternatively, I could get a 1TB 7200 RPM WD Blue HDD for a slightly lower price. I'm primarily going to use this for storing files like videos, photos, and games, not for heavy tasks like video editing. I already have a 1TB KC3000 SSD for my OS and a 1TB Seagate Barracuda HDD for general storage. How noticeable is the difference in performance between the 7200 RPM and 5400 RPM options for my intended usage?
4 Answers
For basic storage tasks like yours, the difference isn't huge. You might see around a 30 MB/s difference in speed—going from 100 MB/s to about 130 MB/s—which can speed up loading times by 30-40%. But honestly, both are slow compared to SSDs, which offer speeds around 500 MB/s. Loading games might take a few extra seconds, but it shouldn’t affect gameplay once you’re in.
Honestly, good deals on larger HDDs (like 4TB or more) make more sense these days compared to smaller 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM options. Got a 28TB HDD for just $250, and they’re perfect for bulk storage, but bad for gaming. Just remember that many modern games load resources live, and relying on an HDD might slow you down depending on the title you’re playing.
If you're just storing photos and videos, you probably won't see much of a difference between the two. For games, though, it’s worth noting that modern titles are really optimized for SSDs now. Trying to play games off an HDD can lead to slow load times, which can be frustrating.
Don't overlook hybrid drives like Seagate's FireCuda. They combine traditional HDD with a bit of flash storage, which can really improve access times in specific scenarios. They learn to cache frequently used data, so if you tend to use the same files often, it may be a solid option.
Just a heads up, though—FireCuda drives aren't being produced anymore, and demand has really dropped off recently.
Yep, I had a tough experience with that. I played a AAA title on a 7200 RPM drive, and the stutters were really noticeable.