5400RPM vs 7200RPM HDD for strictly storage?

[zombiehacker]

Hi, i just want to know if there's any reason to spend more on a 7200RPM HDD over a 5400RPM one for games storage. I have no plans of ever running a program or game off it, i have an SSD for that.

I just like to keep my non-used steam games off the SSD to save space, and i don't like deleting them because if i ever want to play that game again i'll have to sit through painful Aussie download speeds.

Thanks.

 

[azaran]

Obviously there is a legitimate difference in I/O of the drive. Now as to if you'll notice it? Maybe on large files? As long as the build quality is good and you're not super picky about it then you might not notice anything. The problem I've had with 5400RPM drives is the ones I've had the misfortune of trying out all had crap build quality and had to be RMA'd within a few months of buying them. 3 such RMA's made we swear off WD Greens. But I'm just one use case.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Always get the faster-spinning one regardless of it's intended use as even a small/modest improvement in HDD performance is worth having. You're more likely to wish you'd bought the faster one than wishing you'd bought the slower one.

 

[azaran]

Agreed, unless you have a specific reason for needing the lower power options of a 5400RPM drive they're usually not worth it for the performance hit.

Tho it seems getting a 7200rpm off the current lineup of drives may be harder to find soon. Western Digitals current lineup has the Blue line at 5400RPM (except the 1TB and 500Gb models). The Red Pro, Gold and Blacks are the only ones with 7200RPM across the board. The Greens aren't even listed as current products. Seagates current model lineup has the Barracuda at I believe 5400RPM and only the Barracuda ProWhich at 7200rpm. Which means most people will likely be making the switch to 5400rpm once the old crop of drives is off the market.