HI Guys,

I have been browsing and searching for the best 100GB HDD for the 700m...

I have the 40gig now, but Just wanted to hear any opinons you guys have, or any suggestions.

I want a 7200RPM 100GB HDD with great warranty and reliability.

So far I found this @ newegg.com;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822146053

HITACHI Travelstar 7K100 HTS721010G9SA00 (0A25016) 100GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Notebook Hard Drive - OEM

its about $120 shipped.

Also - I want to start clean, reinstall windows on this HDD, should I first connect the new HDD to a computer (Fully format it), then plug it in my laptop then install windows??

YOur help is needed

any difference between the 7K100 and E7k100 (below)?

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...t=pricegrabber

After much reading/researching i went with the. Hitachi Travelstar E7K100 100GB ATA-6 2.5in 7200RPM Mobile Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer ***Free Shipping***.

Seems to be a bit better than the 7K100, the EK7100 is newer. Im just glad I got a 7200RPM HDD for 120 shipped, with Hitachi's 3yr warranty. I also bought a 2.5'' casing for my 40gig, a little back up storage device.

The E7K60 is designed to be a continuous operation drive, for use in blade servers and such and therefore is not designed for as many spin up/ down cycles as the regular 7k model (different type of operation). Don't always assume newer is better 'cos it ain't always the case.

In any case, it will still work and everything, but if you are constantly turning the laptop on and off it might end up with a shorter lifespan is all...

Stu

There has been quite a bit already written on these drives. Did ya try searching the forums?

http://www.notebookforums.com/post1971529.html


E7K100 Highlights

› Desktop-like performance in a mobile drive
› Designed for demanding applications requiring extended power on usage
› Optimized femto actuator/suspension design
› Parallel and Serial ATA interfaces on all models
› Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s with Native Command Queuing, Hot Plug and Staggered Spin-up
› RoHS compliant

7K100 Highlights

› Desktop-like performance in a mobile drive
› Enhanced ABLE™ for maximum battery utilization
› Industry-leading robustness in both non-op and operating shock
› Optimized femto actuator/suspension design
› Parallel and Serial ATA interfaces on all models
› Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s with Native Command Queuing, Hot Plug and Staggered Spin-up
› RoHS compliant

I know the Seagate Momentus drives for notebooks tend to be faster. I saw some comparisons that put the Momentus drives close to the Raptor 10k's in some benchmarks. Just make sure you know which kind of drive you need for your laptop, either ATA 6 or SATA150 I think it is.

my HDD is clicking now :[ . its a continuous clicking sound, every second it clicks as if it was a skipping CD. What should I Do? its been under 30 Days since I bought it, And I know it has a good warranty from the Hitachi....Any one else have trouble, is there a way to get rid of the clicking?

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/suppor...tm#FeatureTool

Changes ATA Drive Settings

Enable or disable the read-ahead or write cache.
Change the drive automatic acoustic management settings.
- Lowest acoustic emanation setting (quiet seek mode) or maximum performance level (normal seek mode).
Change the predefined capacity of the drive.
- Used when BIOS limitation exists and the drive is not recognized.
Switch the Ultra DMA mode.
Change advanced power mode.
- Switch between lowest and highest power consumption (maximum performance level).
Configure SATA interface.
- Adjust maximum speed and enable/disable spread spectrum clocking.