A new HDD will speed up your PC?

JTM · 08-13-2006, 04:42 PM

My brother believes that a bigger hard drive will absolutely speed up a computer. Is this true? I don't think it will speed up the PC too much, be he says it will. So what is the true answer. Say if you went from 40 gig-150 gig would the change be amazing? and in what areas?
Thanks

**The_Other_One** · 08-13-2006, 04:49 PM

It might speed up load times and what not... Depending on the old drive it might really make a difference. However, it wouldn't increase gamming performace or anything of that nature.

ChrisDVD · 08-13-2006, 05:05 PM

well, it will certainly make a difference, but not the biggest. RAM is more a solution for SPeed. Also, the more free space you have on your Hdd, the better (get ride of of some junks! lol)

thealmightyone · 08-13-2006, 05:20 PM

I guess if you install Windows on that new drive, then yes, because you're effectively doing a full re-format, but without losing any of your data.

ADE · 08-13-2006, 06:12 PM

What do you mean will not increase gaming?! I used to have to OC my CPU in order to play FEAR! Now I got a 3GB/s HDD and I get the same results with a new HDD as when I used to OC my CPU! I don't have to do that anymore! Of course if you get the right HDD it will improve gaming!!!

Starman* · 08-13-2006, 06:20 PM

Bigger is not always faster. A small fast hdd will be quicker than a large slow hdd (I'm pretty sharp). I'm not even sure that if you take two drives of the same type that size really matters if both are kept well-defragged and with a decent amount of spare space.

As ChrisDVD said, RAM is the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to improving speed in an existing setup.

Starman*

NeedaComputer · 08-13-2006, 07:58 PM

I think the main point that hasn't been clarified is whether JTM's old HDD was an IDE or SATA. The question does imply that only size is the factor. But I think that the Interface would make such an incredible difference, that it would overshadow any performance increase that was gained by having more free space, or a nicely defragged HDD.

[-0MEGA-] · 08-13-2006, 08:06 PM

It will only make a difference if your current HD is running out of space and/or has a lower PF size. A larger HD will most likely also raise the PF (Page File (Virtual Memory)), and may increase performance slightly. But what will also increase performance with a newer drive is if it has a larger cache (16MB vs 8MB for example), faster, (7200RPM vs 5200RPM) or a faster interface (SATAII vs ATA100).

Impr3ssiv3 · 08-13-2006, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADE

What do you mean will not increase gaming?! I used to have to OC my CPU in order to play FEAR! Now I got a 3GB/s HDD and I get the same results with a new HDD as when I used to OC my CPU! I don't have to do that anymore! Of course if you get the right HDD it will improve gaming!!!

yeah the right one

like a 10K or 15K HDD

and your "new 3GBs HDD" was probably faster RPMs than your older one.

no technology out there lets you take use of the 3GBs transfer rate

Saurian · 08-13-2006, 09:41 PM

Part of this is that a larger hard drive is almost inevitably going to be newer, therefore it is going to have more optimizing features allowing for lower response times/latencies. Smart QUERY systems and such, while the older drive didn't have these optimizing factors. So its not the size, just the age.

08-13-2006, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
JTM Silver Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: America Age: 18 Posts: 172	A new HDD will speed up your PC? My brother believes that a bigger hard drive will absolutely speed up a computer. Is this true? I don't think it will speed up the PC too much, be he says it will. So what is the true answer. Say if you went from 40 gig-150 gig would the change be amazing? and in what areas? Thanks

08-13-2006, 04:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	It might speed up load times and what not... Depending on the old drive it might really make a difference. However, it wouldn't increase gamming performace or anything of that nature. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

08-13-2006, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisDVD Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Age: 18 Posts: 1,042	well, it will certainly make a difference, but not the biggest. RAM is more a solution for SPeed. Also, the more free space you have on your Hdd, the better (get ride of of some junks! lol) __________________ HP Pavillion a815n, 160 GB Hard Drive, 512 MB Ram, 16x DVD±RW DL Burner, Power suply- 300W Intel Pentium 4, 3.06 Ghz Power suply- 300W Mother board: ASUS PTGD1-LA Windows XP home Editions, Service Pack 2 Video Card: BFG GeForce FX 5500 oc 256 MB PCI HP Pavillion f1503 monitor HP Series 3 in 1 Printer Speakers: Logitech x-530 suround sound system 5.1

08-13-2006, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
thealmightyone Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: York, UK Age: 21 Posts: 1,000	I guess if you install Windows on that new drive, then yes, because you're effectively doing a full re-format, but without losing any of your data. __________________ E8200 @ 3.576GHz with GA-P35-DS3L 2900 Pro, flashed to XT, oc-ed to 850/1860. Crucial Ballistix Tracers PC2-8500 2GB Enermax Modular 620W Creative Audigy 4 2x Seagate Barracuda 250GB Jeantech Nitro case, XP Pro and 19" LCD

08-13-2006, 07:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
NeedaComputer Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MN Age: 26 Posts: 94	I think the main point that hasn't been clarified is whether JTM's old HDD was an IDE or SATA. The question does imply that only size is the factor. But I think that the Interface would make such an incredible difference, that it would overshadow any performance increase that was gained by having more free space, or a nicely defragged HDD. __________________ AMD Athlon64 3500+ Orleans MSI K9N Neo-F OCZ Gold DDR2 800 (2x512MB) MSI GeForce 6600 - 256MB 128bit XClio 450BL WD Caviar SE16 - 250GB 16MB 7200RPM 3GB/s WD Caviar SE16 - 500GB 16MB 7200RPM 3GB/s

08-13-2006, 06:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
ADE banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 15 Posts: 3,372	What do you mean will not increase gaming?! I used to have to OC my CPU in order to play FEAR! Now I got a 3GB/s HDD and I get the same results with a new HDD as when I used to OC my CPU! I don't have to do that anymore! Of course if you get the right HDD it will improve gaming!!!

08-13-2006, 06:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Starman* Gold Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 441	Bigger is not always faster. A small fast hdd will be quicker than a large slow hdd (I'm pretty sharp). I'm not even sure that if you take two drives of the same type that size really matters if both are kept well-defragged and with a decent amount of spare space. As ChrisDVD said, RAM is the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to improving speed in an existing setup. Starman*

08-13-2006, 08:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 20 Posts: 27,082	It will only make a difference if your current HD is running out of space and/or has a lower PF size. A larger HD will most likely also raise the PF (Page File (Virtual Memory)), and may increase performance slightly. But what will also increase performance with a newer drive is if it has a larger cache (16MB vs 8MB for example), faster, (7200RPM vs 5200RPM) or a faster interface (SATAII vs ATA100). __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800 750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

08-13-2006, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Saurian Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oskaloosa/Pleasantville, Iowa Age: 22 Posts: 552	Part of this is that a larger hard drive is almost inevitably going to be newer, therefore it is going to have more optimizing features allowing for lower response times/latencies. Smart QUERY systems and such, while the older drive didn't have these optimizing factors. So its not the size, just the age. __________________ Intel 3.2Ghz P4 MSI PM8M3-V GF FX5900XT 128MB 512 MB CXMS Dell 20.1" Widescreen LCD Need...upgrades....:)

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