Without going to SSD the jump is toa 7,200 rps drive (standard or atleast should be now a days) or your 10,000 rpm drive. There are 15,000 rpm drives, but you might as well get a SSD at that point.
1. Here is an amazing, amazing 10,000 rpm drive. A ton of people on this forum use it, im picking one up soon. And its reliable, Western Digital.
2. For a 7,200 rpm drive, depending on what size you want, Western Digital makes a Hard drive called the Caviar black (there is a blue and green version, but the black is the best performer and close in price). this is more affordable than the one listed above.
I'll co-sign that! I have a Samsung F3 and its really sweet. Sockingly quit compared to my buDdies raPtor. He says its WAY faster Dragging and dropping maSsive files. He says its quicker writing but I'm sure they are the same as they r both 7200rpm drives. I know that the F3 uses only two platters. Not sure how much better that makes it over one that has more but yea, its supertight and can't be beat on the $$$
Honestly, that velociraptor is so expensive for 300gb you might as well look into a ssd imo. But if you want something fast and cheap, get a small 7200. The more disk space, the slower that rpm drive is so going lower is better for performance.