[Solved] New hard drive for old Vaio laptop, but what one?

[billy]

Hi all,

 

First post in here unfortunately, so please forgive me, however I am looking for some advice regarding replacing the hard drive on an old laptop I have for something a bit quicker and bigger.

 

The laptop is a Sony PCG-GRT715M, dating back to about 2003 I think. The specs are here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-VAIO-PCG-GRT715M-DVD±RW-5600/dp/B0000ATEU0 except I upgraded the Ram to 1GB a couple of years ago.

I rarely use it now as I have a far newer one, but would like to bring it back into service as a desktop substitute for things like music etc. The hard drive is only 40GB, so I would like to replace it for something in the 120-160GB range, and it would be nice were it a bit quicker.

 

The current hard drive is a Hitachi DK23EA-40 https://www1.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/dk/2/23ea40spec.html. It slots in the side in a neat little cradle that it attaches to with 4 screws on the side. I dont know if its physical size is a set standard, but I'd want the replacement to fit in the same way.

 

A couple of pics of it to hopefully aid someone:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6368408837_82b0813495_z.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6368409791_83ca2cdee0_z.jpg

 

My limit of knowledge runs out short of hard drive compatability however so I was hoping someone could recomend me a hard drive that would fit these requirements?

 

Any help would be gratefully recieved.

[billy]

Would one of these suit?

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Scorpio-160GB-Internal/dp/B000RH3W9M/ref=sr_1_64?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1321788191&sr=1-64

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Your original drive is a 2.5 inch IDE.

 

There are basically 2 types. IDE ( PATA ) and the more recent SATA.

The connections are totally different.

 

Obviously you will need a compatible drive.

 

Desktop drives are 3.5 inch.

 

Also ......

There are 2 different speeds available. 5,400 r/m and 7,200 r/m

The 7,200 transfers data considerably faster.

 

So - you want a 2.5 inch IDE 7,200 r/m drive.

 

I would suggest that you look at something a little bigger than 160GB - but this is obviously your choice.

 

Hope this helps :)

 

EDIT

Our last posts crossed - 1 minute apart.

[KenB]

That drive would be compatible - it only runs at 5400r/m

If you want a faster drive see if you can find a 7200r/m.

[billy]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response. Ive been having a good dig on google however all the 7'200 rpm drives I can find are 1.2cm thick. Mine is a 9.5mm, and the laptop slot is such that nothing thicker will fit.

[KenB]

I have been having a look too - very little if anything above 5400 r/m on a 2.5 inch IDE drive.

I did find drives that were a bit cheaper than the one you linked to.

Have a look at ebuyer.

[billy]

Thanks for your help. I ended up ordering one of these:

http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/160GB-IDE-Samsung-25inch--5400RPM-8MB-Notebook-HDD-OEM_6075.html

 

It is only 5400rpm, but this is still an improvement over the standard 4500rpm I have. The hard drive does seem to be reasonably well thought of on other forums however, it seems to be regarded as the fastest IDE one around this size. Something to do with it having one 160GB platter, but I wont pretend to know what that means.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/264209-review-samsung-hm160hc-worlds-fastest-ata-ide-mobile-hard-drive.html

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will suit my needs. Now I just need to find the recovery disks!

 

Thanks again

[KenB]

Hi

 

Looks like you have ordered a decent Hard drive.

 

one 160GB platter,

This refers to the actual disk that stores all of the data.