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Recently my desktop HDD failed and I am considering replacing it with two laptop HDDs, 7200rpm, 16mb buffer in RAID 1.
I am not able to find anything relevant in regard to MTBF or performance for Laptop vs Desktop HDDs.
Any suggestion on this, would it be a good idea?
Why are desktop HDDs larger than laptop ones? Is it also performance wise (besides the obvious portability issue)?

w00t
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2 Answers2

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Laptop HDD are designed to be lightweight, small, and power savy. Performance comes as secondary constraint.

Note that some of the fastest desktop HDD (velocity raptor) are 2.5" size. But they require as much power as 3.5" HDD. They should not be considered as normal 2.5"HDD.

MTBF is the same according to https://serverfault.com/questions/244629/is-there-a-reliability-difference-between-2-5-and-3-5-hdds

Most desktop can fit several 3.5"HDD. It would be cheaper to use 2 of these.

Edit : Using 2.5"HDD in desktop case could be good choice for :

  • saving power if the computer is 24/7 the power saving will pay for the price difference within 1 year or two
  • silent computer : most 2.5" HDD are more silent than 3.5"
  • heat issue : as they consume less power 2.5" HDD generate less heat
Community
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bokan
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In most instances desktop HDD is faster. Of course if speed are a issue you should use the SSD. :). Laptop HDD are optimised for power usage and resilience to shock. IMHO you should use Desktop HDD unless power usage are very important (for instance this machine do not need more performance but work at all time).

Tomasz Szczypel
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