500GB 32MB HDD or 750GB 8MB HDD for OS?

DarkWarrior

Okie dokie, I'm planning to replace my current OS HDD. Its served me well, a 120GB IDE but I'm wanting to move up to SATA, partly for performance and partly because of the fact I need to reinstall Vista because when it installed it didn't remove the XP partitions made for the recovery and backup drives so basically I have a 50GB os that perpetually has less than 10GB free with apps, docs, photos and music. Considering how cheap they are I figure move to a 500 but while surfing found a 750 for only £10 difference.

The sacrifice being the cache.

Problem is I can't think what I'd do with 750GB (I know it won't be that much, i think closer to 680) of space. I could partition it for a game installs drive while still leaving tonnes of space for my apps, docs and music.

So basically the 750 I'd get for the sake of the cost to size ration, an extra 250 for £10 isn't bad. So I'm asking advice, the 500 wth the better cache and assumedly better performance or the 750 with 8mb cache?

DarkWarrior

Forgot to say also that these are both by the same make, Seagate, and are both Sata.

EDIT: Adding links.

500GB
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Hard+Drives/Serial+ATA/500GB+Maxtor+-+32MB+-+SATA2+-+7200RPM+?productId=30494

750GB
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Hard+Drives/Serial+ATA/750GB+Seagate+Barracuda+SATA+8MB+?productId=28000

urahonky

I'd say go for the smaller one with a higher cache. It seems like you're looking for a performance boost, rather than size boost.

e: HDD prices will go down in the future, so if you ever needed the extra space you could probably pick up a 500GB again and keep the performance.

CmdPrompt

Since you have your OS on it, go for the one with 32MB cache.

DarkWarrior

Easily answered I knew the 500 was more sensible because of the cache but it was difficult to turn down 250GB.

Thanks for the advice guys, made the decision clear.