2.5" vs. 3.5" HDD?

**Gearhead61** · 10-02-2005, 06:07 PM

What are the differences between a 2.5" hard drive and a 3.5" hard drive? Which would be better suited for a carPC? Is the difference simply in size, or is one faster/better/more reliable/more durable?

**evandude** · 10-02-2005, 06:30 PM

I won't yell at you too much, but this topic has been discussed PLENTY of times and you should have had no trouble finding it by just searching.

But let's examine the facts...
laptop hard drives are, of course, designed for laptops... so they are much smaller, run cooler, use significantly less power, and are specifically designed to survive getting bumped around. It's fairly obvious from that that they're better for car use.

the cons are price, storage capacity, and speed... many people get away with using desktop HD's in the car, however I'll say from experience, go with a laptop HD if you can possibly afford it, it will help save your sanity when you've got other issues to deal with down the road.

**thanatos106** · 10-02-2005, 06:32 PM

Thanatos.

**-zip-** · 10-02-2005, 06:53 PM

Been running 3.5 drive all summer no issues at all. It's been VERY hot this summer record temps in fact 90+ every day for 35 days straight. I am also running Kumo 17 low profile tires so the drive gets wacked around pretty damn good.

My hard drive sits outside of the case mounted vertically.

on this topic there is tons of info from both camps.

**Gearhead61** · 10-02-2005, 07:07 PM

Ok thanks guys! I tried searching but I guess I was using the wrong strings. I didn't realize one was for laptops and one was for desktops. I guess it makes sense though! Reason I asked was I found a HDD on sale. 160 GB 7200RPM 8MB cache for $40.