Upgrading Seagate 80 GB hard drive ST380021A; Ideas:RELIABLE & COMPATIBLE replacement

Hi there: Here are my current specs for a Seagate ST380021A hard drive. I am "dubious" on purchasing replacement drives for there seems great inconsistency on the ST380021A performance. I would prefer to do an 100-120 GB hard drive upgrade, but I can also settle for 80 GB. It will go into a Gateway Profile 4 PC for my son to use at college. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE? Thanks, rpf

Full specifications:
Seagate Barracuda ATA IV 80GB DMA/ATA-100 (Ultra) internal
Manufacturer: Seagate Technology Inc.; Part number: ST380021A

General
• Device type: Hard drive Standard
• Compatibility: PC
• Depth: 5.8 in
• Height: 1 in
• Width: 4 in
• Weight: 1.1 lbs

Hard Drive
• Hard drive size: 80 GB
• Features: 3D Defense System
• Enclosure type: Internal
• Interface type: ATA-100
• Form factor: 3.5" x 1/3H
• Buffer size: 2 MB
• Hard drive compliant standards: S.M.A.R.T.

Configuration
• Heads: Physical heads: 16:4
• Cylinders: Physical cylinders: 16383:2
• Bytes per Sector: 512
• Storage type: Hard drive
• Hard drive type: Standard
• Cylinders / Physical:Cylinders: 16383
• Cylinders / Physical:Cylinders (Physical) : 2
• Heads / Physical:Heads: 16
• Heads / Physical:Heads (Physical) : 4

Performance
• Average seek time: 9.5 ms
• Data transfer rate: 100 MBps : 69.4 MBps
• Spindle speed: 7200 rpm
• Track-to-Track Seek Time: 1 ms
• Average Latency: 4.16 ms
• External / Internal Data Transfer Rateata Transfer Rate: 100 MBps
• External / Internal Data Transfer Rate:Internal Data Rate: 69.4 MBps

Reliability
• Mean time before failure: 600,000 hour(s)
• Recoverable Errors ( Non-Recoverable Errors ):Non-Recoverable Errors: 1 per 10^14
• Start / Stop Cycles: 50,000

Environmental Parameters
• Min operating temperature: 32 °F
• Max operating temperature: 140 °F
• Operating humidity range: 0 - 90%
• Sound emission: 2.4 dB
• Shock tolerance: 63 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse : 350 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse
• Max operating altitude: 9840 ft
• Shock tolerance (operating) : 63 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse
• Shock tolerance (storage) : 350 g @ 2ms half-sine pulse

Miscellaneous
• Package type: OEM

Expansion / Port(s) Required
• Type: None
• Bay(s) Required: 1 Internal 3.5" x 1/3H
• Port(s) / Connector(s) Required: 1 Storage ATA-100:40 pin IDC Female 1
• Storage controller type: None
• Bay(s) Required:Total Qty: 1
• Bay(s) Required:Type: Internal
• Bay(s) Required:Form Factor: 3.5" x 1/3H
• Port(s) / Connector(s) Required:Total Qty: 1
• Interface type: Storage
• Interface: ATA-100
• Connector type: 40 pin IDC
• Connector Required ( Provided ):Gender: Female
• Connector Required ( Provided ):Connector Qty: 1

Warranty
• Service & support type: 5 years warranty

 

i'd go with 250gb. you'll like it better in the long run.

 

I agree, but do you have a specific suggestion for a specific manufacturer or seagate model that will adhere to the same specs?

 

same specs? you have a regular hdd. as long as you don't purchase a SATA hdd you'll be alright with whatever you go with.

Here, buy this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148139