120gb Western Digital 5400rpm for 99.99 after MIR @ Circuit City

[lotust]

wow I got the drive today 120gb for 100$ is not bad at all. Its a 5400rpm but its very quit like maxotrs.

 

[fldude]

Originally posted by: wumpuskiller
for those of you who got the slip of paper that says the drive is a 7200rpm drive.......what does the label say on the drive?

it was my understanding that wd had discontinued the wd1200ab (5400rpm model) and was now only producing the 7200rpm model. so i'm surprised that cc has so many of these buggers. but if they ARE 7200rpm drives, maybe they are just re-using the 5400's boxes.

still seems strange, though, since they can get quite a few bucks more for the 7200rpm model.

btw....i opened mine and it is a 5400rpm model....but there is nothing on the drive's label to indicate the rotational speed...but the model is wd1200ab.....what about the model number listed on the drive for those who got the '7200rpm' note??

also, i'm glad for the 5400rpm drive, since this will go in my ultimate tv receiver. they tend to run hot on their own, and the 7200's do put out a bit more heat....something i don't want. and there's no benefit to the 7,200rpm drive in a ultimate tv receiver.

wumpus....

I wonder if this would work? The serial number of each hard drive is shown on the bottom of the box. If you write down some of the serials at the store and then go check them on Western Digital's website, I think you can find out the model number of the hard drive. My local Circuit City has a computer with internet access, so I could check right in the store. Here is the link to Western Digital's support page:

Western Digital Link

Here is an example of what the page will display:

Serial No Model No Status Exp. Date
WMA8C15***** WD1000BBRTL In Limited Warranty 7/10/2005


Number of drives eligible for Replacement : 1
Number of drives ineligible for Replacement : 0

The WD1000BBRTL shows that it's a 7200 RPM Retail Unit. A WD1000ABRTL is for the 5400 RPM unit.

I'd be interested in hearing from those who got the 7200 RPM in a 5400 RPM box to see if it did indeed show the WD1200BBRTL on the page. Either way, I'm going to try tomorrow night. Good luck everyone!

 

[Nforcer]

Co-worker saw this around noon and told me, they had 5, went around 2pm, 1 left, got it and got the beautiful red piece of paper informing me I got a 7200rpm drive... WD1200BB label on the drive. Pretty good deal since the cheapest one on pricewatch is 148$

 

[Blindman]

So now we just look at what the bottom and trace it online?

 

[SKORPI0]

Nforcer,

Welcome to the forums, not bad for a first post. That's exactly what we need, a way to check if a drive is 5400rpm (WD1200AB) or 7200rpm (WD1200BB) before opening the box.

I was in that page before and did not notice that extra detail. Thanks!!!!

 

[Blindman]

WMA8C2038851 WD1200JBRTL In Limited Warranty 7/4/2005
WMA8C2081142 WD1200ABRTL In Limited Warranty 7/26/2005


those serial are for refrence I have.

I bought the JBRTL from frys will be going back soon.
The second one was purchuse from CC today will be going back as well.

Can somone post a serial of the 7200 rpm replaclemt for refrence.

To check your drive
go here
http://websupport.wdc.com/websupport/clearexp_scripts/warranty_inquiry1.asp

 

[tj21]

The serial number on the box for my 7200rpm (in a 5400rpm box) model shows as a 5400rpm when I look it up.

WMAA310***** WD1200ABRTL In Limited Warranty 7/24/2005

TJ

 

[momo]

WOW...I definitely want to grab one but only if I get the 7200 RPM version.... wonder what my chances are...I suppose I can always return it if it isn't the 7200 RPM one....damn...what should I do????

 

[Blindman]

Tj thanks for the input.

So its like playing lottery. The underside sticker will not tell you what drive you bought.

Unless someone with a 7200 state otherwise.

 

[momo]

wish there was a way to tell

 

[ElectricLegs]

I think there is a fairly reliable way! The 7800 rpm drives are serial starting with WMA8 and the 5400's are WMAA. I have 5 and it's true for all mine. 3 5400's for Tivo's and 2 7200's for me! (Like I needed them!)

 

[wumpuskiller]

I think there is a fairly reliable way! The 7800 rpm drives are serial starting with WMA8 and the 5400's are WMAA. I have 5 and it's true for all mine. 3 5400's for Tivo's and 2 7200's for me! (Like I needed them!)

that method appears to be contradicted by others (TJ21 and Blindman). so it doesn't seem 100% reliable.

 

[momo]

biggity bam...Jackpot...just got mine, opened it up to see the blue, 7200 lovin letter..... I am happy I have finally reached the .5 terrabyte mark


Mike

 

[ElectricLegs]

Hence the "fairly reliable" verses "100% reliable"?

 

[jariten]

Just picked one up at the CC in Union Square, NYC, it's a 7200rpm . There were at least 5 left on the shelf, all with similar serial nums.

 

[fldude]

Originally posted by: jariten
Just picked one up at the CC in Union Square, NYC, it's a 7200rpm . There were at least 5 left on the shelf, all with similar serial nums.

Jariten and Momo,

Can you post the first 5 digits of the serial numbers for the package that had the 7200 drive in the 5400 box? Looks like if you see a serial starting with WMA8 then it's most likely a 7200 unit. If it starts with WMAA, then you're taking your chances... I'm still surprised that Western Digital wouldn't at least update the model number on the database from the website. It would seem that it could cause some confusion later on if a drive needs warranty service and they get all these 7200 units instead of the 5400 they were expecting.

 

[jariten]

Yeah, serial number on mine is a WMA8 as well:

WMA8C2180*

Maybe they are listed in WDC's database as 5400s because WDC can't or won't change a device's specs after a s/n has been assigned? Or maybe it's because if you have the orig receipt and are using that instead of the manufactured date to determine warranty window, the receipt would have the p/n for a 5400.

At any rate, 3 year warranty is pretty nice on a HD

 

[Nforcer]

I went to CompUSA today to see if the UPC is different, the upc of 5400rpm box, in which had a 7200rpm, was the same as the compusa 5400rpm UPC... Man I did wish it was different because WD has a 80$ rebate on the 7200rpm but since I'm getting the UPC from the 5400rpm I'll only get 30$

 

[SKORPI0]

Went to the nearest CC (Orland Hills, IL) and checked the serial#. All 11 in-stock had WMAA3108**** - 3110**** serials and website indicated WB1200ABRTL limited warranty July 27, 2005. All 5400 rpm. :frown:

To those you are lucky enough to get the 7200 rpms drives, please post your serial# (first 8-digits). Thanks!! Maybe it is YMMV for this deal.

 

[momo]

Originally posted by: fldude

Originally posted by: jariten
Just picked one up at the CC in Union Square, NYC, it's a 7200rpm . There were at least 5 left on the shelf, all with similar serial nums.

Jariten and Momo,

Can you post the first 5 digits of the serial numbers for the package that had the 7200 drive in the 5400 box? Looks like if you see a serial starting with WMA8 then it's most likely a 7200 unit. If it starts with WMAA, then you're taking your chances... I'm still surprised that Western Digital wouldn't at least update the model number on the database from the website. It would seem that it could cause some confusion later on if a drive needs warranty service and they get all these 7200 units instead of the 5400 they were expecting.

I'll post it once I get home from work( in about an hour )

 

[Blindman]

I will open mine and check when I get home as well.

Happy hunting everyone.

 

[V00DOO]

I Went to CC and saw 4 WD120 GB and proceeded to verify all the drives serial numbers. 2 drives serial began with WMA8 and 2 drives serial began with WMAA. Of course, I picked the drive with serial that began with WMA8. Jackpot, it's a 7200 RPM.

 

[Controller]

My CC only had the AB 5400 rpm models. Still, $99 for a 120 gig drive is a great price. Mine will go in as a backup drive where speed is not critical.

Would have been nice if they had the BB models, but....., I'm still happy to get another 120 for under 100.

 

[warzer]

man these puppies are hard to get. i got lucky and came in when the truck did and they updated there inventory. they only got 5 total i got 2 of them, now i have to wait till they unload the truck

 

[funnyfenix]

while agon, I got one 5400rpm from Outpost at this price too