Toshiba

Toshiba G71-343US Laptop Hard Drive 500GB

Name: Toshiba G71-343US Laptop Hard Drive 500GB
Brand: Toshiba
SKU: G71-343US

Drop-in 500GB laptop hard drive upgrade in a slim 7mm form factor for the HP G71-343US.

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Overview

The Toshiba G71-343US is a 500GB 2.5-inch SATA hard drive designed as a direct replacement for the HP G71-343US laptop, though its standard interface makes it a viable option for virtually any laptop with a 2.5-inch SATA bay. With a 7mm height, it fits comfortably in both slim ultrabooks and traditional laptop drive bays, making it a versatile swap-in storage solution. The 5400 RPM spindle speed keeps power draw and operating noise low, which can be a benefit for users who prioritize battery life and a quiet work environment over raw throughput.

At 500GB, this drive offers a reasonable amount of storage for documents, photos, and light media collections, though users with large libraries or demanding applications may find it limiting. The installation process is straightforward — swap the old drive, connect the SATA cable, and either clone your existing data or perform a fresh OS installation. While this mechanical drive cannot match the speed of a solid-state drive, it remains a practical and cost-effective option for keeping an older laptop running when the original drive has failed or is running out of space.

Key Features

Size: 2.5", 7mm height

Speed: 5400RPM, 12ms seek

Interface: Serial ATA 2.6/ATA-8

Transfer Rate: Up to 3.0GB/sec

Specifications

Capacity

500GB

Interface

SATA

Rotational Speed

5400 RPM

Form Factor

2.5-inch

Height

7mm

Compatibility

HP G71-343US (VR757UA)

Model Number

G71-343US

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

7mm slim profile fits both ultrabook and standard 9.5mm laptop drive bays
500GB capacity provides a meaningful storage upgrade for older laptops
Standard 2.5-inch SATA interface ensures broad compatibility beyond just the listed HP model
Low-power 5400 RPM operation generates less heat and noise than faster spinning drives

👎 Cons

5400 RPM speed is noticeably slower than 7200 RPM drives for file transfers and boot times
An SSD upgrade would offer dramatically better performance for a similar price point today
Does not include mounting hardware, cables, or cloning software
500GB capacity is limited compared to modern storage needs for media and large applications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this hard drive compatible with laptops other than the HP G71-343US?

While it is listed as a direct replacement for the HP G71-343US (VR757UA), the standard 2.5-inch SATA interface and 7mm height make it compatible with most laptops that accept a 2.5-inch SATA drive.

What is the rotational speed of this drive and how does it affect performance?

It spins at 5400 RPM, which prioritizes lower power consumption and quieter operation over raw speed. It is suitable for general storage but will be noticeably slower than a 7200 RPM drive or SSD.

Will this drive fit in an ultrabook or slim laptop?

Yes, the 7mm height is designed specifically for thinner laptops and ultrabooks, and it also fits standard 9.5mm bays with an appropriate spacer.

Does this drive come with any data migration software or cables?

No, this is the bare drive only. You will need your own SATA-to-USB adapter or enclosure and cloning software to migrate data from your old drive.