7200rpm vs 5400rpm. The truth is:
It really doesn't matter.While some people claim the 7200rpm drives load games quicker, and this may be true, the difference in loading times is so small you'd never notice it unless you're doing Xbox time trials or something. 5400rpm is still much, much faster than loading off the DVDRom, 7200rpm isn't a whole lot faster than 5400rpm though. If you're hardcore about it, (like me
) go with the 7200rpm but don't expect a major speed increase over 5400rpm.
Also, a lot of people worry that 7200rpm drives overheat their Xbox. Generally speaking, it won't. The only real circumstance where 7200rpm is going to overheat your Xbox is if it's in a very small cramped area, and the fan at the back can't properly blow air out, thus the heat gets trapped inside the Xbox. You should never have your Xbox inside an area like that anyway, it should be out in the open to allow proper ventilation no matter what mods you've done to it.
If you do go the 7200rpm route, and are still worried about overheating, you can either
A.) Do the 12v Fan Mod,
B.) Increase your fan speed Using XBTool, or
C.) Upgrade to an 80mm Fan.
One other thing to keep in mind is that 5400rpm drives are on the decline, so 7200rpm drives can usually be found at lower prices nowadays. Again though, either way really isn't much of a difference.
As long as your drive is lockable you'll be happy with it.