Toshiba MQ04 1TB 2.5" Laptop HDD — 5400 RPM SATA Drive
The Toshiba MQ04 1TB 2.5" laptop HDD (5400 RPM) is a budget storage option for users who need maximum capacity at minimum cost. With 128 MB cache and a 5400 RPM spindle, it's well-suited as a secondary drive for movies, project files, university backups and Steam offline libraries. At N.N Laptops, Hafeez Center, Lahore, this drive costs Rs. 9,799 with a 30-day replacement warranty, same-day Lahore delivery and nationwide delivery across Pakistan via TCS/Leopards.
Even in 2026, with SSD prices steadily dropping, a mechanical hard drive remains the cheapest rupees-per-gigabyte option you can buy. We continue to stock Toshiba HDDs because plenty of customers still need terabyte-scale storage in budget laptops, in docking-bay configurations alongside an SSD, or in USB enclosures for backup. The drive we sell here is exactly what you'd expect — quiet, low powered, and rated for the daily duty cycle of a personal laptop or a small media server. Each unit is quality-checked before dispatch to ensure it runs smoothly with no bad sectors.
Specifications
| Brand & Model | Toshiba MQ04 (MQ04ABF100) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1TB |
| Spindle speed | 5400 RPM |
| Cache | 128 MB |
| Interface | SATA III 6 Gb/s |
| Form factor | 2.5" 7 mm |
| Sequential read/write | up to 145 MB/s (varies by zone) |
| MTBF | 600,000 hours |
| Warranty | 30-day replacement at N.N Laptops |
Where this HDD fits
This is a standard 2.5" 7 mm SATA drive. It slots into any laptop with a 2.5" bay — common in Lenovo ThinkPad T480, ThinkPad T490, ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 6 and Legion 5 — as well as external USB enclosures, PS3/PS4 consoles, and 2.5" docks. For an SSD instead, see matching RAM upgrades. Upgrading a PS4 to this 1TB HDD is a popular cost-effective way to double storage without breaking the bank.
HDD vs SSD — when an HDD still makes sense
Modern SSDs are faster and use less power, so we recommend an SSD as the primary boot drive in every laptop. But HDDs are still useful for:
- Bulk storage: 1 TB of HDD costs about Rs. 9,799 vs Rs. 17,500 for a comparable SSD.
- Cold backups: archive old projects, photos, video libraries from photographers or video editors.
- External drive use: drop into an enclosure for a Rs. 12,000 portable 1 TB drive.
- Old laptops that won't recognise large SSDs: some BIOS versions cap M.2 NVMe sizes.
- PS4/PS3 upgrades: consoles cap at SATA II speeds, so an HDD is fine and far cheaper.
What an HDD does poorly
Spinning drives are slow at random reads and writes — the same operations that make Windows feel sluggish. If you want a snappy boot drive, this isn't it. Use an SSD for Windows and your apps, and keep this HDD as a secondary archive. Many laptops let you swap the DVD drive for a 2.5" bay ("caddy mount") so you can run SSD + HDD in one machine — ask us about the right caddy for your model. We stock caddies for most Lenovo, Dell, and HP laptops.
Installation and setup
Same procedure as installing a SATA SSD — open the bottom cover, swap the existing 2.5" drive in the bay, and reassemble. For consoles, screw it into the supplied caddy. After install, format the drive to NTFS (Windows) or exFAT (cross-platform). We offer Rs. 1,500 install at the shop in Hafeez Center. Browse storage upgrades for related parts. If you need help choosing the right drive, WhatsApp 0314 4000131 — Sayam will guide you based on your laptop model.
Where to buy in Pakistan
The Toshiba MQ04 1TB HDD is in stock for Rs. 9,799 at Hafeez Center, Gulberg III, Lahore at N.N Laptops. Same-day Lahore delivery, nationwide delivery via TCS/Leopards to Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Sialkot. WhatsApp 0314 4000131 to confirm stock, ask for live photos, or place an order. See more laptop parts catalogue for our full storage range. We are the go-to shop for Toshiba HDDs in Pakistan — quality tested, competitive prices, and honest advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is this drive new or used?
New, sealed retail unit. Each is tested before shipping.
5400 RPM vs 7200 RPM — which should I get?
7200 RPM is around 25% faster but warmer and louder. For laptops we recommend 5400 RPM as secondary storage and an SSD as the primary boot drive. This Toshiba is quiet and power-efficient.
Will this fit my Dell Latitude or HP EliteBook?
Yes if your model has a 2.5" bay. WhatsApp 0314 4000131 with the exact model and we'll confirm. Most business laptops from 2015-2020 support this form factor.
Can I use this as an external drive?
Yes — drop it into any USB 3.0 2.5" enclosure (we sell those too) for a portable backup drive. Ideal for students carrying large files between university and home.
What if the drive develops bad sectors?
Bring it back within the 30-day replacement window and we'll swap it. After that, manufacturer warranty applies. We stand by our products.
