Macworld: What Hard Drive should I get? ...

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10 Replies Last post: Dec 27, 2007 11:21 AM by icerabbit

M a c B o o K

3 posts since
Dec 21, 2007

Dec 21, 2007 11:15 PM

What Hard Drive should I get?

I am looking to upgrade my 80GB (5400 RPM) MacBook HD to a lager drive
(160GB ?). Would I get a boost in performance in getting a 7200 RPM HD?

How much would my battery life decrease?
What kind of speed increase would I get copying a 1GB file?
What brand would you recommend?

Thanks,

Mike
~MacBook 2GHz 80GB HD (White)

Mac OS X (10.5)

Silver iPod Nano, AirPort Extreme Base Station, 500GB WD External HD

~

Reply Tags: laptop, macbook, hard, drive, speed

MacCheetah3

6,630 posts since
Apr 2, 2001

1. Dec 22, 2007 5:28 PM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

Hi
• Bare Feats - MacBook Pro Drives: 5400rpm vs 7200rpm and FW400 vs FW800
• Bare Feats - SHOOTOUT: 200GB 7200rpm Notebook Drives Hitachi versus Seagate

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

Pete Wojciechowski

15 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

2. Dec 22, 2007 6:31 PM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

Yes, Battery life decrease approx. 10 - 8 - 5 - 12%. You'll hafto let us know.

What kind of Lager drive do you prefer?

Hmm, speed increase would involve math. calculus, geometry and possibly subtraction / multiplication. While that is obviously impossible, please, let us know?

Hmm, speed increase on the 1 GB file copy?
So, I'd suspect about approx the same. 10 - 8 - 5 - 12%. Please, let us know exactly?
(You got a stopwatch, yea?)

Brand?
I think, IMHO, that a Sears craftsmen HD, is definitely better (superior) than a Walmert HuskyHD. But, this is subjective. I've had a bad experience with the Walmart HD, so, obviously I prefer the Sears and Rowback. (Oh, that might have been an outboard).

Yes, Absolutely you would get an astonishing boost in performance by going to 7200, the down side being. your MacBook may spin out on your lap. Be careful with this kind of wild and crazy upgrade... Please! Get get and use the seat buckle!

Wishing you all the best,
Pete

(Only joking since your question was already answered, I do truly wish you the best!)
Do we have a sense of humor here?
I'll find out....
Welcome Here!~
I am obviously very ill tonight.

M a c B o o K

3 posts since
Dec 21, 2007

3. Dec 22, 2007 9:06 PM

in response to: Pete Wojciechowski

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

LOL Thanks~

Check out the new 10 horse power 2.5" hard drive, they come in 4 to 6 Exabytes with a transfer speed of 800 TB/s.

If you would like to get one for your Mac, just let me know....

Mike

Message was edited by: M a c B o o K

Oh, I forgot to tell you, they run on diesel.

RichL

2,433 posts since
Oct 7, 2001

4. Dec 24, 2007 9:56 AM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

I dropped a 160 GB Hitachi into my MacBook.

Have had no issues...no battery issues and greater storage.
If there was a speed boost, I didn't notice it.

Bought from OWC

RichL

RichL Columnist/Reviewer for MYMAC.Com

minischneides

311 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

5. Dec 26, 2007 1:30 PM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

Whatever drive you decide to get make sure that it has Firewire. I have always had good experience with Lacie and with Maxtor. Hope that helps.

Ciao,

Thomas

2GHz Core Duo Black Macbook - 10.5.2 - 16GB iPod Touch - 30GB iPod Video - LaCie Big Disk Extreme+

RichL

2,433 posts since
Oct 7, 2001

6. Dec 26, 2007 1:46 PM

in response to: minischneides

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

Sorry Thomas, but this fellow is looking for an INTERNAL drive, not an external.
He'll want a SATA connection.

RichL

RichL Columnist/Reviewer for MYMAC.Com

minischneides

311 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

7. Dec 26, 2007 1:48 PM

in response to: RichL

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

My mistake, I'll have to learn to read :P

2GHz Core Duo Black Macbook - 10.5.2 - 16GB iPod Touch - 30GB iPod Video - LaCie Big Disk Extreme+

RichL

2,433 posts since
Oct 7, 2001

8. Dec 26, 2007 2:16 PM

in response to: minischneides

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

No problem.....

Happens to everyone...including me.
Don't let it discourage you from answering questions.

RichL

RichL Columnist/Reviewer for MYMAC.Com

minischneides

311 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. Dec 27, 2007 8:32 AM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

I am by no means an expert in understanding the hardware components of a Mac. However while you are looking for a HD you should look at OWC (http://www.macsales.com/) they have a large variety of different hard drives that should work with your Macbook.

2GHz Core Duo Black Macbook - 10.5.2 - 16GB iPod Touch - 30GB iPod Video - LaCie Big Disk Extreme+

icerabbit

1,008 posts since
Mar 28, 2002

10. Dec 27, 2007 11:24 AM

in response to: M a c B o o K

Re: What Hard Drive should I get?

Of course not all drive brands and types are created equal. Imo, there are significant performance boosts for the same size drive between 5400 & 7200rpm when you are going to be working with lots of data. Bigger size discs with their increased disk density per platter do nibble away at that though, as the drive heads have to travel less far to reach a certain data point, compared to smaller drives where everything is spread out farther.

For about the same size, my PowerBook with 7200 rpm drive is faster and more responsive than a MacBook with 5400 RPM drive. Both on Tiger, standard installs etc. Of course the MB kicks the PB's butt in processing tasks.

I did not see any difference in battery life compared to standard machines and Apple's numbers. Battery life is far more affected by display brightness and the type of activity (if it uses the optical drive or the hard drive on a continuous basis) than the rpm of the hard drive. I've read the that power consumption difference is negligible.

My preference to this day still goes out to equipping systems with a fast drive, as it affects pretty much everything you do on the computer.

PM G5 DP 2.5 - G4 Cube - G3 iMac - iPod 4G & 5.5G

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This Question is Possibly Answered

Dec 21, 2007 11:15 PM

What Hard Drive should I get?

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