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best HD for new MBP?

D

DesmoPilot

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Have a new i7 MacBook Pro on the way. Will be replacing the stock 500GB/5400RPM HD and putting it in an enclosure; need a good speedy replacement (preferably 500GB). Looked around but sadly haven't found any solid or up-to-date benchmarks (hopefully someone here can steer me in a good direction); so far I've narrowed it down to these 4 HDs:

- Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB 2.5 SATA 5400RPM 8MB (Model: WD5000BEVT)
- Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB 2.5IN 7200RPM 16MB 12MS (Model: WD3200BJKT)
- Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB 2.5IN SATA 7200RPM 16MB (Model: ST9500420AS)
- HITACHI Travelstar 7K500 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache (Model: HD20500 IDK/7K)

Heard great things about the two WD drives and some not so great things about the Seagate (high failure rate); but still can't come to a definitive decision. Also (assuming it would fit), what's the consensus on the new 1TB WD drive? Any and all advice/help/comments are appreciated.

Note: SSDs are not an option for me due to small sizes and the price of the size I'd need to buy. Also, waiting til early next year for the next round of SSDs isn't an option either.
 
Why didn't you just order it with the seagate 7200 instead of having to buy it separate and take the machine apart?

I've experience with 3/4 drives you mentioned:

I have the 500GB 7200 RPM hitachi currently and hate it... the performance has just steadily declined and it also vibrates. This is in huge contrast to the 320GB 7200 RPM hitachi which is fast and quiet (going back in soon).

WD Black is the speed monster, but also the vibration monster, I wouldn't consider it.

Seagate is probably a good balance, runs a bit hot, vibrates some, but is fast and quiet.

I had a WD 250GB 5400RPM and it constantly made click noises none of the other drives made, but was solid otherwise.
 
Inside_line said:
Why didn't you just order it with the seagate 7200 instead of having to buy it separate and take the machine apart?

I've experience with 3/4 drives you mentioned:

I have the 500GB 7200 RPM hitachi currently and hate it... the performance has just steadily declined and it also vibrates. This is in huge contrast to the 320GB 7200 RPM hitachi which is fast and quiet (going back in soon).

WD Black is the speed monster, but also the vibration monster, I wouldn't consider it.

Seagate is probably a good balance, runs a bit hot, vibrates some, but is fast and quiet.

I had a WD 250GB 5400RPM and it constantly made click noises none of the other drives made, but was solid otherwise.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. Taking these machines apart is easy; I did what I did because I'd rather install a good aftermarket HD then take a gamble as to what HD Apple uses; in my experience their HD choice can be hit or miss.
 
Inside_line said:
Why didn't you just order it with the seagate 7200 instead of having to buy it separate and take the machine apart?

I've experience with 3/4 drives you mentioned:

I have the 500GB 7200 RPM hitachi currently and hate it... the performance has just steadily declined and it also vibrates. This is in huge contrast to the 320GB 7200 RPM hitachi which is fast and quiet (going back in soon).

WD Black is the speed monster, but also the vibration monster, I wouldn't consider it.

Seagate is probably a good balance, runs a bit hot, vibrates some, but is fast and quiet.

I had a WD 250GB 5400RPM and it constantly made click noises none of the other drives made, but was solid otherwise.
Click to expand...

Hopefully just stating the obvious here, but you did move the hard drive studs from the stock HD to the new one, right? The studs that fit into the foam and keep things from vibrating?
 
From what I've read... it's the 7200 RPM seagate as the BTO.

Anyway, I also have a hunch that there is tremendous drive-to-drive variability. I literally got 3 drives within a months time, the 320 hitachi was the best by far. Then... when they introduced the hitachi 500, I jumped on it, and it has been a completely opposite experience. You can't even tell the difference between the 320 and 500 hitachi drives other than the sticker. So, I think as long as they're "within spec" they will ship, but they are all different, kinda like batteries, but that's another story...
 
Stick with the standard 5400rpm drive! 😀

Unless your going down the SSD route the performance increase from a 5400prm to 7200rpm drive in the real world won't make that much difference. Plus as others have said, heat (louder machine - fans kicking in), vibration and potential reduced battery life are all the trade offs to the second or two extra performance.

IMO laptops are best suited to 5400prm or SSD hard drives.
 
brownpaw said:
Hopefully just stating the obvious here, but you did move the hard drive studs from the stock HD to the new one, right? The studs that fit into the foam and keep things from vibrating?
Click to expand...

Studs were moved... I must have tried re-positioning the drives a dozen times. I even tried making my own cushioned mount. This is a subjective measure of course, but the little buzzing beneath my palms drives me nuts. Not sure there is a perfect drive other than the 5400's, but then.... they're toooo slooow.
 
gazwas said:
Stick with the standard 5400rpm drive! 😀

Unless your going down the SSD route the performance increase from a 5400prm to 7200rpm drive in the real world won't make that much difference. Plus as others have said, heat (louder machine - fans kicking in), vibration and potential reduced battery life are all the trade offs to the second or two extra performance.

IMO laptops are best suited to 5400prm or SSD hard drives.
Click to expand...

AGREE with above comments, especially for noisy 7200 rpm.
 
I just installed the WD Blue 640 in a friend's macbook this past weekend. easy process and no vibration.

i just got the hitachi 7K500 today for my 15" i5 to replace the 320gb it came with.
 
square one said:
I just installed the WD Blue 640 in a friend's macbook this past weekend. easy process and no vibration.

i just got the hitachi 7K500 today for my 15" i5 to replace the 320gb it came with.
Click to expand...

Is the 7k500 noisier ? I have the WD 5000BEVT and its definately more noisy than the stock seagate 250 in my 2.4 MBP. Is there anyone who has the hitachi 5k500.b ? How is the noise in comparison with the stock HD ?
 
Hey Everyone!

I got me one of the UMBP 13" and i am more than happy with it, however i am now pushing space requirements (it was my first MBP - so i didn't splash out!).

So just curious what the best hard-drive to go with is in terms of just increasing space? I am happy with its performance, i don't want to sacrifice the current (awesome) battery life i am getting and i type on this thing for about 10 hours a day, so vibration must not be an issue.

Keen to hear your thoughts/opinions 😀

Cheers,

Maxus
 
I put the 500GB hitachi 7200rpm in my mbp a couple days after I got it. All I can say is I LOVE IT! I don't know who could actually be bothered by the sound....I can barely hear anything even holding my ear against mbp. Noticed a slight vibration when transferring all of my music/videos/files onto it, but no more than the standard 5400rpm. If you are worried....read the reviews!! Countless good reviews from many resellers, check them out.
Regards,
John
 
I'd go with a WD Scorpio Blue 500GB 5400rpm drive. In fact, I did, about a year ago? Great drive from my experience, will mount it in my new MBP 13" tomorrow. 😛
There might be newer/ better/ bigger/ fancier drives available these days, though. Haven't checked.
 
So I ordered the 500GB 7200 HD when configuring my MBP 15. Which drive ships with it. Do all the 500gb 7200 rpm hard drives make extra noise and vibrate? Thanks
 
MattMJB0188 said:
So I ordered the 500GB 7200 HD when configuring my MBP 15. Which drive ships with it. Do all the 500gb 7200 rpm hard drives make extra noise and vibrate? Thanks
Click to expand...

I cannot tell the difference from my stock 320GB 5400rpm Apple sent me and the 500GB 7200rpm hitachi I put in myself. I suppose if you REALLY try, you may notice a slight whisper and some vibration when copying large files to/from the drive. Honestly, for the price amazon is offering the hitachi($90), go with that.
Regards,
John
 
jmdMac said:
I cannot tell the difference from my stock 320GB 5400rpm Apple sent me and the 500GB 7200rpm hitachi I put in myself. I suppose if you REALLY try, you may notice a slight whisper and some vibration when copying large files to/from the drive. Honestly, for the price amazon is offering the hitachi($90), go with that.
Regards,
John
Click to expand...

Well I configured my MBP with the 500GB 7200 HD and was just wondering what brand name it is?
 
rob2809 said:
Is the 7k500 noisier ? I have the WD 5000BEVT and its definately more noisy than the stock seagate 250 in my 2.4 MBP. Is there anyone who has the hitachi 5k500.b ? How is the noise in comparison with the stock HD ?
Click to expand...

well it's been in for about 20 minutes, but i notice no noise difference.
 
MattMJB0188 said:
Well I configured my MBP with the 500GB 7200 HD and was just wondering what brand name it is?
Click to expand...

Hmm I know the standard 5k320 is Hitachi also, and that the 7k500 they use is a different brand, however I am not sure which. Try searching the forums if you want to know before you get your mbp. If you don't know by then, check system profiler when you get it. Sorry for misunderstanding you earlier.
Regards,
John
 
square one said:
even cheaper from newegg

and i got if from frys.com for $64 + s/h
Click to expand...

In my case, being from Alaska, the added amount newegg charges for shipping makes it cheaper on Amazon.
Frys.com says shipping is "unavailable" and seeing as there are no retail stores up here that option is also out. Leaving only Amazon. But if you are down in the states I would check all 3 and find the best price!
 
jmdMac said:
Hmm I know the standard 5k320 is Hitachi also, and that the 7k500 they use is a different brand, however I am not sure which. Try searching the forums if you want to know before you get your mbp. If you don't know by then, check system profiler when you get it. Sorry for misunderstanding you earlier.
Regards,
John
Click to expand...

Oh no worries. I only asked because for a second I feared my 7200 hdd would make loud noises and vibrate but like with the majority of these posts its over exaggeration. Others have also said the 500gb 7200 hdd is fine and no different than the 320 or 500 5200rpm hdd.
 
No 2 drives are identical.

No 2 users on this site have the exact same subjective opinions.

Each size mac has a different hard drive cushioning solution.

Each generation mac has a different hard drive cushioning solution.

Here's my Hitachi 7K500 I've had since it came out:

Results 51.82
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.3 (10D573)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookPro1,1
Drive Type Hitachi HTS725050A9A364
Disk Test 51.82
Sequential 112.42
Uncached Write 146.69 90.07 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 147.78 83.61 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 62.40 18.26 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 167.51 84.19 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 33.67
Uncached Write 11.40 1.21 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 101.13 32.37 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 75.65 0.54 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 125.91 23.36 MB/sec [256K blocks]
 
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