Mac Mini HGST Update
Ye All,
In response to my email (the relevant bits) below:
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*The Situation*
I am considering buying a Mac Mini, one of the model numbers above. But price difference between model "388" and the model "389" is distorted.
* "388" models have a single 1TB drive, your model number
HTS541010A9E662.
* "389" models have two 1TB drives, same model number.
*Questions for you:*
1 - Can I use your models HTS541010A9E680 or HTS541010A9E681 with the
HTS541010A9E662? I was thinking about striping them (RAID 0) to increase data transfer speeds.
2 - I combed your website and read everything I could. The last two numbers in the model numbers, according to your "How to read the Travelstar model number" on the last page of the data sheet TS5K1000_ds.pdf, are defined as:
8 = 8MB cache
0 = No encryption (1 = BDE, 5 = TCG Opal Encryption)
3 - So what does the "62" designate in the Mac Mini models? "6" = 6MB cache? And the "2" = some undefined encryption?
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HGST Support replied this afternoon with the following:
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Hello Spike,
Thank you for contacting HGST. When you plan on RAIDing drives together, we recommend using the same exact part number drives. As this will give you the most stable RAID. If you mix part numbers, they can still be RAIDed to together in most cases but the RAID will not be that stable. It could cause the RAID to degrade to corrupt itself. The 3 model numbers you provded will all have slightly different Part Numbers. So they should be fine to RAID together, but it would not be the most stable you could get.
As for Model Number: HTS541010A9E662, this looks like it is going to be an OEM drive through Apple. With OEM drives, we manufacture those drives and sell them to computer companies like Dell, HP, Apple. When we do this, those companies take all liability for these drives. They get their own uique Model/Part Number, the drives get loaded with that companies specific firmware, and covered by that companies warranty. OEM drives are also not retail drives. The reason we do not have a listed for what the "2" at the end of the model number means, is because it is specific to Apple. We do not sell a drive retail that is the exact same as that Apple drive.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.
Regards
Matt
HGST Technical Support Center
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So that's what I know. Non-Apple modified drives apparently work just fine, but are not "customer supported" by Apple. And I wish I could get a 388 or 389 Mini with cheapest or no HD and smallest or no RAM! And an install flash or external boot drive. Guess I'll have to buy the minimum configuration do what I want and try to sell the replaced items.
Anyone interested in 2x2GB RAM for a Mac Mini or MacBook Pro (not Retina).
Sincerely,
Spike