Best HDD for macbook pro replacement - 500GB

[Queen of Spades]

I have a Hitachi Travelstar 7k500 in my 2010 13" MBP. It's dead silent, cool, and performs well. Love it. I also managed to snag it on sale for $69.99. No complaints whatsoever.

Before this one, I'd used a WD Scorpio Blue 500GB in my previous MBP. That was also dead silent, and no issues. I sold the drive along with the laptop, otherwise I would have just kept that one.

Decided to go for 7200RPM this time around, and I'm quite pleased with it.

 

[Pennylane6]

Hi guys. I have a mid 2009 MacBook Pro (the first aluminum body one). It's been staying on the white screen with the apple for hours. A computer guy told me that it's my hard drive that needs to be replaced. I'm really poor right now so I'm replacing it myself- I've never done this nor fixed anything inside my mac before (mother than my computer engineering friend opened it once to replace some bad ram). So I'm doing a lot of research so I can do this right, it doesn't seem terribly hard. What kind of hard drive should I use??? I am scared to miss some little detail and that will not be compatible for my macbook. I've read some people having trouble with the hitachi travel star bc they possibly got the wrong version. I am definitely looking for 500GB. 2.5 " I THINK it's a SATA? Let me know if there is anything I should check, or if you have links to suggestions.

 

[MagicBoy]

Any 2.5" SATA II drive. I'd go with with a HGST(Hitachi) Travelstar 7k500 given the choice.

 

[Pennylane6]

I think I have decided on the HGST TRAVELSTAR 7k750... Do you think the 7200rpm and 5400rpm will make a noticeable difference? Here are links to the 2 i have narrowed down to: 1.) http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/Y0A57915/

2.) http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/Y0J26005/

Also, why are the physical dimensions different? Should t they all be the same if they are going to fit in my laptop?

 

[MagicBoy]

7200rpm will help responsiveness. It's a worthwhile improvement over a the standard 5400rpm drive. Personally I'd stick an SSD in, but a 500GB one is 4x the cost...

2.5" drives come in three heights - 7mm, 9.5mm and 12mm. Any of these will fit the MBP. The 7mm drive is intended for ultrabooks, hence why it spins a little slower to keep the heat output lower.

 

[Pennylane6]

Thanks @magicboy. I ended up going with the hitachi brand you suggested. I got the 5400 rpm just bc my laptop is pretty old now. I rather my old macbook be a bit slower but stay cooler and not heat up as much. Just trying to have it hold up until I can get a new macbook!