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Best Macbook Hard Drive under $200?

J

jj1987

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 24, 2007
7
0
I'd like to get a new hard drive for my macbook. It's the 13in white with the 120gb 5400rpm drive. I know it has to be 2.5 sata, I was just wondering, what's the best mix of battery life, performance, and size currently available?
 
With a smaller drive, maybe ( not a heavy increase, that's for sure ) but for a larger drive, you've not going to notice the difference. The 'seek' time for a 5400 is typically 12ms. For a 7200, 10 or 11ms. Its not a difference you would even notice without side-by-side comparisons.

Personally ( and I've done this three times ) I'd get a 250gb WD Passport external drive. Crack it open - take the drive out of your MB, put it in the passports enclosure, put the 250gb in your MB, and bingo - upgrade AND a backup drive.

Doug
 
I was thinking of getting the WD 320 GB external 2.5 and cracking it open and swapping drives. How involved is this? Just a couple of screws? Obviously the "donor" drive warranty is now ivalid, but that's OK.

Thx
 
Definitely go with the WD 320 Gb Scorpio (Passport). I did the upgrade on my MBP last week. Even though the Scorpio is a 5400 rpm drive, you will get faster transfer rates due to the higher data density.

Best of Luck!
 
I recently went from the 120GB/5400RPM drive to the 200GB/7200RPM. Probably a bit of a performance improvement but were I to do it over again, I'd go with the 320GB/5400RPM. Also fyi, I haven't noticed any increased noise, heat, or battery drain with the 7200RPM drive.
 
Opening the Passport drive involves popping a screwdriver around the edge to separate the gloss lid with the base. There's some nasty pulling involved, and those typical "OMFG IT'S BROKEN" crack noises as the snap parts come apart, but I've done it a dozen times without any problems.

I can pop something on YouTube if you would like.

Doug
 
djellison said:
Opening the Passport drive involves popping a screwdriver around the edge to separate the gloss lid with the base. There's some nasty pulling involved, and those typical "OMFG IT'S BROKEN" crack noises as the snap parts come apart, but I've done it a dozen times without any problems.

I can pop something on YouTube if you would like.

Doug
Click to expand...

That would be awesome. Also, if you do could you PM me the link? Thank you!
 
djellison said:
Opening the Passport drive involves popping a screwdriver around the edge to separate the gloss lid with the base. There's some nasty pulling involved, and those typical "OMFG IT'S BROKEN" crack noises as the snap parts come apart, but I've done it a dozen times without any problems.

I can pop something on YouTube if you would like.

Doug
Click to expand...

Already been done. Finding this video saved me ripping of the pads to check for screws.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdWKNQHLTmw&feature=related
 
I also did the passport swap, it was pretty painless and took about 15 minutes tops. the hardest part was getting the passport case off
 
AndyFL said:
People have any comments on 5400 vs 7200rpm? Pros/cons of each? Thanks
Click to expand...

I did it on my MBP and benchmarked it before and after. Quite honestly, I don't think it's worth the trouble unless you're using an app that has to access the HD regularly. Even then, you're talking milliseconds.

I use my MBP for video editing in the field, and while processor power is more of an issue for this, I didn't see a noticeable difference between the two.

I plan on putting a larger drive in my MBP later this year, and I'll go with a 5400 RPM drive.

MacDann
 
The Western Digital 320 GB passport is 149.99 at Best Buy right now.

Matt...
 
Thanks for the tips, guys --- I can't believe a 320GB external drive is available for $150 when the bare drive itself is $180. That's just not typically how it turns out.

I'm excited -- I'll get an *excellent* enclosure and a new massive internal drive for a good price.
 
That Youtube vid has it about right. Only thing to mention is that the first time you try it - it's a lot harder ( and scarier ) than the others.

Once you've done it - hell - why not customize the plastic lid :) This one I did for my other half, so I can tell her Pport from mine.
 

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azdude said:
Check for in-store availability... the 5 stores near me all still have stock -- I'm going to go pick one up after work.
Click to expand...

The ones around me have it, too.

Does this have a 9.5" cm SATA notebook drive in it? I ask because I would love to buy one, swap the drive into my MBP, and use the enclosure for the one I take out of the MBP.

I checked out the detailed specs on WD's Web site, but they don't go into the specifics of what drive is in it. However, based on the size of the enclosure, it's got to be a 2.5" drive, I just don't know what the height is.

MacDann
 
azdude said:
Check for in-store availability... the 5 stores near me all still have stock -- I'm going to go pick one up after work.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but the website says the sale prices are online only. No store over here in Baghdad anyway!
 
toddngina said:
Yeah, but the website says the sale prices are online only. No store over here in Baghdad anyway!
Click to expand...

Sorry about the Baghdad issue, but the price is available in store this week --- it's in the published Sunday advertisement.
 
MacDann said:
The ones around me have it, too.

Does this have a 9.5" cm SATA notebook drive in it? I ask because I would love to buy one, swap the drive into my MBP, and use the enclosure for the one I take out of the MBP.

I checked out the detailed specs on WD's Web site, but they don't go into the specifics of what drive is in it. However, based on the size of the enclosure, it's got to be a 2.5" drive, I just don't know what the height is.

MacDann
Click to expand...

That's exactly what we're proposing, and what many have already done.

It's a 9.5 mm 2.5" SATA drive, perfect for the MBP. The enclosure is compatible with your existing drive as well.
 
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