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MikeyTree

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 5, 2007
295
0
What effect does getting the faster 7200 RPM hard drive have on a MBP's speed? With student discount, a fast 160 gig is $135 more than a 5400, but I don't know if it's worth it.

I don't do 3D rendering. I do play games, use garageband (maybe Logic too, eventually) and sometimes use photoshop, but not professionally.
 
The faster hard drive will increase the speed of some aspects of the MBP. The HD is the slowest thing in a computer, so the faster it is, the faster the computer will be, although there is a capacity to speed relationship. Go for the faster one if you can afford it.
 
The big speed difference comes with sustained read/write periods - e.g. as when editing video (although in that instance you should be using an external drive as your scratch disk).

With smaller read/write periods (e.g. booting and normal operations) there's very little in it. 7200rpm drive use more power, especially when fairly full.

Beatfeats.com have done some tests with different drives in MBPs, which is well worth a look.
 
If you have periods of really long reads or writes, the 7200 will make the computer a little hotter, but nothing to worry about, probably.

If you can afford it, you might notice quicker loading times and the like with the 7200rpm drive. Anything that the OS has to go out to disk for could be quicker with the 7200rpm drive.

Like a poster above said, if you can afford it, you might as well get it. And like Ignatius said, it can be a drain on the battery if you're doing long reads/writes....so take that for what you will.
 
You will enjoy the difference every day when you boot your mac.
Without Robson flash drive I would have no doubt: 7200rpm! It's worth to wait 3/4 week to have it...
 
I pulled the trigger on 2.4GHz with 5400 drive. Not willing to wait 4-6 weeks. But I plan to put there SSD. SanDisk is supposed to be shipping 64GB within 500$ range in Q3 2007...:D
 
this is slightly off topic, but maybe it is ok to discuss it here.

using 5400 rpm external hard drives is said to be a big no no.

according to information i read, please don't quote me on this, when editing videos, using the external drive as an iTunes music storage (and then playing the music with party shuffle) etc. is not a good idea with a 5400 rpm drive.
 
The big speed difference comes with sustained read/write periods - e.g. as when editing video (although in that instance you should be using an external drive as your scratch disk).

Why use a scratch disk? I am new to the mac thing, and am thinking about how to outfit my first mac.

Thanks
 
Why use a scratch disk? I am new to the mac thing, and am thinking about how to outfit my first mac.

Thanks

LOL

in the beginning, i asked the same question. now after learning to use scratch disks, it all became to automatic, that i can't even explain or answer the question "why use a scratch disk?"

but let me try.

the os and the apps are usually stored and runs from your local drive.

let us say, you edit videos. the scratch disks should lessen the strain on your local drive(s).

i believe there is a better explanation.
 
Why use a scratch disk? I am new to the mac thing, and am thinking about how to outfit my first mac.

Thanks

LOL

in the beginning, i asked the same question. now after learning to use scratch disks, it all became too automatic, that i can't even explain or answer the question "why use a scratch disk?"

but let me try.

the os and the apps are usually stored and runs from your local drive.

let us say, you edit videos. the scratch disks should lessen the strain on your local drive(s).

i believe there is a better explanation.
 
If your up to it you can install the 7200 rpm HD yourself. Got mine from Newegg and it only cost me $105. Gonna install it when the Macbook comes in. Cant wait!
 
A scratch disk is a large (usually external) disk that is used often times by people who do large amounts of pic/audio and especially video. These tasks often times create many files and/or very large files (re: video) that are often deleted, changed, moved, etc. Becuase of this and this system slowdown inherent with a full or nearly full Boot drive (the one your OS & apps are on) many people like to use a scratch disk and they can fill it and have no worries.


This is what I know about them, I could be wrong, but I think thats the general idea behind them...anyone feel free to correct me.
 
That is the idea, yes - thanks for saving me the effort! They're used as temporary space for applications like Final Cut and Photoshop and as a substitute for RAM.

If you don't use an app that asks you to assign a scratch disk, then you can forget all about them!
 
do you have to unscrew stuff to install a new one or does it just pop into the bottom? how do you install a new one
 
Apple can't tell if you've opened up your laptop as long as you don't **** anything up inside. So buy a new hard drive and put it in yourself (it's easy, check the ifixit guide). If you need to take it in for warranty service, then just put the old hard drive back in and they'll never know the difference.
 
Apple can't tell if you've opened up your laptop as long as you don't **** anything up inside. So buy a new hard drive and put it in yourself (it's easy, check the ifixit guide). If you need to take it in for warranty service, then just put the old hard drive back in and they'll never know the difference.

I'd still be worried! One simple mistake and..
 
I currently have a rev. A MBP w/ the 7200rpm 100gb internal drive. I have on order the new 250gb 5400rpm Western Digital drive. I actually do all of my video/audio recording to an external drive which is 7200rpm (my current internal will become one as well).

I can't really speak for the difference in how it runs, as I'm not sure yet...but I'll be sure to post here when I do.

I know I'd much rather have more space and just deal w/ recording to externals. When I'm on the road, the most complicated thing I do is run parallels.

PS I am getting it installed by a certified apple tech i know as not to void my applecare.
 
I currently have a rev. A MBP w/ the 7200rpm 100gb internal drive. I have on order the new 250gb 5400rpm Western Digital drive. I actually do all of my video/audio recording to an external drive which is 7200rpm (my current internal will become one as well).
PS I am getting it installed by a certified apple tech i know as not to void my applecare.


How much is he charging for the job? I'd rather pay a reasonable amount than risk denting or breaking my MBP. However careful you are, there is always one mystery screw left over after you have put everything back together again.
 
This is what I know about them, I could be wrong, but I think thats the general idea behind them...anyone feel free to correct me.

Correct, for example i've just finished editing a huge video file with over 6 hours of raw footage. I kept it all on a scratch disk so it didn't clog up my main HD.
 
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