HardDrive change for Powerbook G4

[powerbookG4 12"]

I'm still using my powerbook G4, 1.5GHz, 1.25GB ram, 10.4.9 tiger
bought it new in February 2006.

the harddrive is making more and more noise these days…
still running the original TOSHIBA MK8026GAX 80GB, ide ata-100, 5400rpm, buffer 16mb.
seems there aren't many options for upgrading this thing without going down to 8mb buffering, or moving to 7200rpm. Or putting in a SATA converter, and with the 12" powerbook there isn't much room for that without going down to a 1.8" size drive...

what about a solid state Transcend 2.5" TS128GSSD25-M 128GB SSD?
and if that works, is there any great performance advantage to upgrade the OS X to 10.5 leopard?

thanks for any input/options to help me keep my powerbook on the road!

 

[eyoungren]

I'm using Western Digital's Scorpio Blue drives. 320GB in my 17" PowerBook and a 250GB in my wife's 1Ghz 12" PowerBook.

The drives are PATA but they are pretty fast and have been reliable.

 

[burnout8488]

Why haven't you gone to Software Update to get 10.4.11? It's been out for years!

Get one of the Scorpio Blues listed in the above post, they're the most modern PATA drives you can get, and the fastest.

SSD would be faster if you're willing to put a good bit of money into the machine.

Leopard will be usable on that machine once the hard drive is upgraded.

 

[Goftrey]

I wouldn't bother buying an SSD for the fact an SSD will cost you near enough how much you would pay for a PowerBook. If I were I'd just get, as posted above a WD Scorpio 320gb. Sorted.

...And definitely upgrade to Leopard! It'll bring life back into it, I run Leopard on my 800mhz TiBook and it runs like a dream.

 

[Angelo95210]

My mac is from 2006 as well (first intel laptop) and I am more than happy to have invested in an SSD. People might say it's too expensive for an old laptop, but if you like your computer it will get it a second life

 

[powerbookG4 12"]

thanks for the answers so far!
yes i am running 10.4.11 sorry about that...

i can get the 128gb SSD for $222 delivered
or
i can get the 320gb Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB 2.5IN IDE 5400RPM 8MB for $138 delivered

so the lower 8mb buffering isn't a issue compared to the stock 16mb burrering?

as for OS X 10.5 Leopard... it is no longer retailed, the best price i've seen for a new copy on ebay is $205 delivered. one advantage would be getting new versions of safari, vlc and other software, are there other major advantages to Leopard over Tiger? $200+ dollar advantages?

thanks again

 

[eyoungren]

The WD Scorpio Blue series is fast. Maybe not as fast as some PATA drives were back when the PowerBook was in it's heyday, but plenty fast and most assuredly faster than the stock drives (Toshiba and Hitachi) that Apple put in the PowerBooks.

 

[yamaha81]

I got a 160gb Western Digital Scorpio blue for my Powerbook about a month on ebay for $58. Just search around, they are not hard to find. And 160gb is plenty for me at least.

 

[charlieroberts]

Id rather buy this ssd OWC SSD
If you are keeping your mac for at least a year, I say its worth it.

 

[California]

thanks for the answers so far!
yes i am running 10.4.11 sorry about that...

i can get the 128gb SSD for $222 delivered
or
i can get the 320gb Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB 2.5IN IDE 5400RPM 8MB for $138 delivered

so the lower 8mb buffering isn't a issue compared to the stock 16mb burrering?

as for OS X 10.5 Leopard... it is no longer retailed, the best price i've seen for a new copy on ebay is $205 delivered. one advantage would be getting new versions of safari, vlc and other software, are there other major advantages to Leopard over Tiger? $200+ dollar advantages?

thanks again

I've got a 250 hard drive new in open box and a Leopard disc somewhere, PM me an offer