Hardware components related to HDD

Another thread. .

If I cannot get anyone to fix my iMac, I would attempt to do it myself, what would I have to lose, right?


Problem is: HDD. Disk verification comes up good, I hear no unusual sounds, but if I try running something like a torrent app, the disk usage spikes like crazy and everything freezes. It's as if the disk it too slow to keep up or something. It never used to be like this.


I had run an apple hardware test before to see what it would say, and I got this error:
4MOT/1/40000003: HDD\


Currently It displays:
4MOT/2/40000004: HDD\



This is definitely for the Internal HDD, but my question is: Does this mean it's definitely the HDD? What other hardware components are related to the HDD that could be causing this? Anything to control or run it aside from the HDD itself?



I'm just wondering because if I try to open this, and replace the HDD -- will that work, or would I be overlooking another issue? I'd rather know more about the hardware before attempting to open it up and fix anything. I would rather make sure I fix the problem the first time.

 

I should update that sig haha, It's actually a late 2006 Intel iMac 17".


I'll check into it and get back.


----------------------------------------------
Edit: Signature error fixed*

S.M.A.R.T Status: Verified. (both in disk utility, and in smartreporter)

Xbench.app reports the following for my disk test:

Sequential 2.18
Uncached Write 1.27 0.78 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 0.98 0.55 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 79.56 23.28 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 117.02 58.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 7.61
Uncached Write 21.78 2.31 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 2.17 0.70 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 80.03 0.57 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 137.58 25.53 MB/sec [256K blocks]



I don't know what to make of it though


Btw, nice photos on your site. I'm interested in photography but I can't seem to do it properly lol. I tried making an HDR photo in my backyard but it didn't turn out anything like professional ones do. I guess I need better lighting or something

 

Okay my External HDD says this for the results:

Disk Test 17.43
Sequential 12.56
Uncached Write 28.11 17.26 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 30.32 17.15 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 4.42 1.29 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 41.96 21.09 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 28.47
Uncached Write 10.74 1.14 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 55.54 17.78 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 61.31 0.43 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 76.36 14.17 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Some of the results are way off (in comparison)

 

I never thought of trying on the external HDD.


I just did a small fast torrent to test it out (eminem's new album, may as well preview it to see if it's any good).


It downloaded quite fast, and iTunes didn't even skip a beat (normally iTunes would be the first to go). All this evidence suggests it is definitely an internal HDD issue, and so I will have to attempt to open this iMac up and fix it.


I failed by last attempt but I'll check iFixit to see if they have any tips. I didn't want to break anything when I tried before, but I'll risk it (I have no choice but to risk it).



Hopefully all goes well, and the iMac is in working order when I'm finished.

-backed everything up, I just need a new HDD. . Hopefully I can find one compatible with the imac.




Thanks for the help, spinnerlys!