Help upgrading to a bigger HDD

[Savage]

I want to upgrade my MacBook's hard drive to something with a lot more space. I have the last generation of the plastic white/black models (before they remade white), purchased on the last day of December '07. It is the 2.2GHz model with a 120GB HDD and aftermarket 4GB RAM.

I would like at least a 500GB hard drive or more. I was looking at this one from Hitachi because it is the second bestselling/reviewed one on Amazon and it's 7200 RPM compared to the top selling one on Amazon, a Western Digital 500GB @ 5400 RPM. Will the Hitachi be significantly faster due to the RPM difference? Or do you guys have any other good hard drive suggestions (preferably more than 500GB)?

Also, where can I find out the RPM of the hard drive inside my MacBook right now?

 

[alust2013]

If you want more than 500GB, there are some bigger WD drives, 640 and 750 I believe would fit in your computer. Not sure about the 1TB, because I don't know that the larger form factor fits in the non-unibody MBs.

 

[Hellhammer]

It can currently take up to 750GB

Your current HD is 5400rpm but because the 750GB 5400rpm is denser than 500GB 7200rpm, there won't be huge difference in speed, both will be faster than your current

 

[spinnerlys]

Will the Hitachi be significantly faster due to the RPM difference? Or do you guys have any other good hard drive suggestions (preferably more than 500GB)?

In benchmarks it will score around 90-100 MB/s, while the 5400RPM HDDs will score around 75MB/s.
The biggest HDD to fit into your MB is a 750GB HDD, as the 1TB HDDs are 12.5m high, and the white MB only accepts HDDs up to 9.5mm. Look here.

Also, where can I find out the RPM of the hard drive inside my MacBook right now?

> About This Mac > More Info... > Hardware > Serial-ATA > Model (right click on that cryptic combination of letters and numbers (ST3250820AS), and select to search Google with it).

 

[Savage]

Thanks for the quick and very useful answers.