Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How to upgrade to WD Scorpio 320gb HDD?

weckart said:
2. Don't make the mistake of using Passport drives instead of the bare drives. The Passport drives are not the same. They only have a measly 2MB cache on board instead of the standard 8MB, despite costing the same save for the enclosure..
Click to expand...

QFT!

I bought a WD 320 passport..but before I opened the package I checked out the specs and returned it when I found out about the 2mb cache..
 
Is there not a way to disable SMS (sudden motion sensors) protection in OS X, thereby avoiding the conflict between double drop sensors? I swear I used to see it in "About this Mac" but can't find it.
 
Poogis said:
I'd be interested to hear from anyone else having these kernel panics, not that I'm disputing this claim.

Can anyone else verify this?:confused:
Click to expand...

I'm not TOTALLY sure what constitutes a kernel panic, but I bought a WD Scorpio 2.5" 8mb cache 320gb SATA drive (which once i installed only had 300gb...) and the osx 10.5 install went fine and all my applications (final cut, cs3, office, etc.) installed fine, however every once in a while, when I'm doing something completely normal, checking my email, opening itunes. Making a new word document, whatever application I'm in will get the spinny ball of doom. any other application will be fine, i can move my mouse off of the current window and it goes back to normal. But, the moment that I hit apple+option+escape everything crashes. Spinny ball of doom everywhere. The only way to do anything is to hold the power button and shutdown. I'm thinking there's something physically wrong with my harddrive, so I'm probably going to return it and purchase a new one. It doesn't appear to be motion related, but i haven't noticed if it only crashes when i move it.

Is that helpful?
 
Radio Monk33 said:
Is there not a way to disable SMS (sudden motion sensors) protection in OS X, thereby avoiding the conflict between double drop sensors? I swear I used to see it in "About this Mac" but can't find it.
Click to expand...

One person comes on here and states something he/she doesn't provide proof and everyone panics, they haven't even been back to back up their claim, loads of people on this forum have WD drives in their machines and have no problems with them myself included and i've had one of them in one of my MBP's since they were released
 
vascott said:
Couldn't post that for the rest of us? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

haha, no it was a secret:)
No just kidding - since the post was made some time ago now I don't exactly remember what i was but if you have some questions please don't hesitate to write in this thread og pm me:)

And yeah, I agree with the fact that this "kernel-panic" thingie is a bit overrrated. I haven't seen a single piece of evidence here.
I myself have had a WD Scorpio in my MBP for like 1 month now and with absolutely no problems at all.
When I wanted to switch my internal drive I did some research here and in other forums including the officiel apple discussions. I wouldn't have bought and installed the drive it I had even the slightest doubt.
 
Neil321 said:
One person comes on here and states something he/she doesn't provide proof and everyone panics, they haven't even been back to back up their claim, loads of people on this forum have WD drives in their machines and have no problems with them myself included and i've had one of them in one of my MBP's since they were released
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, you are using a WD HD from an external Passport drive? or a WD HD intended for a laptop?

Mr. Clean
 
Skibsted said:
haha, no it was a secret:)
No just kidding - since the post was made some time ago now I don't exactly remember what i was but if you have some questions please don't hesitate to write in this thread og pm me:)

And yeah, I agree with the fact that this "kernel-panic" thingie is a bit overrrated. I haven't seen a single piece of evidence here.
I myself have had a WD Scorpio in my MBP for like 1 month now and with absolutely no problems at all.
When I wanted to switch my internal drive I did some research here and in other forums including the officiel apple discussions. I wouldn't have bought and installed the drive it I had even the slightest doubt.
Click to expand...

Same question for you also, are you using a WD HD indented for a laptop or one of the WD Passport external 2.0 drives?

Mr. Clean
 
Neil321 said:
One intended for a notebook the WD 320GB BEVT, if your that bothered about it you are aware that the scorpio black can be bought with or without a free fall sensor ???
Click to expand...


I'm not the one that was bothered by it...I am just getting clarification on the drive it self not the shock thing.:cool:

Mr. Clean
 
Mr. Clean said:
I'm not the one that was bothered by it...I am just getting clarification on the drive it self not the shock thing.:cool:

Mr. Clean
Click to expand...

Ok, but like i & other's have posted their are loads of people on here that have them and i've not heard of any failures , that is why we couldn't understand what that member posted about conflict's with the sensors as it's the first time anyone has bought the subject up, here anyways
 
Thank you for the info. Where is the best place to buy one? On line I'm assuming? My local Best Buy has one for $179.99, that seems a bit high. Also my local Fry's has one as well for $169.99. Not sure if this is a good price or not. Any input on this?

Mr. Clean
 
todd2fst4u said:
those are exactly the same. one comes in a retail box, the other comes with just the drive
Click to expand...

No no no no

Well, yes, one is retail and the other is OEM, BUT there is actually a big difference between the drives. The more expensive on is 7200 RPM vs 5400 RPM. The faster drive also has a larger cache.
 
my research

I found the 320GB WD Scorpio here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8909586&type=product&id=1213047091665
One of the customer reviews says it works great in the Macbook Pro. :apple:
Its model number isn't on WD's website or found on Google at all, but there's nothing on the box or site descriptions about the free-fall sensor. WD's site describes model WD3200BJKT with free-fall sensor and no way to buy it, but model WD3200BEKT without free-fall sensor and an option to buy it, in stock.
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=477
This might mean that the version with the free-fall sensor isn't the one in stores.

I plan on buying it and installing it into my Macbook Pro 15". I didn't even know about the 2MB cache of the WD Passports! I almost bought one, but decided on this because I eventually narrowed my decision to SimpleTech - Signature Mini 500GB External USB and the 320GB WD Scorpio.
I decided that the 7200RPM and longer battery life was a better benefit than <200GB more and having to do weird things inside of my MBP to make the 12mm (instead of 9.5mm) drive fit.
 
MattRazz said:
I found the 320GB WD Scorpio here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8909586&type=product&id=1213047091665
One of the customer reviews says it works great in the Macbook Pro. :apple:
Its model number isn't on WD's website or found on Google at all, but there's nothing on the box or site descriptions about the free-fall sensor. WD's site describes model WD3200BJKT with free-fall sensor and no way to buy it, but model WD3200BEKT without free-fall sensor and an option to buy it, in stock.
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=477
This might mean that the version with the free-fall sensor isn't the one in stores.

I plan on buying it and installing it into my Macbook Pro 15". I didn't even know about the 2MB cache of the WD Passports! I almost bought one, but decided on this because I eventually narrowed my decision to SimpleTech - Signature Mini 500GB External USB and the 320GB WD Scorpio.
I decided that the 7200RPM and longer battery life was a better benefit than <200GB more and having to do weird things inside of my MBP to make the 12mm (instead of 9.5mm) drive fit.
Click to expand...

seems that way, ive been looking at this drive, and heard about this free fall problem but when i checked reviews on a components site i shop at a lot there was nothing but good news from all who bought the drive. they sell it as an OEM drive, so it just comes in a plain box.

but i just went back an checked the model number and theyre selling the 7200rpm scorpio black with number WD3200BEKT. so theyre selling the none-free fall sensor model, which explains why theres been zero problems.
 
Source for my decision on the WD Scorpio 320GB

Neil321 said:
What weird thing inside a MBP ? the only ones they fit in are the 17'' and they just fall in like any other drive
Click to expand...

"Hitachi have won the race by achieving the first 500gb 2.5" notebook hard drive. the only thing is they cheated by making one a little bit thicker (12.5mm) as opposed to the usual size (9.5mm).

I was convinced that there is enough room in a Macbook Pro so i gave it a shot installing one, and it worked - it fits and works flawlessly - BUT (there is always a but) it needs to be installed in an unorthodox way."
(http://www.digitalreaction.co.uk/installing-125mm-sata-hd-into-macbook-pro-599-c.asp)

I found this very enlightening :apple: , and I should have included it in my original post. The guy who worked at Best Buy agreed with me that 460GB formatted drive was not enough to make me take apart the drive's mount and then add rubber bands and foam to keep it steady.
I know it doesn't say MBP 15" in the article, but given that it otherwise fits perfectly in the 17", and his pictures are of the 15", AND he links to the iFixit for the MBP 15" guide, I'd say he's doing it on a MBP 15". ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back