Will be receiving a MacPro 8 core tomorrow. It has one hard drive, 7200. This is my first Mac and I'll be using it for video editing with FCP. Thinking of getting the WD VelociRaptor 300 GB SATA Hard Drive, 10,000 RPM. Will the Raptor be ok for the MacPro? i.e., it won't run too hot to cause problems? I was thinking of using the Raptor to put the video on; however, I was wondering if I should use it for my main hard drive instead? Thanks for any help.
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MacPro and Raptor
- Thread starter tamerlane57
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Actually, this is a good question. There are two models of the Velociraptor drives. Only one model fits. See this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/724162/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/724162/
You'd want the WD3000HLFS, if you want to install them in the drive bays. 
If you only want to install it in the optical bay, you can also use the WD3000GLFS. (The only difference is the heatsink changed to allow the connectors to mate up with the backplane connector in the HDD bay). Since WD sells the drive without the heat sink, it's not actually needed. But it does make it much easier to mount in various locations/drive adapters.
They work well, and don't run hot. Mine hasn't, even when relocated to a spot with almost no airflow. Still holds at 31-33C, and was previously in high airflow and ran at 29C. Not much difference, so there's no need to worry.
If you only want to install it in the optical bay, you can also use the WD3000GLFS. (The only difference is the heatsink changed to allow the connectors to mate up with the backplane connector in the HDD bay). Since WD sells the drive without the heat sink, it's not actually needed. But it does make it much easier to mount in various locations/drive adapters.They work well, and don't run hot. Mine hasn't, even when relocated to a spot with almost no airflow. Still holds at 31-33C, and was previously in high airflow and ran at 29C. Not much difference, so there's no need to worry.
The Raptor is a dinosaur. Get an SSD
I agree! But aren't SSDs $1,300 for 265GB while Raptors are $230 for 300GB?
I guess price is still a consideration when shopping - for anything really.
Yep, and you can get a 7200RPM 1TB drive for ~$90. It's all about how much you are willing to pay for an "x"% increase in performance.
I guess price is still a consideration when shopping - for anything really.
Exactly!
And to the OP--yes, the Velociraptor (as has been said, make sure you get the -HLFS version) works great in the MacPro. I'm using one as my boot/app drive, and it's performing flawlessly so far.
Yep, and you can get a 7200RPM 1TB drive for ~$90. It's all about how much you are willing to pay for an "x"% increase in performance.
Exactly!
And to the OP--yes, the Velociraptor (as has been said, make sure you get the -HLFS version) works great in the MacPro. I'm using one as my boot/app drive, and it's performing flawlessly so far.
2nd!
Ever thought of using a RAID?
(Surprised that nano and Tess haven't mentionned that possibility! haha )
Loa
I'm running 3 x Velociraptor for my data. Performance is excellent!
Average write speed across the volume: 299MB/sec
Average read speed across the volume: 298MB/sec
Chunk Size Write MB/sec Read MB/sec
256K 209 261
512K 292 324
1MB 331 332
2MB 343 325
4MB 348 331
8MB 348 334
16MB 349 338
32MB 353 338
64MB 357 345
128MB 331 346
256MB 353 343