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Poll: Who has had success with HD replacement in uMBP (2009+)?

H

HaroldC

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 1, 2006
123
0
I am in the process of researching HD replacements for my 250Gb in my 13" uMBP as I would like to have more room for stuff. After searching threads here about replacements, it seems some people are having stalling and beachball issues with their replacement HDs in their uMBPs.

So here is my poll:

1. Have you replaced the HD in a uMBP (with motion sensor) with no ill effects?
2. If so, what brand and size HD? and....
3. What model uMBP

TIA! :D
 
HaroldC said:
1. Have you replaced the HD in a uMBP (with motion sensor) with no ill effects?
2. If so, what brand and size HD? and....
3. What model uMBP

TIA! :D
Click to expand...

1. With motion sensor do you mean the SMS (Sudden Motion Sensor) in the MacBooks or any anti-shock protection that some HDDs have?
I bought a Seagate Momentus 7200.4 without gForce (Seagate's name for its AS-system = ASS?) and replaced it fine without problems and interference on a 17" uMBP.

2. Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB

3. 2.8GHz 17" uMBP
 
1. Yes
2. Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB
3. Late 08 2.53 MBP.

btw, I've incurred no problems with this drive. My machine is noticeably faster with the 7200rpm drive and I'm happy I upgraded
 
Eruanno said:
Wait, the motion sensor in the MacBooks aren't on the HDD itself, right?
Click to expand...

I've heard so many different opinions, loads of people say it's on the HDD, others say it's built into the mobo. Some people say you should disable HDD motion sensors so they don't conflict with the mobo, some say you should ensure to get a disc with sensors as the mobo doesn't have them.

I'd really like a final answer, but I haven't seen any proof from anyone yet.
 
Dozerrox said:
I've heard so many different opinions, loads of people say it's on the HDD, others say it's built into the mobo. Some people say you should disable HDD motion sensors so they don't conflict with the mobo, some say you should ensure to get a disc with sensors as the mobo doesn't have them.

I'd really like a final answer, but I haven't seen any proof from anyone yet.
Click to expand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_Motion_Sensor Yes, all Apple portables have it on board. If you have an HDD with it and you run into problems, just disable the Apple SMS.


As to the OP;

1. Yes (2x)

2. Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB

3. Mid 09 13" 2.26 & Mid 09 15" 2.53
 
So, I'd guess the "G Force Protection" thingy advertised by Seagate is an SMS, then?

Which would mean you'd have to disable the on-board SMS with that particular drive.


Damn, according to this, that drive would offer approx. 2x the performance of my current HDD. For those who upgraded from stock HDDs: Is that realistic?
 
I've just installed a WD 640 Gb Scorpio Blude into a MBP 15" without a problem (so far, it's been less than a day :D)
 
1. yes I've done it successfully. I'm not sure about the motion sensor part???
2. Hitachi 500GB 5400rpm drive
3. 2.26 13inch MBP

-I've had absolutely no problems. The upgrade is very easy and this drive feels exactly the same as the stock drive on both leopard and snow leopard. That said I bought mine when all the fuss about the 1.7 firmware upgrade was happening here and I was extremely careful to avoid this update (I'm still on 1.6 firmware) Not sure if that has anything to do with my results.
 
Thanks for the responses so far. Keep them coming!

How do you disable the SMS on the motherboard?
 
I don't think so. It's even recommended to shut it off for drives featuring a SMS themselves or SSDs.
 
You want to buy a replacement hdd that doesn't have a motion sensor. The motion sensor is taped to the top of the hdd inside of the mbp and you need to remove and replace it carefully when you swap out the drive.

1. Yes, I replaced my stock drive.
2. 500 GB 5400rpm WD scorpio blue (model with no motion sensor)
3. June 2009 13" MBP
 
xlii said:
You want to buy a replacement hdd that doesn't have a motion sensor. The motion sensor is taped to the top of the hdd inside of the mbp
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen such a setup in 3 unibody Macbooks/MBPs I opened to replace hard-drives. There was nothing taped to the original drive.
 
1) Yes, twice
2) 250gb WD Scorpio Blue (5400rpm) and then 320gb WD Scorpio Black (7200rpm)
3) uMBP 13" mid-2009 (with 1.6 EFI, downgraded from 1.7 because of the dodgy sata2 issues I got with the blue as it's also sata2)
 
HaroldC said:
I am in the process of researching HD replacements for my 250Gb in my 13" uMBP as I would like to have more room for stuff. After searching threads here about replacements, it seems some people are having stalling and beachball issues with their replacement HDs in their uMBPs.

So here is my poll:

1. Have you replaced the HD in a uMBP (with motion sensor) with no ill effects?
2. If so, what brand and size HD? and....
3. What model uMBP

TIA! :D
Click to expand...

1. Yes, I sucessfully replaced my internal drive.
2. 500GB Hitachi HTS545050B9A300
3. 13" 2.26GHz MBP, Son!

Habitus :apple:
 
By the way, the issues with beachballing are down to either clashing motion sensors or because your EFI is 1.7 or above and your hard drive is a sata2 hard drive. Clashing motion sensors just means the hard drive keeps getting turned off unnecessarily, whereas the EFI sata2 issue causes all sorts of read/write issues.

The WD drives are sata2, as are most Seagates I find nowadays. I believe the Seagates have a jumper setting for old sata1 speed which stops the beachballing with EFI 1.7+

As long as your hard drive is sata1 (either because it is anyway, or with a jumper setting/firmware flash/etc) and doesn't have a built-in sensor, you should be fine.

fyi if you go for a WD drive, the Scorpios whose model numbers end in BEVS are the ones with motion sensors and the ones with BEVT are without.
 
17" Early 2009 upgraded to WD Scorpio Black 7200RPM 320GB. I ended up with one with the drop sensor, and there is no conflict with the built-in ubMBP SMS. I had a WD warranty swap with another 320GB w/o the drop sensor. WD sent the one with the drop sensor as a replacement. I was a bit hesitant, but figured I'd try it since others had reported no conflicts with this model. It runs fine, even if the SMS is tripped (oh so gently...).

There are no "hangs" or "slow-downs". Everything runs normally.
 
HaroldC said:
I am in the process of researching HD replacements for my 250Gb in my 13" uMBP as I would like to have more room for stuff. After searching threads here about replacements, it seems some people are having stalling and beachball issues with their replacement HDs in their uMBPs.
So here is my poll:
1. Have you replaced the HD in a uMBP (with motion sensor) with no ill effects?
2. If so, what brand and size HD? and....
3. What model uMBP
TIA! :D
Click to expand...

1. Yes on 2nd try
2. Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB (model without motion sensor)
This drive has no perceptible vibration or noise, temp. is 1 or 2 degrees
higher on the average, speed feels, and tests about 20% faster than the
stock 5,400rpm Toshiba 250GB drive.
1st tried a WD 500GB 5,400rpm drive (model with or without motion
sensor?) was problematic, reason unknown, with annoying pauses.
3. Sept. 09 2.53 MBP.
 
bilals said:
By the way, the issues with beachballing are down to either clashing motion sensors or because your EFI is 1.7 or above and your hard drive is a sata2 hard drive. Clashing motion sensors just means the hard drive keeps getting turned off unnecessarily, whereas the EFI sata2 issue causes all sorts of read/write issues.

The WD drives are sata2, as are most Seagates I find nowadays. I believe the Seagates have a jumper setting for old sata1 speed which stops the beachballing with EFI 1.7+

As long as your hard drive is sata1 (either because it is anyway, or with a jumper setting/firmware flash/etc) and doesn't have a built-in sensor, you should be fine.

fyi if you go for a WD drive, the Scorpios whose model numbers end in BEVS are the ones with motion sensors and the ones with BEVT are without.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That is definitely good info, especially the WD model number info.

Everyone else, keep the responses coming! Thanks!:)
 
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