Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB HD Now Shipping?

[PeterKG]

I received my HD from Tiger Direct with no problems. I installed it with no hitches. But I took it out last night and will use it as a backup drive.

I just could not accept the vibration caused by having these 7200 RPM drives installed. I have bought and returned at least four 320GB Seagate and WD Black Scorpions, so I know they have not all been defective.

But this 500GB Seagate performs very well. So for those who can handle the vibration, you will be happy with it.

 

[detz]

Mine came in today..now I just need the macbook pro to put it in!

I want to run some benchmarks, since the computer is coming with the 320 5400 drive I would like to boot that up and run as many benchmarks as I can while it's fresh. Then install the 7200 500GB and do a clean install and run the same tests. What should I use to do this, maybe I will re-install the OS when I get it too to see how fast that installs on both.

 

[isaki87]

Mine came in today..now I just need the macbook pro to put it in!

I want to run some benchmarks, since the computer is coming with the 320 5400 drive I would like to boot that up and run as many benchmarks as I can while it's fresh. Then install the 7200 500GB and do a clean install and run the same tests. What should I use to do this, maybe I will re-install the OS when I get it too to see how fast that installs on both.

For benchmarking utilities, QuickBench and ZoneBench are great licensed benchmarking tools. A good free benchmarking tool, you can use XBench.

 

[detz]

For benchmarking utilities, QuickBench and ZoneBench are great licensed benchmarking tools. A good free benchmarking tool, you can use XBench.

I don't understand why people would buy software to benchmark a computer. I would only use it once and then ever need it so there is no way I can justify paying for something. I will check out that free version...or maybe just write my own. Thanks.

 

[isaki87]

I don't understand why people would buy software to benchmark a computer. I would only use it once and then ever need it so there is no way I can justify paying for something. I will check out that free version...or maybe just write my own. Thanks.

I personally use XBench, but some people say that XBench isn't as accurate as some of the licensed benchmarking apps. I've used XBench to benchmark my SSD, and I have noticed that it isn't consistent on the SSD, but its fine for testing HDD's.

 

[relativist]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else removed after upgrade because of vibrations? I sounds like one poster just doesn't like 7200 rpm drives, but I'm wondering if anyone else has an issue with this particular drive. Also, has anyone notices any issues with installing this dive, particularly I saw a review where someone mentioned the breather whole on this drive is in a different place than his original drive so he had to change routing of the connecting cable so as not to cover up the breather hole.


.....Curtis

 

[alphaod]

I didn't like the extra vibrations much, but in no way would I go back to a slower drive.

 

[relativist]

I didn't like the extra vibrations much, but in no way would I go back to a slower drive.

Thanks, btw, what rev of macbook pro do you have? The Macbook Pro I'm putting this drive is a late 2007. Since the MBP has Drive Genius what I'll do is make a copy of the current drive to the new drive via eSATA and an external case, the external case will be where the original drive will end up. I'm considering taking it to a local apple shop for them to do the actual upgrade, quote is for $90.

 

[PeterKG]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else removed after upgrade because of vibrations? I sounds like one poster just doesn't like 7200 rpm drives, but I'm wondering if anyone else has an issue with this particular drive. Also, has anyone notices any issues with installing this dive, particularly I saw a review where someone mentioned the breather whole on this drive is in a different place than his original drive so he had to change routing of the connecting cable so as not to cover up the breather hole.


.....Curtis

Hi Curtis,

Installing this HD in a unibody MBP was as simple as could be. Unscrew on philips head to release the drive. Disconnect cable. Take mounting screws off old drive, install on new drive. That's it.

 

[Runt888]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else removed after upgrade because of vibrations? I sounds like one poster just doesn't like 7200 rpm drives, but I'm wondering if anyone else has an issue with this particular drive. Also, has anyone notices any issues with installing this dive, particularly I saw a review where someone mentioned the breather whole on this drive is in a different place than his original drive so he had to change routing of the connecting cable so as not to cover up the breather hole.


.....Curtis

Interestingly enough, the cable was over the hole on my previous drive. The new drive has a different location for the hole so I was able to route the cable exactly like it was before and not cover it up.

As for vibrations, I don't think they're worse than any other drive I've used. I wonder if people who are bothered by the vibrations don't have the rubber vibration dampeners in just the right spot. I can put my fingers right on top of the case over the drive when it is going full speed, and barely feel any vibrations what so ever...maybe I just have insensitive fingers...

 

[relativist]

Hi Curtis,

Installing this HD in a unibody MBP was as simple as could be. Unscrew on philips head to release the drive. Disconnect cable. Take mounting screws off old drive, install on new drive. That's it.

Yes, I'm aware of that, but the MBP I'm upgrading is a late 2007 MBP. I've very happy that the MBP now is user upgradeable for both HD and RAM.

 

[damnyooneek]

No vibrations here just like the original 5400 hd. Maybe a very light ticking sound when the thing is working but you can only hear it when you put your head up to the laptop.

 

[NightSailor]

Memory Prices

I know right.. next thing I need now is 8GB of memory!! Anybody know the best deal out there? I heard the price has dropped almost to 50% of the $1200 that was initially being asked!

OWC has the best prices for 8GB of RAM at the moment. I usually find Memory America has good deals--but at present only for the MacPro.

 

[PeterKG]

No vibrations here just like the original 5400 hd. Maybe a very light ticking sound when the thing is working but you can only hear it when you put your head up to the laptop.

I just don't buy it. My stock 5400 rpm drive is silent unless I put my ear to the palm rest, and has zero vibration. This Seagate drive vibrates. I mounted it correctly, and its just like several other 7200 rpm drives I tried as well. They all caused vibration. Its a trade off for sure. Faster drive= vibration. Stock drive= no vibration.

 

[isaki87]

No vibrations here just like the original 5400 hd. Maybe a very light ticking sound when the thing is working but you can only hear it when you put your head up to the laptop.

I can attest to this, as I've had this drive for a little over two weeks. No vibrations whatsoever. However I have started to notice a little noise. The noise is not that big of a deal, because the room has to be dead silent in order for me to hear it. The sound of typing supersedes the sound of the drive.

 

[mac mac mac]

My order from Tigerdirect came in Monday and everything seems fine. I did order the wrong USB enclosure but it's $10 so I'm not going to bother to return it (I got the one with ATA connector instead of SATA).

I ordered it as a birthday present, and now I'm tempting to get one myself. I have a 200GB 72k Hitachi that I upgraded when I purchased my Penryn MBP in 3/2008. I used 112GB so far and I don't use Bootcamp.

Do you think I should upgrade? Will I see a performance boot? I do have a massive music and photo libraries, and it'll probably continue to grow. My MBP takes just under 50 sec to boot (from the startup chime) with the current drive. I don't know if it's worth it even if I might upgrade my MBP when Nehalem becomes available in 4Q or 1Q 2010. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[CLuv]

Have had mine since February 3rd, runs great. Much faster than the stock that I had originally. Boots faster, apps load faster, and shuts down faster. I've never run anything like iDefrag, no need to really.

Did a full restoration off of my Time Machine backup, was flawless.

No change in the acoustics or vibration. Experience no noticeable vibration, and can't hear the drive.

Battery life is approximately the same. Would highly recommend this drive.

 

[isaki87]

for reference only

Had the drive since 2/3/09...

 

[AliensExist4]

Sorry if this is a repost but I have a quick question:

- Would the best way to put EVERYTHING on my current drive to this new drive be from a Time Machine Restore? I need to make sure I get absolutely everything over.

Thanks,

 

[panzer06]

Sorry if this is a repost but I have a quick question:

- Would the best way to put EVERYTHING on my current drive to this new drive be from a Time Machine Restore? I need to make sure I get absolutely everything over.

Thanks,

I prefer superduper, others like the free Carbon Copy Cloner and still others use Disk Utility.

I also use Winclone for Bootcamp partitions

Cheers,

 

[detz]

I just installed it in my 17" I got this morning, I can't hear a damn thing! I'm installing OSX now so i will run the benchmarks after but I don't feel or hear anything.

 

[reserves]

I just installed it in my 17" I got this morning, I can't hear a damn thing! I'm installing OSX now so i will run the benchmarks after but I don't feel or hear anything.

*Which* 17"?

 

[detz]

*Which* 17"?

The new unibody. I'm amazed, I can hear the fan over the HD and the fan is super quiet. The installing took me a little over 12 minutes from start(unplugging) to finish(pushing the power button).

 

[AliensExist4]

panzer06: Thanks for the reply. So is a Time Machine restore not able to work and what are the appropriate steps to using Carbon Copy Cloner to have everything from my old drive to this new one? Thanks again,

 

[John.B]

panzer06: Thanks for the reply. So is a Time Machine restore not able to work and what are the appropriate steps to using Carbon Copy Cloner to have everything from my old drive to this new one? Thanks again,

Time Machine will work just fine, but there are faster ways to accomplish what you are trying to do.