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legaleye3000

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 31, 2007
1,363
31
Will this laptop take a ssd hard drive? If so, what specs do I need to look for? Thanks.
 

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,081
8,263
Colorado, USA
Yes, but replacing the drive in an iBook is NOT an easy thing to attempt and requires almost a full teardown of the Mac. Here is the replacement guide to give you a sense of just how difficult it is.

if you're still wanting to follow through, you have two options for SSDs: The special 2.5" IDE SSDs (such as those made by KingSpec), or an mSATA SSD with mSATA to 2.5" IDE adapter. The price of lower-end mSATA SSDs has come down enough so one of those plus the adapter might actually be the less expensive option.

Keep in mind that although it will be faster than the iBook's original hard drive, the IDE interface does bottleneck performance and it won't be nearly as fast as an SSD in a modern computer.

Edit: Left out a third option, which is an SD card and SD card to IDE adapter.
 

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,081
8,263
Colorado, USA
SO would you install a ssd or a 7200rpm hd? Thanks.
I'd still go for an SSD just to get the best performance possible, along with the advantages of not generating as much heat or noise. But don't get anything high-end, as again the IDE interface will be the bottleneck.
 

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,945
493
Inside
Install a SSD. A 7,200 rpm PATA drive will be older and difficult to find as they haven't been made for about 10 years now.
 

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
8,081
8,263
Colorado, USA
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CooperBox

macrumors 68000

As already commented you shouldn't have a problem with that.
However I've used several of the following from Transcend as I read that they: 'Support TRIM & NCQ functions, to increase lifespan and performance
Support S.M.A.R.T., to check the status of the player'.
https://www.amazon.fr/Transcend-SSD...508916247&sr=1-1&keywords=transcend+msata+ssd

There is no similar mention in the Kingston specs.
Others more knowledegable than myself may be able to comment further on the requirement of TRIM/NCQ functions, S.M.A.R.T support etc with SSD's.
 

amagichnich

macrumors 6502a
Feb 3, 2017
516
342
Stuttgart, Germany
As already commented you shouldn't have a problem with that.
However I've used several of the following from Transcend as I read that they: 'Support TRIM & NCQ functions, to increase lifespan and performance
Support S.M.A.R.T., to check the status of the player'.
https://www.amazon.fr/Transcend-SSD...508916247&sr=1-1&keywords=transcend+msata+ssd

There is no similar mention in the Kingston specs.
Others more knowledegable than myself may be able to comment further on the requirement of TRIM/NCQ functions, S.M.A.R.T support etc with SSD's.
TRIM is a command issued by the OS to the drive, it's not built in the drive controller as only the OS knows which blocks are marked as deleted and which not. As far as I know OS X supports Trim starting with Lion, but there is a software called TRIM enabler for SL. That excludes all PPCs from this very useful feature as a SSD slows down over time without TRIM.
Anyone correct me if I'm wrong please

Something I have yet to try is to issue TRIM from an Intel Mac to a firewire connected PPC. If anyone has tried that already please enlighten me :D
 
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