Suitable upgrade drive?

AlanD

I need to upgrade my 80GB harddrive in my white Macbook running Snow Leopard.

I believe there are some issues with some drives, so I'm wondering if someone with a bit of knowledge could tell me if this drive: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=378960&view=detailed#ProductTabs

will work in my machine?

Is the shock guard a problem?

Could you recommend a similarly priced alternative?

Jev/N

I would (and will also soon) go for this one:

http://www.dabs.ie/products/seagate-momentus-7200-4-500gb-5400rpm-s300-16mb-62FD.html?q=momentus

It has a bigger cache and a faster RPM (don't mind the misprint on the page, it is in fact 7,200)

It also has a G shock protection system which can cause issues but all you have to do is disable the macbook's one via terminal

AlanD

Are 7200 RPM drives not noisier?

How much of a difference will the cache make?

Jev/N

I've heard good reports about it and currently have a 5,400 RPM drive due to buying a refurb laptop, but always wanted the 7,200.

With regard to cache, I don't really know if it'll be that noticeable, would depend on what you're mainly using the laptop for

leeroybrown

Do some careful research before you pick a drive. As far as I remember the shock protection in the WD Scorpio drives used to conflict with the accelerometer based shock protection built into the MacBook. It would cause occasional kernel panics unless disabled. I'd make sure to pick a drive that doesn't have that know conflict.

AlanD

That's what I thought, but, as mentioned above, I thought you could just turn off the MacBook's version.

Do most laptop drives have shock protection though?

leeroybrown

You can turn off the MacBook's shock protection system but I wouldn't advise anyone to buy something that has a known incompatibility. Its wort noting that the issue not specific to all of a particular manufacturers drives, just to some product lines and models.

Certain implementations of the shock protection system have an incompatibility, most don't.

Jev/N

The Seagate Momentus drives do have incompatiability issues but as I mentioned previously, reports have been fine once the macbook's own shock protection is disabled

One point to note is that you can buy these drives with or without this feature (if the serial no. ends in "ASG" as opposed to "AS" it has the shock proection) but most sites only sell with shock protection

AlanD

Any known website that gives info on what drives are compatible?

A

Jev/N

AlanD wrote: »

Any known website that gives info on what drives are compatible?

A

Just Google around a bit on various drives (all drives with 9.5mm height are basically compatible)... some info here on that Seagate :http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=368556

AlanD

That Seagate Momentus can be had without shock protection. Could be the way to go: http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2862764/art/seagate/momentus-7200-4-st9500420.html

Jev/N

AlanD wrote: »

That Seagate Momentus can be had without shock protection. Could be the way to go: http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2862764/art/seagate/momentus-7200-4-st9500420.html

Definitely would be worth it, just don't know about Pixmania!

AlanD

Jev/N wrote: »

Definitely would be worth it, just don't know about Pixmania!

Have bought a few things from them with no issues.

leeroybrown

Jev/N wrote: »

Definitely would be worth it, just don't know about Pixmania!

They're fine until something goes wrong at which point they seem to become a nightmare to deal with. People tend not to realise but they're effectively the same company as Currys and Dixons (which explains them trying to force extended warranties on you).

AlanD

Oh yeah, had heard that before alright about them.

So based on that, I'll buy it in Elara.....it's cheaper too.

Thanks for the recommendation! Buying the one without the shock guard.

leeroybrown

Elara are fairly decent plus they're an Irish based company with a real walk-in presence in Dublin using Irish based suppliers. Less to go wrong.

Jev/N

Never thought of Elara, gonna buy mine there so in the next few weeks!

AlanD

Jev/N wrote: »

Never thought of Elara, gonna buy mine there so in the next few weeks!

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1690923

AlanD

Forgot to report back. Fitted a 500GB drive mentioned in the link above.

Took 10 mins to fit it. Easy peasy. Reinstalled Snow Leopard from scratch and it asked me if I wanted to restore users, settings documents from Time Machine. I said yes, and that's what it did.

One downside, I had to reset Time Machine afterwards because the new image taken and the last one on TM, were so different and there just wasn't enough space on my 500GB external TM drive. All worked out fine though.

Haven't noticed the MacBook run that much faster though.

Jev/N

Great to hear, I still haven't been able to fork out for it yet due to being back in college but will do soon hopefully!