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Has anyone upgraded the HD in a SR MBP?

panzer06

panzer06

Contributor
Original poster
Sep 23, 2006
3,288
238
Kilrath
I am considering a 200GB 7200rpm drive for my new MBP SR 2.2 and have downloaded a couple of tutorials/videos on how to do it. Seems fairly straightforward.

Has anyone here done it and is it something I should try or take it in. I've always built my own PCs and I've disassembled a Dell laptop (not too worried about messing the old laptop up) but I know user caused damage is not covered so I am a little apprehensive.

Any advice?
 
I've replaced mine, and it isn't very hard to do as long as you pay attention to the tutorials (really pay good attention, you don't want to mess up your topcase because you forgot to remove a screw :))
Officially you'll void your waranty by opening the case, but I didn't have to break any seals opening mine as far as I know.
Of course, if you damage anything while replacing your HD that won't be covered :)
 
nero said:
I've replaced mine, and it isn't very hard to do as long as you pay attention to the tutorials (really pay good attention, you don't want to mess up your topcase because you forgot to remove a screw :))
Officially you'll void your waranty by opening the case, but I didn't have to break any seals opening mine as far as I know.
Of course, if you damage anything while replacing your HD that won't be covered :)
Click to expand...

Nero, I'm guessing you put the WD Scorpio HD in there? How do you like it? is it quiet?
 
nero said:
I've replaced mine, and it isn't very hard to do as long as you pay attention to the tutorials (really pay good attention, you don't want to mess up your topcase because you forgot to remove a screw :))
Officially you'll void your waranty by opening the case, but I didn't have to break any seals opening mine as far as I know.
Of course, if you damage anything while replacing your HD that won't be covered :)
Click to expand...

Western Digital or Hitachi drive? I'm also considering the Hitachi 200GB 7200. Cost about the same as the 250GB Hitachi but more expensive than the WD.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I read soomewhere it does not void the warranty, just warranty will not cover aftermarket drive and any damage done during the replacement.

I've been trying to find a local shop to do the upgrade but so far nothing. I don't want to leave it. I want to schedule a time and take it in and have them do it. So maybe I will do it myself afterall.

Cheers,
 
arcobb said:
the WD Scorpio HD, is it quiet?
Click to expand...

its very quiet, and very cool, mines been on for about an hour now, the HD is 36c coolest thing in the whole machine

now as far as replacing it, its pretty easy, but it requires a lot of force to pry the top of the case off, and just as much force to put it back, when i first reassembled mine i didnt push the clips back down into place and it was sitting uneven i thought i had messed it up, but pressing really hard on it snapped them back into place, thats really the only trouble i had.

the only thing as far as a seal, is a wire thats taped to the top of the original drive, it has to be removed, but i dont think its a warranty seal or anything

PM me if you have any questions
 
I actually just replaced my HD with the 200gb hitachi and it makes a pretty noticeable difference. file copying is significatnly faster. my itunes library of around 13gb took abut 5 min to copy as opposed to the almost 10 before and when in windows to play games I noticed a significant decrease in game load times. granted I have 4gb of ram but once the data is loaded in there things just fly. very worth the money and the price if you ask me. the ifixit tutorials are spot on in most respects. the only trouble I had was putting the top of the case back on and have to snap it in on the front. other than that it took me less than 20 min to do the switch.
 
Tweak3D said:
the only trouble I had was putting the top of the case back on and have to snap it in on the front. other than that it took me less than 20 min to do the switch.
Click to expand...

that or trying to get it off in the first place, i thought i was going to break it, i did bend it though, but it bends back pretty easily:D

i just wish they made a bigger 7200 RPM, i already got 220gb of stuff on this one
 
So about the warranty ... Is the warranty voided period ... or just if you break something ... say if I had a motherboard melt down 9 months after I replaced the hard drive and it has nothing to do with the hard drive ... is the warranty voided? Or just the hard drive is voided if it fails sometime in the future?

I guess what I'm getting at ... if you took your MBP to the Apple store for something unrelated to the hard drive ... would they say "sorry, you have a different hard drive then what it came with."
 
arcobb said:
I guess what I'm getting at ... if you took your MBP to the Apple store for something unrelated to the hard drive ... would they say "sorry, you have a different hard drive then what it came with."
Click to expand...

Then just keep the stock Apple hard drive and reinstall before bringing your MBP in to the store. An Apple rep actually recommended the same thing to me for claiming warranty after upgrading with 3rd-party RAM. If you're careful not to break any seals, I don't see any problem with twiddling the HDs to qualify for warranty.
 
jrodatus said:
Then just keep the stock Apple hard drive and reinstall before bringing your MBP in to the store. An Apple rep actually recommended the same thing to me for claiming warranty after upgrading with 3rd-party RAM. If you're careful not to break any seals, I don't see any problem with twiddling the HDs to qualify for warranty.
Click to expand...

Hmm, the bummer with that is I can't upgrade the powerbook I have with the old 120 HD. I need to keep it until the warranty runs out on the new one.
 
How much have 5400 rpm to 7200 rpm drive affected your battery life?

I guess the 7200 uses more but on the other hand they use the most when they are active and not when they idle? But maybe idle are only when they more or less turn themself of? Not just between loads?

I read a review on the 5400 256MB NAND flash samsung drive and the one who tested it didn't thought it was much of an improvement so I guess it's not worth it over a 7200 rpm normal drive.

Are all of those drives perpendicular?
 
Anyone know how much it would cost me to have the hard drive changed in an MBP at a local Apple store, assuming I provided the hard drive? Assume US prices would probably be cheaper than UK as usual. :(
 
Does anyone know if the Fujitsu HD is better on battery? I just got the stock SR Macbook Pro Saturday but want to upgrade the HD. I picked up the 160GB Western Digital at Ciruitcity for 99.00 but now I have seen the Fujitsu 200GB and other 250GB 7200RPM. Any of you that have the bigger HD installed noticed or how much battery life do you get.
 
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