I'll probably be upgrading the small 20GB HD on my 500 MHz slot loading indigo iMac in the next week through newegg. I've found some pretty nice ones that are ATA100 with 8 MB cache and obviously limited to 120 GB. Now the question is whether or not the ATA100 is fine with installing an internal HD into the same slot with the same connectors or will they change. Does it have a max of 33 anyway and therefore I should worry about the other parameters besides the 100? I was under the impression that the maximum in this computer is an ATA33.
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iMac Slot Loading HDs
- Thread starter brop52
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Makes no difference. Jut make sure it is 7200rpm/120gb/8mb cache.
Also throw a gig of ram in there. You will be surprised how quik that machine runs...
I actually just upgraded it to 768 MB last week. I have no intention of getting rid of the 256 chip that is in there with the new 512 chip. I'm actually just getting it ready for my mom to use as a business computer and more HD space is of concern right now. I plan on buying a new iMac during the summer or fall.
The choice is between these two HDs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144118
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JB 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
$53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148104
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3120814A 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
$54.99
Any pointers on which is more reliable? They are both very similar in specs and the price couldn't get much closer. From the reviews it seems like the Seagate has less very negative comments on the machine failing. I also see that the Seagate has a better warranty (5 year). Of course I don't plan for this iMac to last long but if it did that would be amazing.
Let's hope my ipod holds up as my external firewire HD transfering my data. I will probably burn CDs for the really important documents and then put the rest on the trusty ipod.
By the way, what do you do with old 128 MB SDRAM PC100 chips?
Thanks for your help.
They are pretty much the same, i've never used Seagate's, but every WD drive i've had has been great, but the Seagate has a 5 year warranty so go for that
Not if it fails. Mine just failed in my mac pro and it ended up costing me $20 to return. Ticked me off something terrible. They don't pay for shipping the drive to them but oh they offer a $20 advanced replacement. Heck, every other hard drive I have ever returned simply asked for a credit card number and sent the drive out with a return label. Credit card no only used if I didn't send the drive back. No I am veiwing seagate a little bit differently now.
We can't really make any judgements on reliability because all we have is anecdotal evidence at best. For what it's worth, I've had one Western Digital fail on me and no Seagates fail.
Your iMac uses ATA66 and any modern PATA drive will work (the 120gb limit aside).
Regardless of which model you buy, you'll be pleased with the upgrade. Both will be whisper quiet and fast as hell compared to the original 20gb. I've the same iMac, different color, and recently put in a 100gb Seagate and the difference is night and day.
Your iMac uses ATA66 and any modern PATA drive will work (the 120gb limit aside).
Regardless of which model you buy, you'll be pleased with the upgrade. Both will be whisper quiet and fast as hell compared to the original 20gb. I've the same iMac, different color, and recently put in a 100gb Seagate and the difference is night and day.