Looking for a 7200RPM drive for a MBP

[jmmv]

Hello,

I bought a MBP 15" past november. I chose the 160GB hard disk as I expected the higher bit density could improve its speed (given the fact that, unfortunately, a 7200 RPM drive was not a BTO option back then). However this drive makes me sick: it is extremely slow under moderate load and brigs the system to its knees (even though the CPU remains almost idle in those cases). The disk is really a bottleneck in this machine. (Yes, I do some intensive disk operations such as updating through CVS very large source trees... or starting Half-Life 2 ;-) which also takes ages.)

I am planning to manually replace the disk with a 7200 RPM one and install the one I have in an external USB enclosure. I know the MBP's drive is not user-serviceable (such as the MB is), but is the process of replacing it very complex? I remember it was really hard in the iBooks.

So far I have found the new Seagate Momentus 7200.2, which according to some reviews seems to be fairly good: speedy, draws a similar amount of power and heat to a 5400 disk and doesn't add too much noise. Any other better suggestion for a 7200RPM 2.5" hard disk? Has anyone tried them in a similar MBP?

Will the "Motion sensor" keep working? I mean, is that sensor part of the drive or is it part of the laptop?

Thank you!

 

[tejota1911]

I installed the Seagate Momentus 7200.2 drive in my MBP, and have been very happy with the upgrade. The install only took about 25 minutes, and was easier than I expected. This drive is noticeably faster than the 120GB 5400RPM Fujitsu drive it replaced. I haven't noticed any heat increases, It's not any louder than the old drive, and I haven't noticed any significant battery life differences. It's just a better drive in every aspect. Computer boots faster, loads programs faster, etc. Great Upgrade!

Link to where you can buy the drive:
http://www.computergiants.com/items...&zmam=6444850&zmas=1&zmac=5&zmap=ST9160823ASG

iFixit Guide to installing a new hard drive:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook-Pro/Hard-Drive/85/5

Good Luck!

 

[Marioz]

You know this will void your Apple garantee (it is important anyway).
I have Momentus drive as well and I think there are not better drives.
I have it in a MB and a MBP, I can suggest this HD.

 

[Nuc]

You know this will void your Apple garantee (it is important anyway).
I have Momentus drive as well and I think there are not better drives.
I have it in a MB and a MBP, I can suggest this HD.

I've heard conflicting stories on this... I heard it doesn't void your warranty unless you mess something up while doing it. I can't find the thread that said this but it sound correct.

Nuc

 

[jmmv]

Well, I already supposed it could void my warranty. But if I'm careful enough (and I'll have to be), I guess I could swap again the drive with the older one in case of trouble As far as I have seen in other posts, there don't seem to be any labels used to detect that you opened the machine; is that right?

 

[whateverandever]

Well, I already supposed it could void my warranty. But if I'm careful enough (and I'll have to be), I guess I could swap again the drive with the older one in case of trouble As far as I have seen in other posts, there don't seem to be any labels used to detect that you opened the machine; is that right?

That's correct, just be very careful.

I give a second thumbs up for Computer Giants. That's where I bought my Seagate Momentus 7200.2. Right now that's the best drive you'll get on the market. Make sure you contact Computer Giants first to make sure it's REALLY in stock. They have a bug in their system that shows everything as in stock even if it isn't.

Hitachi is supposed to be releasing a 200GB 7200rpm drive soon, but who knows when that will really come out. So it's up to you whether to wait or not.

 

[jmmv]

I haven't checked the page, but shipping to Spain may be expensive. A bit of Googling has shown me that a local store may have the drive; I'll get there tomorrow or so to ask. Might be cheaper and easier to enforce the warranty, shall any problems appear.

So the Momentus 7200.2 is currently maxed at 160GB, right? That's the size I currently have and I haven't filled it yet Plus a bigger disk will allow me to reorganize things (compacting all the free space I have) removing multiple hacks (different partitions and disk images) I have done to gain just a tiny bit of performance.

Anyway I'll wait a couple of weeks or so before I get it, since I cannot risk the laptop before I hand out my degree's final project ;-) Maybe newer drives will appear in this time frame.

Speaking of Hitachi, the disk I currently have is a Hitachi one... and its bad performance doesn't give me a good impression of this brand. But maybe that has nothing to do and their 7200 drives behave just as the Seagate ones (if not better)?