MacBook HD replacement

[erickg]

Now that Appleinsider note that the MB has an easily accessible user replaceable HD, I'm wondering which one you would recommend. I'm thinking about picking up the cheapest MB (already ordered my wife the black one), upping the RAM to a gig and installing either a 7200 RPM 100 Gig disk or a 5400/120 Gig. Are there certain brands that are more reliable or have better customer service?

Thanks!

 

[61132]

Now that Appleinsider note that the MB has an easily accessible user replaceable HD, I'm wondering which one you would recommend. I'm thinking about picking up the cheapest MB (already ordered my wife the black one), upping the RAM to a gig and installing either a 7200 RPM 100 Gig disk or a 5400/120 Gig. Are there certain brands that are more reliable or have better customer service?

Thanks!

I would get it from newegg, great prices. Seagate seems to be a good manufacturer for laptop hard drives, they are the quietest available. 7200 RPM, does give you better performance, especially in apps like iphoto, and boot up time. Hope this helps.

When you actually sit down and open your mb, make sure you have a large workspace, and tape all the screws on labeled "blocks" on a sheet of paper. That way you wont lose screws or have "extra" parts

 

[mrichmon]

Are there certain brands that are more reliable or have better customer service?

Better quality drive brands: Seagate, Western Digital, Hitachi, Fujitsu.

 

[imacintel]

Better quality drive brands: Seagate, Western Digital, Hitachi, Fujitsu.

I dom't reccomend Samsung or Fujitsu. Both of mine were faulty. Nice and faulty, really faulty

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

I`ve never had trouble with my Seagate 120GB. Using it as an external one though.

 

[66217]

Can this cancel the warranty? And do you think that an Apple employee could help with this. I dont feel confident doing this alone, I am not good at this things.

 

[NYmacAttack]

Can this cancel the warranty? And do you think that an Apple employee could help with this. I dont feel confident doing this alone, I am not good at this things.

Yes this is not a user installable part so it would void the warranty. I doubt anyone would help you in the apple store.

 

[portent]

The MacBook itself would still be covered by warranty, unless you damage it while installing the HD. Apple can't revoke your warranty like that.

The new HD would be covered by its manufacturer's warranty, not your system warranty.

 

[erickg]

The MacBook itself would still be covered by warranty, unless you damage it while installing the HD. Apple can't revoke your warranty like that.

The new HD would be covered by its manufacturer's warranty, not your system warranty.

Yeah, that's what I thought as well. I'm wondering if it will (or already has)actually show up on Apple's support site as a user replaceable item, considering it seems so easy to do.

 

[erickg]

Yes this is not a user installable part so it would void the warranty. I doubt anyone would help you in the apple store.

Do you have a link to show that this is in fact not a user installable part on the MBs?

 

[erickg]

I would get it from newegg, great prices. Seagate seems to be a good manufacturer for laptop hard drives, they are the quietest available. 7200 RPM, does give you better performance, especially in apps like iphoto, and boot up time. Hope this helps.

When you actually sit down and open your mb, make sure you have a large workspace, and tape all the screws on labeled "blocks" on a sheet of paper. That way you wont lose screws or have "extra" parts

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I'm in Sweden, so I'll have to go with more local internet stores (read: expensive). Quiet is definitely a huge plus. Is Seagate the manufacturer that has three years warranty?

Also, losing screws shouldn't be that much of a problem on the MB. If I remember correctly, all you have to do is take out the battery and remove a couple of screws (probably four) and a protective aluminium shielding. Maybe you don't even need to remove any screws... appleinsider doesn't mention them: http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1750

 

[RoyalTS]

Might a 7200 rpm hard drive be a problem heat-wise?

 

[erickg]

Might a 7200 rpm hard drive be a problem heat-wise?

From what I've read in previous threads, the heat produced by the 7200 rpm is about the same as 5400 rpm. Hopefully others have more info supported by actual facts.

 

[®îçhå®?]

Better quality drive brands: Seagate, Western Digital, Hitachi, Fujitsu.

Seagate and Western digital are great HDs.

 

[erickg]

Thanks for all of your replies!

So, since all of the brands previously mentioned are apparently good. Could anyone rank them in terms of quietness and warranty? I would prefer to have one that is as silent as possible and has 3 years warranty.

 

[codo]

MacBook HDs

I've had a look at HDs for the MacBook, and I believe either of these two (Dabs UK)would be great.

I've gone through the specs, and I'd go for the Hitachi because it will take more shock and seems to have better power consumption features as well as marginally faster access times.

Hopes this helps?

 

[erickg]

I've had a look at HDs for the MacBook, and I believe either of these two (Dabs UK)would be great.

I've gone through the specs, and I'd go for the Hitachi because it will take more shock and seems to have better power consumption features as well as marginally faster access times.

Hopes this helps?

That does help! Thanks! I searched for reviews on the Hitachi drive and found this review to be very useful. The Hitachi apparently really kicks butt and is the way to go for pure performance. Seems the Hitachi has 3 yrs warranty while the Seagate has 5! Also, Hitachi was the first to have 7200 rpm 2.5" drives, so they have the most experience developing them.

I guess I should have looked for reviews to start with, but I was (and am still) interested in what people's opinions here are.