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Trying to decide on a 250GB HDD, Hitachi or WD?

SamIchi

SamIchi

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Aug 1, 2004
2,716
137
I Look on Newegg and only see 3 available for my MacBook (if I read the specs correctly...)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...80+1035907918+130971534+1309729183&name=250GB

I've read bad things about Samsung HD's so it's either WD or Hitachi. I'm leaing towards Hitachi because there were a few threads about "SMART" problems with the WD, but it also has 16 times the reviews... Both have 8mb cache and 5400RPM. What do you guys think?
 
I'm still in the exact same situation.

Alot of users here hold the WD in high esteem... I like the hitachi b/c i have a 160gb and i'm happy. Also, hitachi seems to have one of the best speed/power effiecency ratio. However, if you read the newegg reviews, there are a couple complaints about "clicking problems...".

Personally, i'm waiting on seagates momentus 5400.4 250gb before i make any decisions.
 
SamIchi said:
I Look on Newegg and only see 3 available for my MacBook (if I read the specs correctly...)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...80+1035907918+130971534+1309729183&name=250GB

I've read bad things about Samsung HD's so it's either WD or Hitachi. I'm leaing towards Hitachi because there were a few threads about "SMART" problems with the WD, but it also has 16 times the reviews... Both have 8mb cache and 5400RPM. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...


I'd personally say go with the Hitachi. From what I've read, it outperforms the WD most all of the time. On top of that, I have never owned a WD HD that didn't fail. I've owned about 3-5 of them, all being the older IDE 3.5" drives. They may have cleaned up their act since I bought their drives (I was cheap back then and they have good service when it came to RMAs), but I just can't bring myself to purchase another drive made by them.

I personally like Seagate, but they don't make a 2.5" drive to this capacity that I know of.
 
check this discussion out. a poster has told me where hitachi is selling externals that are cheaper than internals AND you get the case for your old drive!


here is a discussion about it.

im going to bb tom to see if i can get this done!

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=18&threadid=770169&start=0


assuming of course if you are interested in the 200gb one. maybe hitachis 250gb externals are like this as well??

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...abComputerSP&sp=+brand+skuid&usc=abcat0500000

how cool would this be!
 
I prefer Seagate in nearly all cases, but if its between Western Digital and Hitachi.... WD have been in the game longer (as far as I know) so I'd trust them with my immediate cash.

I'd still prefer Seagate even if its more cash.
 
My understanding is that the problems with the Samsung were solved with a firmware update, if required, which unfortunately seems to require Windows to install, so only a possibility with a Bootcamp setup.

So the choice is really between four drives: The Hitachi, the WD, the Toshiba (MK2546GSX) plus the Fujitsu 2.5" 250GB hard drive (model MHY2250BH), if you would like to go down that route, but I am not personally that impressed with the stock Fujitsu drive in my MBP.

All Hitachi drives 'click' by design. I would classify it as a "chattering" sound that you can hear when the drive heads are seeking. It is not necessarily a disadvantage, because Mac laptops lack otherwise any indication that the HD is busy. Sometimes you get the impression that the OS has stalled, when it is busy processing without the benefit of a GUI visual to show you what the progress is.

You could hold out until Novemberish, when the Toshiba 320GB 2.5" hard drive comes onto the market, although it probably will not be that cheap until the others catch up.
 
weckart said:
All Hitachi drives 'click' by design. I would classify it as a "chattering" sound that you can hear when the drive heads are seeking. It is not necessarily a disadvantage, because Mac laptops lack otherwise any indication that the HD is busy. Sometimes you get the impression that the OS has stalled, when it is busy processing without the benefit of a GUI visual to show you what the progress is.
Click to expand...

So the Hitachi 250GB would sound no different than my 160? In that case may as well go for the hitachi! I'm not super picky about a little hdd seek noise. Like you said, sometimes it's better that way you'll know it's doing something.... :D
 
weckart said:
My understanding is that the problems with the Samsung were solved with a firmware update, if required, which unfortunately seems to require Windows to install, so only a possibility with a Bootcamp setup.
Click to expand...

You don't need Windows.

I didn't try it personally (my Samsung 250 GB had already the actual firmware) but several users in a German-language forum are reporting that it works fine:

1. Go to
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/faqView.do?b2b_bbs_msg_id=131.0
and download M5S80_iso.zip

2. Unzip (expand)
(BTW: I've tried that. My MBP unzips automatically and mounts the file after download. Unmount it. There should be a M5S80.iso on your desktop or where ever you've saved it)

3. Burn a CD with that iso file
(Right-click on it and open it with hard disk utility, select the file in the list and click the burn icon at the top)

4. Boot from that CD (the Samsung drive should be inside your Mac as your system disk):
Hold the c key when your Mac starts up (look in the manual for details)

5. The firmware update will run automatic

6. Shut down your Mac then

7. Boot from your system disk

8. Firmware should show up as HS100-08 in System Profiler/Hardware/Serial-ATA

The drive (please see my sig) is working very fine in my MBP since months. It was recommended and built-in by the local Apple Service Center. It is very fast, silent and reliable. The left palm rest is cooler than with the original Fujitsu 120 GB drive.
 
dukebound85 said:
im leaning towards the hitachi 200gb 72k

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...80+1035907918+130971534+1309722571&name=200GB

all good reviews
Click to expand...

I wasn't considering the 200GB version but after seeing the reviews I giving it some thought. Is the speed from 5400 to 7200 that noticeable? How is this going to benefit me?

S2NINJA said:
Personally, i'm waiting on seagates momentus 5400.4 250gb before i make any decisions.
Click to expand...

Anyone know when the Seagate one is comin out? I'd prefer Seagate also.

Habakuk said:
You don't need Windows.

I didn't try it personally (my Samsung 250 GB ....
Click to expand...

I'd rather not go through that trouble.
 
SamIchi said:
Anyone know when the Seagate one is comin out? I'd prefer Seagate also.
Click to expand...

They were announced in September this year, but we probably won't be able to get our hands on them until late 2007 or early 2008 i suspect... supposed to be "fall 07 though"
 
I have the WD 250gb. Both of them are good drives, but I wanted more storage space for logic and other huge programs. The drive is working great for me, easy to install, and its very quiet.
 
mtwiford said:
I have the WD 250gb. Both of them are good drives, but I wanted more storage space for logic and other huge programs. The drive is working great for me, easy to install, and its very quiet.
Click to expand...

That's good to hear, Ordered mine this morning. Price came to $163 after tax and shipping, which sucks for tax and shipping but still a great deal. Now I won't have to go through my monthly clean out and I'll have my whole iTunes Library on one drive :D
 
Thanks... now I'm out $150.... you just had to tell me there was such a deal, and then I had to go buy it. No really, thanks I've been eyeing one of these!
 
dukebound85 said:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8478774&type=product&id=1185267959037

yep onsale for 20% in stores and online (via link above). pushed it over the hitachi for me as the hitcahi is about 200 for the 200 7.2k
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for the link dude! I had just barely ordered this same drive at NewEgg for $179 when I saw your post, so I quickly cancelled the order and ran over to BestBuy and bought it for $150. If you're ever in the Kansas City area I owe you lunch for saving me $30.
 
Looks like a lot of HD upgrades this week. :)

I just ordered the Hitachi 200GB 7200RPM from Newegg. Should have it by Tuesday.

(Upgrade from factory 160 on C2D MPB 17")
 
I'll be purchasing the 5400RPM WD Scorpio 250GB next week (About 90 quid from eBuyer if any Brits wanted to find it cheap!) but was a little worried about reports of a faint 'clicking' noise slightly audible when working. I'll go for it anyway though, can't be bothered with cloning the drive and everything so I'll pay someone else to replace my new MBP's hard drive :D
 
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