Macbook, Leopard, new HDD

clv101 · 17 Oct 2007 at 09:39

I bought a MacBook 2GHz, 2GB, 80GB in Dec 2006. I’d like to upgrade to Leopard and also increase the size of the HDD. I’d like to use the 80GB in a USB2 caddy as a portable device and install Leopard on a new drive.

So questions:

Does the upgrade go on a new drive just fine?
Can someone recommend the replacement drive, I’m looking for a 7200rpm 160GB+ model.
Can someone recommend a decent USB2 caddy for the old drive?

Thanks!

FreeStream · 17 Oct 2007 at 09:45

Either of the 200Gb 7200RPM drives will work.

Lucky you can install it!

I can't in my MBP (when it comes lol)

And then any USB2 caddy will be fine!

clv101 · 17 Oct 2007 at 09:58

Great, so either of these:

Seagate Momentus 7200.2 G-Force 200GB 7200RPM SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (ST9200420ASG)

Hitachi Travelstar 7K200 200GB 7200RPM SATA 16MB Cache - OEM (0A50940)

The Hitachi has more cache... which one runs cooler? Which is better? I'm I likely to notice any reduced battery life with these over the current 5400rpm 80GB? I'm really after the extra space, but will this upgrade have much impact on performance?

J1234 · 17 Oct 2007 at 10:06

Aparantley it doesn't eat the battery like people think it will. So you should be fine.

The Seagate has the G-Force thing that stops the HDD spinning if it's dropped iirc, but the Hitachi has more cache. They both have their advantages.

Mr_White · 17 Oct 2007 at 11:48

Justin said:
The Seagate has the G-Force thing that stops the HDD spinning if it's dropped iirc, but the Hitachi has more cache. They both have their advantages.

The MacBook already does that as standard, you don't need a special drive.

So go with the Hitachi.

J1234 · 17 Oct 2007 at 11:52

Ahh, thought it was just the MacBook Pro that had the motion sensors.

WotDa · 17 Oct 2007 at 12:03

Justin said:
Ahh, thought it was just the MacBook Pro that had the motion sensors.

Same.

Pew pew lightsabers!

Mr_White · 17 Oct 2007 at 12:16

Nope, the MacBook has them as well.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300781

J1234 · 17 Oct 2007 at 12:32

And the PowerBooks and iBooks.

Ender · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:00

yup, can confirm that the macbook has the motion sensor's

clv101 · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:42

Okay - I'm going to go for the 160GB 7K200. The Storage Review report on that drive is great!

Big-Mac-Please · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:48

How many actual gigabytes is a 160gb hard drive?

J1234 · 17 Oct 2007 at 18:00

Big-Mac-Please said:
How many actual gigabytes is a 160gb hard drive?

149Gb.

FreeStream · 17 Oct 2007 at 18:43

clv101 said:
Okay - I'm going to go for the 160GB 7K200. The Storage Review report on that drive is great!

NOOOOOOO

I have that one in my MBP

Get the 200 GET THE 200!!!

clv101 · 17 Oct 2007 at 19:00

The cost per GB is pretty much the same ~60p and I can't see the extra 40Gb really being worth an extra £24. The 160GB is already loads more than the 80GB in there atm.

Spyhop · 17 Oct 2007 at 20:02

The Hitachi 7K200 range are the best, and of those, the 100GB and 200GB models have the highest speed because they have slightly higher data density