New Laptop HDD

SidewinderINC · 01-10-2009, 17:20

The HDD in my macbook is starting to make grinding noises when the laptop is sitting on the table - when held at an angle it seems to stop which is making me think that it's on the way out.

I'm going to buy a new one tonight, and think I know the one I'm after.

The WD Scorpio Black 320GB at £65

Not many places seem to stock it anymore, Scan don't have any, OcUK don't have any, Novatech are on "order on purchase", dabs don't have any.

Play.com have some, but I'm now wary as to why nobody else seems to have stock - are they being phased out?

I can get the Scorpio Blue 500GB for £5 cheaper, but not sure how much faster 7200rpm is in read/write than 5400rpm and whether it's worth the extra for the speed.

Any ideas?

Jingo · 01-10-2009, 19:01

If 7200rpm is available at reasonable extra cost, I'd certainly recommend it. I found the difference to be staggering!

My laptop HDD is IDE and made the doughnut mistake of ordering SATA2 and wondered why the ports didn't 'look right' after opening!

Prices sound reasonable to me

SidewinderINC · 01-10-2009, 19:14

hahaha, too late Jingo

Got a reply on OcUK saying that the 7200 drives aren't that much faster than the 5400 and if you can get stupid amounts more space for cheaper then it's worth it.

Mark · 01-10-2009, 21:42

It used to be the case (I'm talking about a year ago) that 7200 laptop drives were very noticeably faster - though to be fair very few people hammer drives like I do. Comes with the job. WD rather closed the gap with their Green drives though so it's probably less of an issue than it was. It's also fair to say that 7200 drives generate more heat, which might be an issue if your laptop wasn't designed for them.

Chuckles · 01-10-2009, 22:03

I'd say that 7200 are a fair bit quicker.

I had the stock 160GB 5400 RPM drive for my macbook and swapped it for a 320GB 7200 RPM one and definitely noticed a speed increase in the boot and loading some apps.

I have a feeling you are still on Tiger, but on Leopard/SL, Time Machine is awesome for this. You just switch the hard drives, boot from the CD (but not install) and select restore from Time Machine backup.

I think I got my 320GB from Dabs if that helps. It was about 6 months ago and I don't think it was over £70.

Edit : As you said Dabs were out of stock in your first post, I'm guessing it doesn't help

Chuckles · 01-10-2009, 22:05

If you can stretch a bit, Scan have a 500GB 7200 one in stock for £83

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500-G...ache-11-ms-NCQ

SidewinderINC · 01-10-2009, 22:07

Read my first line to Jingo

I've already bought the 500gb WD green.

Chuckles · 01-10-2009, 22:10

Screw it all and buy some new shiny shiny MBP

SidewinderINC · 01-10-2009, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckles

Screw it all and buy some new shiny shiny MBP

This one is plenty fast most of the time, think it just needs a reformat and a working hard drive

It's got another year/gen in it yet, then it'll get "dropped" down the stairs.

Jingo · 01-10-2009, 22:17

BD > OCUK

hahaha = glad you're sorted and happy

01-10-2009, 17:20	#1
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	New Laptop HDD The HDD in my macbook is starting to make grinding noises when the laptop is sitting on the table - when held at an angle it seems to stop which is making me think that it's on the way out. I'm going to buy a new one tonight, and think I know the one I'm after. The WD Scorpio Black 320GB at £65 Not many places seem to stock it anymore, Scan don't have any, OcUK don't have any, Novatech are on "order on purchase", dabs don't have any. Play.com have some, but I'm now wary as to why nobody else seems to have stock - are they being phased out? I can get the Scorpio Blue 500GB for £5 cheaper, but not sure how much faster 7200rpm is in read/write than 5400rpm and whether it's worth the extra for the speed. Any ideas? __________________ No Sig.

01-10-2009, 19:01	#2
Jingo Smother me in chocolate and eat flapjacks with it! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Somerset Posts: 1,854	If 7200rpm is available at reasonable extra cost, I'd certainly recommend it. I found the difference to be staggering! My laptop HDD is IDE and made the doughnut mistake of ordering SATA2 and wondered why the ports didn't 'look right' after opening! Prices sound reasonable to me __________________

01-10-2009, 19:14	#3
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	hahaha, too late Jingo Got a reply on OcUK saying that the 7200 drives aren't that much faster than the 5400 and if you can get stupid amounts more space for cheaper then it's worth it. __________________ No Sig.

01-10-2009, 22:03	#5
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	I'd say that 7200 are a fair bit quicker. I had the stock 160GB 5400 RPM drive for my macbook and swapped it for a 320GB 7200 RPM one and definitely noticed a speed increase in the boot and loading some apps. I have a feeling you are still on Tiger, but on Leopard/SL, Time Machine is awesome for this. You just switch the hard drives, boot from the CD (but not install) and select restore from Time Machine backup. I think I got my 320GB from Dabs if that helps. It was about 6 months ago and I don't think it was over £70. Edit : As you said Dabs were out of stock in your first post, I'm guessing it doesn't help __________________

01-10-2009, 22:05	#6
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	If you can stretch a bit, Scan have a 500GB 7200 one in stock for £83 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500-G...ache-11-ms-NCQ __________________

01-10-2009, 21:42	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	It used to be the case (I'm talking about a year ago) that 7200 laptop drives were very noticeably faster - though to be fair very few people hammer drives like I do. Comes with the job. WD rather closed the gap with their Green drives though so it's probably less of an issue than it was. It's also fair to say that 7200 drives generate more heat, which might be an issue if your laptop wasn't designed for them.

01-10-2009, 22:07	#7
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Read my first line to Jingo I've already bought the 500gb WD green. __________________ No Sig.

01-10-2009, 22:10	#8
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	Screw it all and buy some new shiny shiny MBP __________________

01-10-2009, 22:17	#10
Jingo Smother me in chocolate and eat flapjacks with it! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Somerset Posts: 1,854	BD > OCUK hahaha = glad you're sorted and happy __________________