SSD or HDD?

Del Lardo · 14-12-2011, 21:42

Looks like the HDD on my 2009 MacBook Pro is on the way out so need to replace it sooner rather than later.

Currently have 320GB HDD so been looking at options today.

A 7200rpm 320GB is about £80 and 500GB is £100 with a 120GB SSD at £120. Currently use about 200GB of existing drive though I could easily get that below 100GB by removing music that is only on there from when i had an iPhone.

I really like the idea of the extra speed of an SSD and am contemplating swapping out the DVD drive for a new HDD once the prices come back down, I'm also not keen on the idea of paying twice what I would have paid for the HDD a few months back which all points towards SSD.

Are there any disadvantages that I've not considered and any that I should look at/avoid? and has anyone tried the DVD -> HDD conversion on a MBP?

Will · 15-12-2011, 09:51

No idea as my l33tness for IT hardware is no longer what it used to be. But the SSD & Laptop combination does work very well if you're happy to lose out on drive space. Certainly the SSD windows PCs I've used have been rather impressive in terms of performance.

leowyatt · 15-12-2011, 10:56

If you can afford an SSD then SSD all the way. I have it in my air and it is very quick

Garp · 15-12-2011, 20:29

If you need the storage space a reasonable alternative might be one of the hybrid drives:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5160/s...rid-hdd-review

Del Lardo · 17-12-2011, 00:17

I wanted to pop in a spare disk from a Windows machine and restore from Time Machine. The physical transfer itself is simple enough (having done it 4 times already tonight) but when I boot the Lion DVD the disk is either locked or not an option for Time Machine or fresh install. I've tried formatting and partitioning in OSX Disk Utility but it fails with a range of weird messages.

So far I have tried the following.....

Done a complete low level format of the disk removing all partitions and the MBR, when I boot from the Lion DVD I try the following with bugger all success......

1. Click on Restore from Time Machine and follow the guide. I can see the Time Machine restore on external disk but not the internal disk.

2. Click on Reinstall OSX, follow the guide but I can not see the internal disk (I can see the Backup disk).

3. Load disk utility. I can see the disk.
a. I select 1 partition, GUID partition table and Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Disk unmounts - Create the partition table - Creating the partition map - Error Message "POSIX reports: The operation couldn't be completed. I/O error"
b. Erase Tab - Select erase (Mac OS Extended (Journaled))
Error message (Disk is not formatted - Click OK) - Unmounting Disk - Error message "Wiping Volume data to prevent future accidental probing failure).

Prior to the low level format I was able to successfully install Ubuntu and the disk was running Windows fine on another machine a couple of days back so I don't think it's a hardware fault.

HELP!!!

14-12-2011, 21:42	#1
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	SSD or HDD? Looks like the HDD on my 2009 MacBook Pro is on the way out so need to replace it sooner rather than later. Currently have 320GB HDD so been looking at options today. A 7200rpm 320GB is about £80 and 500GB is £100 with a 120GB SSD at £120. Currently use about 200GB of existing drive though I could easily get that below 100GB by removing music that is only on there from when i had an iPhone. I really like the idea of the extra speed of an SSD and am contemplating swapping out the DVD drive for a new HDD once the prices come back down, I'm also not keen on the idea of paying twice what I would have paid for the HDD a few months back which all points towards SSD. Are there any disadvantages that I've not considered and any that I should look at/avoid? and has anyone tried the DVD -> HDD conversion on a MBP?

15-12-2011, 09:51	#2
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	No idea as my l33tness for IT hardware is no longer what it used to be. But the SSD & Laptop combination does work very well if you're happy to lose out on drive space. Certainly the SSD windows PCs I've used have been rather impressive in terms of performance. __________________ *No No!*

15-12-2011, 10:56	#3
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	If you can afford an SSD then SSD all the way. I have it in my air and it is very quick __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

15-12-2011, 20:29	#4
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	If you need the storage space a reasonable alternative might be one of the hybrid drives: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5160/s...rid-hdd-review __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

17-12-2011, 00:17	#5
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	I wanted to pop in a spare disk from a Windows machine and restore from Time Machine. The physical transfer itself is simple enough (having done it 4 times already tonight) but when I boot the Lion DVD the disk is either locked or not an option for Time Machine or fresh install. I've tried formatting and partitioning in OSX Disk Utility but it fails with a range of weird messages. So far I have tried the following..... Done a complete low level format of the disk removing all partitions and the MBR, when I boot from the Lion DVD I try the following with bugger all success...... 1. Click on Restore from Time Machine and follow the guide. I can see the Time Machine restore on external disk but not the internal disk. 2. Click on Reinstall OSX, follow the guide but I can not see the internal disk (I can see the Backup disk). 3. Load disk utility. I can see the disk. a. I select 1 partition, GUID partition table and Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Disk unmounts - Create the partition table - Creating the partition map - Error Message "POSIX reports: The operation couldn't be completed. I/O error" b. Erase Tab - Select erase (Mac OS Extended (Journaled)) Error message (Disk is not formatted - Click OK) - Unmounting Disk - Error message "Wiping Volume data to prevent future accidental probing failure). Prior to the low level format I was able to successfully install Ubuntu and the disk was running Windows fine on another machine a couple of days back so I don't think it's a hardware fault. HELP!!!