SSD with less GB or HDD with more GB?

jeremy5352 · jeremy5352 #1 (**permalink**)

02-27-2012, 03:42 PM

I'm getting a Macbook Pro 2.8 GHZ this weekend and am trying to decide b/w the standard 750 GB HDD or a 128 GB SDD? An SDD is obviously better and faster when compared to the same GB HDD but is it still better if it's 600 less GB? I'm looking for fast processing speed/start up/file reading.

Thanks.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #2 (**permalink**)

02-27-2012, 03:52 PM

G'day and welcome to the forums.

The answer is yes the SSD is worth it. You could always mount a larger platter drive in the optical bay or use an external drive for iTunes etc.

Shootist · Shootist #3 (**permalink**)

02-27-2012, 06:04 PM

I just removed the SSD I had in my 15" MBP and installed a 500GB Seagate Momentus XT drive. I needed the space, even though I have a second hard drive in the system.

I'd buy it with the stock 750GB spinning drive and then either replace that with a SSD or the Seagate 750GB Momentus XT drive. these Seagate drives have internal flash memory that make them faster the normal HDD but not as fast as SSDs. Im' finding it a good trade. More space and almost the same speed.

I certainly would not order a SSD from Apple with the purchase of the computer. Apple want way to much money for any of there offered upgrades.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #4 (**permalink**)

02-27-2012, 09:45 PM

Many reports of failures with Momentus Hybrids. Ask staff Bobtomay who has offered to sell his unit cheap.

Stretch · Stretch #5 (**permalink**)

02-27-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryb2448

G'day and welcome to the forums.

The answer is yes the SSD is worth it. You could always mount a larger platter drive in the optical bay or use an external drive for iTunes etc.

I'd mount the SSD in the optical bay, and put the HDD in the hard drive slot. Reason being is the 2.5in bay is cushioned and the optical bay isn't.

acello27 · acello27 #6 (**permalink**)

02-28-2012, 03:21 PM

I put a 256 gig SSD in my 13" MBP and love it. It was expensive though.
I also don't need too much space.

jbrittmartin · jbrittmartin #7 (**permalink**)

02-28-2012, 04:24 PM

Looks like I can get a 256GB SSD from Crucial for around $360.

I've dealt with them before and had good experiences.

Anybody know of cheaper options?

IvanLasston · IvanLasston #8 (**permalink**)

02-28-2012, 05:35 PM

There were issues with some of the first releases of the Momentus XT - but I've had a Momentus XT now in 2 computers since 2009 without a problem. I do like the speed/size of the thing. Most read/open operations are fast - like boot, opening frequently used programs, etc. Not as fast to write to the disk.

It is fairly easy to replace hard drives - and I went to OWC got a drive kit that came with a drive and an external enclosure for the drive I was taking out. It also came with all the tools I needed to swap the drives.

littlecody8 · littlecody8 #9 (**permalink**)

03-23-2012, 07:47 PM

Sorry to bring this back up but I was thinking about switching to a SSD. Can someone tell me the advantages though? I have a Western Digital Scorpio Black 750GB 7200rpm hard drive right now. Would a SSD really be much faster?

theOneKrishna · theOneKrishna #10 (**permalink**)

03-23-2012, 08:21 PM

If you are an absolutely bonafide tech aware than you know that the failure rate and data loss on SSD is comparable and unless you really can tell nanoseconds apart then speed all the way to your bank...

theOneKrishna · theOneKrishna #11 (**permalink**)

03-23-2012, 08:22 PM

I can be patient and wait until SSD becomes the only way...I just bought the last generation of SATA included MBP..

littlecody8 · littlecody8 #12 (**permalink**)

03-23-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theOneKrishna

If you are an absolutely bonafide tech aware than you know that the failure rate and data loss on SSD is comparable and unless you really can tell nanoseconds apart then speed all the way to your bank...

lol this is exactly what I figured. I just switched to the 7200rpm hdd from a 5400rpm and don't notice a big difference.

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #13 (**permalink**)

03-23-2012, 10:03 PM

I personally am fine with a high capacity 7200rpm drive. Dont need the massive speed for what I do, and I like to have all my music/video on the laptop itself, without having to plug in annoying externals.

quin · quin #14 (**permalink**)

03-25-2012, 02:20 PM

I had a 7200 rpm HDD. Pretty good drive. But the SSD that I had just put in more than a month ago is pretty darn fast. Reading and writing much faster. Installing apps, preview files, etc. are a lot faster. No moving parts so it's quiet. Lower heat. My fan rarely kicks on. Lower storage space but SSD is the way to go especially for a notebook.

PastelPrincess · PastelPrincess #15 (**permalink**)

03-25-2012, 05:02 PM

Either get a hybrid harddrive or a 7200 rpm 750gb harddrive. The SSD atm are to expensive for the space they have. In a few years they will definitely be worth it, but atm in my opinion they just aren't.

harryb2448 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-27-2012, 03:52 PM G'day and welcome to the forums. The answer is yes the SSD is worth it. You could always mount a larger platter drive in the optical bay or use an external drive for iTunes etc. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,095 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	02-27-2012, 09:45 PM Many reports of failures with Momentus Hybrids. Ask staff Bobtomay who has offered to sell his unit cheap. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

robduckyworth #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	03-23-2012, 10:03 PM I personally am fine with a high capacity 7200rpm drive. Dont need the massive speed for what I do, and I like to have all my music/video on the laptop itself, without having to plug in annoying externals. If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
	QUOTE Thanks

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jeremy5352 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2012 Posts: 1	02-27-2012, 03:42 PM I'm getting a Macbook Pro 2.8 GHZ this weekend and am trying to decide b/w the standard 750 GB HDD or a 128 GB SDD? An SDD is obviously better and faster when compared to the same GB HDD but is it still better if it's 600 less GB? I'm looking for fast processing speed/start up/file reading. Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

acello27 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 25, 2011 Posts: 11	02-28-2012, 03:21 PM I put a 256 gig SSD in my 13" MBP and love it. It was expensive though. I also don't need too much space.
	QUOTE Thanks

jbrittmartin #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 19, 2010 Posts: 56	02-28-2012, 04:24 PM Looks like I can get a 256GB SSD from Crucial for around $360. I've dealt with them before and had good experiences. Anybody know of cheaper options?
	QUOTE Thanks

IvanLasston #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 26, 2010 Location: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado Posts: 2,116 Mac Specs: 1.8 GHz i7 MBA 11" OSX 10.8.2	02-28-2012, 05:35 PM There were issues with some of the first releases of the Momentus XT - but I've had a Momentus XT now in 2 computers since 2009 without a problem. I do like the speed/size of the thing. Most read/open operations are fast - like boot, opening frequently used programs, etc. Not as fast to write to the disk. It is fairly easy to replace hard drives - and I went to OWC got a drive kit that came with a drive and an external enclosure for the drive I was taking out. It also came with all the tools I needed to swap the drives.
	QUOTE Thanks

littlecody8 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 10, 2011 Location: Vegas Posts: 94 Mac Specs: 15" MacBook Pro 2.2GHz i7 Quad Core 16GB 240GB 6G SSD+750GB HDD Optibay External USB SuperDrive	03-23-2012, 07:47 PM Sorry to bring this back up but I was thinking about switching to a SSD. Can someone tell me the advantages though? I have a Western Digital Scorpio Black 750GB 7200rpm hard drive right now. Would a SSD really be much faster?
	QUOTE Thanks

theOneKrishna #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2009 Location: Nanuet, NewYork and Lublin Poland Posts: 54 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2.2ghz i7 quadcore 8gbRAM 750gbHD 1.0gbVRAM Radeon 6570M iPod Touch 4G 32gb	03-23-2012, 08:21 PM If you are an absolutely bonafide tech aware than you know that the failure rate and data loss on SSD is comparable and unless you really can tell nanoseconds apart then speed all the way to your bank...
	QUOTE Thanks

theOneKrishna #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2009 Location: Nanuet, NewYork and Lublin Poland Posts: 54 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2.2ghz i7 quadcore 8gbRAM 750gbHD 1.0gbVRAM Radeon 6570M iPod Touch 4G 32gb	03-23-2012, 08:22 PM I can be patient and wait until SSD becomes the only way...I just bought the last generation of SATA included MBP..
	QUOTE Thanks

quin #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 19, 2009 Posts: 426 Mac Specs: MBP 13, 2.4, 8GB, 120GB SSD OCZ	03-25-2012, 02:20 PM I had a 7200 rpm HDD. Pretty good drive. But the SSD that I had just put in more than a month ago is pretty darn fast. Reading and writing much faster. Installing apps, preview files, etc. are a lot faster. No moving parts so it's quiet. Lower heat. My fan rarely kicks on. Lower storage space but SSD is the way to go especially for a notebook.
	QUOTE Thanks

PastelPrincess #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 23, 2012 Posts: 12	03-25-2012, 05:02 PM Either get a hybrid harddrive or a 7200 rpm 750gb harddrive. The SSD atm are to expensive for the space they have. In a few years they will definitely be worth it, but atm in my opinion they just aren't.
	QUOTE Thanks

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