MacBook Pro - Macbook Pro Hard Drive.

iPolly · iPolly #1 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 11:35 AM

I am looking to upgrade my MBP's 80gb HD. Is it recomended to get an internal or external hard drive?

Is there a limit (external) to the size the computer is capable of running?

psycht · psycht #2 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 12:40 PM

the easy out would be to get an external (firewaire or usb2.0). Upgrading to a larger internal might be cheaper, but time = money and more time spent used with upgrading & reinstalling your OS & apps.

iPolly · iPolly #3 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 01:24 PM

Is there any speed difference between internal and external, especially through USB?

sixslinger · sixslinger #4 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 05:02 PM

yes...you will lose speed with a usb 2.0 external hard drive, vs. internal. I have an external drive for my MBP, and I have found it very inconvenient for me personally. I will probably swap out the internal at some point.......i do not recommend an external hard drive with a laptop, but that's just me.

mynameis · mynameis #5 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixslinger

you will lose speed with a usb 2.0 external hard drive, vs. internal.

How do you figure?

surfwax95 · surfwax95 #6 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 05:56 PM

MBPs use SATA internal drives. SATA is much, much faster than USB 2.0.

SATA = 1.5Gb/second

USB 2.0 = 480Mb/second maximum

mynameis · mynameis #7 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfwax95

MBPs use SATA internal drives. SATA is much, much faster than USB 2.0.

SATA = 1.5Gb/second

USB 2.0 = 480Mb/second maximum

That is true, but are you sure that is the bottleneck?

iPolly · iPolly #8 (**permalink**)

08-21-2006, 10:58 PM

Is there any way to swap the internal had drive wthout voiding your warranty or applecare?

ShillAT · ShillAT #9 (**permalink**)

08-22-2006, 12:01 AM

no, i don't think so. Plus installing a new HD is supposed to be kinda a pain in the neck.

sixslinger · sixslinger #10 (**permalink**)

08-22-2006, 07:20 AM

It does void the warranty, but the actual installation isnt too bad of a job, if youve ever taken apart an apple portable. What's frustrating for me is getting by computer back the way I want it after the drive switch!!

iPolly · iPolly #11 (**permalink**)

08-22-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

What's frustrating for me is getting by computer back the way I want it after the drive switch!!

Do you mean files and such or the fittings of the case?

sixslinger · sixslinger #12 (**permalink**)

08-22-2006, 04:29 PM

I meant files.....I have ripped apart an ibook and a couple of powerbooks, and they always go back together just perfectly, so no qualms there

avcabob · avcabob #13 (**permalink**)

08-22-2006, 05:23 PM

I upgraded the internal drive in my old powerbook and instead of reinstalling OS X and copying everything back over, I put the old drive in an external enclosure, booted off the setup disk, went to disk utility, restore tab. I selected the new drive as the destination drive, and the old one as the source. It took a little while to copy everything over, but once it was done, I rebooted and it started up as if i hadn't done anything at all. Only difference was 40 more gig's of free space. disk utility didn't even care that the 2 drives were different sizes.

iPolly · iPolly #14 (**permalink**)

08-23-2006, 12:31 PM

So I guess the question is; Is it worth upgrading the hard drive if it means voiding the warrenty?

sixslinger · sixslinger #15 (**permalink**)

08-23-2006, 08:47 PM

it's all a matter of preference, but in my opinion...NO. I love my MBP to death, and have had no problems whatsoever, but they just havent been out long enough to see if any long-term problems might arise.....always nice to know that Apple will fix it if it breaks...

iPolly #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 20, 2006 Posts: 42	08-21-2006, 11:35 AM I am looking to upgrade my MBP's 80gb HD. Is it recomended to get an internal or external hard drive? Is there a limit (external) to the size the computer is capable of running? Last edited by iPolly; 08-21-2006 at 11:48 AM. Reason: Forgot to mention something.
	QUOTE Thanks

surfwax95 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 27, 2005 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 2,410 Mac Specs: 15" Powerbook G4 • 24" iMac • iPhone 3Gs	08-21-2006, 05:56 PM MBPs use SATA internal drives. SATA is much, much faster than USB 2.0. SATA = 1.5Gb/second USB 2.0 = 480Mb/second maximum I try to Command+Shift+/ when I can. They're - Their - There \| Two - Too - To \| You're - Your \| MAC - Mac I was on the M-F honor roll for October, 2006.
	QUOTE Thanks

ShillAT #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 20, 2006 Location: Bay Area Posts: 340 Mac Specs: Mac Book Pro, 1.83 GHz, 1.5 gigs RAM, 80 GB, AND NO HEAT ISSUES!!	08-22-2006, 12:01 AM no, i don't think so. Plus installing a new HD is supposed to be kinda a pain in the neck. "You can play your electric guitar but it ain’t gonna change the world You can get all emotional on me and cry like a little girl" -Electric Six- Rock 'n Roll Evacuation- Señor Smoke
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hard Drive Questions	Yon Yonson	Apple Notebooks	1	07-22-2006 04:57 PM
MacBook Pro doesn't recognize optical drive	jsnschmasn	Apple Notebooks	2	06-20-2006 10:52 AM
Macbook Pro 17" is actually cheaper than 15"	imaging	Apple Notebooks	5	06-04-2006 03:01 AM
Incredible Shrinking Hard Drive	LittleBigGuy	OS X - Operating System	5	04-14-2005 11:52 PM
1st Gen iMac Hard Drive Replacement Problem	DakRoland	Apple Desktops	2	11-19-2004 05:48 PM

MacBook Pro - Macbook Pro Hard Drive.

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

psycht #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 25, 2006 Posts: 23	08-21-2006, 12:40 PM the easy out would be to get an external (firewaire or usb2.0). Upgrading to a larger internal might be cheaper, but time = money and more time spent used with upgrading & reinstalling your OS & apps.
	QUOTE Thanks

sixslinger #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 240 Mac Specs: 2.0 GHz Macbook Pro, 1.5 GB RAM.....1.83 GHz Macbook 1 GB RAM	08-21-2006, 05:02 PM yes...you will lose speed with a usb 2.0 external hard drive, vs. internal. I have an external drive for my MBP, and I have found it very inconvenient for me personally. I will probably swap out the internal at some point.......i do not recommend an external hard drive with a laptop, but that's just me.
	QUOTE Thanks

iPolly #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 20, 2006 Posts: 42	08-21-2006, 10:58 PM Is there any way to swap the internal had drive wthout voiding your warranty or applecare?
	QUOTE Thanks

sixslinger #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 240 Mac Specs: 2.0 GHz Macbook Pro, 1.5 GB RAM.....1.83 GHz Macbook 1 GB RAM	08-22-2006, 07:20 AM It does void the warranty, but the actual installation isnt too bad of a job, if youve ever taken apart an apple portable. What's frustrating for me is getting by computer back the way I want it after the drive switch!!
	QUOTE Thanks

sixslinger #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 240 Mac Specs: 2.0 GHz Macbook Pro, 1.5 GB RAM.....1.83 GHz Macbook 1 GB RAM	08-22-2006, 04:29 PM I meant files.....I have ripped apart an ibook and a couple of powerbooks, and they always go back together just perfectly, so no qualms there
	QUOTE Thanks

avcabob #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 21, 2004 Posts: 199 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 15" 2.16Ghz Core Duo 1GB Ram 80GB	08-22-2006, 05:23 PM I upgraded the internal drive in my old powerbook and instead of reinstalling OS X and copying everything back over, I put the old drive in an external enclosure, booted off the setup disk, went to disk utility, restore tab. I selected the new drive as the destination drive, and the old one as the source. It took a little while to copy everything over, but once it was done, I rebooted and it started up as if i hadn't done anything at all. Only difference was 40 more gig's of free space. disk utility didn't even care that the 2 drives were different sizes.
	QUOTE Thanks

iPolly #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 20, 2006 Posts: 42	08-23-2006, 12:31 PM So I guess the question is; Is it worth upgrading the hard drive if it means voiding the warrenty?
	QUOTE Thanks

sixslinger #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 240 Mac Specs: 2.0 GHz Macbook Pro, 1.5 GB RAM.....1.83 GHz Macbook 1 GB RAM	08-23-2006, 08:47 PM it's all a matter of preference, but in my opinion...NO. I love my MBP to death, and have had no problems whatsoever, but they just havent been out long enough to see if any long-term problems might arise.....always nice to know that Apple will fix it if it breaks...
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)