Replacing a failed MacBook Hard Drive

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I just found out my MacBook HD just died. Could I just buy an external hard drive and use that? or do I need to buy an internal one.
 

robduckyworth


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it would be slower to run off an external, you'd be better off going for an internal for higher data transfer rates.
 

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I just found out my MacBook HD just died. Could I just buy an external hard drive and use that? or do I need to buy an internal one.

Just replace the internal...it's very easy.

- Nick
 
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ok, is there a company you would recommend? looking at 250 GB or 320 GB with 5400 rpm.
 

pigoo3

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ok, is there a company you would recommend? looking at 250 GB or 320 GB with 5400 rpm.

These guys are pretty good:

OWC

...I just ordered some stuff from them on Tuesday.

- Nick
 

robduckyworth


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thats the drive i have, the momentus. its top notch.
 
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ended up ordering the 320 GB seagate momentus 5400 rpm. i dont do any work on my macbook that 7200 rpm would make a difference. and i read that a higher rpm has a higher chance of frying, is this true?
 
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ended up ordering the 320 GB seagate momentus 5400 rpm. i dont do any work on my macbook that 7200 rpm would make a difference. and i read that a higher rpm has a higher chance of frying, is this true?

A hard drive could fail without warning and the current crop of 7200 will be just as reliable as the 5400 you might take a slight hit on the battery but the performance increase would probably out weigh it.
 

pigoo3

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ended up ordering the 320 GB seagate momentus 5400 rpm. i dont do any work on my macbook that 7200 rpm would make a difference. and i read that a higher rpm has a higher chance of frying, is this true?

If the small price difference wasn't a concern...I would have gone with the 7200 as well.

As "osxx" mentioned...I really wouldn't have any durability concerns regarding 7200rpm drives. It's not like they're new/untested technology...they've been around a while.:)

- Nick
 

robduckyworth


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i havent seen a noticeable drop in battery at all since i swapped mine out.
 
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I think it's funny that people worry so much about adding more RAM to get a bump in performance, yet no one ever asks if it's worth it to upgrade their drive--which is actually the upgrade that would give them the greater boost.
 

CrimsonRequiem


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I think it's funny that people worry so much about adding more RAM to get a bump in performance, yet no one ever asks if it's worth it to upgrade their drive--which is actually the upgrade that would give them the greater boost.

Depends what you are doing with your machine actually. If you need to have a lot of space, access files and install stuff quickly then yes a faster HDD would be ideal. More ram helps with multi-tasking, and applications benefit as well (Less beach balling).
 

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