What Hard Drive would you recommend

[countfufu]

I have to replace my hard drive on my macbook pro, early 2011, running OS X 10.9.4 [about 320 GB]and I would like to know what kind of hard drive I should replace it with.

I ususally use it for :

-browsing
-download large files
-emulator games, max 4GB for large games
-adobe suite: I'm learning to use it. As I go through the exercise files and my own projects I will have a lot of audio and visual files to keep
-basically a lot of CPU usage

What should I look for in a hard drive? HDD or SSD? Space or Speed? What other specifications should I look out for?
Are there any negative effects to putting a HD with more space than the mac was originally built with?

 

[johnodd4]

i recommend a wd black 1tb to a wd blue 2 tb they work fine with mavericks on any macbook pro

 

[countfufu]

thanks. are there any complications with putting a different brand of HD?

 

[Thymen]

If you have the money, go for SSD. Larger SSD's are expensive, but that pain is once only: the gain is in every time you use your laptop!

Thymen

 

[chscag]

I agree with member "Thymen". If you can afford a large SSD, that's the way to go.

 

[countfufu]

thank you. i have about 303 BG of files to back up and restore. If i get an SSD, let's say 256GB would it be possible to restore everything or would i have to back up 256GB of essential files with time machine and store the remaining files elsewhere?
It seems i can't own a SSD without having an extra HD to store files and programs that would have been in HDD

 

[harryb2448]

No 256GB would not be big enough. Guys are talking about a 1TB SSD or so. Ideal solution is SSD internal, Backup drive externally. You do have an external backup one assumes?


http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php...d&gclid=CK79t8_N0sACFVgAvAodvCUAiA#googlebase

 

[pm-r]

+1 vote for WD Black if you're going the HDD route.

 

[countfufu]

No 256GB would not be big enough. Guys are talking about a 1TB SSD or so. Ideal solution is SSD internal, Backup drive externally. You do have an external backup one assumes?


Crucial M550 1TB SSD [CT1024M550SSD1] - $595.00 : PC Case Gear

it's on the way. once i back up with time machine, there will be a lot of space remaining on the external disk. can i use that space for other things, or must the drive only be used for back up?