Which Hard Drive for MacBook Pro 5,5?

Hi everybody!
I bought a brand new MacBook Pro 5,5 (13,3", 2.53GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 250GB HD) from an iStore on December 2009. It was a Xmas present from me to myself. I use it mainly for music-video recording and editing with Logic Express, Final Cut X and Ampeg SVX; also have music and movies and other stuff, so I need the space AND memory. I'm not much of a gamer, but I do play some Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Tales from Monkey Island occasionally. I like developing apps for iPod/iPhone with Xcode, but I do that very seldom.
I want do upgrade RAM and HD.
RAM:
I'm going all the way for 8GB (2x4GB). I've read that the fastest that my Mac can handle is DDR3 1066GHz, so there is no point in getting DDR3 1333GHz right?
I'm going for these modules ---> http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/
Hard Drive:
I've filled up the factory 250GB drive. BTW, I have a 1TB Western Digital My Book Studio that I use for Time Machine and make a clone of my drive before any important upgrade just in case. I want to get a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive. So the question is which one of these three?:
Seagate Momentus XT ---> http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Seagate/YST9500562AS/
Seagate Momentus ---> http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Seagate/YST9500420AS/
Western Digital Scorpio Black ---> http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western%20Digital/YWD5000BEKT/
I've heard that Western Digital makes the best hard drives out there and comparing the Scorpio Black with the Momentus the $20 extra and the 3 additional years in warranty sound like a good deal to me, since they are both equivalent (500GB 16MB 7200RPM). Now, talking about the Hydrid one, 32MB is noticeable? and 4GB of NAND memory will act like more RAM or super cache memory, I guess... I've read that is good for three things:
1. Booting up: That'll be great, but since I rarely boot up more than once a day, is it necessary?
2. Load frequently used apps: Also great, but I load everything I need and keep it in another desktop while not in use. Again, necessary?
3. Better performance?: Now, that's grrreat! If that is true, then the 8GB RAM + 4GB NAND will make my Mac noticeably faster, right? Then I'll go for it.
The thing is, with non-hybrid drives I've read that all you have to do is install the OS, copy you stuff and you're good to go. On the other hand, I've read a lot of bad things about this hybrid XT drive, stuff like it's unstable, you have to install a Firmware (how do you do that before installing the drive?), and even some guy using a jumper wire (what is that) to limit the drive's speed from 3Gb/s to 1,5Gb/s!!! (how the **** do I do that? is it really necessary?) And also good things as well, that the booting time is a LOT faster and also it's very fast at loading apps.
Well, I hope you can help me!
Thank you for reading
Cheers.
Walter
MacBook Pro 5,5 (13,3") Mid 2009; 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor; 4GB (2x2GB) RAM; Factory 250GB 54000RPM HD; OS X Lion 1.7.2
iPod Touch 3rd Generation 32GB; iOS 5

Did you ever get this solved? I am having a very similar problem. I haven't tried replacing the hard drive yet. When I boot into the Recovery HD, disk utility works fine and says the HD is fine.

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I am looking to buy an external hard drive for my macbook pro urgently.
I was intending to purchase a time capsule but am really concerned with the reliability concerns of the time capsules where they stop working after 6 months to 18 months as posted on various forums.
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Advice on external hard drives for Macbook pro

I am looking to buy an external hard drive for my macbook pro urgently.
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Opinions vary and people have different experiences ...
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Internal Hard drive for macBook pro 13 inch.

Hello everybody :")
How are you? I hope that everyone is fine.
I have come today i need your opinion and your advice to me about my (HDD)
i need to buy new HD for my book pro .
Can you answer my questions and give me advice
frist i will write for you my MBP information :
MacBook Pro 13 inch - 4 GB memory - the old HD is 320 GB 5400 rpm - Processor i5 dual core .
made in 2010
* note :Almost i'm not interested in (SSD) because the price is expensive SSD to storage capacity that can i give it .
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- how I choose from among types of HDD ?
-How do I know what types are compatible with my device? Is there site or previous experience advise can help me !
What your opinion about this kind:
Seagate Momentus XT 750 GB 7200RPM
are good for my MBP ?
I care about the quality, performance and more than speed.
Thank you in advance
I hope to help me soon

Di.grad
toshiba 1.tb and 7200 RPM ?
Those are same as use by Apple in the non-retina macbook Pro, Ive got piles of them, only a Hitachi is better.
Toshiba HD are a hair noisy even by Toshiba own admission, but no big deal.
I would NEVER buy from OWC merely for the reasons that their prices are miserable.
Here you go,   $65
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-MQ01ABD100-1TB-5400-RPM-8MB-Cache-2-5-SATA-3-0Gb -s-Internal-Notebook-/121107538930?pt=US_Internal_Hard_Disk_Drives&hash=item1c32 9263f2
same as used by APPLE in their own.

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juneguz,
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PLEASE HELP me select new internal hard drive for Macbook Pro 2012 (non-retina)

Good afternoon.
I just bought a Macbook Pro 2012 (non-retina) 15 inch from a friend. I think it is running Mountain Lion (has not been upgraded to Mavericks yet), and has iLife on it. It came with the stock 500 gb 5400 rpm internal hard drive. At home, I only have the Snow Leopard OS installation Cds and a copy of iLife 2011 installation Cds. I am going to buy 16 gb of RAM from Other World Computing to install.
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2. Is a "normal" platter hard drive more reliable than a hybrid solid state drive?
3. Is there any additional driver or special software that I have to install for a hybrid solid state drive?
4. Currently there is no personal data stored on the computer. Can I just put the new hard drive in, and then insert the snow leopard install cd?
5. If I install snow leopard, can I just go to the App store and get the free upgrade to Mavericks?
6. If I want to do the "Data Doubler" option in the future and add a normal Solid State drive into my computer, will it have trouble interacting with the 1 tb hybrid solid state drive?
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PLEASE HELP !!! Thanks!
Here is the "About this Mac" Info:
Macbook Pro 15-in Mid 2012
Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,1
Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Software: OS x 10.8.5
Storage (Hard drive): APPLE HDD ST500LM012 Media, Rotational, SATA, GPT (GUID Partition Table)

1. Is a hybrid solid state drive going to need some kind of special formatting after I put it into the macbook so that I can put the operating system on it?
The boot drive, regardless of what it is, needs to be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This is standard with OS X.
2. Is a "normal" platter hard drive more reliable than a hybrid solid state drive?
There are arguments pro and con. Bottom line, SSD's and hybrid drives are still quite expensive per GB than standard hard drives. If you have the bucks and are a speed demon, go ahead.   I have better use for my money.   Standard hard drives are mechanical and may wear out over time. But even though SSDs are not mechancial, they can still go bad and ultimately they even have a limit to their write capacity. The jury is still out on this debate.
3. Is there any additional driver or special software that I have to install for a hybrid solid state drive?
No
4. Currently there is no personal data stored on the computer. Can I just put the new hard drive in, and then insert the snow leopard install cd?
You can physically put the hard drive in but probably not install Snow Leopard on this MBP.
The mid-2012 MacBookPro9,1 models came with Lion 10.7.3 (11D2097) preinstalled.   It is very unlikely you would be able to install Snow Leopard on it. Historically you cannot install a version of OS X that is earlier than the version that came with your Mac (even if you replace the hard drive).
5. If I install snow leopard, can I just go to the App store and get the free upgrade to Mavericks?
Not via Snow Leopard on this MBP. See my response to #4.
6. If I want to do the "Data Doubler" option in the future and add a normal Solid State drive into my computer, will it have trouble interacting with the 1 tb hybrid solid state drive?
No. They are completely independent of each other; they are just independent storage units (drives) and their RAM does not interact.

External Hard drive for Macbook Pro

HI Guys
I have just upgraded to a MBP from my powerbook which died loosing some data.
I work with photo's video and data and want an external drive to store all of these and also to back up my whole system for recovery.
I need some advise as to what i need as there seems to be lots of options out there.
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USB2 firewire 400/800 ethernet networked storage
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2 is networked storage via ethernet and my router going to be very slow or comparable to USB2
does anybody have experience of these
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I am looking at a 250-320GB drive size do not really need portability as anything i need to travel can go on 120gb internal drive
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I agree. I'll add my 2 cents as well
1 - I would say you cannot use both connections at the same time. USB2 is slightly faster than a Firewire 400, but Firewire 800 is the fastest, if you can find a storage device with a Firewire 800 connection (they are somewhat rare).
2 - Networked storage will work only at 1/4th the speed of Firewire 400 or USB2.
3 - I have not seen an external drive that cannot be formatted as a MAC drive. (remember one thing about formatting drives, if you have a drive that is formated in Windows NTFS format, you (to the best of my knowledge) only be able to read from it)
4 - I would imagine that you could "stream" iTunes music from a networked drive, iTunes does a great job streaming over an Airport Express. I don't think it would be a problem at all.
MBP 2.16ghz, 100gb, 1gb, 256 Mac OS X (10.4.8) Powerbook, iBook, MB and several iPods throughout the family

Portable External Hard Drive for MacBook Pro

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huge storage, low cost, high quality, very small and portable.
BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 15mm thick 2TB drive (have several of them, lots of storage in tiny package)    $100
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48    /ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1390020791&sr=8-3&keywords=toshiba+2tb
best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim perfect for use with a notebook
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s    r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
*This one is the BEST portable external HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $88
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr    _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+7 2 00+RPM
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"
Hitachi is the winner in hard drive reliability survey:
Hitachi manufacturers the safest and most reliable hard drives, according to the Storelab study. Of the hundreds of Hitachi hard drives received, not a single one had failed due to manufacturing or design errors. Adding the highest average lifespans and the best relationship between failures and market share, Hitachi can be regarded as the winner.

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I have a 17" MacBook Pro and do lots of movie editing. I need a fast external hard drive option to use. My internal is totally used up. Also need a back up drive.
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QUESTION 2: Why do so many of the SATA hard drives come without a case or enclosure?
And QUESTION 3: Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with the express card/34 and SATA external hard drives.
Thanks alot,
Jill Rand
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1. Yes, eSATA would be a good choice for an external enclosure with a SATA drive. Alternatively, you could use Firewire 800, but it's mostly a matter of choice.
2. SATA drives a primarily used in desktop machines. SATA capable enclosures have made them usable outside of desktops.
3. I can tell you from experience to get an enclosure with a good chipset. It makes all the difference in the world. Oxford is very good for firewire. Cypress AT2+ and Prolific 3507 are excellent for USB 2.0.
I have a case with the new Oxford 924 chipset (eSATA, FW 800, FW 400 & USB 2.0) and couldn't be any happier. An added bonus; it acknowledges OS commands to power down on inactivity. Link: http://www.cooldrives.com/esata-firewire-800-enclosure-case-external.html

New Hard Drive for Macbook Pro.

Hi,
My old harddrive completely failed on my Macbook Pro. My new harddrive arrived today, i've fitted it with no issues but thats about it.
I need to install OSX Lion from the original disk that came with the Macbook. I've tried starting it up from then pressing C after the chime but all I get is a grey screen with the Apple logo.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and please accept my aologies for my ignorance!
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Mike

Be sure your computer is connected to an active Internet connection. Restart the computer without any disc. Immediately upon hearing the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION-R keys until a Globe appears near the top of the screen. Since you are using Internet Recovery this will take quite some time so be patient. After 12-15 minutes you should see a Recovery screen.
Install or Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion from Scratch
Partition and Erase the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your new internal drive (mfgr.'s ID and size) from the
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3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition
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4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
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