Bad Serial ATA Drives?

I've got a Daul 2.5ghz G5 that's really had a lot of problems since I bought it. The graphics card has been replaced, the motherboard has been replaced, and both processors have been replaced.
The other day, I noticed that rendering in Final Cut Pro 5 was just crawling.
Processor intensive tasks seem to go fine, but tasks that involve writing to the disks (both of the 250 serial-ata drives) go very slowly.
Computer is, of course, out of warranty now.
I wipped the computer and started from scratch and reformated both drives, same problem. Disks are not fragmented.
I ran Xbench. All computer tests scored above the 100 point baseline, except the drive tests:
Disk Test 71.27
Sequential 104.09
Uncached Write 109.13 67.00 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 100.96 57.13 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 99.81 29.21 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 107.04 53.80 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 54.19
Uncached Write 20.81 2.20 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 131.48 42.09 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 93.06 0.66 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 134.96 25.04 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Both drives scored really low on the random uncached write speed. Any ideas on what the problem would be? Could both drives go bad at the same time? Hard drive controller? Is there a way to test it without buying a new drive?
Russ
Dual 2.5ghz G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

What make/model of drives? how old are they?
Hitachi 7K500 might fit the bill. Or 10K Raptor (but probably need SeriTek controller now, a must for the 150GB model and now the 74GB - both are excellent for boot drive). The 500GB 16MB cache Hitachi is also a solid drive.
Disk Utility: Erase: Options: Zero-all is what I would do first.
I try to keep one drive's outer track partition (100GB) just for OS / Apps (and use the 2nd parition for static archive and backups).
Then use Drive #2 for data / media / Users.
Maybe extra (external0 eSATA drives for FCP, scratch, backup and projects.
Some drives, SATA is going through a lot of changes, are trouble, not compatible, have SSC enabled, firmware doesn't support RAID as well as it could/should. NCQ being enabled doesn't help desktop use and isn't supported on G5 SATA ports.
Xbench is not the most 'reliable' test, but those are not normal numbers.
Keep your disk drive in "good health" (run Disk Utility, Disc Warrior etc from a cloned emergency drive regularly to do any repairs) as well as keep log and temp files to a minimum? run cron tasks at least weekly?

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Search Google for "Mac NTFS"

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Not only possible, but well documented as well:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/imac-aluminum-tapered-edge-faq/how-to -upgrade-imac-hard-drive-aluminum-2012-2013.html

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I agree with Bimmer 7 Series. I did the same SSD update of the 2.5" Hard Drive. i went from a 750GB 5400 RPM to a 512 GB SSD and used the 750 for additional storage (put in a chassis) and a 4x improvement on performance on the SSD vs. the typical HD.
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Loading Parallels 7 load of Windows XP Pro was 1:33 minutes to 40 seconds.
Excel 2010 load time was 25 seconds, now 7 seconds
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Hey I'm looking to buy a 13 in. macbook pro and I don't know the difference between the 750gb serial ATA drive and the SSD. I know the SSD will make the computer operate faster, but that's pretty much it. Any information on these two would be greatly appreciated.

I was in the same position a month ago. Its basically a pro and con list.
SDD is much more expensive, to upgrade from a 500gb HDD to a 512GB SSD is $1000 dollars!!!
SDD is more energy efficient, so you will get about an extra half hour of battery life(on average). It is faster to load from, and it has no moving parts so is supposed to be have longer life.
I however went with a 750GB 7200rpm HDD as I didn't want to worry about running out of space. I use a lot of photos and videos and I didn't want to have to worry about bringing external hard drives around with me.
Right now I don't think the SSD is necessary for your average person. My 15" is flying with my HDD and I am very happy with my choice!
Hope this helps

Serial ATA Drive Question

Would you reccomend the 120 GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 RPM or the 100 GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 RPM?
Thanks
Max

My startup times are much faster with my 7200 RPM drive. But I would agree with Kappy, decide how much HD space you need.

Is it possible to run 2 2.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB 750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm together to get a better system

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Just go for the > Mac Pro - Apple Store (U.S.) instead.

128gb SSD vs. 320gb serial ATA drive at 5400 rpm

I don't know much about hard drive space. I plan on purchasing a new MacBook for college, but I don't know what kind of hard drive space is better. Can someone explain what SSD is and what the serial ATA drive is. Any kind of help will be greatly appreciated.

SSD is a sold-state drive, i.e., the memory is of the kind you might find in a thumb drive or in the iPhone. The advantage is that it is not prone to the kind of failure that normal, spinning hard drives are. They are not eternal, however, and will die eventually anyway.
Traditional spinning HDs are more vulnerable to damage due to mishandling the computer, for example, and bearings occasionally wear out. But more space is much cheaper on a traditional drive.
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How to install a Serial ATA Drive?

Hello, I just purchased a Barracuda Serial ATA drive and I just found out that these aren't installed as P ATA drives.
I've tried several combinations on my award BIOS and still I have absolutlly no sign of the SATA drive's presence.
This was the Beginning of the discussion.
I have no ideia what to do. I've heard of the F6 tecnique but I don't no have a disk drive nor am I installing windows XP. I believe that my controler is called ICH5 or 82801EB since these where the types of refence I've heard before and I checked my devices on Device Manager.
P.S I'm using windows XP

You don't need to install drivers.
In bios under Integrated Peripherals, On Chip ATA Operating Mode set
Native Mode
ATA Configuration - PATA only
SATA Keep enabled - yes
PATA Keep enabled - yes
PATA channel selection - both
If this doesn't let you boot, change to
ATA Configuration - SATA only
After making/saving these changes you should go back into the bios on the first reboot and make sure the right boot drive is selected.

Adding a Serial ATA Drive from old windows machine?

Hi,
I have recently bought a new Mac Pro, to complete my conversion from Windows to Mac. However, in my old Windows machine, I have a 120GB Serial ATA hard drive.
I believe that I wouldn't be able to simply put this 120GB drive into my Mac Pro, as it is in NTFS format, which Mac cannot understand. I think that it has to be in FAT32 format, correct? So, if I was to re-format this serial ATA drive into FAT32, would it be able to work in my machine? Or are there more compatibility issues I might face? (Make, Model, Age issues?). I assume most SATA drives are similar, and that it should work, but I thought I should probably check before attempting it!
Thanks,
Steve

Any SATA drive can be installed in the Mac Pro. OS X can read an NTFS drive but it cannot write to it. However, if you just want to use the drive with OS X then you should repartition and reformat the drive for OS X:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button and set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.

Replacing a Serial ATA Drive with a SSD HD

Does anyone know if its difficult to replace a Serial ATA Drive with a SSD? And if possible and not difficult, which specs should this SSD have?

if you buy your SSD as a kit, it comes with sata to usb connector.
if you buy your SSD as a bare drive then go out and buy an usb external enclosure.
Before you install your new drive, turn your computer on with your old drive, hook up your new drive via external enclosure to your usb port.
Launch Disk Utility, erase/format your new drive with MAC OS Extended Journaled.
Open Carbon Copy ( free download if you don't have it) and start to clone your drive, a pop up will come up saying you haven't created a recovery partition, follow the instructions in Carbon Copy then proceed to clone your drive after.
Once that's done, open the back of your MB, take out the old drive, install your new ssd, then turn it on. You're back in business.
As for your old drive, put it in the external enclosure and use it as a back up drive.

1TB Serial ATA Drive vs 512GB SSD

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Yes - but as mende1 points out, it would be much less expensive to go ahead and buy the 1TB unit, put your own 512GB SSD in it (around $400), and buy an enclosure for your 'old' 1TB HD to use for backup purposes.
But an SSD is much, much faster than a spinning platter hard disk drive.
Clinton

Can you upgrade a MacBookPro hard drive from a "750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm" to a Solid State Drive easily? The info seems to say that it's as easy as plugging the new drive into a drive slot?

I am about to buy a new MacBook Pro, but want to try out the Serial Drive 7200rpm before taking the plunge to use the SSD....Can you upgrade a MacBookPro hard drive from a "750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm" to a Solid State Drive easily? The info seems to say that it's as easy as plugging the new drive into a drive slot?

shldr2thewheel wrote:
Fmaharg wrote:
I am about to buy a new MacBook Pro, but want to try out the Serial Drive 7200rpm before taking the plunge to use the SSD....Can you upgrade a MacBookPro hard drive from a "750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm" to a Solid State Drive easily?
Yes
Fmaharg wrote:
The info seems to say that it's as easy as plugging the new drive into a drive slot?
It's easy, but not that easy. You need to copy all the info from the drive currently in the mac to the new one before you install the new SSD. You can do this by downloading cloning software (I use CarbonCopyCloner because it's free)
Not to be picky but CCC is donationware, if you use it because of its quality you should send a little bit of money in appreciation, and as a bonus you get to turn the banner off.

Can i change the serial ATA Drive to solid state drive easily ?

I just Bought a MacBook Pro , With Hard Drive (500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rp) .
Is it easy to Change it later to to (Solid State Drive) ?

An SSD is simply going to provide much, much, much faster access than a standard hard disk drive. Your machine has a SATA II controller, meaning that it can have negotiated speeds of up to 6Gbps. You'll get very near that limit with a SSD but you won't be even close with a standard hard drive.
I've had a SSD in my late 2011 15" MBP since about a month after I bought it. I've also increased the RAM to 16GB. My machine flies - and so can yours.
Clinton

Bad Serial ATA Drives?

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