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MacBookPro4,1 SATA II compatible

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Casper Vollenweider

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Oct 31, 2008, 6:58:27 PM10/31/08
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Hi

I'm considering buying a 500 GB HD for My MacBookPro4,1 C2D 2.5 GHz.
There is a SATA 1.5 GBit Harddrive built in. In my local Shops, there
are only 500 GB drives with SATA two available. On desktop mashines, I
know, SATA two drives are normally backwards compatible to SATA one
machines. But is it the same with Notebook drives?
Back in my PC days I used to experience some trouble with some SATA2
drive on a SATA1 PC. I had to switch some jumper setting at the HD to
get it running propperly.
So thats why I'm asking, because I want to prevent myself from
dissasembling my whole macbookpro with the result of finding out the new
drive woun't fit. ;-)

Ah, by the way, fit... Does a 9.5 mm height drive fit?
I'm considering Samsung HM500LI, M6, 5400rpm, 8MB, 2.5 Zoll, 500GB, SATA-II

Thanks.

Regards

Casper

David Empson

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Oct 31, 2008, 10:17:50 PM10/31/08
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Casper Vollenweider <nos...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:

> I'm considering buying a 500 GB HD for My MacBookPro4,1 C2D 2.5 GHz.

(That's an Early 2008 MacBook Pro, for anyone else reading.)

15" or 17"? They have the same Model ID and 2.5 GHz doesn't narrow it
down.

> There is a SATA 1.5 GBit Harddrive built in. In my local Shops, there
> are only 500 GB drives with SATA two available. On desktop mashines, I
> know, SATA two drives are normally backwards compatible to SATA one
> machines. But is it the same with Notebook drives?

Should be fine.

> Back in my PC days I used to experience some trouble with some SATA2
> drive on a SATA1 PC. I had to switch some jumper setting at the HD to
> get it running propperly.

You'll probably find the notebook drive has the same jumper.

> So thats why I'm asking, because I want to prevent myself from
> dissasembling my whole macbookpro with the result of finding out the new
> drive woun't fit. ;-)

For reference, I upgraded my 15" MacBook Pro (one model earlier than
yours) with a Seagate Momentus 320 GB 5400 rpm SATA2 drive and it works
fine. I don't recall changing any jumpers.

> Ah, by the way, fit... Does a 9.5 mm height drive fit?

Yes. That's the standard height for low profile 2.5" drives, and the
maximum height for a 15" MacBook Pro.

The 17" MacBook Pro is able to handle a slightly taller hard drive, but
I forget offhand what the limit is.

--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz

Casper Vollenweider

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Oct 31, 2008, 11:00:42 PM10/31/08
to
Hi down under ;-)

David Empson wrote:
>> I'm considering buying a 500 GB HD for My MacBookPro4,1 C2D 2.5 GHz.
>
> (That's an Early 2008 MacBook Pro, for anyone else reading.)
>
> 15" or 17"? They have the same Model ID and 2.5 GHz doesn't narrow it
> down.

It is a 15" MBP Early 2008, as you said. :-)

>> But is it the same with Notebook drives?
>
> Should be fine.

Thank you for validating this.

>> I had to switch some jumper setting at the HD to
>> get it running propperly.
>
> You'll probably find the notebook drive has the same jumper.

OK, I see. I've never had a SATA notebook HD in my hands, I was just
handling the old IDE ones. I can't recall any jumpers on those ones.
Well, then it is fine.

> For reference, I upgraded my 15" MacBook Pro (one model earlier than
> yours) with a Seagate Momentus 320 GB 5400 rpm SATA2 drive and it works
> fine. I don't recall changing any jumpers.

This sounds promissing. :-)

>> Ah, by the way, fit... Does a 9.5 mm height drive fit?
>
> Yes. That's the standard height for low profile 2.5" drives, and the
> maximum height for a 15" MacBook Pro.

I remember reading something about this. The first 500 GB 2.5" HD's
where taller. So I was not sure if 9.5 is non standard or if it's it. So
thats fine then. :-)

> The 17" MacBook Pro is able to handle a slightly taller hard drive, but
> I forget offhand what the limit is.

In my local webshop there is another chaper one with 12.5 mm height
specified. I suppose thats the size you're talking about.

Thank you so much for the answer! I think I'll order that HD then.

Amazing. Not so many years ago I'd said a 250 GB HD would last forever
in a notebook. ;-)

Regards Switzerland

Casper

Andy Hewitt

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Nov 1, 2008, 4:45:34 AM11/1/08
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Casper Vollenweider <nos...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:

> Hi down under ;-)
>
> David Empson wrote:

> > For reference, I upgraded my 15" MacBook Pro (one model earlier than
> > yours) with a Seagate Momentus 320 GB 5400 rpm SATA2 drive and it works
> > fine. I don't recall changing any jumpers.
>
> This sounds promissing. :-)

I put a Western Digital Scorpio 250GB drive into my MacBook 3,1 only a
few months ago, and that just worked when installed.

Most drives seem to auto switch between formats, some need a jumper
switch to do it.

Pick a drive and check it out here:

http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drivedb/search.drivedb.lasso

--
Andy Hewitt
<http://web.me.com/andrewhewitt1/>

Casper Vollenweider

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Nov 1, 2008, 12:19:17 PM11/1/08
to
Hi

Andy Hewitt wrote:
> Pick a drive and check it out here:
>
> http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drivedb/search.drivedb.lasso

Thank you.

Regards

Casper

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