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d2kit · Mar 24, 2003, 01:00 PM

I need to change the internal drive of my iMac (slot load). I couldn't find the specifications for the internal drive. I guess it uses normal IDE 3,5" drives, is this correct? Can I put in a faster 7200 drive? Do you have any advice? Thanks for your help

cgmpowers · Mar 24, 2003, 01:30 PM

I am in that situation myself. I will be upgrading the hard drive on my Strawberry iMac G3 400mhz. However, do NOT use a 7200 drive...I have been told by SEVERAL PEOPLE (including several Mac Genuis people at the Apple Store) that this will overheat in the G3 iMacs.. Use a 5400 drive only. Its going to be harder to find these drives as most retailers no longer sell them but they're available online.

Originally posted by d2kit:
I need to change the internal drive of my iMac (slot load). I couldn't find the specifications for the internal drive. I guess it uses normal IDE 3,5" drives, is this correct? Can I put in a faster 7200 drive? Do you have any advice? Thanks for your help

gumby5647 · Mar 24, 2003, 01:34 PM

He has a point. The extra heat from the 7200RPM can slowly deteriorate your analog board and/or video chip components.

it happened to me

stay with 5200RPM

Woehrle46 · Mar 24, 2003, 06:55 PM

I have replaced my stock 6GB 5400 rpm dirve in my rev.D 266mhz imac with a 40GB 7200 rpm dirve and have not experienced any problems, except when left on overnight the imac will freeze, which i dont think is related to the new HD.I dont know what if any the differences are between my imac and yours but my drive has been working fine for over two months now.

Getoverit · Mar 25, 2003, 01:19 AM

I had the store put a 7200 drive in my 400 dv se imac almost 3yrs ago. i leave it on 24/7. Never a problem. It's an IBM! Made a big difference in running OS X.
I just bought a new imac g4, the little 400mhz g3 goes to my kid.

pliny · Mar 25, 2003, 04:49 AM

About two years ago I switched out the 5400 with a 7200 in my dv. No problems with heat melting the mobo or anything else.

7200s work just fine in an iMac. You know about the guide to switching out iMac hard drives? link

slider · Mar 25, 2003, 07:10 AM

I just had my sister order a 7200 60GB drive for her iMac 333 for about $80, it's a WesternDigital Caviar, which I will be installing for her when it comes in. Of course this model has a fan that runs all the time so I don't really know what to say there. Others have apparently had success with it and if the warranty is up, I'd go for it. Good luck.

bradoesch · Mar 25, 2003, 07:04 PM

I just ordered a Western Digital 120 GB Special Edition drive for my iMac DV. It seems no one can agree whether or not a 7200 r.p.m. is too hot for an iMac, so I plan on monitoring it's temperature, and possibly putting it in my FireWire case and moving the drive from the FireWire case into my iMac.

scottiB · Mar 26, 2003, 08:07 AM

When I purchased my iMac/400 Indigo in September, 2000, the first thing I did was swap-out the stock drive for a IBM 45GB/7200 drive. It'd been running great until November, 2002, when I swapped that for an 80GB WD Jumbo drive which I found on sale (the iMac is used now as a back-up storage/server).

If one is concerned about heat, look at Seagate Barracuda drives which run cooller than most.

No worries either way, really, buy what you feel comfortable.

d2kit · Mar 26, 2003, 02:09 PM

Thanks to everybody for your help, I will tell you what my choice has been when I buy it.

iKevin · Mar 27, 2003, 01:20 PM

I put a 7200rpm 40gb Western Digital in my Bondi about 3 days ago and it's still running strong