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VEGAN · Nov 15, 2003, 08:26 AM

I've got this TiBook 667 with 30G... and I was wondering what can I do to "upgrade" it?

OK, I can buy more RAM, but besides that?

I'd like to have a bigger and faster hard drive.
What should I be looking for?

All recommendations are welcome, [how to make it bigger, better, faster

]

I've never dealt with hardware upgrading, so, keep that in mind!

Thanks

krux` · Nov 15, 2003, 11:04 AM

how long have you had it?`

Luca Rescigno · Nov 15, 2003, 03:00 PM

The only upgrade options are more ports (via PC card slot, you could add USB 2.0), more RAM (up to 1 GB), or a better hard drive. Getting a big, fast hard drive will show some improvements. Hitachi makes a 7200 RPM 60 GB hard drive which should improve performance by a LOT. It's not that hard to upgrade the hard drive in a TiBook, it might be in the manual even.

stata · Nov 16, 2003, 09:13 AM

I am in the same situation, and apart from Memory and Hard Drive I haven't found any other options.

The killer for me, however, is that I'm desperate to upgrade to a Flat Panel Cinema display, but can't seem to find a way to get the G4 667 to become compatible with the DVI requirements of Apples displays.

Any advice on external displays for these older powerbooks?

Thanks

euphras · Nov 16, 2003, 02:42 PM

Sure there is a way to connect DVI Ti�s to an Apple cinema display. IIRR you have to buy an adaptor ("DVIator", Dr. Bott) in order to plug the ADC to the DVI Out of the Ti.

chaldean oracle · Nov 16, 2003, 02:44 PM

You could upgrade the combo drive to a superdrive...

VEGAN · Nov 17, 2003, 04:49 AM

Originally posted by krux`:
how long have you had it?`

Like about a year and a half.

VEGAN · Nov 17, 2003, 04:51 AM

Originally posted by chaldean oracle:
You could upgrade the combo drive to a superdrive...

Yeah, that's one of the things I've been thinking of [I've got an external DVD writer at the moment]

VEGAN · Nov 17, 2003, 04:53 AM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
The only upgrade options are more ports (via PC card slot, you could add USB 2.0), more RAM (up to 1 GB), or a better hard drive. Getting a big, fast hard drive will show some improvements. Hitachi makes a 7200 RPM 60 GB hard drive which should improve performance by a LOT. It's not that hard to upgrade the hard drive in a TiBook, it might be in the manual even.

Thanks!

Is there any other hard drives besides this Hitachi one? Maybe even bigger and faster?
Or other company? [just asking because I don't know anything about it

]
I'd like to have good quality, but I don't want to pay extra for a name [IBM?]

Luca Rescigno · Nov 17, 2003, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by VEGAN:
Thanks!

Is there any other hard drives besides this Hitachi one? Maybe even bigger and faster?
Or other company? [just asking because I don't know anything about it ]
I'd like to have good quality, but I don't want to pay extra for a name [IBM?]

The largest notebook hard drives now are 80 GB ones, and they go up to 5400 RPM. 60 GB ones are available at 7200 RPM, so the 60 GB 7200 RPM is the fastest and the 80 GB 5400 RPM is close behind in speed while also being a bit larger. If there are bigger or faster ones, I don't know about them. I'm don't even think any other company makes 60 GB 7200 RPM laptop drives.

Ah, some more information after checking NewEgg for what's available. There are three main manufacturers of laptop drives: Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Hitachi (IBM's former hard drive division). Hitachi is the one with the good stuff. Toshiba and Fujitsu are a generation behind, because all they have are 80 GB 4200 RPM and 60 GB 5400 RPM hard drives. Hitachi is the only one with 7200 RPM laptop drives, and the only one with a 5400 RPM 80 GB laptop drive. The 7K60 (7200 RPM 60 GB) and the 5K80 (5400 RPM 80 GB) are about the same cost, around $250 each. IBM has had problems with their drive division in recent years, but they cleaned up their act and then sold it to Hitachi.

So, you're not really paying extra for a name because those three are the only ones available anyway. NewEgg does list Seagate and SimpleTech, but Seagate only has one laptop drive available (a 40 GB) and SimpleTech's drives haven't had their prices updated in what seems like a very long time. Now you know the fastest hard drive available. You can always wait for a 7200 RPM 80 GB if you want, but just remember that progress is always being made, Upgrading to a 7200 RPM 60 GB drive should hold you over for a good long time and increase performance by a lot.

iDaver · Nov 17, 2003, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by euphras:
Sure there is a way to connect DVI Ti�s to an Apple cinema display. IIRR you have to buy an adaptor ("DVIator", Dr. Bott) in order to plug the ADC to the DVI Out of the Ti.

Assuming stata is talking about the earlier PowerBook 667 with VGA, you'd have to get some kind of VGA to DVI adapter and then use a DVIator or Apple's DVI to ADC adapter. Not sure this would be worth it as you wouldn't have a pure digital signal to the display. In a case like this, I think I'd be looking for a newer PowerBook before buying a Cinema Display.

I put an 80GB Hitachi drive in my 667 DVI and it was a nice upgrade. It's a quieter drive than the 30GB that came with the PowerBook. Didn't spring for the 5400 though, so I can't verify any speed increase with that drive.

VEGAN · Nov 17, 2003, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
The largest notebook hard drives now are 80 GB ones, and they go up to 5400 RPM. 60 GB ones are available at 7200 RPM, so the 60 GB 7200 RPM is the fastest and the 80 GB 5400 RPM is close behind in speed while also being a bit larger. If there are bigger or faster ones, I don't know about them. I'm don't even think any other company makes 60 GB 7200 RPM laptop drives.

Ah, some more information after checking NewEgg for what's available. There are three main manufacturers of laptop drives: Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Hitachi (IBM's former hard drive division). Hitachi is the one with the good stuff. Toshiba and Fujitsu are a generation behind, because all they have are 80 GB 4200 RPM and 60 GB 5400 RPM hard drives. Hitachi is the only one with 7200 RPM laptop drives, and the only one with a 5400 RPM 80 GB laptop drive. The 7K60 (7200 RPM 60 GB) and the 5K80 (5400 RPM 80 GB) are about the same cost, around $250 each. IBM has had problems with their drive division in recent years, but they cleaned up their act and then sold it to Hitachi.

So, you're not really paying extra for a name because those three are the only ones available anyway. NewEgg does list Seagate and SimpleTech, but Seagate only has one laptop drive available (a 40 GB) and SimpleTech's drives haven't had their prices updated in what seems like a very long time. Now you know the fastest hard drive available. You can always wait for a 7200 RPM 80 GB if you want, but just remember that progress is always being made, Upgrading to a 7200 RPM 60 GB drive should hold you over for a good long time and increase performance by a lot.

Thanks!!!

This sums it up very nicely

Luca Rescigno · Nov 17, 2003, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by iDaver:
Assuming stata is talking about the earlier PowerBook 667 with VGA, you'd have to get some kind of VGA to DVI adapter and then use a DVIator or Apple's DVI to ADC adapter. Not sure this would be worth it as you wouldn't have a pure digital signal to the display. In a case like this, I think I'd be looking for a newer PowerBook before buying a Cinema Display.

There's a $300 VGA-to-ADC adapter from a company called Gefen. It only works with PowerBooks, however. No running a cinema display on an iMac.