[TerryJ]

I'm thinking of upgrading the 40GB 4,200 RPM drive in my 12" AlBook but I was wanting to see if anyone had any good recommendations or experience with this. Do you see much of a speed increase with a 5,400 drive? I have been reading that the jump from a 5,400 drive to a 7,200 isn't all that noticeable but the jump from 4,200 to 5,400 is well worth it.

Anyway, just curious about some others' opinions before getting into this!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

[kokkao]

Well I did it in an iMac 800 Mhz - 5400 to 7200 and I felt there was a small but noticeable speed increase.

[Frumpy]

I guess if you're playing games or video editing where you need access to your hard drive all the time, the 5400 kills the 4200. I have the 4200 in mine, but I know I'll be upgrading to at least a 100GB 5200 when they come down in price.

[wuzup101]

There should be a 7200rpm 100gb drive avaliable within a few months (easliy by xmas) from what I have read. I would wait to get that if you're going to go through all the trouble. It can be done, but if you do a search here you'll see that it's not as easy as upgrading your memory. It does require you to physically open the entire case IIRC - just remember slow and steady wins the race

[Frumpy]

I know it might cost an arm and a leg, but couldn't you bring it in to the Apple store and ask them to install it? I understand that it would void any warrenty, but couldn't they possibly upgrade it for me?

[Holigen]

No

Do it yourself, its not that hard. You have to take out a bunch of screws to remove the top case, but after that its pretty smooth sailiing.

[anamexis]

It is worth note that this will void the warranty on your hard drive.

[Holigen]

Really? That don make a lick of sense!

Heres something that might help you:
http://home.earthlink.net/~strahm_s/manuals.html

Just some Apple Service Manuals. Find the one for the PB 12" and get working!

[effgee]

Originally posted by TerryJ:
I'm thinking of upgrading the 40GB 4,200 RPM drive in my 12" AlBook but I was wanting to see if anyone had any good recommendations or experience with this. Do you see much of a speed increase with a 5,400 drive? I have been reading that the jump from a 5,400 drive to a 7,200 isn't all that noticeable but the jump from 4,200 to 5,400 is well worth it.

I've done both - upgraded my 15" TiBook from 4200 to a (back then) IBM Travelstar 5400, and upgraded my 12" AlBook from 4200 to a 60GB 7200 Hitachi Travelstar.

Since I still have a few months warranty left on my 12" and taking into consideration the huge pain in the butt of switching HD's in a 12", I had it installed by a local Apple dealer which cost about $100 on top of the cost for the drive.

Judging from day to day experience (no benchmarks), the relative speed gain between 5400 and 7200 compared to going from 4200 to 5400 is identical - about 20%. Going directly from 4200 to 7200 in my 12" was nothing short of amazing - definitely felt like a new machine.

IMHO, regardless of whether you go through the hassle of installing the drive yourself or pay the extra $$$ to have it installed by a dealer, going from 4200 to 5400 in a 12" is not worth it.