[malcolm]

Hi there,
Is anyone on this forum using the 160 GB (5400 RPM) Seagate internal hard drive (ATA) in their powerbook?
My pb is the aluminum 1.67GHz model - - I know it'll fit, physically. I've also been advised that my pb will be able to use all 160 GB of space (no 120 GB limitation)... though I'd love to have this confirmed by an actual 160GB internal hd user.
Also, if there are any users out there:
is it noisy?

I have lots of RAM, by the way, and my current drive (almost full) is already a 5400 RPM model, so I'm not expecting a speed boost... just more space.

I'd love the 160 GB, 7200 RPM model that's already listed on their website, but I've been told it won't be available for a few months.

Thanks for any help,
mhcbc

[Velocity211]

I have a 160GB 5400RPM HD in my Powerbook G4 HR. I swapped the original hard drive with the 160GB when I got it. Although 5400 is a bit slow for me, it can handle most daily tasks. I tried a Powerbook with a 7200RPM HD and it is a lot faster than the 5400RPM. I would personally wait for the 7200RPM HD because it is a lot faster and help speed up your apps.

[malcolm]

Thanks so much - - with a name like Velocity, I can understand that speed is important. I guess it is to me too, so now you've got me thinking I should wait. I know Seagate has a 100GB 7200rpm drive on the market, but that's the size of my current (5400rmp) drive, so that's not an option.
The downside of the 7200rpm drive, if I do wait for it, is that it'll use up my battery faster, right? (most of the time I'm plugged into AC, but there is the odd time I want my battery to last).
Thanks for the advice.
Malcolm

[papworth]

Does anyone know if that beasty will fit and be fully usable in a rev A 12" ?

[Velocity211]

Originally Posted by papworth

Does anyone know if that beasty will fit and be fully usable in a rev A 12" ?

Yep, it'll fit. Any ATA-6 drive will fit in it.

[papworth]

ooooh, that was quick.
does that mean the 128gb+ won't be an issue?

[Velocity211]

Originally Posted by papworth

ooooh, that was quick.
does that mean the 128gb+ won't be an issue?

Nope, no issue there. I tried putting 160GB in a Lombard Powerbook and it worked flawlessly.

[mrmister]

I have an aluminum G4 1.5 Ghz and have had the 160GB 5400rpm drive in for awhile--it rocks on toast. It doubled my space, and I think waiting is a fools errand--unless you have hard evidence that it is shipping, it takes forever for new Seagate drives to come out, and when they do they are very expensive. While a 7200 is faster, the 5400 is pretty damn quick by virtue of its data density, and in day to day work I'm very happy with the speed--I came from a slightly slower 5400, so it's faster to me.

But the SIZE--it is such a relief to not have to constantly remove things to external drives and worry about drive space. Best upgrade possible, in my opinion.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by Velocity211

Yep, it'll fit. Any ATA-6 drive will fit in it.

I've never heard of "ATA-6", but I do know that it has to be a 9.5 mm high drive. 12.5 mm drives won't fit, though I don't know if anybody is even making them that size anymore.

Steve

[wilburguy]

I put a 160 gig Seagate Momentus in my 1.67 AlBook. I love the space but like many Seagate drives, it developed a click/clunk sound that happens every minute or so that is driving me nuts. I will be reinstalling the original 80 gig and sending the 160 for replacement.

[mrmister]

Ahhh...I had that, and found a hacked version of APM Tuner X that fixed it for me. Do a Google search.

[wilburguy]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion of APM Tuner x but after googling for half an hour I've come up with nothin. Tips? Help?

[tooki]

Originally Posted by Velocity211

Nope, no issue there. I tried putting 160GB in a Lombard Powerbook and it worked flawlessly.

Wait... what? A Lombard predates the 128GB limit by many years. There's absolutely no way it supports the full capacity without a software hack.

tooki

[Velocity211]

Originally Posted by tooki

Wait... what? A Lombard predates the 128GB limit by many years. There's absolutely no way it supports the full capacity without a software hack.

tooki

Well it's my uncle's old powerbook. He gave it to me with a G4 processor, DVD burner... he probably did something to it. Ask him if you want to know how he got it working.

[skyman]

The read / write speed of any hard drive is based more on the areal density then the RPM of the drive.

Areal density is the amount of data that can be packed onto a storage medium. Areal densities are generally measured in gigabits per square inch. The term is useful for comparing different types of media, such as magnetic disks and optical disks. Current magnetic and optical disks have areal densities of several gigabits per square inch.

In fact a 1% increase in area density has a greater effect on the read / write speed then say a 1000 RPM increase.

In the battle of Areal Density VS. RPM, Areal Density wins hands down.

[MKJ]

hello,

I wanted to upgrade my Al 15" 1.6Ghz with the 160mb Seagate HD, but I was told that doing it yourself will void my Applecare warranty. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks for the help,

MKJ

[Velocity211]

Originally Posted by MKJ

hello,

I wanted to upgrade my Al 15" 1.6Ghz with the 160mb Seagate HD, but I was told that doing it yourself will void my Applecare warranty. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks for the help,

MKJ

160MB? If you open up your powerbook, that will void the warranty.

[EdipisReks]

Originally Posted by Velocity211

160MB? If you open up your powerbook, that will void the warranty.

only if you break something.

[chipchen]

Nope... warranty is technically void if someone who is not a apple certified technician opens it.

Will Apple know? Not if you do everything right...