Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500gb on the MBPro13": with or without the g-force?

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Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500gb on the MBPro13": with or without the g-force?

I read a lot of discussion of people that have been made upgrade with succes, but I'd like to know if they used the momentus with the g-force protection or not.

Some friends of mine told me that tryed to put a seagate 7200 rpm into a macbook pro 13" but it won't recognize the new drive.

Can you answer me before I'll buy one of those?

MacBook '06 ..and.. MacBook Pro 13" '09, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Snow on the Pro

Posted on Oct 17, 2009 7:27 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 8, 2009 9:27 AM in response to ppperri

I installed the Momentus 7200 500GB (without Gforce) in my MB Pro 13", and I initially thought something was wrong because I got the grey screen with a folder and "?". Turns out it was user ignorance; I needed to boot from my OS install disc and format the drive.

I am very, very pleased with this drive. It's faster than the drive that came with the machine, just as quiet, no vibration or issues for me. And I LOVE having 500GB!

I highly recommend the Momentus. Great increase in performance and capacity for not much $$.

Christina

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Answer 2

Nov 8, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Christina Perry

It is hit or miss with vibration issues. When I put this drive in my MBP, I couldn't handle the vibration. I even tried the WD Scorpio Black, and it too vibrated. So I went with the WD Scorpio Blue 5400 RPM.

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Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Nov 8, 2009 12:44 PM in response to ppperri

If you decide on the Seagate, get one without the G-Force feature: if you get one that has it, it will conflict with the built-in Sudden Motion Sensor in the MBP.

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Answer 4

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Nov 8, 2009 12:49 PM in response to eww

get one without the G-Force feature: if you get one that has it, it will conflict with the built-in Sudden Motion Sensor in the MBP

... or maybe not. The Apple factory installed 500GB, 7200rpm drive I received in my 15" MBP in September appears to have the G-Force feature included. ( Model:ST9500420ASG Revision:0007APM2 )

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Nov 8, 2009 1:09 PM in response to F Shippey

That's interesting. Does System Profiler show that your SMS is enabled, or not?

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Answer 6

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Nov 8, 2009 1:16 PM in response to eww

Yup, the SMS is enabled.

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Answer 7

Nov 21, 2009 10:20 AM in response to ppperri

ppperri:

The issue is do you have a mid 2009 MB Pro--and what HD is installed and what HD do you want to install. Also the firmware version is important.

I have this in my 15 inch MB Pro:

ST9500420ASG:

Capacity: 465.76 GB
Model: ST9500420ASG

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,4
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP53.00AC.B02
SMC Version (system): 1.49f2

I update the Firmware to EFI 1.7 and it was disaster. My MP Pro locked up 3 times.

I resolved the issue by having the HD removed and then Rolling back the Firemware to EFI 1.6 at the Apple Store and installing the Perfomance Update 1.0 after reinstalling the 500 GB Seagate ST9500420ASG HD.

Just stay away from the EFI 1.7 updater.

You should not see any speed issues but your Mac should run OK with the larger 3rd party HD.

See the postings on a different thread on this issue.

bobg

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