What size hard drive will fit into a 2010 Mac mini?

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Level 1

19 points

What size hard drive will fit into a 2010 Mac mini?

Hello all,

I am planning to buy a new Mac mini. However I intend to upgrade the hard drive, i.e. buy a 320GB Mac Mini then remove the hard drive and replace it with a better one.

I have my eyes on two Western Digital hard drives:
+ WD Scorpio Black 750 GB SATA Hard Drive (WD7500BPKT)
specs: http://www.wdc.com/global/products/specs/?driveID=905&language=1
+ WD Scorpio Blue 1 TB SATA Hard Drive (WD10TPVT)
specs: http://www.wdc.com/global/products/specs/?driveID=685&language=1

Here's the problem. I figured that being both SATA 2.5" drives, they would have the same dimensions. It's not the case:
+ my preferred choice, the Scorpio Black (with faster 7200rpm) has a height of 9.5mm
+ the Scorpio blue (1TB but 5200rpm, slower than the default drive) has a height of 12.5mm
So I wonder, which of them would fit in the mini? Both of them? Afer hours looking for it, I couldn't find the exact specs and dimensions of the default drive in the Mac mini.
Questions this arises: if the Scorpio Blue fits in, then will the Black be loose because it's thinner?

I just went to my local Apple retail store, the flagship Opera store in Paris. I asked two Geniuses there and neither of them was able to answer my question, including the so-called hardware expert (duh!). They just told me "good question", and advised me to be careful with dimensions indeed because there is so little room in the mini...

Has any of you guys any clue on the subject?
+ any idea of the size/specs of the default drive?
+ any idea of what size drive would fit? Does the new disk have to be the exact same size or not?
FYI I checked the specs of the mini they had on display, and the disk reference is TOSHIBA MK3255GSXF. It looks like a specific ref number for these Apple drives.

Thanks!

Message was edited by: aaSwebmaster

MacBook Air (Nov 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 14, 2011 1:32 AM

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Answer 1

Sven G

Level 1

45 points

Feb 14, 2011 7:04 AM in response to aaSwebmaster

Here are some interesting pages, from a well-known website:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/search/Mac%20Mini%20Server%202010

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/search/Mac%20Mini%202010

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/20507/HardDisk+Removability+%26+1TB+DriveInsertion

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/19953/Harddrive+height%2C+12.5+mm+or+only+9.5mm

... and basically they say that only 9.5 mm HDs will fit in the new Mac minis.

It seems to be a quite difficult task replacing them, anyway...

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Answer 2

gerald1

Level 1

15 points

Feb 14, 2011 8:34 AM in response to aaSwebmaster

Not to be a downer but won't replacing the hard drive void your warranty?

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Answer 3

aaSwebmaster Author

Level 1

19 points

Feb 14, 2011 10:51 PM in response to Sven G

Thanks Sven! That's exactly what I was looking for. I looked up iFixit's HD tutorial but I didn't check the forums.

I know it's hard and the warranty would be void. I don't plan on doing it myself, I will pay an authorized reseller to to it.

Thanks again guys for your help.

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Answer 4

60wpm

Level 2

146 points

Apr 16, 2012 8:08 AM in response to aaSwebmaster

For What It's Worth -- I upgraded the RAM in my 2009 Mac mini, now I'm on the verge of upgrading/chaning the hard drive, like desire of OP.

It's out of warrenty, so that's no issue for me and I'd like to just say "It's your computer,' i.e. and it's okay to work on them, improve them, etc. I wish computers (and cars) were more accessible to do so; it's fun, it improves the machine, it's a path of a little more learning.

Of course, "a man should never gamble more than he can afford to loose."

Be careful. Be observant. Follow instructions. Search Internet for info.

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Answer 5

mooblie

Level 4

1,954 points

Apr 17, 2012 4:41 AM in response to aaSwebmaster

aaSwebmaster wrote:

....

+ my preferred choice, the Scorpio Black (with faster 7200rpm) has a height of 9.5mm

+ the Scorpio blue (1TB but 5200rpm, slower than the default drive) has a height of 12.5mm....

......if the Scorpio Blue fits in, then will the Black be loose because it's thinner?.....

I think you'll find: a 9.5mm drive WILL fit, but a 12.5mm drive WON'T. Don't say we didn't tell you! 🙂

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Answer 6

60wpm

Level 2

146 points

Apr 17, 2012 10:48 AM in response to mooblie

I've decided on my internal hd update for my Mac mini (Late 2009). I'll be getting the Momentus® XT 6Gb/s 750GB Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive.

It's dimensions are:

Height	9.5mm (0.370 in)
Width	69.85mm (2.75 in)
Length	100.35mm (3.951 in)

I've been assured by OWC it is 100% compatibile and it's 'main market' is for almost all PC and Mac laptops. I made sure to 'Live Chat' check compatibility with my model but the web info appears to clearly say it will work on 2010 Mac mini's and 2011 Mac mini's.

9.5mm would thus seem an appropriate size for Mac mini internal HD

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Answer 7

Apr 27, 2012 2:31 AM in response to 60wpm

Think that has answered my question, whether Apple drives were different to PC compatible HDD's.

Bought several minis that need drives so need to source replacements.

Thanks a lot all!

David.

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Answer 8

May 16, 2012 10:05 AM in response to 60wpm

Just make sure that a 2.5" SATA HDD 6Gb/s drive will work. I read somewhere that the pre mid 2011 Mac Mini ( The one with no slot drive) is the only one that has the 6Gb/s interface all others run at 3Gb/s...

I would ask the Mac experts about that first.

Hope you get sorted.

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Answer 9

Aug 19, 2012 10:51 AM in response to gerald1

No, it won't. Apple said that as long as the new part that you install doesn't cause damage, it's fine.

It's just like if you upgrade your RAM with RAM that's not Apple brand. A lot of people worry about that.

As long as that new part doesn't cause any damage to the Mac, you're in the clear!

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Answer 10

60wpm

Level 2

146 points

Jan 31, 2013 9:53 AM in response to joshuafromwaterford

6 MONTHS LATER/UPDATE.

I got the the Seagate Momentus® XT 6Gb/s 750GB Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive. Was able to install it myself in the Mac mini; it works great! (now).

My original 350GB was near full and taking almost 5-minutes to load.

Now my computer boots up in under one minute. Big difference!

Apps also snap open quickly, all functions fast and with 8GB of Ram using my computer is fun again.

Note: Initially I just made a clone of my old HD to the Seagate before taking my old HD out. This did make a bootable volume but funky and eventually the mouse clicks took 4-5 minutes to work!?

So I wiped the Seagate clean, did a new/fresh install of my Mac OS onto it and then used the Apple Migration Assistant app to get all my apps and data over - This worked and no funky stuff developed.

It's the best change to my computer in years. Feels great...and besides the features of the fusion-sytle hybrid drive (SSD & regular) I got 450GB of new, extra space...now I can put my work aside for awhile and try out one of these 12GB games!. Rock on.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: patience, patience, patience and instructional video at OWC; yet the insides were different, an extra plastic 'cage' around the HD. Just be careful & alert.

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