iMac Mid-2007 Hard Drive Replacement

Question

Mroczek Author

Level 1

10 points

iMac Mid-2007 Hard Drive Replacement

Hey Guys,

Im having a bit of trouble in deciding or even just figuring our what kind of hard drive

I should get. I need to replace my old hard drive ( 250GB Serial SATA 7200rpm) for a newer

better 500GB version. I've found several hard drives online but none of them have ever

detailed that it will fit a iMac... So I need some help deciding or gathering information?

Some of the hard drives I have found so far include:

Seagate 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" Mobile Serial ATA HDD w. 16MB Cache (ST9500420AS) Momentus 7200.4
Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" Mobile Serial ATA HDD w. 16MB Cache (WD5000BPKT) Scorpio Black
Hitachi 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" Mobile Serial ATA HDD w. 16MB Cache (HTS727550A9E364) Travelstar 7K750

Thank you very much for any information.

20" iMac Mid-2007 (MA876LL)

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 7, 2011 5:01 PM

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Answer 1

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Oct 7, 2011 6:10 PM in response to Mroczek

Not sure which model you have, but what struck me is that you're listing 2.5" drives - I believe iMacs have 3.5" drives?

Here is some info from iFixit:

http://www.ifixit.com/Mac-Parts/iMac-Intel-20%22#0-Hard+Drives+SATA+

They also have instructions. It's easier to get to right page there by inputting your model number (which I did not have).

You can also check OWC (macsales.com) - they have great prices; you could call and ask which drive would be the correct one.

You do know that iMacs are quite difficult to replace parts in?

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Answer 2

Chamar

Level 4

2,181 points

Oct 7, 2011 6:21 PM in response to babowa

You do know that iMacs are quite difficult to replace parts in?

Understatement. Extremely difficult would be more apt.

If you are serious about taking it apart yourself go the whole way and fit an SSD. Expensive but worth it.

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Oct 7, 2011 6:36 PM in response to Chamar

Extremely difficult would be more apt.

I know that and I wouldn't attempt it - was just cautious with my reply (the OP may be a tech and/or familiar with disassembling computers??)

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Answer 4

Mroczek Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 8, 2011 12:50 AM in response to Mroczek

I am aware that it is very difficult to replace it yourself, the thing is the site you have showed me does not offer a smaller hard drive than 1 TB... I'm looking for a 500GB or 750GB Max. Thanks for the site anyway it will help me in later years. And sorry my mistake for saying 2.5" instead of 3.5". I'm not planning on dismantling it myself, but I was offered by Apple a $50 replacement cost with a BYO Hard Drive, so that what I'm looking for.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,488 points

Oct 8, 2011 6:30 AM in response to Mroczek

I would also recommend visting www.macsales.com (OWC) because they specialize in Macs everything is tested to work. Choose any 3.5" SATA internal drive and you should have no problem. Western Digital has a number of drives under 1GB available. My question is why is staying under 1TB one of your goals, it's counter intuitive to why most want to upgrade their internal HD's.

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Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Oct 8, 2011 8:31 AM in response to Mroczek

Mroczek wrote:

I am aware that it is very difficult to replace it yourself, the thing is the site you have showed me does not offer a smaller hard drive than 1 TB... I'm looking for a 500GB or 750GB Max. Thanks for the site anyway it will help me in later years. And sorry my mistake for saying 2.5" instead of 3.5". I'm not planning on dismantling it myself, but I was offered by Apple a $50 replacement cost with a BYO Hard Drive, so that what I'm looking for.

I agree with rkaufmann - why not go for a 1 TB? But, the site I mentioned (OWC) also shows 500 GB - the same drive is $47 for 500 GB and $64 for 1 TB.....

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/3.5-SerialATA/Western_Digital_Caviar

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