Seagate Hybrid Hard Drive Upgrade & Performance

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Caraveo Author

Level 1

13 points

Seagate Hybrid Hard Drive Upgrade & Performance

I recently ordered 16GB 1600MHz memory for my MacBook Pro (it's on it's way to me.) This is my model:

.

I have decided to replace my stock 5400RPM 750GB Hard Drive with:

Seagate Momentus XT 7200RPM 750GB Hybrid Hard Drive

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Momentus-7200RPM-Hybrid-ST750LX003/dp/B00691WMJG/r ef=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373875892&sr=1-4&keywords=hybrid+hard+drive +1tb+7200rpm

I read on the internet that seagate has software that improves the caching for some applications, but I think the software only works with Windows. Although amazon states that the performance increase is on any OS. I would like some proof.

I would really like to see some performance benchmarks, numbers, or reviews ON MacBook Pro's NOT just Windows machines. I would also like to know if OS X has any type of software implementation that will maximize the use of a hybrid hard drive. (Something like Fusion support for Hybrid Drives on machines that don't have Fusion hard drives.)

Recap:

I am running OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 3.
I upgraded my RAM from 4GB 1333MHz to 16GB 1600MHz and it will delivered soon.
I want to upgrade my HD to a Hybrid Drive

Questions:

I want to know statistics for Hybrid HD performance.
I would like to know about any Hybrid Hard Drive suport in OS X.

Extra:

Please suggest any way to increase the performance of my MacBook Pro.

My mac has been functioning good and I am hoping with these upgrade I can get it running great! Thank you for your time.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), Safari Downloads

Posted on Jul 15, 2013 1:48 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 15, 2013 3:24 AM in response to Caraveo

Caraveo wrote:

....

I upgraded my RAM from 4GB 1333MHz to 16GB 1600MHz and it will delivered soon.

....

Other than more RAM, faster RAM will make no difference whatsoever.

The RAM bus speed is fixed and putting in faster RAM does not change

that. In fact, since it is RAM that is not spec'd for your particular model, it

may not work at all!! Alway replace RAM specified for the particular MAC

that you are updating.

As for the hybrid drive, it works out how to cache most often used items

in its flash memory on its own. Initially, you will more than likely see

very little difference in performance until it "learns" what items are accessed

most.

If you really want to increase disk performance, go to a full fledged SSD.

If you want, you can replace the CD/DVD drive with a larger HDD data drive

using a kit available from OWC.

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