Solid State Hybrid Drive upgrade?

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Level 5

7,019 points

Solid State Hybrid Drive upgrade?

I need more storage on my internal drive (original 500 GB, 5400 RPM, HDD) and I would like to speed up R/W performance as well. Based on what I have researched, I am considering the Seagate Momentus XT 750 GB (7500 RPM) SSHD to upgrade my MBP from OWC, but I am not committed to it. I am open to 1 TB capacity SSHD as well. Which is the most reputable/best performing SSHD currently on the market at these capacities? What do you recommend?

Any advice or suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

This is what I am currently considering:

Seagate OWCYST750LX003 DIY KIT: 750GB Momentus XT... at OWC

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Sep 12, 2013 7:21 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 12, 2013 7:33 PM in response to nbar

Don't buy the Hybrid drive, those guys don't know what they are doing.

Build yourself a Fusion drive.

Available in Mac OS X 10.8.3 and later, all software, created with a little fiddling with Terminal.

It is a combination of a small fast SSD and a BIG slow Rotating Drive. It becomes a moderately fast BIG combination drive.You CAN set one up "by hand" if you are adventurous and do not have a panic attack when faced with Terminal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_Drive

http://jollyjinx.tumblr.com/post/34638496292/fusion-drive-on-older-macs-yes-sinc e-apple-has

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6679/a-month-with-apples-fusion-drive

http://blog.macsales.com/17624-os-x-10-8-3-provides-fusion-drive-setup-option-fo r-non-fusion-drive-equipped-macs

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Answer 2

nbar Author

Level 5

7,019 points

Sep 12, 2013 7:40 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

That is a viable option, but I would like to keep my optical drive ideally. What makes me more hesitant is the fact that I have read that a DIY fusion configuration in a MBP is a recipe for logical volume failure.

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Answer 3

Sep 12, 2013 7:44 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant Bennet-Alder West of Boston, USA

Don't buy the Hybrid drive, those guys don't know what they are doing.

Im glad you agree with me on OWC. 😊

Stay away from Seagate anything with 2.5" platters. Seagate 2.5" HD or hybrid-SSD (platter end) are unreliable performers.

Why dont you just grab a 1TB Toshiba internal for $62

I see you changed the beach ball avatar NBAR 😊

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Answer 4

nbar Author

Level 5

7,019 points

Sep 12, 2013 7:48 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Haha, beachball is coming back soon once I screw up my drive 😎 . I want to increase R/W speed, not just capacity. Would 7400 RPM 1 TB produce a noticable performance boost in this regard?...i haven't really looked at any benchmarks.

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Answer 5

Sep 12, 2013 7:55 PM in response to nbar

No, i barely notice it on 1gig PDF files.

Ive got 96 hard drives laying around here, about 10% of them are 7200rpm.

They dont 'wow' me a bit.

higher rpm = heat and more power for platter spindle powerup from idle = a hair of a battery hog.

macbooks are using 5400 Toshiba drives for a reason, and not because its "cheap than 7200"

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Answer 6

nbar Author

Level 5

7,019 points

Sep 12, 2013 7:55 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

Would you recommend any SSHD? Are there any reliable SSHD on the market? Or is it either SSD or 😐, these days.

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Answer 7

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Sep 12, 2013 8:01 PM in response to nbar

Not sure GB-A knows what he is talking about. The Seagate hybrid SSHD are good drives. I had a 500GB and switched it out for a 750GB model and my MBP runs great on it. Almost as fast as a SSD with storage space of rotating HDD and the cost of a standard drive.

If you want to keep your optical drive a SSHD is the way to go.

Personally I would never use a Fusion drive. It's bad enough when a drive fails but with a Fusion drive system if either drive fails all your data is gone from both.

This is just something Apple came up with for the newest iMac and Mini systems that are basically sealed units that can't be upgraded after they are bought.

nbar wrote:

That is a viable option, but I would like to keep my optical drive ideally. What makes me more hesitant is the fact that I have read that a DIY fusion configuration in a MBP is a recipe for logical volume failure.

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Answer 8

Sep 12, 2013 8:07 PM in response to nbar

Seems one of the few people can agree on is the Samsung 840 Pro, soon to be one-up'd by the 840 EVO

Agreed on the Hybrid drives. ...Amazing concept, very logical premise (keeping primary working on the SSD end).......and I absolutely wouldnt ever think of trusting one.

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