How do I find out what hard drives will work with my MacBook Pro 13" mid 2012

Question

How do I find out what hard drives will work with my MacBook Pro 13" mid 2012

Category: hardware, HDD: replacing the HDD and needing help on finding proper hard drive

Computer Specs: MacBook Pro 13" mid 2012

I need to replace my failing hard drive fast.. It's the computer I use for school and editing photos (I work as a photographer for my income) and I can't afford to lose it at the moment. Unfortunately, I don't have money to pay $166 for labour for Apple to replace and install one of their HDD to my MacBook. I need help finding out the specs to my Mac's current hard drive so I can match up a new replacement.

I have listed a link below of what I think (and have been told by an Apple rep at Best Buy) what should be a good match.

I can't afford much more than $100 for a HDD. I don't need anything more than 1TB or fancy things like an SSD, just a replacement.

A few questions I need answered:

1. I believe I'll need a Phillips #00 screwdriver and a T6 Torx screwdriver - is this correct? Is it all I'll need for replacing the HDD?

2. Is this HDD a good fit for my Mac? -> https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-mainstream-1tb-internal-serial-ata-hard-drive-fo r-laptops/9314126.p?skuId=9314126
If link doesn't work, check my description of the product:

"WD - Mainstream 1TB Internal Serial ATA Hard Drive for LaptopsModel: WDBMYH0010BNC-NRSN
SKU: 9314126"3. Do I need a bracket? If so, what kind of bracket do I need? What kind will fit the HDD I'm interested in in question #2?
3A: If I need a bracket do you know where to find one?
4. If this is the wrong HDD I need, can you help me find the right HDD? (preferably off Amazon, Best Buy, or a reputable seller). Like I said, I can't go over $100 MAX and I need to find a HDD soon.
5. Will any 2.5" HDD work? If I were to buy the linked HDD would it fit in my computer? If not, how do I know if it will fit?
5A: How do I figure out if a hard drive will fit? Are there sizes? (I know there's sizes...but will ANY 2.5" HDD work? Or do I need deeper specs?)

Thank you in advance! I truly know nothing about the dimensions, if the connector will work for my computer... I'm clueless. All the questions I've tried searching for on Google don't bring me anywhere and my Geeky friends have tried to help but I keep hearing different things from different people (i.e. Apple says this will work, friend says it won't)

~Andi Rose

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), null

Posted on Nov 12, 2017 12:51 PM

Reply

Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Nov 12, 2017 3:42 PM in response to ScarlettShadow257

Hi,

Correct on the tools. See this for illustrated, step by step directions: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2012 Hard Drive Replacement - iFixit

Any 2.5" SATA HDD will work. I would not buy the one from Best Buy. You can get a top of the line, 7200RPM (faster) HD with a larger cache (faster) and a five year warranty for about the same money: Amazon.com: WD Black 1TB Performance Mobile Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 32MB Cache 9.5 MM 2.5 Inch - WD10JPLX…

If saving a little really matters, you can get the Blue version, which is also a solid HDD.

You do not need a new bracket. The current one in your Mac will work fine.

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Answer 2

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Nov 15, 2017 11:13 AM in response to ScarlettShadow257

tjk's got the drive I'd recommend and I agree with the 7200 RPM as well. It'll be a tad less battery stingy but probably not enough that you'll notice. OWC also has a great video to show how to replace the drive. One small warning: the drive cable is fragile. Be very careful when you remove the old drive.

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Answer 3

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,660 points

Nov 15, 2017 11:18 AM in response to ScarlettShadow257

Hi Andi,

I replaced the HD in my 2012 13-inch non-Retina MBP's with an SSD a couple of weeks ago and it is quite easy whether you go SSD or the more affordable rotational drive. tjk's links are excellent. I would also offer this video link: MacBook Pro Hard Drive Installation Video at MacSales.com

Two recommendations:

1) The factory drive is an SATA-3 rated model on an SATA-6 bus in the computer so that is a bottleneck that, given the attractive price of SATA-6 rotational drives today, is an instant and cost-effective performance boost over when your computer was new.

2) The only real weak spot in that MBP model is the hard drive cable. Its convoluted routing and sharp bends to get around the topography of the case innards makes it prone to wear from normal handling. Problems start after about 3-4 years of normal use. Symptoms of a bad cable can mimic those of a bad hard drive! If money is a factor you may want to replace the cable first and see of the problems resolve. A new Apple cable is only US $15. I bought mine here:

Hard Drive Cable only $14.99

Even if you know the HD is bad, you should replace the cable at the same time for best service life. So it's no loss to replace the cable first and then find out you really need a new drive. Cable replacement video here: MacBook Pro Installation Video at MacSales.com

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