Time for a New HD for my Mac Mini - Which to get?

[aphex]

Im torn between getting either a;

120gb 5400rpm (Seagate or Fujitsu)
100gb 7200rpm (Hitachi)

The price difference isnt huge, the 120gb is $110 or so, the 100gb is ~ $140. I swapped out my laptop HD awhile back from a 5400 -> 7200, and I recall the speed difference being noticable, but don't recall exactly how noticable it was. The mini, like a laptop, needs a 2.5" SATA drive...

 

[Kaido]

Go with a 100gb 7200rpm Seagate. It's quiet and fast. I have owned both the Hitachi and Seagate 100gb 7200rpm models and I would definately recommend the Seagate. I installed one in my Intel Mac Mini and it's super quiet. 7200rpm is definately noticeable btw 🙂

 

[Blain]

You could go with a firewire enclosure and get a bigger HD.
Something like this

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Blain
You could go with a firewire enclosure and get a bigger HD.

I already have two 250gb External Drives (one of which is for sale on FS/FT), one is Firewire, one is USB 2.0.

The problem is that the 60gb internal isn't big enough. With a dual boot OSX and Vista, I have very little space on the internal HD left...

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Go with a 100gb 7200rpm Seagate. It's quiet and fast. I have owned both the Hitachi and Seagate 100gb 7200rpm models and I would definately recommend the Seagate. I installed one in my Intel Mac Mini and it's super quiet. 7200rpm is definately noticeable btw 🙂

Well I have a hitachi 7200rpm in my T41, and its been great too...

Hmm, as fast as my C2D mini is, the speed boost would be nice...

 

[Blain]

Boot from an external firewire drive. No need for an internal at all.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Blain
Boot from an external firewire drive. No need for an internal at all.

Wouldn't that be significantly slower than an internal? Can Bootcamp work with an external FW drive?

 

[Blain]

Right now, your booting from a 5400 laptop drive.
Does the Mac Mini have 1394A or B firewire?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Blain
Right now, your booting from a 5400 laptop drive.
Does the Mac Mini have 1394A or B firewire?

1394a

From what i recall, OSX can boot via External FW, but Vista/XP needs external USB drive... Didn't think Vista can boot via FW...

 

[Kaido]

Boot Camp will not work on an external drive (without hacks, that is). As far as speed tests, check out barefeats.com for some Firewire comparisons.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Boot Camp will not work on an external drive (without hacks, that is). As far as speed tests, check out barefeats.com for some Firewire comparisons.

thx, i'll go check it out

 

[aphex]

Interesting results - http://barefeats.com/5472.html

 

[aphex]

^

 

[mshan]

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/

🙂

 

[Oyeve]

I would go for the faster HD. The Mini is slow as it is and can only benefit from a faser HD.

 

[aphex]

So i came across an 80gb 7200rpm for $85, i think i may go that route...