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    Impact of the 7200rpm HD in new 17" MBP on battery life and boot time

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by lillumultipass, Jul 18, 2009.

  1. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Hi to all!

    I am considering buying a 17" MBP mainly as a desktop replacement for my PC, since I really don't stand it anymore.

    Hence, I am going to ask 2 basic questions but I have not been able to find precise answers to them:

    1. what's the impact on battery life of having a 7200rpm HD in the new 17" MBP? Will I still have my around 7hrs of juice?
    2. what's the impact on boot time? I have just tested the 5400rpm version, and I didn't find it exceedingly quick, i.e. it took him around 47 seconds to boot. Would the 7200rpm decrease this?

    One possibility would be to buy the standard version, and then, in a few months, upgrade with a 256 Go SSD...

    Any thoughts on this, or links to review of the MBP doing some comparisons?
    Thanks :D
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 18, 2009
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  2. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    on a mac?

    anyway, battery dicrese will be minimal, boot times will improve a bit.
     
    Xirurg, Jul 18, 2009
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  3. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    The only 500GB 7200rpm drive is the Seagate 7200.4 and it isn't very fast. In short: the 5400rpm WD5000BEVT is as fast, uses less power and makes less noise. Here's the full review:
    http://techreport.com/articles.x/17010

    If you want to boot noticeably faster you're better of with SSD.
     
    Phil, Jul 18, 2009
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  4. irishhenshin

    irishhenshin Notebook Consultant

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    I'm using the 7200 and I would not recommend it if you're willing to take a chance as there is an issue with it.

    It clicks, then beeps and then a system-wide freeze for a split second.
    <object width='480' height='295'><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rsg84yqzvhs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rsg84yqzvhs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='480' height='295'></embed></object>

    Now I must be lucky because it doesn't happen while I'm in windows, doesn't happen with my games and it doesn't freeze my audio in itunes. So I don't take much notice of it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2015
    irishhenshin, Jul 18, 2009
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  5. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I think you mean "I would not recommend it"?
     
    Phil, Jul 18, 2009
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  6. irishhenshin

    irishhenshin Notebook Consultant

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    Hehe woops yup, changed :)


    It works fine for me, because surprisingly it doesn't freeze the audio from my DJ software but it does for instance freeze firefox every now and again, I haven't been really effected by it that much but there's a thread on the Apple forums and apparently it's been very bad for some people.
     
    irishhenshin, Jul 18, 2009
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  7. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Yup, on the latest 17" MBP with a 5400rpm HD.
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 18, 2009
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  8. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Hmmm...you are making me hesitate more and more. Indeed, if it freezes from time to time, I think it will quickly drive me crazy!
    Above all since I will certainly Parallels a lot, I guess it will also freeze if I use it...
    Maybe I should settle for the 5400rpm one and upgrade to a 256 Go SSD soon...
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 18, 2009
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  9. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Well as you can read in the Techreport review I posted there is no benefit in the 500GB/7200rpm drive even if it doesn't have issues.

    SSDs prices are said to be drop soon because of new Intel drives. Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB is expected but not announced.
     
    Phil, Jul 18, 2009
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  10. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Would it be better to swap the Seagate 500gb for my WD 500gb or does it make no difference.

    I was thinking of cloning the Seagate to my WD , before i start my Macbook for the first time, so i have an untouched HDD.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Jul 18, 2009
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  11. Phil

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    I would probably do it. Performance will be very similar but it will make less sound and vibration.

    and there's also the chance of experiencing the mentioned issues with the Seagate.
     
    Phil, Jul 18, 2009
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  12. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    This will be the Seagate 5400rpm not the 7200rpm , I am going to swap for the WD 500 5400rpm.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Jul 18, 2009
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  13. irishhenshin

    irishhenshin Notebook Consultant

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    There are no issues with the Seagate 5400 HDD sadly just the 7200. Not quite sure how they occur as it happens when the system is idle as well. I've been lucky with it and I really take no notice of it, but some people have had it worse. Something like this would usually bother me but as its not effecting my audio it doesn't bother me.
     
    irishhenshin, Jul 19, 2009
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  14. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Yeah, I think I will settle for the standard 5400rpm one. However, I have looked at the SSD prices, and at around 700 euros for a 256 Go SSD, it's still quite expensive!

    It's just that I am kind of a "speed freak" and my past 2 laptops have had SSD's inside. I already find my desktop to be quite slow (Vista on a 7200rpm harddrive...), so I wonder about the MBP w/o a SSD. To be fair, I tested one at a local reseller, and it didn't seem that slow, but it was quite new and I guess not cluttered with many things...
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 19, 2009
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  15. irishhenshin

    irishhenshin Notebook Consultant

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    To be honest, my desktop is a 7200 RPM HDD and my boot camp vista, boots faster and loads everything faster than my desktop, only a couple of hundred Mhz difference in the CPU.

    I have heard good things about the 5400, especially on the Apple forum were the mega thread rages on about the 7200. But I suppose in the next year we'll probably see SSD dropping price with the likes of other technologies coming (USB3 etc).

    If you're really set on getting the SSD I'd say try ebay to maybe get a cheaper price, I know there are lot of Dutch websites that sell things a lot cheaper than you would expect.

    We have Komplett in Ireland and it's been great since it started, however they are still dearer than other European sites.
     
    irishhenshin, Jul 19, 2009
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  16. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Thx for the info!
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 20, 2009
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  17. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    I wonder if you will be able to get an USB3.0 express card adaptor :rolleyes:
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Jul 20, 2009
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  18. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    lol. usb 3 will not be on to devices until at least next year i believe.
     
    Luke1708, Jul 20, 2009
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  19. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    then something is wrong-I can swear my dads mba a. boots faster then that!
     
    Xirurg, Jul 20, 2009
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  20. majorcrabs

    majorcrabs Newbie

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    thats because the mac book air has a solid state drive
     
    majorcrabs, Jul 21, 2009
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  21. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    nope, dad has base rev.a model with 80gb HDD,4200rpm
     
    Xirurg, Jul 21, 2009
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  22. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Well, I find this very surprising: I have an MBA w/ SSD, and it boots in around 37-40 seconds.
    I thought the MBA with 4200 rpm HD was quite slow...

    I rather like my MBA, the only thing is when I have Firefox open with many tabs and Parallels workstation running Windows XP, he can be pretty slow, which I find a bit annoying at times.

    I can't decide what to do: I have even considered not selling my desktop and instead upgrade it with a SSD. But I would be stuck with Vista, something I don't really want to. Still, I could also dual-boot with Linux...
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 21, 2009
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  23. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    it is your choice, no one can make it instead you!

    and that "problem" with air is quite predictable- rev.a model was quite weak, and it only has 2gb of ram
     
    Xirurg, Jul 21, 2009
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  24. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    I know, I know...it just does not make the choice easier ;-)

    The reasonable thing to do would be to upgrade the PC, the not-so-reasonable one to buy the 17" w/ SSD, and the in-between solution would be to buy a 15" MBP now and wait 2 months for the new intel SSD's price to go down a bit.
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 21, 2009
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  25. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    Xirurg, Jul 21, 2009
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  26. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    yes, most of apple's refurbs are top quality.
     
    Luke1708, Jul 21, 2009
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  27. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

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    mine even had "the_scent" of new laptop :D
     
    Xirurg, Jul 21, 2009
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  28. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    You never know you might get my return, hope you like the dead pixel :D
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Jul 21, 2009
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  29. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Why don't you instal Win 7 RC. It works like the bomb in my opinion.
     
    Phil, Jul 21, 2009
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  30. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    In the french refurb there is indeed a 17" MBP (2.66 Ghz, 320 Go 5400 RPM HD, I guess it is a Early 2009 version) at 1799 euros. This might indeed be a good idea, even though I can have the new one at around 2080€ with a rebate.

    As to the SSD's, yes, these are the ones I am waiting for.
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 22, 2009
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  31. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Oh yeah? Is it really that good? And much better than Vista?
    How would you compare it to Leopard though?

    Thanks! :)
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 22, 2009
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  32. Phil

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    Each has it's pros and cons to me. Leopard is more intuitive, while Windows has sharper letters.

    Windows 7 is a big improvement over Vista, it's snappier and has has faster boot and hibernate times. Visual improvements as well.
     
    Phil, Jul 22, 2009
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  33. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Thanks! What do you mean by "sharper letters" though? You mean, fonts?
    In that case, well, I think I don't really care.
    However, if it is indeed snappier, it would be great!
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 22, 2009
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  34. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Yes I mean the fonts.
     
    Phil, Jul 22, 2009
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  35. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    yes. long live w7!!!! i love this thing. no audio crackling as compared to vista
     
    Luke1708, Jul 22, 2009
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  36. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Oh by the way, another quick question: what are the differences between the new MBP and the early 2009 one? I think it is only the HD which is bigger, the processor, and maybe the screen which seems to be more "colourful". Am I right?

    I am asking this because there is a 17" MBP w/ 2.66 Ghz and a 320 Go 5400 rpm HD at 1800€ in the refurb. So I wonder for instance if they have the same battery, i.e., the one which Apple claims has 1000 cycles?
    If there are almost identical, I might indeed buy this one...
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 22, 2009
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  37. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    It has a better battery
     
    Luke1708, Jul 22, 2009
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  38. lillumultipass

    lillumultipass Notebook Guru

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    Oh yeah? Does it? Because I have not been able to find some clear info on this issue.
    For instance, what I found here is that the battery is identical in both models:

    http://tinyurl.com/llqj7r

    I am a bit lost now...
     
    lillumultipass, Jul 22, 2009
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