HDD's, Brackets, and SSD's - G73JH

Greetings.

Caveat: I know this has been discussed in different threads before, but I am asking specific questions that address specific needs, to which I did not find any specific answers.

I would like to add a second HDD to my G73JH-RBBX05 (BestBuy model), and as is known, these units do not ship with a second HHD bracket. I am also considering making this second HDD an SSD, and I have some questions to which I seek answers.

1. Does anyone know the actual part number for the HDD bracket for the G73JH? Any ideas as to who carries these at the moment?

2. Does anyone know the part number of the 500GB HDD that ships with these units? Any idea if there is a compatible 1TB unit?

3. Does upgrading to a SSD provide a justifiable increase in performance? By that I mean does the performance increase justify the cost? (If I decided to do this, I would be looking at a 500GB SSD, so the performance increase would have to be worth it). While on the subject, any recommendations on SSD's?

Thank you for any and all input.

Edit: A quick opening of the back of the unit, and eureka!, I have a part number for the HDD bracket: 13GNY810M12X-1

 

You know why you havn't got specific answers? Because you havn't tried the asus estore or google, and looked for yourself.

Question 1: Check the asus estore. Oh, it's not listed. Check ebay. OH, it's not listed. Check google. WOW... lots of information there.

Question 2: Part number? *shrugs* ... but is there a 1tb 2.5inch sata hard drive? TRY GOOGLE ffs

3. Does an SSD provide a justifiable increase in performance... HMMMMM Let me google that for you ... wait ...

As for SSD recommendations? HMMM search engine, again?

The reason there are forums like this, is so that people can share. Also, the reason there is a search box, is because it's easy to see if other people have asked the same question ... and then you don't have ask again. Because chances are, there are hundreds of posts exactly like yours and it's difficult to sort through them ... WHY? BECAUSE of people like you.

 

From the ssd's i have seen it looks to about halve load times....

a 500gb ssd costs an arm and a leg (actually only 1 or 2 500gb ssds out there or soon to be)

256 gb ssd are about $600.....
And finally the longevity of the drive is a big question.... no one really knows how long they will last... (i have seen estimates of 3 years or so vs the 5 avg for hdd)

Verdict: Yes there is a huge increase in performance, but its load times not really game-play or anything, and the price is high per gb....

I may upgrade at a later date but only planning on an 80gb or 160.... and you have to upgrade realizing that the high performance and cost could die in a year or two.... if you don't mind paying for it go right ahead

 

Thanks for your response.

But I have just one question.

Why did you spend so much time saying ABSOLUTELY NOTHING?

Are you really so jobless, or is it just that you are so full of hate?

Either way, brother, you need to grow up and get a life!

 

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I have seen what some of those prices are, that's exactly why I am looking for specific answers in these forums (where we GENERALLY have knowledgeable and decent people).

So I understand that the benefit from an SSD is generally only in the system load times, and really not much gain in actually game play.

I do appreciate that information.

Please if anyone could add anything, it would also be appreciated.

 

The HD bracket part # is 13GNY81AM020-1. I received this information directly from ASUS and confirmed it by purchasing that part # from asusparts.eu and then receiving and installing said bracket. It's the right #.

Honestly, if you're going to put another drive in, why get an SSD over 160gb right now? That's plenty for your OS and a few games and then use the other drive as storage. You can even put your "My Documents" over there to minimize the junk that gets dropped in there on a daily basis.

I have a 160gb Intel SSD and it's over 75% free with Windows, Office, Crysis and Borderlands installed (plus miscellaneous other junk). It's hugely fast and I really love it. It's not for everyone, but it's pretty sweet and is obviously silent and even potentially brought my temps down a couple degrees (can't confirm due to variations in the weather, obviously).

*edit* Oh, and don't mind DCx. He seems to think it's his personal job to berate people. The part # isn't easy to find, though honestly your other questions are.

 

aramis109,

thank you so much for this information. I have gone ahead and ordered the bracket, while I contemplate what I want to do regarding the second drive. (By the way, are you stateside, and if so, how long did it take for the bracket to arrive?).

I understand what you mean about getting a smaller drive, but to be honest, I also know myself. If I went ahead and got a 160 or 320GB drive, in a couple of weeks I would be wishing I got the 500GB one, and will start looking to pull whatever I got to try and return/exchange it for the larger one. But that's just me

Again, many thanks.

 

No problem. Yes, I'm stateside. Unfortunately it took about a month to get to me, due to them waiting about 3-4 weeks for ASUS to get the part to them, and then shipping + customs to me.

I was just talking SSD size, not normal platter-based hard drives (as I don't think there are any 500gb SSD's currently on the market). I was using two 500gb HD's in my G73 but found it to be kind of redundant for how I use the laptop, and changed to an SSD for Windows and games, and the HD for My Docs, music, pictures, movies and miscellaneous storage. Windows 7 uses surprisingly little room, especially if you make the choice to turn off the page file and System Restore features. As mentioned, with two games installed (oh, and Steam), Office 2007 and miscellaneous apps, I still have almost 80% free currently.

 

Yes, I know you were talking about the SSD's.

And yes, you are right about the availability of 500GB SSD's. The ones I was looking at over at Newegg, were 3.5 and not 2.5. My mistake!

Thanks again.