Reddit mentions of WD Black 320 GB Mobile Hard Drive, 2.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA II, 16 MB Cache (WD3200BEKT) (Old Model)

Follow this tutorial: Link

|But does anyone have any experience doing this? If so do you have |any suggestions?

Yes. Use a 7200RPM Western Digital HDD. Like this (one I have used) or like this.

|Do I run a risk of getting banned from xbl by swapping drives like that?

No. All the cheaper 3rd party drives you find on ebay/amazon are made the same way.

|Also, can any laptop hdd be used to do this?

No. It has to be one of a few certain models of Western Digital.

It would seem like that drive is a bit expensive, but I know nothing about non-USA costs related to hardware.

7200RPM drives are faster.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-320-Mobile-Hard-Drive/dp/B001CO3EKQ/ref=sr_1_24?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374515286&sr=1-24

I would recommend any of these:

WD Scorpio Black 320GB - $57.54

WD Scorpio Black 500GB - $62.45

WD Scorpio Black 750GB - $73.92

The reason why? They're 7200rpm drives and actually do decrease loading times. Plus they have longer warranties.

If you have amazon prime:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Scorpio-Black-Notebook/dp/B001CO3EKQ/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341597680&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=western+digital+scorpo+black

http://www.amazon.com/Scorpio-Black-Cache-Mobile-WD5000BPKT/dp/B004LR1RPK/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1341597680&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=western+digital+scorpo+black

Here's detailed instructions:

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/130

The main problems are these:

1. You need a torx driver, which is a funky kind of screw driver. I picked my up at a local hardware store.
   
   
2. I've heard you have to make sure the drive is thin enough. This is the one I bought, and it worked perfectly:
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-WD3200BEKT-Frustration-Free-Packaging/dp/B001CO3EKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265736954&sr=8-1

You're right, it was very easy to remove the hard drive myself. I read that I could download Mountain Lion on to a USB drive and install it myself instead of taking it to an apple store (closest one is 1.5 hours away). I may try that instead. Last question. Could you tell me if this 320GB hard drive is alright? The computer is a 13 inch model that I purchased last August. 320gb is plenty for my purposes.

If you worrying about HDD space, there are some great deals on Amazon and Rakuten right now:

• 320GB, 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache - $54.99
  
  
• 500GB, 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache - $58.98
  
  
• 1000GB, 7200RPM, 32MB Cache - $77.99 or $67,99 if you use V.me by Visa at checkout
  
  It's really easy to upgrade the HDD on your PS3™, look here: [Upgrade the Hard Disk Drive (HDD)](https://support.us.playstation.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/362/~/upgrade-the-hard-disk-drive-(hdd).

Has anyone tried the Western Digital Black 320 GB WD3200BEKT? Amazon lists it as "Old Model" and I am wondering if its safe to buy.

You'll be lucky to get two more years of wall-tethered use to be honest. Every other component is now 4 years old (except the mobo, i guess).

I have a laptop that is 6 years old running on a replacement drive, and while it functions in my experience as an IT Manager it is well outside the norm.

That said, if you know the risks going in, and you have the Windows disks, you can buy a hard drive for 60$ on amazon.

If you get one more year out of it for 60$ and can consider that money well spent, i would do it. You can then pull the drive, and use it as an external with a sata-usb adaptor.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Scorpio-Black-Notebook/dp/B001CO3EKQ/

(make sure that fits your laptop, i think it should though).


I would make the decision like this:
New laptop cost divided by 3 years (how long you should assume it will last, as that's how long most warranties can be maxed to).

vs.
Cost to repair laptop to make it last one more year.


Unfortunately you have no guarantee the laptop will last another year even with a new hard drive. And you'll feel silly if the laptop's CPU or LCD goes out in a month; but it's probably a safe bet to give it a year.