Mac Mini / Replacing Hard Disk Options

[zakary]

Hi everyone,
would it be possible to replace the hard disk that comes with the mac mini (1.42Ghz, 512Mb ram, 80Gb HD, combodrive) with a new one that is 7.200rpm ?

If so, would this cause heat/noise issues ?

thanks
zakary

[banevt]

I replaced the hard drive on my iBook with an 80 Gb 7200 RPM Hitachi Travelstar drive and it is less noisy than my original drive and I haven't noticed it running hotter. As a matter of fact if it isn't the same temp it might even be running cooler. I did this to an older iBook so maybe it's not a good comparison with the mac mini but I've been very happy with the switch.

[Dustan]

It's totally possible to change the HD on the mini. It's tricky though. The enclosure system is with those funky clips, similar to the Ipod. You've got to know well what you're doing (and don't cry when you scratch the edges a little!! )

as far as heat and noise... The mini is damn silent I don't think it should change anything.
and as for the heat my guess would be that there is no problem with that. Considering that I had a 7200 rpm HD on my powerbook aluminium, which are as hot as hell with the original Hd's, and still ran quite ok... with no major issues at all..

very well...

best.

[dwwave]

My only experience with changing out hardrives was on G3

power mac desktop from a 4200 to a 7200, end result

computer burned up within one week major overheat

it was a on a surge so that helped, lucky we did not burn the hosue

down, A Apple certified tech did the work(on his own time)

could have been a fluke, he blamed a hairball from our cat

I cleaned the compartment a week earlier (it was clean and always

has been clean and the G3's blew air out and did not draw

air in

be careful

[lancet]

http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CA...ade+Putty+Knife

get one of these, start at the back of the mini, either side , and work your way all the way around.

when you put it back together, start at the rear to engage the row of metal shield clips.

you will need to use more force than you expect. polypropylene is difficult to break



http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/inde...o/mini/med.html

look here for more info, just work your way around instead of the sides first , the unit they are working on has likely been opened before and is easier to open than yours might be. You can avoid the difficulty on the second side.

NOTE , very important!!!!!! if you break ANYTHING while doing this. YOU HAVE VOIDED YOUR WARRANTY. This upgrade , on it's own, does not void the warranty. But the warranty does not extend to your new HD nor will it cover any damage caused by it's use or installation..

This post has been edited by lancet: Sat 22 Oct 2005, 14:51

[lancet]

could have been a fluke, he blamed a hairball from our cat

that must have been some hair ball !!!!

[dwwave]

I never saw it and doubt its existance kind of like

Bigfoot! (ha)

something toasted it though!

[lepetitmartien]

A chemical capacitor must have blown.

[seabass069]

I bought a Ministack from www.newertech.com. It is an external Firewire hard drive. You can use a 7200 drive in it. I set it up as my main drive. OS X is on that drive. I use my internal (slow) drive as my music storage drive.

To replace your Macmini drive, it will be expensive. It's a notebook hardrive. Cheaper to by a Ministack and no heat issues. With a 7200 drive inside the Macmini it will get hot.