MacBook Pros with 7200RPM HDDs getting a touch too noisy?

MacBook Pro hard disk storage really seem to be down on its luck this generation. First was the 3Gbps SATA transfers (now fixed), which honestly didn't affected but a marginal percentage of users upgrading to SSD themselves. Now comes word from a number of irate users on the Apple support forums that claim their HDDs, specifically those spec'd at 7200RPM, are suffering from performance issues and some audible clicking / beeping sounds. The folks at Other World Computing chimed in to say that it might have something to do with the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 G-Force drives, which takes anti-shock precautions that are possibly causing both noise and extra strain. If you're not hearing anything now, we wouldn't suggest you start getting hyper paranoid over the issue -- it's the internet, where things often get blown way out of proportion, in case you haven't noticed. If you're still worried / curious, hit up the read link for the full collection of anecdotes.

[Via Engadget Spanish and MacNN]

[Bensawsome Posted Jul 12th 2009 3:50PM]

I have been hearing some beeping coming from inside my MBP and i was wondering what it was... I guess now I know :/
But I don't completely get what's bad about it. Will it like explode or something? :P

[skalpa Posted Jul 12th 2009 3:52PM]

The french site macbidouille posted a fix to this issue ( well, it's a command that has to be lanuched each time you reboot, but it works ):
http://www.macbidouille.com/news/2009/07/10/faire-cesser-les-bips-de-disque-dur-sur-les-macbook-pro

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 6:10PM]

MacBidouille! what a cute name... I love french!

je bidouille
tu bidouilles
il bidouille
nous bidouillons
vous bidouillez
ils bidouillent

[dudeinpa Posted Jul 12th 2009 4:09PM]

This is legit. I've deployed 4 machines in my IT shop and 1 of them has this clicking problem. It's REALLY annoying.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 4:12PM]

great i just bought a new seagate 7200.4 500gb for my macbook pro /fail

[pretol Posted Jul 12th 2009 5:01PM]

BOOMBOX!!!

And what happened next will BLOW YOUR MIND...
Everyone started having sex
The music was WAY TO POWERFUL
Buncha old people facking like rabbits
it was disgusting TO SAY THE LEAST...

[Christian Posted Jul 12th 2009 5:03PM]

I have this exact drive (Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB with G-Shock protection) in my late-2008 15-inch MacBook Pro, and I haven't experienced these problems. What I *have* noticed is that this drive is definitely noisier, in terms of regular rotation noise, and produces slightly more vibration, than the 5400rpm drive I replaced it with. In my opinion, neither the noise nor the vibration are deal-breakers, but they're definitely noticeable vis a vis the original drive.

[Quikboy Posted Jul 12th 2009 6:42PM]

Is this really a surprise?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 5:53PM]

256GB SSD. Woo.

[Ryall Posted Jul 13th 2009 1:07AM]

I got a solid state hard drive in my new macbookpro.
The computer is silent.

Until I start gaming, then you hear a fan.

[idlemind1999 Posted Jul 13th 2009 10:11AM]

anyone notice how bad the grammar is in Engadget sometimes? This is still my one-stop shop for tech info and I know they are in a rush to press the PUBLISH button, but damn... this time its 3 in one story...


"MacBook Pro hard disk storage really SEEM to be down on its luck this generation. First was the 3Gbps SATA transfers (now fixed), which honestly didn't AFFECTED but a marginal percentage of users upgrading to SSD themselves. Now comes word from a number of irate users on the Apple support forums that claim their HDDs, specifically those spec'd at 7200RPM, are suffering from performance issues and some audible clicking / beeping sounds. The folks at Other World Computing chimed in to say that it might have something to do with the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 G-Force drives, which TAKES anti-shock precautions..."

[Mike V Posted Jul 14th 2009 9:37AM]

I didn't read all the comments, so maybe someone posted this already, but Apple has a sudden motion sensor in their laptops already.

Apple knows that if you install a hard drive with an in-built sensor there is a conflict if you don't turn it off.

There is an Apple Knowledge Base article exactly about this issue detailing the keystrokes required to turn off the sudden motion sensor.

Another way (smarter way maybe?) is to just not install a hard drive with a G sensor, because you don't need it.

For example I have a 500 Gb 7200 RPM hard drive in my MacBook right now and it is perfect.
It's actually cheaper to buy one without the G sensor anyway.

[bkooie Posted Jul 16th 2009 10:53AM]

17" MBP here. Drive clicks like a mouse and chirps like a bird.

Sigh...