Editorial Review

WD Scorpio Blue 5400 RPM 2.5-inch SATA hard drives from Western Digital deliver lightning-fast and ultra-quiet performance hand-in-hand with low power consumption. In addition, they are designed with ruggedness, reliability, and data-protection features that actively watch over valuable data. Available in capacities from 160 to 640 GB, these drives feature a 3 Gb/s SATA interface and 8 MB cache. WD Scorpio Blue hard drives are designed for portable digital devices of all kinds, including notebook computers, external storage, and digital media players. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Reviews

Perfect for Asus Eee PC 1000/Linux, March 24, 2009
I own the ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White.

About a half-hour ago this Crucial 2GB 667 Mhz CT25664AC667 DDR2 200-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory card arrived in the mail. I opened up and removed the small plastic cover on the bottom of my computer, released the clips holding the original supplied 1 GB memory card in place (when you release the clips, the card pops up for easy removal), replaced the original card with this one, replaced the cover, inserted the battery, and turned on the computer.

This new memory card was instantly recognized.

I did NOT have to press the F2 or F10 key. I do not know why some others had to do this (and I do not doubt their experiences) but, immediately after I installed the card and turned on the computer in the normal fashion, I checked the memory available - and there was my 2 GB of RAM showing.

The entire mechanical installation process is quite simple and straightforward. The only tool necessary is a small Phillips-head screwdriver (mine came in a screwdriver set from Dollar Tree!) to remove the screws. Please note that, for the Asus Eee PC 1000 line, there are several YouTube videos which show in detail the whole process which takes no more than two or three minutes. The hardest part? Carefully removing the plastic cover on the back of the computer. The screws remove easily but there are several internal plastic clips on the sides of the cover (not visible) which must be released gently so as not to break them (they do seem robust, however).

Once the cover is removed, actually removing and replacing the memory is simple.

I have used Crucial memory cards in other laptop computers over the years and I have always found them to be completely reliable.

Therefore I highly recommend this memory card, especially for Asus Eee PC 1000 owners.

Perfect for Acer Aspire One Netbook, June 14, 2009
This works perfectly in an Acer Apire One netbook computer. There are plenty of video instructions online on how to insert the memory. The good news is that the newer Aspire One's have a special memory door on the back of the computer, so there is no need to dissasemble the computer like in the videos. Just find the door with the memory symbol on it. It is one screw, pop the old one out and pop in the new one. This is a cheap way to double your memory in less than 5 minutes of installation.

installing 2GB RAM on eee pc, (love crucial), October 25, 2008
...if putting in 2GB module in eee pc 1000 you need to restart computer after installing the RAM and keep pressing F2. then press F10 to accept the settings in the BIOS. now your eee pc will recognize the 2 GB module
yeah,.. plug and play... right
peace, scott

NC-10 owners watch out.., January 21, 2009
I bought this RAM due to the recommendation from Amazon to go along with my Samsung NC-10 netbook. This is not compatible RAM for your netbook. I have been having system crashes from the minute I installed the RAM. If you look at Crucial's website you will see it states that the compatible RAM for that netbook is DDR2 PC2-6400 * CL=6 * Unbuffered * NON-ECC * DDR2-800 * 1.8V * 256Meg x 64 which is not the same as this. I think the actual product is fine just not working with my NC-10. Just a heads up.

Not life changing, but it helps, October 3, 2009
Bought the Acer Aspire One 10.1" D250 Kit at [...]. Very nice machine, good feature set and it works. It came with the usual 1-GB RAM installed. OK but obviously only just enough. Acer sort of claims 1-GB is the max the single slot can take, but every Acer hack website says it'll take 2GB and most say that this is the 2-GB module to use. There is some debate over whether you end up with the full 2-GB or whether the system will only recognize 1.5GB or so. More on that later. I've used Crucial Memory several times before for my PCs and it has always been an excellent performer - and for $32, what the hey. So 24-hours after I bought the Acer, I ordered the 2-GB RAM. Was going out of town so I asked for 2-day shipping. The module arrived the next day - whoa! thanks!

I printed out the system specs before I started. Yup, showed 1-GB installed. Took out 1-screw, popped the panel, swapped modules and 2 minutes later I powered up again. Quite a bit quicker to load the OS, but absolutely no indication or messages that anything had changed. Opened a couple of apps, definitely quicker. And, the real reason for buying the 2-GB, I shoot a lot of digi-pics and 1-GB took forever to load the image folders and bring up the thumbnails. The D250 does that a lot quicker now, Checked the system specs again - yup, all 2-GB showing and at work. So, all-n-all, very simple to do, and a distinctly faster machine with no hitches, glitches or hiccups. Still not blazing speed, but a noticeable improvement. May not make me deliriously happy; but the 1-GB would have eventually driven me crazy and I'd have done this out of frustration. A very good experience and a worthwhile investment. And really and truly, anyone can do it.

Perfect match for MacBook Pro, December 9, 2007
I bought my MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz with only 2GB RAM. I used this to replace one of the 1GB dimm and it works flawlessly.

Got this to supercharge my Asus EEE, April 12, 2008
Not much to say--I unscrewed the little door on the EEE (voiding the warranty, of course), removed the original memory and stuck this one in. The laptop recognized it and all is well. I don't know if I really NEEDED to do this, but the EEE is so cool that I wanted to give it a present.

Not correct model# for NC10, February 6, 2009
I bought this product and installed it in my Samsung NC10 only to find out later from Crucial that the PC2 6400, not the PC2 5300, sold here is the best match for the NC10. I rated it 3 stars because of the misinformation by posters and Amazon that led me to the wrong product, however, the product works fine. The difference is the PC2 6400 delivers data @ 6400 MBps vs the slower 5300 MBps of this product here, thus, I am a little disappointed that I could of had the better performance of the 6400 had I not been misled.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=NC10-14G&pl=Samsung&cat=RAM

Nice memory upgrade for the HP Mini 110, September 23, 2009
This 2GB RAM works well with the HP Mini 110. The packaging was adequate and installation was hassle free. I did not need to configure the BIOS for it to be recognized. Highly recommended!

Perfect for the Eee PC 1000HE, February 25, 2009
I immediately placed this ram module into the new Eee PC 1000 HE, and it worked perfectly. This is the one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Designed with top-of-the-line notebook computers in mind, this high performance drive delivers the capacity and speed needed to supercharge a notebook PC without compromising battery life or quiet acoustics. Features like these also make this drive an outstanding option for compact desktops, external hard drives, gaming systems, and blade servers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Seagate Momentus XT drive offers hybrid storage with Adaptive Memory technology, enabling the drive to deliver higher capacities up to 500 GB and SSD-like performance. The Momentus XT drive is designed for all standard laptop PCs and is OS-, driver- and software independent, making this drive easy to integrate and easy to use. Adaptive Memory technology enables the drive to tailor its performance to the user. Whether you are gaming, editing digital media or crunching numbers, the performance is optimized and ready for your next move. Adaptive Memory technology is a Seagate data management technique that constantly monitors and quickly recalls data usage and preferences. It places files and data that the user will likely access again and again into the solid state portion of the drive. When the user requires the data or application file, it already sits in an instantly accessible location, thereby customizing system performance for the user. Constant monitoring dynamically improves overall response time based on personal usage. You can perform at your best no matter how you use your laptop PC. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Reviews

Works very well, February 5, 2010
I purchased these for my brand new MacBook Pro 2.53 and I have to say it works like magic. I did not even run the MacBook on its original 4 GB, however my boss and his boss both have the same MacBook minus the memory upgrade and I'd have to say after trying their laptops there is a really big diff.

I have Mac OS X running side by side with Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. No slowdowns whatsoever on both OS'es.

This upgrade is worth it, and is much cheaper than Apple's upgrade, and also Amazon sells it at a far better price than if you buy directly from the manufacturer. Gotta love Amazon !

works great in Macbook Pro, November 11, 2009
The 8GB kit arrived yesterday. I put it in my new Macbook Pro 2.8Ghz and it was recognized immediately. I'll be running Windows 7 with MS Office 2007 plus Dreamweaver and Photoshop CS 4 for Mac and probably other parts of Adobe CS4 Web Premium. I expect improved processing with this 8GB. When I removed the old memory, the top piece came out easily. The bottom pieced seemed to be popped loose, but it actually wasn't completely up. Luckily, I tried the release again and it came up further and then I could get it out fairly easily. Crucial warns you about this, too, but you might want to release it a couple of times before trying to remove the bottom piece.

MORE MEMORY, May 20, 2009
I put this in my Mac Mini (even thought the published spec is 4GB). It works like a charm and allows me to run multiple Windows virtual machines without any major slowdowns.

8GB RAM Works Fantastic in Asus UL30Vt-X1 Notebook!, February 28, 2010
I just bought a new Asus UL30Vt-X1 13.3" CULV CPU C2Duo notebook, and upgraded the standard 4GB of matched Hynix RAM ( 2 x 2GB SODIMMs ) with this 8GB kit, and I am happy to say that it performs beautifully in my computer, allowing me to multi-task and open virtually an unlimited number of programs, applications, JPEGs, play music through iTunes, whatever all at once! This Crucial/Micron RAM was not recommended to me, but when I saw that it worked in MacBook/MacBook Pro computers I *knew* it would be fine in the Asus notebook, too.

Everest Ultimate Utility ( v 5.02.1750, a licensed copy ) says that the DIMM's timing is 7-7-7-20-60-1T Clocks @ 533Mhz (1066Mhz RAM Bus Speed), so the RAM is not too aggressive, doesn't have timing like 4-4-4-12-50-1T Clocks for example (like some Kingston Elpida RAM does) so it should work in a lot of computers capable of Dual Channel mode.

There was no issue installing the RAM in the new Asus, and the computer instantly recognized the 8192MB RAM (8GB in MB) in BIOS, after checking it post-installation, so I knew that all was well when I saw that magic number, and I could enjoy the fruits of 8GB RAM. There was some hesitation on my part to upgrade the RAM to 8GB in the new Asus notebook, but what the Hey! You only live once, and you can never have too much RAM in a fast notebook like my UL30Vt-X1!

Along with a new Hitachi 500GB 16MB Cache 7200RPM 2.5" HD, the new RAM has made my notebook a hot rocket ship, and I highly recommend this matched Crucial/Micron pair of SODIMMs to any other Asus UL30VT-series notebook owners who might be sitting on the fence, contemplating whether to upgrade or not. This is the correct RAM to use in this series notebook, if you are after maximum performance and compatibility with your Asus notebook, so look no further, you've found it here at Amazon.com.

As far as Amazon.com's delivery and packaging of the RAM goes, this time they did an EXCELLENT JOB of shipping (UPS 2nd Day Air), and packing/protecting the RAM, as it was packed in a heavy-duty small box, about 10 x 3 x 7 inches, just perfect size for the containers of the Crucial RAM, while inside the box was crammed full of heavy packing paper and air bladders. So a good job by Amazon.com shipping, packaging this fragile RAM using UPS 2nd Day Air!

The RAM itself comes in individual heavy-duty plastic and cardboard, anti-static RAM-specific packages, tied together with a special Crucial/Micron (the RAM is actually Micron by name in Everest Ultimate) "8GB Matched RAM Set" heavy logo and trademark-filled paperwork, so there's no mistake about what you are getting: This RAM is made, shipped, and packaged as an 8GB set, a matched pair from the factory, so you can rest assured that you bought perfect, high performance RAM direct from the nice people at Crucial/Micron.

I am 100% satisfied with my purchase at Amazon.com...there was a time that I would never buy RAM or HD's from here because of their terrible packing and delivery practices with fragile, damage-prone items like this, but times have changed. Amazon.com has gotten their act together, as my shipment is a testimony to rigid, hard-core factory support and XLNT packing, and shipping practices. This was a lot of $$ to part with for such a small, precious piece of cargo like 8GB of RAM (weighed a mere .40 pounds, shipped), but I am very pleased with my purchase. Amazon.com you are doing a fantastic job of shipping and packing in 2010, so congratulations on changing your ways for the best interests of the customer, and resurrecting your reputation.

Wavey Davey - 2-28-2010

Never, I mean never, buy memory without using Memtest86, June 23, 2010
Crucial is a Micron company. They've been in the memory business for decades. So on the surface you should trust them. At the time of the 8GB purchase they were $100 cheaper than the Kingston equivalent (which I have been loyal to for years) so I went for it.

A few weeks of blue screens and other crashes later, I fell back to the stalwart Memtest86. It reported soft errors (Microsoft's Memory Diagnostics and Apple's Hardware diagnostics both had told me the RAM was ok).

So rather than jump ship I decided to test Crucial's RMA process. It was actually easy. One web form and $5 of shipping the bad RAM to them, I got my replacement some days later. However...the replacement was significatly worse than the bad ram I sent to them. Do they even test RMA replacements? I have no idea...

I couldn't lose more time testing yet more replacements, so I went back to Kingston (Amazon happily made this possible). I've dealt with Kingston's RMA process before, and their replacements actually fixed my issues. And the new Kingston purchase was no exception. No more blue screens, no more corrupted files, and Memtest86 reported no soft failures (the worst kind of failure, btw).

Thanks Amazon, and thanks Kingston, for fixing my ealier mistake and setting my experience right...

Top Notch Memory Product, December 14, 2010
This is the third time that I've ordered and used Crucial memory products in computers and the third time I am 100% satisfied with what I got. From a 2GB stick for a netbook, to 8GB (4GB x 2) DDR3 memory modules for notebooks, it works every time. No compatibility issues. OS recognizes the new memory immediately upon start up.

Price is very, very reasonable and you're getting a better product by ordering from Amazon or from Crucial.com directly.

Considering Crucial's parent company, Micron, is one of the few true manufacturers of memory in the world and they make some of the most reputable SSDs in the market nowadays - although I strictly use Intel X25-Ms in my computers - it's a brand worth trusting.

Very happy with the purchase.

8G memory, October 23, 2010
I installed this on my Dell studio XPS 1640 and my OS recognizes 8G with no issues at all, my windows score for memory didn't change after i got this one as expected, since my old memory and this one has the same speed (1066).

Installed and works without worry.., March 23, 2010
I installed this additional 8gb on my iMac 2009 without worry. I originally had 4gb on board, of which occupied 2 of the 4 slots. Installation is painless, and details of the installation process are reported within the iMac manual... or one could find additional information on youtube.

Exactly what you were looking for. No Brainer., December 14, 2010
Want to get the most out of your MacBook Pro? This is the ticket. Reputable manufacturer, competitive Amazon price. Win. Win.

Crucial Laptop Memory Upgrade, December 12, 2010
I installed this ram upgrade to my Dell Studio XPS 16. My laptops performance increased dramatically. Microsoft office is much faster upon opening and overall performance to the system has been enhanced. I would recommend this upgrade highly. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Editorial Review

WD Scorpio Black 7200 RPM SATA 2.5-inch hard drives from Western Digital combine a lightning-fast 7200 RPM spin speed with a SATA 3 Gb/s interface and 16 MB cache to deliver desktop-class performance. With 5400 RPM-equivalent power consumption there is no compromise in battery life. In addition, WD Scorpio Black hard drives are designed with ruggedness, reliability, and data-protection features that actively watch over valuable data. Available in capacities up to 320 GB, these hard drives are perfect for laptop users who require maximum capacity and lightning-fast performance. ... Read more

Reviews

Watch the Model Numbers..., October 4, 2008
I installed this in my C2D 2.16Ghz MacBook Pro yesterday and couldn't be happier. The size has freed me from continual file cleaning and the speed increase is noticeable. There is a slight bit more noise from the drive, but is sounds like a white noise generator, a gentle hiss/hum, nothing to worry about and I am picky. There is no clacking or anything truly noticeable, definitely no heat issues.

As far as some of the comments people have posted regarding noise I would recommend anyone who has noise problems after the install check the rubber grommet mounts. If you don't get them back in place properly the mounts can't do their job and the noise will resonate thru the sounding box that is the MacBook Pro. As far as heat issues I would guess the user didn't check the cooling fans. I pulled my fans while I had it open and found each heatsink 1/3 covered in a cake of dust. I cleaned them and now the whole thing runs cooler.

NOTE: Do not get the WD3200BJKT for a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Apple includes a sudden motion sensor in the laptop and if you get the WD3200BJKT the sudden motion sensor in the drive will conflict with the unit in the laptop and neither will work.

perfect fit for MacBook hard drive upgrade., December 3, 2008
I replaced the original hard drive on my first generation MacBook with this one. Worked like a charm. No problem whatsoever. Boot time significantly improved. Plus four times the space.

Worked great for my PS3, December 25, 2008
I purchased this one over the other one that was 320 gb and with a speed of 5400. this one is faster at 7200. it was so easy to replace my ps3 hard drive. i went from a 60 gb to a 320 gb. the only downside is that after i formatted it, it only showed 298 gigs available but i knew that would happen after reading the reviews for the other 320 gb drive that has the speed of 5400. bottom line works like a charm. i have played games offline and online for few weeks on it. i have seen several blue ray movies on it too. i cannot even hear it running. works great! I really havent notice that it runs faster than the stock PS3 seagate drive however it is much faster, so i am sure t must help a little. i also havent notice any diffferece as sound goes. the noise is just as quiet as the original if not more quiet. if you want to learn how to replace your hard drive on your ps3 go to youtube. there are so many videos on how to do it, it was a peace of cake.

Great so far, with a caveat for use in mid-2009 Macbook Pros (15" & 13"), September 7, 2009
If you have one of these mid-2009 Macbook Pros (15" or 13"), then you may need to downgrade your firmware from EFI 1.7 to EFI 1.6 in order to use this hard drive internally. You should go to an Apple Store and request that they do this, as there is a utility floating around the web that you might be tempted to use, but I'd be wary of it. I had to hunt for a store that understood how to perform the downgrade -- the Valley Fair store in Santa Clara, CA, had a Genius that knew how to do it. Now this downgrade does limit the SATA interface speed to so-called "SATA-I" which means 1.5Gbps transfer speeds. But this speed is more than enough for a 7200RPM drive, it's only a SSD that would be limited by the slower SATA speed.

As a further explanation, the EFI 1.7 firmware update was meant to enable "SATA-II", meaning 3Gbps transfer speeds, that are necessary for SSDs. However, it introduced this incompatibility that prevents these Macbook Pros from functioning with 3rd party "SATA-II" drives such as this one. Search the Apple community support forums for a topic titled "Firmware update and SATA II hard drive" for more information on this problem.

Let me reemphasize a point -- this EFI firmware downgrade is only necessary when using the hard drive internally through the SATA interface. When the drive is in an external USB enclosure it works fine with EFI 1.7.

As for the drive itself, it seems great so far.

(Some people might think this review is slightly off-topic, but I wish someone else had figured this out and posted this here before... I spent almost a week discovering this, even returning 1 disk to Amazon, thinking it was faulty.)

Fast drive with noise to let everyone know it, March 2, 2010
This is a very good drive. It's fast and runs relatively cool. However it is extremely noisy. In my early 2009 macbook I can feel the vibration constantly. When placed on a desk I can feel the vibration on the other side of the desk. Not to mention constant whirring noise. It drove me insane. My old Dell XPS was loud but not as loud as this. Maybe i am just used to very quite operation of 160gb 5400 rpm drive that came with my macbook. Or perhaps the unibody construction of the macbook is amplifying the vibration as I don't see many reviews complaining of the noise. I've return the drive and got Hitachi Travelstar 320gb 7200rpm. It is a world of difference. just as fast, just as cool, and much much quieter. I highly recommend Hitachi over the WD.

Perfect upgrade for any notebook, March 1, 2009
Many people overlook upgrading their hard drive when looking for a performance boost. Because RAM is easier to install, and because there is a lot of common knowledge out there that RAM is the best thing to upgrade for speed increases, many notebook owners don't realize that if you have a 5400rpm drive, it is most likely your hard drive that is the biggest bottleneck in your computer.

This WD Black 7200rpm drive is the perfect solution for a relatively easy and hugely beneficial switch from a 5400rpm drive to a 7200rpm drive. Another benefit is that the 16mb buffer size will give you an edge over most 5400rpm drives that only have an 8mb buffer.

Installation varies depending on your computer model. Make sure that you can access the hard drive bay before you purchase a replacement drive! Also make sure that if you plan to transfer files from your old drive to the new one that you know what means you'll be using to make the transfer. I recommend using Arconis True Image (which you can get a free 30 day trial of from their web page. Just Google it) which allows you to clone the entire drive so that you have a seamless 1-1 copy of the original drive that you can immediately boot from. To do the data transfer, you can use a hard drive enclosure, or if you have a networked PC, you can install the drive into your PC, do the clone, and then transfer the drive to the laptop.

There are larger drives coming onto the market in this form factor (500gb, 750gb) but unless you really need all of that space for media files, this is still a very nicely priced drive that comes in at about .40 per gigabyte.

This is a very reliable, high quality drive that will serve you well. Highly recommended.

Good, easy upgrade, February 20, 2009
I installed this drive on a brand new laptop. Why pay the manufacturer a lot of money for an upgraded hard drive when I could do it myself for less than half the cost?

For those that want to follow a similar path, here's what you do, at least with Windows. First, make a set of recovery DVDs if your laptop didn't come with them already. Second, replace the hard drive in your laptop with this one. You'll have to remove a panel on the bottom of your laptop, pop out the old hard drive, remove the bracket from the old drive and attach it to the new one, then put the new drive into your laptop.

Once your laptop is closed up again, put recovery DVD #1 in the optical drive and turn on the computer. Your new drive will be formatted and Windows reinstalled, along with all the other junk that comes from the manufacturer.

Take your old hard drive and put it in an enclosure like this one: StarTech SAT2510U2 InfoSafe 2.5-Inch USB/SATA Hard Drive Enclosure. Note: that's not the enclosure I used - I bought a different one from newegg. If your laptop or computer has an esata port be sure to get an esata enclosure - data transfer rates are much higher than USB 2.0 or FireWire.

And there you have it, easy and quick...at least the drive swap is. Enjoy the improved performance you'll get with a 7200 RPM drive.

The best non-bannable hack for your XBox 360, October 4, 2010
Major improvement over the slow 20GB stock HDD that came with my older XBox 360. Faster than the Micro$oft branded 250GB Xbox HDD upgrade at 1/3 the price. Only voids the warranty of the drive, not the whole system. But you do have to know what you're doing.
Plenty of room for loading games from the disc to HDD; the result? Somewhat quicker load times, greatly reduced noise, vastly reduced system heat.
Want to know what the leading cause of RRoD is? An overheating GPU melting the solder that holds it to the mainboard.
Any guess why?
The DVD drive, which is drectly above it and practically touches the heatsink, gets super hot over long periods of play time. Combine that with the heat of the GPU under load, and you have a recipe for disaster. But if you rip the game to the HDD when the GPU isn't under load, then you only need to insert the disc to start the game without having to spin up the disc while playing. This keeps the GPU cool and happy, and makes load times more bearable.

You could potentially do this hack with a super-fast VelociRaptor HDD and improve load times drastically, but in that case I would worry about the HDD itself overheating due to lack of ventilation to the HDD enclosure. VelociRaptors come mounted to 3.5" bay heatsinks for a reason.

Want to do this hack yourself? Search " digiex xbox 360 250GB hack " without quotes in Google and it's the second link.
Do note though that you'll have to re-download any game updates and most of the DLC you got from XBox Live before playing those games.

Great Drive Perfect Replacement MACBOOK Drive, June 1, 2009
I got this drive to replace the 120GB drive that came in my Macbook. The drive works great and liked how it was shipped, wish the box was little smaller though. But what more can I say. I have had it in my laptop for a few months now and no problems. I have formatted, added to, removed from and used the drive several times. This is highly recommended and yes it does with Macbook properly no problems. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Western Digital 320GB Scorpio Blue SATAII 5400RPM 2.5IN 8MB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive WD3200BEVT ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mac mini core 2 duo 2.0/2.26/2.53GHz; MacBook 13in, MacBook Pro 13in/15in/ 17 in, ... Read more

Editorial Review

Kingston's KTA-MB667K2/4GR is a 4GB Kit (2pcs of 256M X 64) Non-ECC 667MHz 200-pin Unbuffered SODIMM (SDRAM-DDR2, 1.8V, CL5, FBGA, Gold). This memory is designed for the following systems: iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 17-inch CD (Late 2006), iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 20-inch (Mid 2007), iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 24-inch (Mid 2007), MacBook Pro 15.4-inch 2.2GHz/2.4GHz/2.6GHz, and MacBook Pro 17-inch 2.4GHz/2.6GHz. ... Read more

Reviews

Great RAM But For Older Macs, December 30, 2008
This is high-quality RAM and it may well make a significant difference to your machine. If you find that you're running many programs at once or using some more demanding programs like Photoshop this RAM will give you a bit of an edge. Read some of the reviews here and you'll see that.

But do note, this RAM is for the mid-2007 iMacs and MacBooks. The latest generation, the ones released in 2008 with Intel Core 2 Duo processors can still use it, but will do better with a slightly faster RAM. This is PC5300 RAM and is 667MHz. What you actually want for the latest generation of Macs is MC6400 RAM running at 800MHz. It's not going to be a night and day difference, but it's about the same price and you may as well get the right stuff.

To find the stuff you should get, search for this here at Amazon: KTA-MB800K2/4G. That is the Kingston part number and will turn up the one you want.

Works perfectly in my MacBook Pro, May 25, 2008
Bought this RAM for my Core2Duo MacBook Pro and it works perfectly. Easy to install, you just need a tiny jeweler's style screwdriver and much, much cheaper than Apple's ridiculous price.

I don't understand why Steve Jobs needs to sell machines with two RAM slots using 2x1GB chips, especially when he wants Apple to be seen as "environmentally friendly." Nobody savvy is going to pay Apple's RAM upgrade extortion prices, so why not offer a 1x2GB option for extra, leaving one RAM slot free, so the customer can buy a single, additional 1x2GB chip elsewhere? Apple gets extra money from the 1x2GB fee, the single additional chip is cheaper for the end user and it saves two 1x1GB chips from going in the garbage.

Good for my iMac, August 15, 2008
I installed the 4GB in my 24 inch iMac. and it works perfectly. Easy to install and now I can load all the apps I need!

Cheap and easy upgrade, June 28, 2009
There's an old adage in the computer world: "Buy more memory -- it's cheaper than therapy." This upgrade kit is the exemplification of that!

Open your Activity Monitor, and check your System Memory -- if you're starting to see "Page Outs" greater than 20% of your "Page Ins" during normal use, you should consider this ultra-cheap remedy! For those folks who want the ultimate in performance and consider this price to be "pocket change", if you're seeing *any* Page Outs, go for it!

To make sure this is the right memory for your Mac, open your System Profiler and look at your existing "Memory" entry to make sure that your system will use the 667MHz DDR2 RAM. Paying extra money for RAM that's spec'd faster than your system can take advantage of may not be the best use of your money!

The installation is a breeze on a MacBook like ours. Power down, remove the battery, remove 2 (really small!) screws and the shield they hold in place, pop your old memory out using the two levers, then reverse the process with your new memory. Power on, and check it out! Get back into Activity Monitor to see your RAM usage, or check with System Profiler to make sure it's all there.

You should be careful handling the RAM -- don't touch the metal contacts, only pick it up by the edges, and always make sure your other hand is in contact with the metal in your MacBook when handling these SoDIMMs to prevent any static jolts to the chips.

Pop out, plug in, and rock on!

Fast like Nascar!!!, March 26, 2009
Background information:
--------------------

13 inch, white Macbook
Mac OS X Tiger (10.4)
1 GB RAM memory

Resource intensive apps:
- Parallels Desktop with Windows Vista OS
- Adobe Photoshop and InDesign CS 4
- The GIMP (open-source)
- Scribus (open-source)
- Citrix Remote Client

I bought the 4 GB Kigston RAM for my 13 inch white macbook because I was tired of running a sluggish Parallels set-up with Vista that would freeze both systems. Also, my macbook was extremely slow when running Photoshop and InDesign CS4. Running one of these three applications was asking for a total system freeze.

Parallels would take about 5-7 minutes to load and would not restart properly if paused. Photoshop was a disaster as the application would become unresponsive when loading InDesign as well.

The Solution
----------

I decided to upgrade my laptop's RAM by purchasing the Kingston product. The installation was very simple. All you need is a screwdriver small enough to remove the metallic strip protecting the RAM compartments. Once I replaced my original RAM with these 2x2GB thunder horses and put everything back in its place, I immediately started my macbook.

The Results
----------

The results were immediate. Loading Mac OS X is fast enough but with the new RAM it's twice as fast. Running Parallels with Vista now takes 2 minutes and there are no problems when pausing the application and restarting it later. Photoshop and InDesign are both running at the same time and there is no lag at all. I can even run all three apps and the system still works very effectively.

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the results. The Kingston 4GB kit is affordable and user-friendly. It sure beats the outrageously expensive upgrades from the Apple store (~$400). I've been able to maximize the utility of my laptop even for job-related tasks that had me chained to my iMac desktop while also extending the computer's life a few more years.

Product has been used for 2 months now.


Notes
-----

3 out of the 4 GB are used by the Mac OS X Tiger system. This is a limitation of the laptop's hardware and not the product manufacturer's fault. I can only imagine how fast the system would be if it would be able to use all 4GB. However, with Mac OS X Snow Leopard coming out later this year as a 64-bit system the problem should be fixed with some more hardware upgrades.

Video playback becomes somewhat unstable while it is streamed online. I believe this is due to hardware compatibility issues. No observable problems with DVDs or large h264 or mkv video files.

No Problems Here!!!, August 28, 2009
I have a MacBook 13.3 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo that I purchased May 2008. I recently decided, after reading the excellent reviews on this memory, to update my RAM from the original 2GB to 4GB with this kit. They were very easy to install. The only problem I had with installation was pressing the new chips in.

Note: When pressing the new chips in, it is probably more efficient to press the left side in first (on the end where the groove is) as you press on the right side. It took me about 20 minutes to install because I was trying to apply equal pressure on both sides. However, if you apply more pressure on the left side (groove side) first, the chips are easier to push in.

Once installed, I put everything back and turned my Macbook on. The screen took some 30-45 more seconds to load than usual, I guess because the computer had to recognize the new RAM chips. After the load, I check About This Mac to see if the chips were being recognized and THEY WERE!!! Immediately afterwards, I upgraded my Mac OS X 10.5.4 with the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 operating system and my Macbook seems to operate more smoothly.

At any rate, You Can't Beat This Price! Apple charges too much! Thanks again Amazon, this was a great buy!

P.S. You can get a screwdriver, for the screws in the battery compartment at any hardware store. I got my from ACE HARDWARE.

Easy to Install and Worked Right Away, October 3, 2008
I don't know if you are like me, but when I install something on a computer especially right after I received my mac book pro without even turning it on once...I gritted my teeth and crossed my fingers it would work out. Lo and behold it worked very well and immediately. I can assure you that if I can install it, certainly most can as well. A good purchase especially since running multiple programs now really demand the memory. It has performed very well since day one. What I'm saying is that you don't need a geek squad or others who charge a fortune for 10minutes max of your time. Make sure you hear a little click once you put the card in.

I chose this memory because the package said it was for apple, I wanted to make sure it was compatible.

great update for my penryn macbook, May 10, 2008
I bought this ram upgrade for my penryn macbook and I've been very pleased with its performance. My computer seems to load a little faster, as well as improving the speed at which it manages multiple programs running at the same time.

This is a much less expensive option compared to buying the ram through apple. Installation is easy as long as you have the right tool (small screwdriver) and you can even watch tutorial videos on the apple website or youtube.

Great in MacBook!, July 23, 2010
I used this kit to upgrade my MacBook's (Early 2008 Model) 2GB to 4GB. I just swapped out my old and I was done. MacBook recognized the new memory, and I am now able to have many more applications open at the same time.

Bought it to upgrade a white MacBook (running Mac OS X 10.6.3), April 5, 2010
Bought this to upgrade a white MacBook (non-UniBody).

Was previous running 10.6.2 with 1 GB of RAM. Also ran Windows XP (SP3) via Bootcamp.

Installing the RAM took no time as it is easy to upgrade the MacBook (although you will need to remove the battery and 3 screws).

Performance showed a drastic improvement. Including app launching, boot time, running multiple apps and files with no slow downs.

Now running 10.6.3 with no trouble at all. Everything is very fast. Got the 4GB module and the MacBook is maxed out.

Didn't get a chance to run full RAM test, but I didn't get any kernel panics.

This RAM does not work with ANY OF THE UNIBODY Macs. Remember this runs at 667MHz. The newer Mac's RAM run at over 1000 Mhz. Just letting you guys know.

Recommended purchase.

P.S. Also Kingston has very reliable warranty policy. So if anything goes wrong, you can always get free replacement from them (assuming if you send them your broken RAM). ... Read more

Editorial Review

Travelstar 7K500 is the industry’s only fifth-generation 7200 RPM 2.5-inch hard drive with capacities ranging from 120GB to 500GB, matching Hitachi 5400 RPM capacities. The 250GB per platter one- and two-disk models deliver up to 56% higher capacity and 16% better application performance than its predecessor. Hitachi provides best-of-breed operating shock and outstanding power management in Travelstar 7K500 for sturdy unplugged notebook performance. Highlights, Proven fifth-generation technology, 500GB capacity, Low power consumption, Highest operating shock, Halogen-free for eco-friendly footprint and Serial ATA 3Gb/s. ... Read more

Editorial Review

WD Advanced Format technology increases media format efficiency, thus enabling larger drive capacities.WD Advanced Format drives are specifically optimized for Mac and the latest Windows operating systems such as Windows Vista and Windows 7. WD Advanced Format drives work with legacy operating systems such as Windows XP but require the use of the free WD Align software available on www.wdc.com/advformat.WD Scorpio® Blue™ 5200 RPM 2.5-inch SATA hard drives from Western Digital deliver lightning-fast and ultra-quiet performance hand-in-hand with low power consumption. In addition, they are designed with ruggedness, reliability, and data-protection features that actively watch over valuable data. Available in capacities from 750 GB to 1 TB, these drives feature a 3 Gb/s SATA interface and 8 MB cache. WD Scorpio Blue hard drives are designed for portable digital devices of all kinds, including notebook computers, external storage, and digital media players. Please note that the 750 GB and 1 TB models are physically taller than most notebook hard drives, and may not fit in all applications. Please check your computer's owner's manual to ensure compatibility. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mac mini core 2 duo 2.0/2.26/2.53GHz; MacBook 13in, MacBook Pro 13in/15in/ 17 in, ... Read more

Editorial Review

Features:1. External slim CDRW-DVD Drive.2. Powered by USB.3. Plug & Play, travel easily.4. Hot-swapping capability.5. Support windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista and Mac OS.6. Disk Load Type: Tray.Package Includes:1 pc CDRW-DVD Drive.1 pc USB data Cabel.1 pc USB Power Cable (PS2).Unit dimension: 160 x 137 x 19mm.USB data cable: 60cm.USB power cable: 60cm.Fit Laptop Models:Work with any laptop and desk pc with USB port, ACER Aspire One A110 series laptop, ACER Aspire One A150 series laptop, ASUS EEE PC 700 series laptop, ASUS EEE PC 900 series laptop, ASUS EEE PC 1000 series laptop, DELL Latitude C400 series laptop, DELL Latitude D400 series laptop, DELL Latitude D420 series laptop, Dell Insprion Mini 9 series laptop, HP Compaq NC4000 series laptop, HP Compaq NC4200 series laptop, HP Compaq NC4400 series laptop, HP Mini 1000 Series laptop, HP Mini 2133 Series laptop, IBM ThinkPad X20 series laptop, IBM ThinkPad X30 series laptop, IBM ThinkPad X40 series laptop, IBM ThinkPad X60 series laptop, IBM ThinkPad X300 series laptop, Toshiba Portege R100 series laptop, Toshiba Portege R150 series laptop, Toshiba Portege R200 series laptop ... Read more

Editorial Review

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) is a DRAM technology that supports data transfers on both the rising and the falling edges of each clock cycle. This effectively doubles the memory chip`s data throughput and is more efficient than legacy SDR technology. PNY manufactures DDR memory upgrades rated at PC2100, PC2700, and PC3200. They are compatible with desktop and notebook computers and processors such as Intel`s Pentium, Celeron, AMD`s Athlon, Sempron and others. PNY upgrade modules are compatible with systems from Apple, Compaq, DELL, Gateway, HP, IBM and over 5000 other systems. Boost the performance of your PC to its maximum capability. PNY memory upgrades will prove to be an outstanding value both now and in the future. ... Read more

Editorial Review

WD SCORPIO BLUE 250GB WD2500BEVT ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go faster and further with a notebook or netbook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality SODIMM memory for mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users. If you count on your netbook or notebook, count on memory from Crucial.Crucial is a key brand in the Lexar Media family of products. So whether you’re focused on your family, friends, work or life outside of work—Crucial DRAM products help make computing more reliable, faster, and more effortless. With upgrades for nearly every PC and Mac system out there, plus flash products and Solid State Drives, you can be sure that if it’s important to you, it’s safe with us. ... Read more

Reviews

Works flawlessly with new Macbook Pro, July 15, 2009
After doing a bit of research how to upgrade RAM to 4GBs in new Macbook Pro (2009 edition, MB990LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop with 2GBs RAM) and failing to order from Crucial directly I went with this option. The upgrade was painless - with the right screwdriver for those little screws on the back of the laptop it took me 10 minutes to replace the default RAM (and I spent most of that time by looking at the other internal parts to see how the laptop is built). It works flawlessly so far (couple of days). I tested the RAM by loading memory hungry applications to fill the 4 GBs to see both modules work fine.

Great cheap 4GB upgrade for Mac Mini, March 26, 2009
I purchased this Crucial kit and used it to upgrade my 2009 Mac Mini. The memory comes packaged very cheaply in plastic, but the install went smoothly and I have had absolutely no issues running this RAM.

Affordable upgrade for MacBook Pro 13-inch, July 20, 2009
This product does what it is promises. It was $40 cheaper than having Apple install it. Note that installing RAM yourself DOES NOT invalidate Apple warranty. You should, however, be comfortable with small screws and a fairly delicate inner design of the new unibody Apple laptops.

Macbook Pro memerory install, April 14, 2009
I installed this memory on my new Macbook Pro and it works great. The extra memory is helpful for using Vmware and multitasking.

Works well with Early 2009 Mac mini, May 1, 2009
I upgraded my 2009 Mini from 1GB to 4GB.

With 1GB, the mini would max out on memory if there were multiple users logged each with a few apps running. With 4GB, that bottle neck is gone.

After the upgrade, the shared Video RAM went from 128MB to 256MB. There is a noticeable performance increase with added video ram...iTunes visualizer and video playback are smoother.

There's a video on YouTube that shows how to disassemble the mini (search "Mac mini (Early 2009) Memory Upgrade"), the upgrade took me about 30 minutes because I was very ginger with opening the case and removing the antennas.

Good for MacBook, April 29, 2009
When I used some software (Matlab, etc.) on Parallel Desktop on MacBook with 2GB Memory, I often experience out of memory. But now, it's great. The manual of MacBook says the type of memory is "200-PIN", but don't worry, it seems to be a mistake. "204-PIN" is Okay.

Great Upgrade for Aluminum Macbook Pro, April 24, 2009
Rather than pay Apple's exorbitant price for a memory upgrade, I decided to purchase this memory kit for my aluminum Macbook Pro. I followed Apple's memory upgrade instructions and when I started the computer back up, it recognized all 4GB without issue. This kit is a great 10-minute upgrade for any Macbook Pro, and costs far less than the equivalent upgrade direct from Apple.

Great upgrade for my 27" iMac, April 21, 2010
Buying memory from Apple is just a waste of money. I purchased this set of chips to upgrade my fairly new iMac 27" from 4gb to 8gb. Thankfully iMac's now have 4 slots instead of only 2 so eventually I can upgrade to 16gb of ram. Crucial is a brand that you can trust and rely on. I snapped these chips in under 5 minutes and was up and running with no problems. I use Photoshop a lot and was working on a huge file and saw a big difference compared to when I only had 4gb ram. I'm super happy that I upgraded!!! Price was just right too. Saved a bit of money buying the 2 chips rather than one single 4gb. I'm on a major tight budget and this was my option. Great product!

cheap, fast, easy, January 7, 2010
Worked as promised on my new Imac 27" i5 quad core. Very easy to install.

Great so far, April 17, 2009
I bought this RAM to upgrade a 2009 Mac Mini from the stock 1G to 4G.

Upgrading RAM in the Mini isn't for the novice, but there was nothing too tricky involved -- once I got the bluetooth antenna reattached and realized that I'd pulled loose a cable that prevented my sound from working. A little troubleshooting, and all was well again.

A RAM upgrade in these Minis is essential. I was running out of physical memory with 1G with the box under light load. 4G has made a tremendous difference! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Description:Speed: 24x CD/CD-R/CD-RW (read) 24x CD-R (write) 24x CD-RW (write) 8x DVD (read) 8x DVD (write). Supported CD Formats: CD Text CD Extra CD-DA (audio) CD-ROM XA Photo CD CD-ROM. Supported Media Types: CD-ROM CD-R CD-RW DVD-R DVD-RW DVD+RW DVD+R DVD+R DLMedia Load Type: Tray. Enclosure Type: External. Enclosure Color: blank. Powered from the computer's USB port no AC adapter required. Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.6" x 6.1" x 0.75". Weight: 0.9 lbs . Software Requirement: Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP/VistaUSB 2.0 External Rewriteable DVD +/- RW Drive is so slim that you can put it into your pocket! No additional AC adapter and software needed supports plug and play this portable external DVD burner lets you can instantly watch DVDs and create DVDs CDs with your notebooks tablet PCs and desktop PCs. Featuring fast DVD record speeds the Slim DVD+/-RW Drive burns at 8x speeds in DVD-R and DVD+R formats.Plug and play no additional software drivers needed. USB 2.0 Interface. ... Read more