G4 Mini - Replacing the internal HD

[sgb]

I've been reading with interest several other threads that have discussed bigger/faster drives for the Intel based Minis. I would like to replace the original 40GB 4600RPM drive in my old original Mini, but I do not believe that the machine's architecture will support the SATA drives used in the current models. It looks like ATA is getting harder to find, too, making my decisions more difficult.

I am not concerned as much about the size of the drive as I am its ability to run at 7200, and do so quietly since I intend to put it into service as a music server for a high quality audio system. I am thinking about buying the drive and an external case (to install the old drive in) separately, since a number of the big online sellers don't have much selection of 2.5 FireWire cases. The iTunes library will be stored on an external 3.5 750G or 1TB drive, however the need for quiet drives here is also a major priority.

So far, I'm considering the Macally case seen here since it supports ATA.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817146604&Tpk=PHR%2b250CC

The Seagate Momentus is one of the few 2.5 7200 ATA drives I have been able to find. From all of the positive comments about the Hitachi drives, I guess I should be looking at these too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822146229&Tpk=ST980825A

I'll be happy to have all recommendations for both 2.5 & 3.5 drives that are fast and quiet. As for 3.5 enclosures I don't have any preferences so far. I have two small Buslink externals and 160GB Maxtor in a MacAlly case, but all of these produce lots of noise.

Thanks for all your suggestions.
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iMac 20" C2D 2.0, 2GB W/KingRex UD-01
Mac Mini C2D 2.0, 2GB Used solely as a music server to my audio system via the Cayin iDAC-1
Two spoiled rotten dogs who must think my sole purpose in life is to entertain them.

[TheDoctor]

I hold my iTunes library on an external D-Link 323 NAS, fitted with twin Barracuda 500Gb SATA drives in a RAID 1 config.

Any NAS over a 100Mb or 1Gb link will easily support the data throughput required for music or video.

There are plenty of great NAS solutions now, from HP, NetGear, D-Link plus many others.
I chose the D-Link as it is basically a linux server and so requires no software on the client pcs, unlike the original NetGear one which only seemed to work with PCs.
The Barracudas are whisper quiet too, less noise than my PowerBook once it has warmed up and the fan starts!
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He's not all there.
Mac Mini 2.16Ghz, 2GB, 200GB Momentus, 10.6.6
PowerBook G4, 867Mhz, 640Mb, 80GB, 10.4.11
Mac SE 8Mhz, 2MB, 40GB Seagate, 6.07

[sgb]

I had considered the NAS solution, but my first inclination is that this is a bit too expensive. It may, though, offer the only affordable and competent means of connecting to a USB DAC. With the NAS, the silence requirement would be lifted too since these could be stored in the office bedroom. Thanks Doc.
_________________
iMac 20" C2D 2.0, 2GB W/KingRex UD-01
Mac Mini C2D 2.0, 2GB Used solely as a music server to my audio system via the Cayin iDAC-1
Two spoiled rotten dogs who must think my sole purpose in life is to entertain them.

[DSpawnZ]

Hi. I´ve replaced the internal HD and memory of my G4 Mini a month ago.
I know ATA drives are harder to find but I was lucky and bought a Samsung Spinpoint HD, 160 Gb. 5400 RPM to replace the original Seagate Momentus 80 Gb. 4200 RPM drive.
Performance boost is noticeable. I recomend the replacement.

Link to HD specs: http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=computersperipherals&type=harddiskdrives&subtype=spinpointmseries&model_cd=HM160JC

Cheers. Happy new year.

[sgb]

[sgb]

So, two weeks ago I asked about NAS drives here, but got no responses... That's fine. I've since determined that an ordinary external USB hard drive connected to an Apple Extreme Base Station will accomplish the same thing.

I decided upon the Seagate drive for which I listed a link above, and switched out the old 40GB drive to the MacAlly case. The new Seagate drive performs as precisely as I had hoped it would, but, in truth, I do not experience a noticeable increase in speed. This may be due to the fact that the new drive runs Leopard, while the old one will remain a legacy drive with Tiger.

Strangely enough, the MacAlly case will not connect to the Mini using the USB port... only the Firewire. It will, however, connect via USB to the iMac. This eliminates everything except the Mini itself, which leads me to ask if this is due to the fact that the mini might not have sufficient power to operate the drive without an optional wall wart?
_________________
iMac 20" C2D 2.0, 2GB W/KingRex UD-01
Mac Mini C2D 2.0, 2GB Used solely as a music server to my audio system via the Cayin iDAC-1
Two spoiled rotten dogs who must think my sole purpose in life is to entertain them.