Apple Compatible Hybrid SSD Options

Looking for the best of both worlds? A Mac compatible hybrid SSD drive can give you solid-state memory speed advantages - while providing a higher-capacity and low cost drive upgrade with some of the benefits of an SSD in your MacBook Pro or Mac mini computer.

Combining a small amount of flash memory onboard a high-RPM conventional spinning platter drive mechanism - these Combo hybrid disk drives balance low-cost with higher performance.

Seagate's Hybrid is Platform-Neutral. These 2.5" laptop size SATA drives can be used with Windows, Linux or Mac OSX without needing any special drivers. They just need to be formatted and partitioned properly for your given operating system. Your computer simply sees a Hybrid SSD as a conventional hard drive.

Intelligent caching of frequent or recently accessed data is handled in the drives firmware using sophisticated algorithms to make the most of the small SSD onboard and maximize Read performance and speed up Write performance when it can. The speed benefits are most obvious in typical computer use, launching and switching between your Mac applications. Sadly, backups don't fare quite as well. But that's normal: The constand stream of unique data to a backup drive doesn't really give the SSD Hybrid any chance to cache or RE-access the data. All just part of the way data storage drives operate in the real-world.

Hybrid SSD Upgrades For Mac

Seagate was first to enter the Solid-State Hybrid SSD Drive market with their Momentus XT series. Initially in 250, 320, 500GB capacities. 2nd generation drives now up the capacity to 750GB with improved controllers and firmware. They incorporate 4GB SSD flash memory combined with high-speed 7200RPM spinning platters to deliver the Best Of Both Worlds storage technology.

Offering some tradeoffs in speed of a full-blown SSD, they make up for it in VERY AFFORDABLE extra capacity. Typical SSD's cost $2-3 per Gigabyte, whereas a Hybrid SSD for your Apple computer costs a third of that. It's a fair tradeoff: Afforability and capacity for slightly lesser performance than a completely flash-based typical SSD drive. But - offering better peformance than ANY traditional spinning platter drive made! A Hybrid SSD for your Mac may a great option, and doing the drive swap in many models like the current Mac laptops and Mac mini desktop is fairly easy to perform.

The 2nd Generation of the Momentus XT SSD Hybrid Drive is a 750GB SATA III drive. It's the best option for Mac drive upgrades featuring significantly improved architecture, firmware and performance in the highest capacity yet.

ATTENTION! Older Momentus XT SSD Hybrid May NEED The Latest Firmware!

Seagate had some issues in early firmware revisions 1st generation drives. It's critical to make sure you are running the latest Momentus XT Firmware!!! For Mac OSX, they offer a bootable ISO disc image you can burn using Apple's Disk Utility - to then boot and run the firmware update with. Refer to Seagate's site for more info on determining Firmware version your drive may have shipped with - and procedures for upgrading - if needed.

           

2nd Generation Hybrid Drive For Mac	Coming Soon - Western Digital Hybrid?	Full-Size 3.5" SSD Hybrid?
*NEW* Seagate SATA3 Hybrid SSD 750GB Platter + 4GB SSD	Hybrid drive technology is inevitable. WD is rumored to be testing and exploring this new technology - but no drives have shipped as of yet...	With 2 out of every 3 computers sold being laptops - Drive manufacturers focus on 2.5" drives first and foremost these days. But 3.5" desktop drives using Hybrid SSD technology is in the future.

Mac mini - MacBook SSD Hybrid Drive Upgrades

The Mac mini and MacBook can ideal candidate for a Hybrid SSD. As the low-end of Apple's desktop line, in some ways a mini can benefit the most from the speed boost a Hybrid drive will give. Apple tends to use rather slow 5400RPM drives in it's low end models. So the stock drive performance is less than impressive. Even if you didn't opt for a full SSD or Hybrid drive, if you ever have to replace your hard disk - go for a 7200+RPM mechansim with large cache. The performance boost will be noticeable over the stock drive.

Unfortunately, Mac mini dissassembly may be a bit daunting for those inexperienced with drive swaps. For some, paying a qualified Mac computer tech who can perform the swap is wise - and they can also assist with cloning your Mac mini's conventional drive to transfer the data. For the more courageous DIY types, plenty of online How-To Mac mini take-apart videos can help you navigate the finer points of a drive upgrade.

3.5" Hybrid Drives for iMac or Macintosh Pro?

Eventually we'll see full-size SSD Hybrid drives for Mac systems like Macintosh Pro towers and iMacs. For the time being, drive manufacturers are focused on the smaller 2.5" Hybrid SSD for MacBook Pro or Mac mini type systems. With over two thirds of all computers - both in the Windows PC and Macintosh market now portable laptop systems - there's simply far more demand for smaller drives. So these initial Hybrid storage solutions are targeting the highest volume disk storage market first. Other Hybrid solid-state drive size options are in the future.

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