1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

News New MacBooks have SATA downgrade

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by CardJoe, 15 Jun 2009.

  1. CardJoe

    CardJoe Freelance Journalist

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2007
    Posts:
    11,346
    Likes Received:
    316
  2. DarkLord7854

    DarkLord7854 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2005
    Posts:
    4,643
    Likes Received:
    121
    That's funny, and for some reason doesn't really surprise me.

    Remember the 10$ Wireless N unlock for the Macbook Pros or w/e it was? :rolleyes:
     
  3. p3n

    p3n What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jan 2002
    Posts:
    778
    Likes Received:
    1
    My 15" says NVidia MCP79 AHCI is 3Gb/s (early model) - surely they are using the same chipset still?!
     
  4. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

    Joined:
    20 Nov 2005
    Posts:
    12,846
    Likes Received:
    1,940
    That was slightly different in that when the products launched before N was officially 'released' - SATAII has been around for a while now.

    I expect this was done to improve battery life. Most likely there wasn't a sufficient gain in speed for SATAII to be worth the loss of battery life. Seems a typical Appleism - See video cards. Underclocked to suit their hardware.
     
  5. chaosfrantic

    chaosfrantic What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    12 Jun 2009
    Posts:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm confused after reading what "llratheal" posted.
    So were the late 2008 models of the macbook, macbook pro's in October using Sata or Sata 2?
    But i won't be surprised. It's apple. Funny how they only offer the anti-glare screen exclusively to the 17" pros only.
     
  6. p3n

    p3n What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jan 2002
    Posts:
    778
    Likes Received:
    1
    My '08 is fine like I said above. The battery life thing has got to be bull**** as there isn't alot of difference, the harddrive is still using the same juice. Apparently they do have the same chipset so its hopefully only 'software' (feel really bad for the people who just bought an SSD for the new ones!)
     
  7. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

    Joined:
    20 Nov 2005
    Posts:
    12,846
    Likes Received:
    1,940
    I was thinking the chipset itself. Processing anything at twice the speed is going to, inevitably, use more power. Quite how much, I don't know, and can't be arsed to go sifting through google to find out. I was merely speculating.

    The fact that most of the drives are 5400RPM makes the extra speed found with II seem kinda pointless. Any bonuses would quickly be lost through a slower drive. Of course, this wouldn't be true for SSD users or the users that opted for the 7200rpm models. Guess they have to either like it or lump it.
     
  8. cyrilthefish

    cyrilthefish What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    15 Apr 2004
    Posts:
    1,363
    Likes Received:
    99
    Or Apple could have set a BIOS option for SATA I/II mode, meaning everyone would have been happy :rolleyes:
     
  9. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

    Joined:
    20 Nov 2005
    Posts:
    12,846
    Likes Received:
    1,940
    You seem to be under the impression that Apple want to give their customers choice..
     
  10. DarkLord7854

    DarkLord7854 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2005
    Posts:
    4,643
    Likes Received:
    121

    And under the Impression they have a BIOS :p


    Well yes, but I meant in terms of limiting the hardware's capabilities ;)
     
  11. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

    Joined:
    20 Nov 2005
    Posts:
    12,846
    Likes Received:
    1,940
    I'd imagine that if Apple charged for a SATAII restore then there'd be class action lawsuits all over the place.

    Would be kinda funny, though.
     
  12. shomann

    shomann Minimodder

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2003
    Posts:
    402
    Likes Received:
    4
    Clarification would be a good thing here before I go off, but as big of an Apple fan that I am, I can't see the point in this.
     
  13. fodder

    fodder Minimodder

    Joined:
    20 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    162
    Likes Received:
    3
    Nothing new for apple.

    Remember the old mac 'power pc' towers? They were still using 2x CD rom drives long (maybe even a year+) after you couldn't buy them anymore. My theory is they did a bulk buy of discontinued Sata II stock and will continue to find reasons to fit it until it runs out. I bet the reason to then switch to Sata III wil be 'Solid state drives are now being accepted as the format of choice' thus putting the reason back on the user for sticking with Sata II for so long.
     
  14. DarkLord7854

    DarkLord7854 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2005
    Posts:
    4,643
    Likes Received:
    121
    Article read fail? :lol:


    It's SATA I ;)
     
  15. leexgx

    leexgx CPC hang out zone (i Fix pcs i do )

    Joined:
    28 Jun 2006
    Posts:
    1,356
    Likes Received:
    8
    SSDs are fast as they are you not miss the 60-100MB/s been chopped off under norm use

    SSDs seem to not work well with Mac + nvidia notebooks (some any way)
     
  16. shomann

    shomann Minimodder

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2003
    Posts:
    402
    Likes Received:
    4
    I remember them extremely well and I know of what you speak. You are taking into account those were SCSI CD-ROMs, right? ;)

    The SATA II to SATA I downgrade just makes no sense. I mean the model just prior to the new ones, (Macbook included I believe) had SATA II.
     
  17. DarkLord7854

    DarkLord7854 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2005
    Posts:
    4,643
    Likes Received:
    121
    Engadget confirmed it's the actual chip that's different btw
     
  18. gavomatic57

    gavomatic57 Minimodder

    Joined:
    23 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    5,091
    Likes Received:
    10
    Got a link? I've been reading the article on engadget and nobody seems to know for sure. Last I heard it is different firmware on macbooks with SATA1 and SATA2, so it could be a firmware thing. It wouldn't make any financial sense to put a different chip in.
     
  19. leexgx

    leexgx CPC hang out zone (i Fix pcs i do )

    Joined:
    28 Jun 2006
    Posts:
    1,356
    Likes Received:
    8
    Most are only going to be useing norm hdds in the laptops so why fuss over it, as hdds do not come close to the sata 1 spec

    If your going to be useing ssd in it date rate speed is not that inportant , as the access times are so low makes them respond fast
     
Tags: Add Tags

Share This Page