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Does currently shipping 15" Macbook Pro support SATA III @ 6Gb/s in Optibay?

Does currently shipping 15" Macbook Pro support SATA III @ 6Gb/s in Optibay? Post a P

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oxfordguy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 27, 2008
503
4
Oxford, England
Hi - I've been getting some conflicting information on this, so am going to take a poll - does the currently shipping 15" Macbook Pro support SATA III @ 6Gb/s in Optibay or only @ 3Gb/s?

I know units shipped early in 2011 only supported SATA III SSDs at 3Gb/s, but some are saying later shipping models support SATA III drives @ 6Gb/s. Does anyone have such a 15" Macbook Pro and does a SATA III SSD indeed run at 6Gb/s in the Optibay? Thanks! :)

* Edit: this article seems to suggest "maybe"

** Edit 2: This article seems to suggest that although some (all?) Macbook Pros now shipping have SATA III 6Gb/s support for the Optibay, it only actually works on the 13" model, even after the recent firmware update for SATA III problems! Not only that but the 15"/17" MBPs will have problems even running a SATA III SSDs at *any* speed in the Optibay! Go figure...


I'd prefer not to put the HDD in the Optibay, if possible, due to lack of Sudden Motion Sensor support, but don't want to limit SATA III SSD speed.The alternative, I guess, would be to put an HDD with built-in shock protection in the Optibay (the WD Scorpio Black, perhaps?).

The other issue some people have mentioned is that if the SSD is in the Optibay and its the boot drive, then there can be hibernation problems - is this still true? Thanks again.
 
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From what I've read, the ODD slot uses SATA II connection.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1102430/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1102454/
http://boardreader.com/thread/6_GB_s_ODD_port_on_new_MBP_6a775X1add6.html
crellion said:
Hey Guys,

I just went to a local Apple store and confirmed that the new MacBook Pro (15-inch) has the following info:

MAIN DRIVE - TOSHIBA 5400 RPM

Intel 6 Series Chipset
Vendor: Intel
Product: 6 Series Chipset
Link Speed: 6 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported


SUPERDRIVE - OPTIARC DVD RW

Intel 6 Series Chipset
Vendor: Intel
Product: 6 Series Chipset
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 1.5 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported
Click to expand...

attachment.php


Why is the Superdrive Link Speed still at only 3 Gigabit? I know the recent Sandy Bridge defects affect only the 3 Gigabit port, so I am concerned whether the Superdrive port is an affected area?



*UPDATE*

It's now OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED:


Still trying to confirm whether this motherboard is a B3-Stepping (the fixed Sandy Bridge motherboard.) Here are shots of the front-side/back-side of the 15-inch Macbook Pro motherboard from iFixit:

Front-Side
Back-Side
Click to expand...
 
Yep, from all accounts I've read the units shipping now have SATA3 in the Optibay. I think the cutoff was around May if I'm not mistaken.
 
I don't know when the cutoff was, but if you receive a MBP with Lion preinstalled (which you should by now) the chances are higher. I bought mine late Aug and it had Lion installed, and I have SATA 3 (6Gb/sec) on both the HDD and ODD ports.
 
ml.sail1 said:
I don't know when the cutoff was, but if you receive a MBP with Lion preinstalled (which you should by now) the chances are higher. I bought mine late Aug and it had Lion installed, and I have SATA 3 (6Gb/sec) on both the HDD and ODD ports.
Click to expand...

The thing is, according to the article I found, even if the optibay does notionally have SATA III (6Gb/sec), it doesn't seem to work on 15" or 17" Macbook Pros, only on13" MacBook Pros - has anyone actually got the Optibay got work (at 6Gb/secs) on a 15" Macbook Pro with a SATA III (6Gb/sec) SSD?
 
What the hell??
I not on the forums thyat much, but I never heard of a defect about sandy bridge...
I have an early 2011 13" i7 which I bought in may and I have sata-III/sata-II on it.
It´s academic of course as it´s quick anyways :D
 
dusk007 said:
Just recently there has been an EFI update that should resolve some performance related SATA 3 problems. This "it doesn't work at all" problem if it wasn't resolved a long time ago already is definitely fixed a couple months after your posted article I would assume.

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/1...-addresses-sata-3-0-drive-performance-issues/
Click to expand...

No, the second article I linked to was written after the EFI update that fixed some SATA III problems, as the article says:

Very important points though concerning the optical bay.

#1 – if your MacBook Pro 2011 model currently has SATA 2.0 3Gb/s reported for your optical bay max link speed, this EFI update does not change that to SATA 3.0 6Gb/s. It really makes no difference for the optical drive, but if you wish to add an additional 9.5mm hard drive or SSD with a product such as our Data Doubler, you can continue to do so with pretty much any 3G or 6G drive of your choosing.

#2 – For those with a MacBook Pro 15″ or 17″ model that has SATA 3.0 6Gb/s link capability reported, it is very important to note that this EFI update does not appear to have resolved reliability of using a 6Gb/s drive in the optical bay. If you have a 6Gb/s optical drive bay connnection and are using a product like our Data Doubler, we still recommend only using a SATA 2.0 3Gb/s drive in that bay. MacBook Pro 13″ owners who find 6Gb/s links in their optical bay are not experiencing issues with 6Gb/s drives and this update doesn’t affect that usage.
Click to expand...

So I ask again, has anyone actually managed to get a SATA III 6Gb/s SSD working at 6Gb/s in the optibay of a 15" Macbook Pro?
 
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This is on my Macbook Pro 13" that I bought in June.


Intel 6 Series Chipset:

Vendor: Intel
Product: 6 Series Chipset
Link Speed: 6 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 1.5 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported
 
I haven't tried SATA3 capabilities on my 15" MBP bought just two weeks ago from apple store.

Here's a screenshot of my SATA system info:

Does this mean it has SATA3 capabilities on the optibay too?
 

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Thanks for the info... doing an SSD upgrade soon for my 2010 MBP. Now I know to put the SSD in the hard drive slot, and the hard drive in the optical bay. Thankfully my hard drive is a WD Scorpio Black so it already has shock protection.
 
im not sure about your 2010 MBP but my 2011 Early model that i bought in september has Sudden Motion Sensor in Optical Bay drive! It detects it and works 100% I have confirmed this on many occasions on this forum. Been using my SSD in Main Bay + HDD in Optical Bay.

Also that article I can confirm 100% that 6Gb/s in optical Bay does not work even tho it is 6Gb/s port, my SataIII 6Gb/s SSD doesn't work when in Optical bay slot but works 100% perfect from main bay. Tis why i put my HDD in there but don't be afraid SMS has you covered, so do not turn it off! anytime i walk around with my macbook and if i shake it SMS kicks in:apple:
 
Good to know and thanks. I am bummed to have missed MCE's 30% off sale for Black Friday, just ended midnight Nov 30. $100 is too much to spend for their Optibay Kit + USB enclosure but $70 I would have jumped at. So for now I will shop around for cheaper alternative pieces, or wait for MCE to (hopefully) go back on sale again...
 
Fofer said:
Good to know and thanks. I am bummed to have missed MCE's 30% off sale for Black Friday, just ended midnight Nov 30. $100 is too much to spend for their Optibay Kit + USB enclosure but $70 I would have jumped at. So for now I will shop around for cheaper alternative pieces, or wait for MCE to (hopefully) go back on sale again...
Click to expand...

I spent $30 total.....to get Optical Bay caddy from eBay, just as good and the External drive enclosure the one thats in aluminum.....beats $100 and $70 anyway....mine is a Fenvi branded optical bay drive, It doesn't take a genius to grab a drill and make a few holes form under the enclosure since it doesn't come with any to tie down the HDD, although I have had it in the enclosure without putting screws on and just the clip provided....because there is no room for movement due to lack of space in that compartment you have nothing to worry about....

benefit of buying from eBay is that there is nothing complicated about the enclosure....only wiring is all it has besides the shell you place the drive in, I would understand spending big bucks if it had a motherboard or something serious.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-2nd-HD...&otn=2&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=4586893504016269036


http://www.ebay.com/itm/220834184748?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

what more do you need? (for the optical drive enclosure to make it external I can't find the one I bought for some reason when I do on ebay ill post the link)
 
I just bought a late-2011 15" MBP last night from a local Apple store. The machine was preloaded with Lion on it.

I swapped in my Samsung 830 SSD (256GB) which runs @ 6 Gb/s. Negotiated link speed has been confirmed to be 6 Gb/s according to System Information.
 

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Acejam2k said:
I just bought a late-2011 15" MBP last night from a local Apple store. The machine was preloaded with Lion on it.

I swapped in my Samsung 830 SSD (256GB) which runs @ 6 Gb/s. Negotiated link speed has been confirmed to be 6 Gb/s according to System Information.
Click to expand...

But did you put the SSD in the optibay or the main drive bay?
 
Fofer said:
Thanks for the info... doing an SSD upgrade soon for my 2010 MBP. Now I know to put the SSD in the hard drive slot, and the hard drive in the optical bay. Thankfully my hard drive is a WD Scorpio Black so it already has shock protection.
Click to expand...
Read more carefully. This thread is talking about 2011 MBPs and SATA 3.
2010 MBP are all only SATA 2 there is no SATA 3 on any port in the 2010. Thus there is absolutely no reason to worry.
Put the SSD in the optibay it works just fine and boots without any issues. That is my setup and atleast for 2010 MBPs I can assure you it works without any sort of problems.
The HDD is much better mounted in the HDD Bay. There is rubber mounting that reduces vibration and noise, it is coverd by solid aluminium which reduces noise again. And there is the SMS too.
 
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oxfordguy said:
Acejam2k said:
I just bought a late-2011 15" MBP last night from a local Apple store. The machine was preloaded with Lion on it.

I swapped in my Samsung 830 SSD (256GB) which runs @ 6 Gb/s. Negotiated link speed has been confirmed to be 6 Gb/s according to System Information.
Click to expand...

But did you put the SSD in the optibay or the main drive bay?
Click to expand...

The main drive bay, where it belongs.
 
Acejam2k said:
The main drive bay, where it belongs.
Click to expand...

Well, it was a valid question to ask. Because the thread title here is about SATA III @ 6 GB/s speeds in the Optibay, not in the main bay. It's not particularly newsworthy any longer that the main drive bay gets that speed, we've known that was possible for awhile now. It's the Optibay that folks are wondering about and hoping will get the same capability soon.

----------

Satnam1989 said:
I spent $30 total.....to get Optical Bay caddy from eBay, just as good and the External drive enclosure the one thats in aluminum.....beats $100 and $70 anyway....mine is a Fenvi branded optical bay drive, It doesn't take a genius to grab a drill and make a few holes form under the enclosure since it doesn't come with any to tie down the HDD, although I have had it in the enclosure without putting screws on and just the clip provided....because there is no room for movement due to lack of space in that compartment you have nothing to worry about....
Click to expand...


I ordered a Nimitz on ebay for $23.99, with the screw holes already there. I don't want to use duct tape, I'd like to fasten it with screws as much as possible. This a little more expensive than the one you linked to, but also well reviewed by folks who've installed these in MBP's before.

And I also ordered this "aluminum" USB enclosure for the optical drive ($24.95.)

Yes, there were cheaper ones out there, but I like that it matches Apple's own Superdrive for the MacBook Air and Mac Mini.


Shopping for an SSD now, most likely a 160 GB Intel. Just waiting for another sale to roll around (I just missed Black Friday's $130 rebate.)

----------

dusk007 said:
Read more carefully. This thread is talking about 2011 MBPs and SATA 3.
2010 MBP are all only SATA 2 there is no SATA 3 on any port in the 2010. Thus there is absolutely no reason to worry.
Put the SSD in the optibay it works just fine and boots without any issues. That is my setup and atleast for 2010 MBPs I can assure you it works without any sort of problems.
The HDD is much better mounted in the HDD Bay. There is rubber mounting that reduces vibration and noise, it is coverd by solid aluminium which reduces noise again. And there is the SMS too.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, thank you. The issue I was concerned about was hibernation. As I understand it, if the boot drive (which the SSD will be) is in the optibay, then the Mac won't hibernate (ie: safe-sleep.) I use that feature quite a bit. By putting the SSD in the HDD bay, then apparently my MBP will still be able to hibernate. Yes, I realize that the trade-off is noise/security of the HDD in the optibay. So I keep waffling on the best decision here.
 
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Wondering?

Excuse the newbie question but why do you guys want SATA III working on the opti bay? is to to remove the opti DVD drive and put another SSD in there to do raid or?
 
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