Mac mini double esata hack

[philipma1957]

I have built a double esata hack mac mini from a 2.53ghz 2009 mac mini. here are two shots of it finished front and back.

Now it is finished for testing and work. But not for prettiness. I hope to redesign it for looks and will post more soon. It has 2 1.5tb wd cavair blacks inside of sans digital towerstor units. both drives are seen as internal hdds. i can clone from a to b at about 140mb/s drifting down to 110mb/s near the end of the hdd's. These esata hacks are low cost and you can bring the mini back to stock if you choose to do so. I have a lot of photos and links to post. I have two of these. Both are late 2009 models both are double esata hacks. one is a 2.53ghz and one is a 2.66ghz. when all is said and done I would hope to show how to do this with a 2.53ghz 2009 server model and a 2.66ghz 2009 factory upgraded model. The 2009 2.53ghz and 2009 2.66ghz both work really well I have used them as double esata hacks for months. The one below is the lower cost single bay hdds with a basic dvd player. I hope to show this with a pair of two bay hdds and a higher end dvd player already built and tested. Finally with a rosewill 8bay case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816132016&Tpk=rosewill 8 bay

I have the parts have not built it yet. I am using this with my new mac pro.

 

[philipma1957]

TO MODERATORS I know I am replying to myself but I wanted to show a lot of photos on this build photo shows two esata cables connected to the top and bottom slots of a 2009 mac mini a 2.66ghz model i needed an adapter caddy to do it correctly. since this was on a 1 drive 2009 mac mini not the server the adapter tray/caddy was needed. the reason you need the tray is the sata connection to the inside dvd is not a standard size 2.5/3.5 sata conntection. the tray makes it fit standard sata plugs. I also used a small male male adapter to hooke the esata cable to the inside for the mini. since i did this i found better parts to do a cleaner job. they are on order. I found a good price for the adapter tray if you don't have a 2009 sever you will need the tray. I found a 1 piece cable that allows for a much nice mount to the mini. if any one want links just reply to this post.

 

[mooonte]

is it possible to make something like this in a macbook late 2007?

i was thinking in removing the dvd drive (since i never use it), and to find a way to fit the port in the dvd slot. (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9281)

but the problem is to know if the esata will work with a 2007 sata controller. will it be AHCI enabled?
where did you buy this bay adapter?

thanks

 

[philipma1957]

it can be done with the right macbook. I need more info with your 2007 model. I need to know what one it is. 2007 may use an ide connection. you need a special adapter


http://www.newmodeus.com/pics/OBHD/OBHD-Matrix-6.html


i think it is this one;


http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=219


Please email them for info they may be able to help you be sure it is the correct one. they are not low cost I have seen them for 25 on ebay but the correct size is important

 

[bearcatrp]

I have a 2010 model and wondered if I could run 1 sata from the optical drive out to hook up a 2TB drive. Is this possible? Don't care what it looks like. Figure run it out the front slot were the cd would go. Let me know what I need to do this. Tnks

 

[mooonte]

i'm not sure right now, but i think it is an A1181, and the super drive uses a mini sata connection

considering that it is a sata, will it be hot pluggeable, or ill need to restart it all the time i connect an external drive?

 

[mooonte]

just confirming, it is an A1181.

where did you find the male-male adapter?

 

[billib]

SATA male to male adapter

just confirming, it is an A1181.

where did you find the male-male adapter?

The link for it is below.
http://www.cpustuff.com/7-pin-male-male-sata-serial-ata-data-adapter-epoxy.-7male2m.html

 

[mooonte]

i was looking for the difference between sata and micro sata, and all i found is that only the power connector is different

what is the difference for the sata connector? is it thinner?

because both are 7-pin, maybe its possible to make this without the tray

 

[billib]

Data SATA cable

i was looking for the difference between sata and micro sata, and all i found is that only the power connector is different
what is the difference for the sata connector? is it thinner?
because both are 7-pin, maybe its possible to make this without the tray

I've done a similar hack to Philip's. I didn't use a tray
just the Data SATA cable. You can do it without the tray its just
not as clean. I attached the SATA cable with small zip ties. Can't
help you with the micro SATA. I just used the 7-pin SATA cable.

 

[Docholiday52]

Source of "better parts" ? Thanks.

TO MODERATORS I know I am replying to myself but I wanted to show a lot of photos on this build photo shows two esata cables connected to the top and bottom slots of a 2009 mac mini a 2.66ghz model i needed an adapter caddy to do it correctly. since this was on a 1 drive 2009 mac mini not the server the adapter tray/caddy was needed. the reason you need the tray is the sata connection to the inside dvd is not a standard size 2.5/3.5 sata conntection. the tray makes it fit standard sata plugs. I also used a small male male adapter to hooke the esata cable to the inside for the mini. since i did this i found better parts to do a cleaner job. they are on order. I found a good price for the adapter tray if you don't have a 2009 sever you will need the tray. I found a 1 piece cable that allows for a much nice mount to the mini. if any one want links just reply to this post.

I would appreciate the links to the "better parts"
Doc

 

[philipma1957]

I would appreciate the links to the "better parts"
Doc

old post but I will see what I can do. I sent you a contact email.