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MCE Optibay Alternative CHEAP
- Thread starter MacModMachine
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Drive Bay worked, Case didn't.
Okay.. I purchased all three items. Installed the harddrive no problem. But the optical drive when you put it in the usb case it sticks out and the face place wont fit or stay on. Obviously this guy posted the links after he ordered but not after he tried it out. Now I have to figure something else out... new drive? The apple drive doesn't have the groves to attach a faceplate and it sticks out just a little bit. Someone please help..
Okay.. I purchased all three items. Installed the harddrive no problem. But the optical drive when you put it in the usb case it sticks out and the face place wont fit or stay on. Obviously this guy posted the links after he ordered but not after he tried it out. Now I have to figure something else out... new drive? The apple drive doesn't have the groves to attach a faceplate and it sticks out just a little bit. Someone please help..
You're right.. I didn't put them together yet..
I just tried and that's exactly the case.. ugh
sorry.
I just tried and that's exactly the case.. ugh
sorry.
i ordered the newmodeus.com adapter.
it does look good. and seems light.
so i will have to give it a try. even though i love my rats nest
it does look good. and seems light.
so i will have to give it a try. even though i love my rats nest
Fixed..
Okay, all you have to do is cut the overhang off. Then I took 3M clear strong double sided tape(small thin amount) to keep the face plate on. Also the screw holes on the back didn't line up so I used the tape to hold everything on the inside as well. I would post pictures put it's not coming apart.. It's the same tape apple uses on displays and to hold ipods down in the stores.
3M VHB™ ..good stuff! (Let it set for a day)
Also the optical drive case is the weird soft touch plastic similar to the black incase covers for the new unibody macbook pros. So if your into matching things that black case is amazing! (picture makes it look like the cheap shiny plastic and it's not.
Okay, all you have to do is cut the overhang off. Then I took 3M clear strong double sided tape(small thin amount) to keep the face plate on. Also the screw holes on the back didn't line up so I used the tape to hold everything on the inside as well. I would post pictures put it's not coming apart..
It's the same tape apple uses on displays and to hold ipods down in the stores.3M VHB™ ..good stuff! (Let it set for a day)
Also the optical drive case is the weird soft touch plastic similar to the black incase covers for the new unibody macbook pros. So if your into matching things
that black case is amazing! (picture makes it look like the cheap shiny plastic and it's not.You're right.. I didn't put them together yet..
I just tried and that's exactly the case.. ugh
Okay, all you have to do is cut the overhang off. Then I took 3M clear strong double sided tape(small thin amount) to keep the face plate on. Also the screw holes on the back didn't line up so I used the tape to hold everything on the inside as well. I would post pictures put it's not coming apart..
3M VHB ..good stuff! (Let it set for a day)
Also the optical drive case is the weird soft touch plastic similar to the black incase covers for the new unibody macbook pros. So if your into matching things
what hdd/ssd setup do you have ?
thanks
Interesting, so all I would need for a mbp 15" unibody to replace the superdrive is the optical caddy?
Im not too worried about the superdrive as I can just share a drive from a desktop
yep, i bought an external optical writer with lightscribe...its slot load...got it from new egg cheap 72$ us
ill post a picture of it shortly,
im rocking dual x25-m SSD's now
Wow! This stuff is pretty cool! I never use my optical drive, but at the same time I'm not hurting for HD space.
You know you're a geek when you want to do something like this even when it wouldn't actually help you at all.
You know you're a geek when you want to do something like this even when it wouldn't actually help you at all.
Actually, if you do a RAID 0 setup (probably what he did) you gain alot of speed (on top of the SSD being fast). Since I do not use the DVD much and I need something super fast (since I will be running Parallels) I would want as much speed as possible.
This mod is not one done for nothing, you gain alot.
exactly....the same idea i had, i use virtual machines alot for work, play and everything else...somtimes i run 2 xp pro and a 98se workstation at once...the bandwidth is required alot of times.
the striped drives offer low power consumption and lots of speed.
here is the optical drive i purchased which is 10x better then the internal LG one.
Attachments
How does adding a second HD affect battery life? I've been thinking about doing this but dont want to cut my battery life down too much.
if you go to 2x ssd's you wont loose any battery life,
the optical drive consumes a little power idle, the hdd consumes usually 2w...
I have 2x WD 500GB 5400RPM drives in my 17" MBP, and the battery life impact it has on my notebook is very minimal. I would estimate a 5-10 minutes less usage on average compared to just having 1 drive.
15"?
Bugout,
you think the Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy you bought for your 17" would fit in a 15" unibody?
Thx,
Bugout,
you think the Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy you bought for your 17" would fit in a 15" unibody?
Thx,
If the optical sits on just another SATA channel the MBP should be able to boot from it. In System Preferences, type "startup disk" (without the quotes)..... or hold down option key on boot, then you can select your startup disk right there.
I'd be more concerned about heat though, and I would put that drive which I use most in the HD bay. E.g. the startup drive.
I like the bugout solution, I care about the result and not about the doing it myself part. If the Apple techs here where I live weren't so inept I'd even let them do it. The only reason I do stuff myself is that they always screw up even on simple stuff
I'd be more concerned about heat though, and I would put that drive which I use most in the HD bay. E.g. the startup drive.
I like the bugout solution, I care about the result and not about the doing it myself part. If the Apple techs here where I live weren't so inept I'd even let them do it. The only reason I do stuff myself is that they always screw up even on simple stuff
Thanks for the info, I was wondering about that.
I don't believe that there will be "no" impact from SSDs - that's dreaming. The optical probably uses next to no power at all when idle, and the SSDs are going to be on all the time - 'cause it's a RAID 0, it's meant to use both drives at all times for better speed.
An SSD is not any more energy efficient than a normal 2.5" laptop drive. 0.5 / 2W idle/in use is the same as a 5400 HD has.
I have a 3G USB stick which is limited to 500mw (USB standard) and it has a significant impact on battery life. Granted it might use a little more, but it's still going to be less than the 2W that that extra SSD will use.
Thunder - don't know if you have a RAID or not but if you do, make sure to back up obsessively.
Question, for those of you who've put 2 HDDs in a Mac laptop.
Is it possible to tell the 2nd HDD to spin down after X mins of inactivity?
I'd love to do the mod. But it would be nice to shut off the 2nd drive when it's not being used.
Is it possible to tell the 2nd HDD to spin down after X mins of inactivity?
I'd love to do the mod. But it would be nice to shut off the 2nd drive when it's not being used.
Yes under energy preferences, allow hdd to sleep.
I'm using a SSD and a stock HD. The HD does spin down when it's not being in used.
AWSOME MOD!!!!!!!! thumbs up to the innovation, i have been searching for an alternative - it has been looking me in the face the whole time, just shove it all in!! hahaha
now i can afford the mod, but i cant afford another 500gb HD
now i can afford the mod, but i cant afford another 500gb HD
What is the best enclosure for the removed optical drive? (the one from the 17", though it looks the same as the one from my old 15") Is there anything out there that matches the MBP's aesthetic? Self powered would be best, something interesting like FW only even better.