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MCE Optibay Alternative CHEAP
- Thread starter MacModMachine
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Well, I called it a day without removing the optical drive. I got 1 screw out, but the other was too tight and now has a partially-stripped head from me struggling with it. 
On the NewModeUs Facebook page they recommend this new $42 OBHD9-SATA-SATA-NF model for the latest MBPs that was added to their site in November 2009.
However, everyone in this thread links to the $42 OBHD9-SATA-SATA-B model that has been on their site since April 2009.
As far as I can tell the only difference in the models is that the newer bay has no faceplate (as the "NF" in the model name would imply).
Which one should I buy?
P.S. They also have a 5% off coupon on their Facebook page: FB072808
P.P.S. I bought this $10 adapter to use my SuperDrive with (lowest price for something like this I saw in the thread)
However, everyone in this thread links to the $42 OBHD9-SATA-SATA-B model that has been on their site since April 2009.
As far as I can tell the only difference in the models is that the newer bay has no faceplate (as the "NF" in the model name would imply).
Which one should I buy?
P.S. They also have a 5% off coupon on their Facebook page: FB072808
P.P.S. I bought this $10 adapter to use my SuperDrive with (lowest price for something like this I saw in the thread)
Well, you need to take the faceplate off the caddy to get it to fit in the first place, so you might was well buy the version without it and save 90 seconds during the install.
P.S. I was able to loosen the screw on mine by twisting the superdrive around it. All is well now and my install was successful.
I received an email from newmodeus confirming that if you have a 2009 MacBook or MBP you should get the newer model OBHD9-SATA-SATA-NF.
And for those of you still thinking about buying the MCE OptiBay - don't. I've read this whole thread (and others) that complain about their non-existent customer service. I heard back from newmodeus in four hours.
And for those of you still thinking about buying the MCE OptiBay - don't. I've read this whole thread (and others) that complain about their non-existent customer service. I heard back from newmodeus in four hours.
there customer service is good imho, i have bought 50+ of these caddy's for installs and they always are good to me
Sorry if I missed it in here I didn't go through every page but most of them.
Has anyone found a nice sleek enclosure (ala external superdrive) in terms of appearance or a way to make the USB SD work on anything outside of the MBA? I don't mind software hacks but not really looking to rip apart the drive and solder in the new controller board as I seen somewhere else.
Has anyone found a nice sleek enclosure (ala external superdrive) in terms of appearance or a way to make the USB SD work on anything outside of the MBA? I don't mind software hacks but not really looking to rip apart the drive and solder in the new controller board as I seen somewhere else.
http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.display&product_id=186
these are the ones i use.
there extact same look as mba superdrive mac sells, but there enclosures.
great!
these are the ones i use.
there extact same look as mba superdrive mac sells, but there enclosures.
great!
I'm using the MBA superdrive. There are three software mod ways to make it work I've discovered.
1) Hold option upon reboot to have the drive initialize on the boot-select screen. Then the drive will continue to work as the OS is in use. Sadly once you disconnect it, you'll have to reboot again to get access to it. I've tested this on about EVERY MacBook out there.
2) Hack the MBA Superdrive driver to recognize your Computer as a valid one, and make it work like normal. This works GREAT and I've been doing it for months without issue. I've been meaning to blog how to do this, or make an App to hack it for you. I just have been busy, maybe I'll finish my writeup tomorrow if I get some time.
3) If someone can write a driver to send the MBA SD the magic signal that Apple's driver does. Sadly I tried to write a driver myself and had no luck, as Apple's driver was in the way and I'm not good at device driver coding. So this is a possible method, but not confirmed to even be a workable solution
$119 for an enclosure? It isnt even as slim as the Apple SD, are they nuts?
Are you for paying that?
$119 for an enclosure? It isnt even as slim as the Apple SD, are they nuts?
nope...not my money
customers, they wanted those so they can go into pc's too.
silly customers....Ha, some people spend their money like they hate having it.
It is a nice looking enclosure, I would probably pay $40-50 for it and be happy. $119 is too rich for my blood though, I will go ghetto and use the bare drive with a bridge board and keep it in a static bag at that rate!
It is a nice looking enclosure, I would probably pay $40-50 for it and be happy. $119 is too rich for my blood though, I will go ghetto and use the bare drive with a bridge board and keep it in a static bag at that rate!
Yeah, it is def a very nice enclosure but not for the price. It costs more the apples device that comes with a drive installed. If the startuo keyboard trick works I think I will just pickup the USB SD. I use it so little that I don't care about doing that to use it.
Purchased one of the T400 SATA caddy from Ebay for $7.99. Easily cut off the plastic bezel right at mark where the lower metal tray end. Fits in the optical bay slot perfectly and looks OEM.
Great price and works perfectly with my late 2008 unibody MBP.
Got an Intel 80GB x18 SSD in he original HD bay. I always thought my MBP was slow...but with the SSD, it finally compute at the speed I always wished for. Programs pop open so fast, I am in love with my MBP for the first time.
I never used the optical drive, but just in case I need it. I did the terminal hack to allow the MBP the ability to use Remote Disc like the Macbook Air are able to do. Works like a charm.
Just sharing my success.
-Dazex
Great price and works perfectly with my late 2008 unibody MBP.
Got an Intel 80GB x18 SSD in he original HD bay. I always thought my MBP was slow...but with the SSD, it finally compute at the speed I always wished for. Programs pop open so fast, I am in love with my MBP for the first time.
I never used the optical drive, but just in case I need it. I did the terminal hack to allow the MBP the ability to use Remote Disc like the Macbook Air are able to do. Works like a charm.
Just sharing my success.
-Dazex
1TB Western Digital + SSD
So I'm concluding that people are having trouble with hibernation with putting the SSDs in the optical drive spot and having a regular hard drive in the stock spot...
Is there some way you can mount a 1TB drive in place of the optical drive and still put the SSD in the stock spot and not have issues?
I got too many files for just a 640GB.
So I'm concluding that people are having trouble with hibernation with putting the SSDs in the optical drive spot and having a regular hard drive in the stock spot...
Is there some way you can mount a 1TB drive in place of the optical drive and still put the SSD in the stock spot and not have issues?
I got too many files for just a 640GB.
So I'm concluding that people are having trouble with hibernation with putting the SSDs in the optical drive spot and having a regular hard drive in the stock spot...
Is there some way you can mount a 1TB drive in place of the optical drive and still put the SSD in the stock spot and not have issues?
I got too many files for just a 640GB.
AFAIK the caddy only fits 9.5mm drives, and current 1TB drives are 12mm. The 1TB fits in the stock spot only.
As for the hibernation issue: Correct. I have this problem, but been too lazy to open everything up again and swap the drives. It's annoying though.
Even if you don't use a caddy and just sort of mount the drive in there and secure it in some way - there still wouldn't be enough room?
Could the next version of snow leopard resolve these issues at all? I guess it's doubtful if they don't know of the issues...
So I'm concluding that people are having trouble with hibernation with putting the SSDs in the optical drive spot and having a regular hard drive in the stock spot...
Is there some way you can mount a 1TB drive in place of the optical drive and still put the SSD in the stock spot and not have issues?
I got too many files for just a 640GB.
I dont see why anyone would want to install it in that order in the first place..
I'd want the SSD in where the original HDD was and the 500GB in the optibay (because the left palm rest is where I'd want to pet the precious).
But as long as there is no problem with this combo, I might go for it!
I'll probably order the optibay and install it once my 2 weeks exchange period has passed (just incase the i7s are released and I get an exchange).
Can't get the eBay caddy to fit
I bought the cheap eBay caddy, followed these instructions and can't get it to fit in my 2009 13" MBP. I trimmed down the side of the caddy opposite the SATA connector (as completing mentioned) but the caddy sticks out at an angle (higher towards the center of the MacBook than on the end).
I also followed the YouTube video in this thread that recommends sanding down the same end opposite the SATA connector. That helped it fit a little better, but it still won't work.
I also have to leave the speaker/subwoofer bar unscrewed to get it to fit over the caddy and I just feel uneasy about that part being loose.
When I go to put the bottom lid back on the MBP it won't fit - it sticks up too far from the caddy's odd angle to let me screw the lid back on.
Any other ideas on what I can try to get the caddy to fit?
I bought the cheap eBay caddy, followed these instructions and can't get it to fit in my 2009 13" MBP. I trimmed down the side of the caddy opposite the SATA connector (as completing mentioned) but the caddy sticks out at an angle (higher towards the center of the MacBook than on the end).
I also followed the YouTube video in this thread that recommends sanding down the same end opposite the SATA connector. That helped it fit a little better, but it still won't work.
I also have to leave the speaker/subwoofer bar unscrewed to get it to fit over the caddy and I just feel uneasy about that part being loose.
When I go to put the bottom lid back on the MBP it won't fit - it sticks up too far from the caddy's odd angle to let me screw the lid back on.
Any other ideas on what I can try to get the caddy to fit?
AyaGroup
Hi,
This is my first post but I've been following this thread for a while.
I have a new unibody 13" Macbook (late 2009) and wanted to upgrade to an SSD. so I bought the following parts from AyaGroup.
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=17773
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=17499&cat=0&page=1
I also bought a 60GB SSD OCZ Vertex from TigerDirect as they had a rebate and cashback from bing.com.
The upgrade has gone smoothly. I put in the SSD in place of the original drive, installed OSX, then swapped out the optical drive using the caddy (link above). It required minor modification as I removed the metal piece, trimmed the plastic, put the metal back and it fit perfectly in place of the optical drive.
Everything works great inside the macbook.
My only issue is with the optical drive. I put it in the enclosure and it doesn't work. So I emailed ayagroup and they just shipped me another one for free in case the first one was defective. Well, the 2nd one acts the same way, so I suspect either my optical drive is bad or it's an incompatibility with the enclosure.
Has anyone had issues making the optical in the unibody macbook (not pro) external??
My next step is to swap back in the optical drive to see if it's still functioning. it was right before I pulled it out.
I love this mod, and I love the service I got from ayagroup. Ali over in sales has bent over backwards to help me, including troubleshooting with me on the phone. Not bad considering I bought a cheap $13 enclosure
Hi,
This is my first post but I've been following this thread for a while.
I have a new unibody 13" Macbook (late 2009) and wanted to upgrade to an SSD. so I bought the following parts from AyaGroup.
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=17773
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=17499&cat=0&page=1
I also bought a 60GB SSD OCZ Vertex from TigerDirect as they had a rebate and cashback from bing.com.
The upgrade has gone smoothly. I put in the SSD in place of the original drive, installed OSX, then swapped out the optical drive using the caddy (link above). It required minor modification as I removed the metal piece, trimmed the plastic, put the metal back and it fit perfectly in place of the optical drive.
Everything works great inside the macbook.
My only issue is with the optical drive. I put it in the enclosure and it doesn't work. So I emailed ayagroup and they just shipped me another one for free in case the first one was defective. Well, the 2nd one acts the same way, so I suspect either my optical drive is bad or it's an incompatibility with the enclosure.
Has anyone had issues making the optical in the unibody macbook (not pro) external??
My next step is to swap back in the optical drive to see if it's still functioning. it was right before I pulled it out.
I love this mod, and I love the service I got from ayagroup. Ali over in sales has bent over backwards to help me, including troubleshooting with me on the phone. Not bad considering I bought a cheap $13 enclosure
OK, my first post to this massive thread... I have read through the whole thing, and while there are some great options, supplies, links throughout, I am more for the 'this is going to work for sure' approach.
So, after much adieu, and reading, I just ordered the MCE kit at http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/...t_Code=OBSXGB-UNB&Category_Code=STORHDOPTIBAY for my Mid 2009 MacBook Pro 13" unibody.
This was the ONLY place that specifically said their parts supported my machine. They also ship instructions etc. I am very handy and comfortable, but sometimes it's just worth the $ to get a known entity. Of course, I am writing this before I have tried the upgrade, so I will post back once done.
So, after much adieu, and reading, I just ordered the MCE kit at http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/...t_Code=OBSXGB-UNB&Category_Code=STORHDOPTIBAY for my Mid 2009 MacBook Pro 13" unibody.
This was the ONLY place that specifically said their parts supported my machine. They also ship instructions etc. I am very handy and comfortable, but sometimes it's just worth the $ to get a known entity. Of course, I am writing this before I have tried the upgrade, so I will post back once done.