So this fits flush and looks fine from the outside as well? What do you see instead of the slot where the CD/DVD would normally go?
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MCE Optibay Alternative CHEAP
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So this fits flush and looks fine from the outside as well? What do you see instead of the slot where the CD/DVD would normally go?
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
i can pm u a pic when i had back to london monday
the slot is still there.. but u can see a grey effulgence of the chrome hdd caddy
yes flush and tight fit
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
for me being in the uk.. the mce option was extortionate.. £99+tax+duty
approx $170.. vs $42 from new moedus
the newmodeus fits flush, but only has 1 screw whic is fine as the fit was tight
i also have 17"MBP and do not plan to travel with it very freq so it works for me
for complete peace of mind: the mce optibaywould have 3 screws attaching the hdd caddy to the mbp case
I have no idea why people mess around with the newmodeus adapters hanging on with only one screw. If you do a quick ebay search you can find models actually suited for the uMBP's with the 3 mounting screws. I have the smk312 adapter sitting in my 2010 13" MBP and it works flawlessly. And to boot, they're $10-20 cheaper than the newmodeus.
Here's a link to the adapter I'm talking about, free shipping to most places in the world, I think UK is $3 extra:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2nd-HDD-caddy-A...e_Internal&hash=item3365de6c62#ht_3386wt_1135
Why mess with the crappy newmodeus adapters? Just cause they are more expensive doesn't mean they will fit better or are better quality. From the pictures they look identical. Same goes for the MCE adapter. Someone on the previous page bought one for 128 euros and that adapter looks identical to the one I paid $25 for, it just comes with a CD of instructions that are online, a phillips screwdriver, and a crappy enclosure that needs 2 USB ports.
I bought the $25 IDENTICAL adapter, then spent another $30 on a used macbook air external superdrive, bought an unlocked USB to SATA adapter for $6, popped open the external superdrive and soldered in the new board. Now it works on any computer, mac or PC, is powered off a single USB port, plays DVD's without any extra software, and matches my macbook perfectly. It's also very solidly built, and as an additional plus, the macbook's superdrive sits safely tucked away in a box, while the less expensive 12.5mm drive in the external superdrive gets tossed around in my laptop bag. With a little automator and key remap software (about 10 minutes of work) you can even get the eject key to spit out the disk. It's also bootable, I really consider it the perfect DVD companion to the macbook.
So for about $60 I think I got a much better product than what MCE offers, and the adapter is cheaper and better fit than the newmodeus one.
Still, I might spring for one of the OWC or Maxupgrades adapters if they can hold 12.5mm drives in the uMBP's as that would be a big benefit, especially with 2011 models having a SATA3 connection only in the hard drive bay.
My 2 cents ; )
Here's a link to the adapter I'm talking about, free shipping to most places in the world, I think UK is $3 extra:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2nd-HDD-caddy-A...e_Internal&hash=item3365de6c62#ht_3386wt_1135
Why mess with the crappy newmodeus adapters? Just cause they are more expensive doesn't mean they will fit better or are better quality. From the pictures they look identical. Same goes for the MCE adapter. Someone on the previous page bought one for 128 euros and that adapter looks identical to the one I paid $25 for, it just comes with a CD of instructions that are online, a phillips screwdriver, and a crappy enclosure that needs 2 USB ports.
I bought the $25 IDENTICAL adapter, then spent another $30 on a used macbook air external superdrive, bought an unlocked USB to SATA adapter for $6, popped open the external superdrive and soldered in the new board. Now it works on any computer, mac or PC, is powered off a single USB port, plays DVD's without any extra software, and matches my macbook perfectly. It's also very solidly built, and as an additional plus, the macbook's superdrive sits safely tucked away in a box, while the less expensive 12.5mm drive in the external superdrive gets tossed around in my laptop bag. With a little automator and key remap software (about 10 minutes of work) you can even get the eject key to spit out the disk. It's also bootable, I really consider it the perfect DVD companion to the macbook.
So for about $60 I think I got a much better product than what MCE offers, and the adapter is cheaper and better fit than the newmodeus one.
Still, I might spring for one of the OWC or Maxupgrades adapters if they can hold 12.5mm drives in the uMBP's as that would be a big benefit, especially with 2011 models having a SATA3 connection only in the hard drive bay.
My 2 cents ; )
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
the newmodeus one is actually fine... its not like im taking it on 4x4 out in the country in my jeep... i will not really be taking my 17" monster out of my apt much.. so for me it was a calulated risk - it fits really well
never saw that model, and if u read earlier posts from oct 2010
the smk312 hdd caddies only allowed sata 1.5... and there were several, if not dozens of people on here who had problems with the smk hdd caddy
can you confirm that this ebay caddy link sata2 - 3gbs not 1.5 gb/s
ps the dvd enclosure by smk is actually really good, for its cost - looks a bit basic.. but i use my dvd drive only for installing os really... i have zero other use for my dvd drive
wish i could buen my dvd os install disk into an iso image onto usb
never saw that model, and if u read earlier posts from oct 2010
the smk312 hdd caddies only allowed sata 1.5... and there were several, if not dozens of people on here who had problems with the smk hdd caddy
can you confirm that this ebay caddy link sata2 - 3gbs not 1.5 gb/s
ps the dvd enclosure by smk is actually really good, for its cost - looks a bit basic.. but i use my dvd drive only for installing os really... i have zero other use for my dvd drive
wish i could buen my dvd os install disk into an iso image onto usb
I think the MCE or data doubler will be just fine. The were designed for Macs, unlike the newmodeus which regardless works great.
I would just recommend against a 7200 drive - I would be concerned that it overheats in the optical bay. I have had a few hard drives overheat and die in my old Pre-unibody mbp. The unibody is much better, doesn't get as hot, but if the heat envelope for the 7200 drive is higher than the optical drive you still might get a problem. Optical drives don't die easily from overheating - but hard drives do.
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
I have he apple 7200rpm drive (cant remember which manufacturer -think it was toshiba/samsung) but it is actually really silent, fast and does not overheat.
Most my downlaods, itunes and movies are all on my hdd, as are my old files and work library
ssd has current docs/apps/osx
AHHHH Now I don't know if I should cancel my NewModeus order!
PROS: Fast Shipping, will be here when my Vertex 3 arrives.
CONS: One screw vs 3. 20 bucks in price really does not make a difference now that I have ordered it. Going through customer service to prevent them from shipping it early tomorrow morning is too big of a hassle for price alone
The big reason I might go ahead and change orders is how snugly and fit the NEWMODEUS one really is. Most people with it have told me that one screw is enough, but I move my macbook pro from my desk to use on my bed and sometimes on car trips so I just want to make sure this drive is not going to flop around and fail on me sooner than later.
So let me rephrase the question: have any NEWMODEUS owners noticed ANY MOVEMENT at all in their drive bay or anything of the sort? If the snug fit is enough to cover the one screw then I'll just stick to my plan.
Thanks for the input.
So when you have an eternal DVD drive connected through USB, you can use that to install Windows, run Ubuntu Live CD, etc.? Or do those things not work cause it's through usb?
I don't believe you can fit a 12.5mm drive in the optibay.
Yup, I've used the external DVD drive to install win7 and OSX. USB drives are bootable on all the newer MBP's. I think, but am not sure, that the last models that needed firewire to boot off were the powerbook line. My powerbook g4 aluminum couldn't boot of USB if I remember correctly.
With the 12.5mm, some people say it fits in the new uMBP's, others say it doesn't. I'm still trying to get a clear answer. It's clear with the smk312 adapter, and ones similar to it, like the newmodeus and MCE bay that 12.5mm won't fit, but the OWC or the Maxupgrades looks like it positions the drive differently and might work.
In any case, I am surprised that no one has made an adapter that has little rubber lined holes for screw posts attached to the hard drive to sit in. I think the data doubler style of adapter would lend itself well to such a shock mounted setup. It would also make the optibay quieter, the 7200rpm drive I have in my optibay is pretty loud, and it seems to be dying (makes a clicking noise, though it's been in the optibay for only a few weeks, so I doubt that it was due to lack of shock protection, it's an older drive). There really is no sound isolation under the keyboard.
The point about SATA I limitation on the smk312 is a valid point, I am not sure if it is SATA I or SATA II. Is there a way to check with software (system profiler?). In any case, I've only used it for HD's so far so I don't notice any performance drop. For people with the new 2011 uMBP's with SATA III SSD's and a HD in the optibay it shouldn't matter either, which I think is going to be an increasingly popular setup as 2011 models increase and SATA III drives come into the market. That's a bummer though if I upgrade to SSD before I upgrade to the 2011 model, I'd have to get a 750GB for the optibay and move some media to external drives : (
With the 12.5mm, some people say it fits in the new uMBP's, others say it doesn't. I'm still trying to get a clear answer. It's clear with the smk312 adapter, and ones similar to it, like the newmodeus and MCE bay that 12.5mm won't fit, but the OWC or the Maxupgrades looks like it positions the drive differently and might work.
In any case, I am surprised that no one has made an adapter that has little rubber lined holes for screw posts attached to the hard drive to sit in. I think the data doubler style of adapter would lend itself well to such a shock mounted setup. It would also make the optibay quieter, the 7200rpm drive I have in my optibay is pretty loud, and it seems to be dying (makes a clicking noise, though it's been in the optibay for only a few weeks, so I doubt that it was due to lack of shock protection, it's an older drive). There really is no sound isolation under the keyboard.
The point about SATA I limitation on the smk312 is a valid point, I am not sure if it is SATA I or SATA II. Is there a way to check with software (system profiler?). In any case, I've only used it for HD's so far so I don't notice any performance drop. For people with the new 2011 uMBP's with SATA III SSD's and a HD in the optibay it shouldn't matter either, which I think is going to be an increasingly popular setup as 2011 models increase and SATA III drives come into the market. That's a bummer though if I upgrade to SSD before I upgrade to the 2011 model, I'd have to get a 750GB for the optibay and move some media to external drives : (
Don't mean to be annoying and bump this, but I plan on canceling my order if I receive any confirmations of movement with the NEWMODEUS's in the uMBPs. I have to do it by midnight EST if I want the drive shipment order canceled! Anyone? Please?
I was asking on here a couple days ago about booting from a usb flash drive, and people said I couldn't install windows or run ubuntu live from that. So I just assumed if you couldn't boot from a usb flash drive, you probably can't from a usb dvd drive.
I'm getting the MaxUpgrades w/external DVD enclosure and putting a 750GB 7200rpm Samsung HDD in the optibay (internal motion Sensor). Probably going for Intel 510 in the Main slot once problems have been resolved.
They may release standard 9.5mm 1TB hdd's later this year. Also, Seagate is releasing a Thunderbolt extension cable for their GoFlex drives. So I'm getting a 1.5TB Goflex for Mac.
I was asking on here a couple days ago about booting from a usb flash drive, and people said I couldn't install windows or run ubuntu live from that. So I just assumed if you couldn't boot from a usb flash drive, you probably can't from a usb dvd drive.
I may be mistaken, but I believe you can boot from a flash drive if you use a program called rEFIt.
I heard some guy say he tried that and everything else, but still couldn't get windows 7 to install over external usb dvd.
The ONLY thing you can install from USB is OS X. Windows and Ubuntu cant be installed via USB or external CD drive, only with the internal CD drive.
Have you done it? I would love to know because I tried every possible way and none work except with the CD drive inside the computer. Maybe a firewire drive would work.
Yes. Installing Win7 as well as booting from a Ubuntu Live-CD worked for me both on a MB1,1 and a MBP7,1 using an external USB DVD drive. I may have used rEFIt in some of these cases, I don't quite remember. Getting this to work may depend on the USB drive and/or the specific model of MBP...
I tried everything on mine using the stock MBP superdrive in an external case from both ebay and maxupgrades and they both freeze on loading files for Windows 7 and the drive spins down and never resumes.
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
So when you have an eternal DVD drive connected through USB, you can use that to install Windows, run Ubuntu Live CD, etc.? Or do those things not work cause it's through usb?
I don't believe you can fit a 12.5mm drive in the optibay.
- yes i installed windows from dvd running as external via usb2
- you are right, can't run 12.5mm drives in the optibay
i really am looking forward to the day when we get the 9.5mm 1tb int hdd
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
i askes smk312 and they stated it was sata-1 - 1.5 GB/s
however, due to recent emphasis on having dual ssd, having sata 1.5 would create a serious bottleneck with even the standart sata 2 drives..ltd the speed
and negating the point of having a ssd in the optical bay
i may just cop the smk312 for myself... its so cheap and could keep it as a reserve.. if my newmodeus caddy packs up.. ps newmodeus said that the caddy will link the speed of the sata controller and ssd are able to handle
whether that is sat1/2/3... altho its pointless placing a sata 3 drive in the optical drive enclosure, as it's a sata-2 port!
would of loved to see a RAID 0 x2 vertex 3 240gb
the smk312 external dvd enclosure took approx 19days to arrive fro China to London..
i askes smk312 and they stated it was sata-1 - 1.5 GB/s
however, due to recent emphasis on having dual ssd, having sata 1.5 would create a serious bottleneck with even the standart sata 2 drives..ltd the speed
and negating the point of having a ssd in the optical bay
i may just cop the smk312 for myself... its so cheap and could keep it as a reserve.. if my newmodeus caddy packs up.. ps newmodeus said that the caddy will link the speed of the sata controller and ssd are able to handle
whether that is sat1/2/3... altho its pointless placing a sata 3 drive in the optical drive enclosure, as it's a sata-2 port!
would of loved to see a RAID 0 x2 vertex 3 240gb
the smk312 external dvd enclosure took approx 19days to arrive fro China to London..
I have the smk312 optibay and its runs at 3Gigabit...
you dont have to buy the MCE Tech from the states... You can get it in Germany through www.zapware.de... no tax, no duty, long live EU
That's weird cause other people can't get it to work. I don't really care about installing W7 cause I can just install before removing the dvd drive, but I need ubuntu live usb or cd to work daily after the odd's been removed.
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
thats really good news, i was going to buy this as its so cheap. and i would have a back-up caddy if the newmodeus caddy bricks at some point