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MCE Optibay Alternative CHEAP

mikeheenan said:
So I got the replacement drive and it's the same exact one as before, doh. This is the one I was hoping to receive (not the same seller)

http://cgi.ebay.com/2nd-HDD-caddy-A...C_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item45f9dd2bce

The one I got doesn't have the holes for the screws unfortunately :( Is the one I got a knockoff of the newmodeus model?
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If you're interested, I can send you my extra smk312 adapter for $20 shipped priority mail in the US. It's in like new condition. Let know by PM.
 
Looking at getting a Intel 320 Series 120 GB Drive for my 2009 MBP, and this caddy off of eBay.

Is there a good place to find enclosures for my optical drive? Any recommended?
 
mikeheenan said:
So I got the replacement drive and it's the same exact one as before, doh. This is the one I was hoping to receive (not the same seller)

http://cgi.ebay.com/2nd-HDD-caddy-A...C_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item45f9dd2bce

The one I got doesn't have the holes for the screws unfortunately :( Is the one I got a knockoff of the newmodeus model?
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, i think i have the same caddy. No way to screw down one of the sides. It was specified as a macbook pro and looking on ebay i'm unable (from the UK) to find one that isn't like this...

any ideas?

cheers
paul
 
has anyone tried installing an optibay alternative in the MBP 2011 13'? if so which caddy did you use :eek:? I'm struggling to find one that will work and is reasonably priced...
 
peageesee said:
I'm in the same boat, i think i have the same caddy. No way to screw down one of the sides. It was specified as a macbook pro and looking on ebay i'm unable (from the UK) to find one that isn't like this...

any ideas?

cheers
paul
Click to expand...

I have the same optibay in my macbook pro 15.4 20111.
Its not a big problem, i put only one screw , but i have the ssd in optibay, so i dont think its a big problem... no moving parts or vibration.
I use it a few weeks now without any issue.
 
when i get my 2011 15" im getting the 128gb ssd with it. I wanted to get an optibay like 500gb hdd would it be better just to get like a 1 t.b external?

How easy is an optibay to install?

What exactly do i need to buy, what is a good hdd/actual caddys (is that one on ebay a good one)

would it be better off to switch my ssd to the optibay once i get my comp and put the hdd in the the regular hd slot.

Lastly is it possible to still boot from the ssd if its in the optibay

Sorry for the questions im new to this and trying to learn fast.
 
gmans46 said:
when i get my 2011 15" im getting the 128gb ssd with it. I wanted to get an optibay like 500gb hdd would it be better just to get like a 1 t.b external?

How easy is an optibay to install?

What exactly do i need to buy, what is a good hdd/actual caddys (is that one on ebay a good one)

would it be better off to switch my ssd to the optibay once i get my comp and put the hdd in the the regular hd slot.

Lastly is it possible to still boot from the ssd if its in the optibay

Sorry for the questions im new to this and trying to learn fast.
Click to expand...

Very easy to install.

The ebay one is fine.

Yes, the hdd is better left in the regular spot.

Yes you can boot from the optibay.
 
thank you so your saying i should swap the stock ssd and put it in the optibay and buy like a 750gb hdd and put it in the h.d slot?

what would be a good hdd
 
gmans46 said:
thank you so your saying i should swap the stock ssd and put it in the optibay and buy like a 750gb hdd and put it in the h.d slot?

what would be a good hdd
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Yes, as long as your setup has a 9.5mm spinning hard drive and a SATA II or under SSD, this setup is recommended as it will place the more shock sensitive and louder hard drive in the shock-mounted and sound dampened standard hard drive position, while the silent, shock-proof SSD sits in the optibay.

Limitations to this approach: if you are running a 2011 model MBP and have a SATA III (6 Gb/s) capable drive you will be limiting the performance to SATA II (3 Gb/s) speeds. Also, the largest 9.5mm drives (max size that fits in the unibody's optibay slot) top out at 750GB, so if you want 1TB you need to put that 12.5mm drive in the hard drive slot.

This is a dumb limitation of the 2011 MBP's- it's not possible to run a SATA III SSD and a 1TB drive together, you're either limited to SATA II, or to 750GB.
 
blink487 said:
This is a dumb limitation of the 2011 MBP's- it's not possible to run a SATA III SSD and a 1TB drive together, you're either limited to SATA II, or to 750GB.
Click to expand...

Hm, didn't know that. That's dumb! I imagine it'll be changed at some point in time with a secret firmware update.
 
blink487 said:
Yes, as long as your setup has a 9.5mm spinning hard drive and a SATA II or under SSD, this setup is recommended as it will place the more shock sensitive and louder hard drive in the shock-mounted and sound dampened standard hard drive position, while the silent, shock-proof SSD sits in the optibay.

.
Click to expand...

wait isnt the 2011 stock ssd sata 2 anyway?
 
bozz2006 said:
Hm, didn't know that. That's dumb! I imagine it'll be changed at some point in time with a secret firmware update.
Click to expand...

I don't remember whether the SATA II limitation to the optical bay was a physical one or not. I think it might have been because of the Sandy Bridge SATA III problem, but also, from the designer's point of view, the bay is used for optical drives, so there is no need for the extra speed.

This just means that 2011 MBP's with SATA III SSD's will all have their hard drives in the optibay, at greater risk of shock and 7200rpm drives are audible outside the case.

Gmans46: I forgot to mention this, but if you put your boot drive (most likely your SSD) in the optibay slot it will boot fine and everything, but there is a known issue that hibernation does not work if you boot drive is in the optibay. Hibernation AFAIK only occurs when the computer runs completely out of battery. But for me, I do a full battery calibration each month which entails completely draining the battery, and with a hybrid drive in the optibay as my boot drive, I must save all work and quit all programs before the computer shuts down.
 
toxotis70 said:
I have the same optibay in my macbook pro 15.4 20111.
Its not a big problem, i put only one screw , but i have the ssd in optibay, so i dont think its a big problem... no moving parts or vibration.
I use it a few weeks now without any issue.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure i'm that comfortable with a £700 SSD drive flapping around on a single screw. They're only tiny screws, if you moved the laptop around, or have it bounce in a car, it would put a fair amount of pressure on that point.

Some ebay ones do have the 2 screw lugs on the other side, i've ordered another one and will try to return the previous one.

cheers
paul
 
Hey,
I am about to buy a brand new Macbook Pro 15 from Apple.

My desktop works with a SSD and I don't see myself using a computer without SSD anymore, so I'll add a SSD first thing when I get my new mbp.

I tried to read the comments and get some info on what model to get, but it seems very random... does anyone give me an ebay seller / model of a caddy that works well ?

I am traveling all the time so I want something strong...


Thanks,
 
toxotis70 said:
Where did you saw that ?
Any link?
Click to expand...

There is not a link...you take the little bracket off the superdrive that is held with 2 screws and put it on the optibay and that allows you to secure it at the back.
aefcd692-4171-b401.jpg

aefcd692-41b0-e452.jpg
 
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peageesee said:
I'm not sure i'm that comfortable with a £700 SSD drive flapping around on a single screw. They're only tiny screws, if you moved the laptop around, or have it bounce in a car, it would put a fair amount of pressure on that point.

Some ebay ones do have the 2 screw lugs on the other side, i've ordered another one and will try to return the previous one.

cheers
paul
Click to expand...

Read my above post and no the drive is not putting that much pressure on that machine screw... Remember its going in to aluminum not plastic.
 
toxotis70 said:
Ok, i did that... but i meant in the other side, in the back.
There are no screws there.... but thanks.
Click to expand...

Did you perhaps order the optibay model designed for non-unibody MBP's? They will not have the 2 little mounting tabs in the front.
 
blink487 said:
If you're interested, I can send you my extra smk312 adapter for $20 shipped priority mail in the US. It's in like new condition. Let know by PM.
Click to expand...

Hey blink487, I am very interested in purchasing your extra smk312 adapter. I can paypal you immediately. Please let me know, thanks! My e-mail address is my username @gmail.com. :D
 
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