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MCE Optibay Alternative CHEAP
- Thread starter MacModMachine
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Got the Nimitz Optibay frame and have it working with a 3G 2.5" 5400rpm HD now.
I tested my Crucial M4 6G SSD and it is linked at 6G, but the link is very unstable. On bootcamped Windows the Intel AHCI driver more or less instantly falls back to 3G and the MSAHCI driver stalls several time until it falls back to PIO (which still performs good with SSD).
If the link instabilities are based on the Nimitz (=frame + adapters + internal cable) or on the Macbook circuitry/cable I cannot say.
I tested my Crucial M4 6G SSD and it is linked at 6G, but the link is very unstable. On bootcamped Windows the Intel AHCI driver more or less instantly falls back to 3G and the MSAHCI driver stalls several time until it falls back to PIO (which still performs good with SSD).
If the link instabilities are based on the Nimitz (=frame + adapters + internal cable) or on the Macbook circuitry/cable I cannot say.
Everyone has been having issues with SATAIII drives in the optical bay. It's well documented. It's an Apple problem, not a nimitz problem.
Not exactly: Everyone is having problems *with adapters* in the Optibay. Since no direct connection over the shortest possible cable-run can be made we cannot say if just all adapters are lacking quality or the Macbook's connection.
6G connections are not that easy to maintain with several interconnection points in between: Logic Board -> plugged cable -> Optibay frame adapter input -> Optibay frame adapter internal cable -> Optibay frame adapter output -> SSD
That's really a lot of "->" for such a high speed connection!
I only got the Nimitz for the 3G HD anyway, so it's not much of an issue for me.
6G connections are not that easy to maintain with several interconnection points in between: Logic Board -> plugged cable -> Optibay frame adapter input -> Optibay frame adapter internal cable -> Optibay frame adapter output -> SSD
That's really a lot of "->" for such a high speed connection!
I only got the Nimitz for the 3G HD anyway, so it's not much of an issue for me.
It would appear the profiler corresponds with benchmark performance. When 3Gps is displayed, I'm getting 180-200 MB/s write and 250 read in AJA.
With 1.5 displayed, it's about half that.
This is still in debate, but some people have found evidence that it actually does have SMS while in the optibay
Yes I was just reading the other thread about it and can't really draw a conclusion. Just wondering because my HDD is a 320GB, not the 500GB others have been discussing about.
AFAIK all modern hard drives have SMS capability. The main bay in all MBP's has support for SMS, and some optibays also support SMS. From my own testing, a 250GB stock Apple mid-2010 MBP 13" harddrive, a 320GB Western Digital Black, and a Seagate 500GB Hybrid Drive all work with SMS in both the nimitz/smk312 adapters as well as the OWC DD.
Please correct me if I am mistaken.
Please correct me if I am mistaken.
Hey!
I was gonna order the IBM Caddy from Ayagroup.com and found that they have a caddy specifically for MacBooks so I ordered it even though it was several dollars more but I want to make sure it works.
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=18945&cat=&page=1
I was gonna order the IBM Caddy from Ayagroup.com and found that they have a caddy specifically for MacBooks so I ordered it even though it was several dollars more but I want to make sure it works.
http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=18945&cat=&page=1
Looks pretty good. Any issues so far? (read/write, eject) any link?
By the way I just ordered a caddy from Nimitz. How long does it usually take To deliver to US?
Nimitz does ship to Canada. Mine is on the way (held up from the recent postal strike)
Nimitz is shipping to canada. I've just received mine today after almost 60 days delivery because of canada post strike!!
Now I have no idea what to do haha.
I know you have to install SSD in the caddy and the HDD in the "real" HDD spot. But now, since my HDD is the one that came with my MBP and already has SL installed on it, how can I make the MBP to boot with the SSD?
You can also put the SSD in the 'real' HDD spot, and the HDD in the caddy. It doesn't matter. the 'real' spot for HDD is better if you don't need SATA3 speeds for the SSD.
You need to have SL installed on the SSD, not the HDD. To do so, have the SSD hooked up (in whatever configuration you like), and then install your recovery CD that came with your macbook pro. It will allow you to install snow leopard to the SSD.
This is a fresh install, you can time machine to transfer data if necessary.
You can look in the picture, it actually is the nimitz one, it even has the logo. Nice catch, it is cheaper and has faster shipping!
2011 13" pro, what do I need
I just found this thread, and will admit that I haven't read all 59 pages, so somebody has probably already asked this, but what is the cheapest way to swap out my superdrive on my new 2011 13" mbp, without needing to make my own cable?
Just a little bit of back ground on me: I am a IT guy, who just got his mac a week ago, I've used OSX for years, but have never had my own machine. I have no problem with modify existing stuff, or being a little risky. Technical details are not over my head, so don't feel that you have to dumb it down for me (although you can if you want to
)
Thanks!
I just found this thread, and will admit that I haven't read all 59 pages, so somebody has probably already asked this, but what is the cheapest way to swap out my superdrive on my new 2011 13" mbp, without needing to make my own cable?
Just a little bit of back ground on me: I am a IT guy, who just got his mac a week ago, I've used OSX for years, but have never had my own machine. I have no problem with modify existing stuff, or being a little risky. Technical details are not over my head, so don't feel that you have to dumb it down for me (although you can if you want to
)Thanks!
I just found this thread, and will admit that I haven't read all 59 pages, so somebody has probably already asked this, but what is the cheapest way to swap out my superdrive on my new 2011 13" mbp, without needing to make my own cable?
Just a little bit of back ground on me: I am a IT guy, who just got his mac a week ago, I've used OSX for years, but have never had my own machine. I have no problem with modify existing stuff, or being a little risky. Technical details are not over my head, so don't feel that you have to dumb it down for me (although you can if you want to
Thanks!
Optibay from nimitz(smk312) on ebay...only like $29.
I just found this thread, and will admit that I haven't read all 59 pages, so somebody has probably already asked this, but what is the cheapest way to swap out my superdrive on my new 2011 13" mbp, without needing to make my own cable?
Just a little bit of back ground on me: I am a IT guy, who just got his mac a week ago, I've used OSX for years, but have never had my own machine. I have no problem with modify existing stuff, or being a little risky. Technical details are not over my head, so don't feel that you have to dumb it down for me (although you can if you want to
Thanks!
Well the cheapest way is a $12 one from an eBay seller from Hong Kong, which works just as well as the $30 one.
Sorry for the late reply.
So far i have tested only with another slot-loading drive, 12.5 mm (Toshiba TS-T633A/FSCE). There was no issue with regard to reading, but with writing i ran into trouble. Recorded media was unreadable.
Regarding the link, i have made an overview at my small blog rufinus.org.
My concern in short: USB 2.0 port is able to provide max. 500 mA of current, which could be sufficient for reading. But for recording your drive might need more then that, as your laser will require more power during write pulses. I bought an Y-cable and connected the drive to 2 USB ports (1000 mA in total) and tried recording with same blank media as before and the result was positive. Which did confirm my concern, indeed.
But again, this was done with another slot-loading drive (12.5 mm), not the original Macbook superdrive (9.5mm)!!
From other side, if i search on the net tech specs for the original superdrive (9.5mm), some links show that worse case current consumption of the Macbook superdrive is 900 mA, which is far to much for one USB 2.0 port.
In any case, as for myself, i will use the Y-cable with the described enclosure in order to avoid the USB-port potential overloading.
Does anyone have a datasheet for the original superdrive? Then we would know for sure.. I did not fond a detailed spec on Apple's website..
Kaspers, i bought it from British ebay, but the article is shipped from HK. Seller is very neat, indeed, takes care that article arrives and very supportive. It took just about a week to arrive to Germany. Ebay seller name was in the time of purchase bargainsellernxc. But looks like later on the seller changed his ebay name to bargains4macupgrades
Oh, yeah, and as an interesting hint, the recipient for the payment was the person with email hekokimushi@....com
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Sounds good enough to me, since I don't usually (if ever) write disks...
How about ejecting? I don't see a button anywhere :/
Does that one screw in at 3 points or do you have to break a piece off? Oh and a FYI...80% of ebay is from hong kong so a name would make things a lot easier.