Mixed Drive Setup (SSD+HDD) in Macbook Pro

[simonsi]

Fantastic Thread

I fitted my early 2011 13"MBP with a 120GB Crucial SSD over a month ago, using a Titans 2nd drive caddy. SSD in the Caddy, 1TB HDD in the original drive bay as before. As per the advice above I have OS, apps and Home folder etc on the SSD and media on the HDD (400GB+ iPhoto library etc). Works like a dream with no issues, SSD connects at 6G

 

[petec4]

Odd-ssd disconnect

Recently bought a Samsung 840 Pro, 512GB and installed it in the ODD bay. MBP recognised the device in Disk Utility but when I tried to format the SSD it came up with an error 'system formatter failed'. Removed the SSD and am currently cloning the HDD to it and will hopefully be able to install that in the main bay and move the HDD over to the ODD. Fingers crossed.

There seems to be a real variation in the success, or otherwise, of various installation setups in this thread. The thread has been a great help though.

 

[Dutch283]

Mid-09 2.53 ghz 15" MBP

Hello All,
This is directed toward the OP as some things that I "discovered" since I am in the process of installing a Crucial M500 SSD into my MBP.

To duplicate your boot drive:
If the "used" space in your boot drive is less than the size of your SSD, you can use the Disk Utility to resize the startup partition so that it is small enough to use the "Restore" feature and duplicate it onto your SSD. Thus eliminating the need for a third-party software.

iTunes transfer:
I found an Apple step-by-step tutorial on how to use iTunes itself to transfer your media to another hard drive or partition which I am in the process of doing this right now using the other partition on my stock HDD to test for functionality.

Now I know that I will keep my Documents folder on my SSD since word documents don't occupy that much space and are rarely accessed to the point that it would "wear" the SSD out. I have read through the rest of the posts in this thread an know how to transfer iPhoto and other program data to another HDD/partition and i appreciate all of the work you folks did in documenting the procedure.

 

[geta]

iTunes transfer:
I found an Apple step-by-step tutorial on how to use iTunes itself to transfer your media to another hard drive or partition which I am in the process of doing this right now using the other partition on my stock HDD to test for functionality.

Can you share the link for the 'step-by-step tutorial' ?

 

[niteflyr]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

 

[KeegM480]

Please discourage people from wasting money on those insanely expensive optibays. That stuff costs 2 bucks to manufacture the price is just.
It is a passive adapter with next to no magic to it and the expensive optibays come from the same chinese plants as the cheap ones do.

Excatly! Those cost maybe $10 name brand on Amazon

 

[thundar97]

64GB SSD + HDD setup

I am planning on getting a 60GB SSD (I want to keep it small and inexpensive) and installing it as the primary boot drive. I will of course setup the stock HDD in the optibay. I am planning on using this inexpensive DD alternative: Silverstone ts09. I want to use the SSD as the boot disk and to generally improve system speed in oppening apps etc. the HDD will be used for normal storage. If I feel up to it, I plan on using this guide: http://www.theregister.co.uk/Print/2013/11/26/cold_fusion_revisited_on_a_vintage_macbook_pro/ to setup some sort of a "adaptive storage" technology that moves files between the two drives based on my usage....

I have two questions for all you veteran modders:
1. Is my planned upgrade worth it?
2. does anyone have experience with the silverstone ts09 optibay HDD/SDD caddy?

thanks in advance,
thundar97

 

[simonsi]

I am planning on getting a 60GB SSD (I want to keep it small and inexpensive) and installing it as the primary boot drive. I will of course setup the stock HDD in the optibay. I am planning on using this inexpensive DD alternative: Silverstone ts09. I want to use the SSD as the boot disk and to generally improve system speed in oppening apps etc. the HDD will be used for normal storage. If I feel up to it, I plan on using this guide: http://www.theregister.co.uk/Print/2013/11/26/cold_fusion_revisited_on_a_vintage_macbook_pro/ to setup some sort of a "adaptive storage" technology that moves files between the two drives based on my usage....

I have two questions for all you veteran modders:
1. Is my planned upgrade worth it?
2. does anyone have experience with the silverstone ts09 optibay HDD/SDD caddy?

thanks in advance,
thundar97

Several websites selling this say it is NOT suitable for the MBP e.g. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/silverstone-sst-ts09-127mm-slim-odd-conversion-tray-for-25-hdd-or-ssd

So seems to be you need a 9mm not a 12.5mm?? Must admit I first put my SSD in the caddy because I was running a Seagate 1TB that was too thick for the caddy space so it stayed in the main drive bay (where it was also a struggle to close the lower cover). The Hitachi I run now fits fine as 7mm - same as SSD. So beware you must by a caddy of suitable thickness to suit the MBP.

Edited: Most sites don't specify, I can find some that say fits MBP, some say it doesn't, most don't specify....lottery then, best to buy from a source that states it does, then you can return if it doesn't fit.

 

[thundar97]

Several websites selling this say it is NOT suitable for the MBP e.g. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/silverstone-sst-ts09-127mm-slim-odd-conversion-tray-for-25-hdd-or-ssd

So seems to be you need a 9mm not a 12.5mm?? Must admit I first put my SSD in the caddy because I was running a Seagate 1TB that was too thick for the caddy space so it stayed in the main drive bay (where it was also a struggle to close the lower cover). The Hitachi I run now fits fine as 7mm - same as SSD. So beware you must by a caddy of suitable thickness to suit the MBP.

Edited: Most sites don't specify, I can find some that say fits MBP, some say it doesn't, most don't specify....lottery then, best to buy from a source that states it does, then you can return if it doesn't fit.

Him... My local store says it does, so I guess I'll check it out... Thanks though.

Still interested to see what people think of a60 GB ssd... Do you guys think it'll be worth it to wait a few months (4-5) to get a120gb instead?

 

[simonsi]

Him... My local store says it does, so I guess I'll check it out... Thanks though.

Still interested to see what people think of a60 GB ssd... Do you guys think it'll be worth it to wait a few months (4-5) to get a120gb instead?

My 120GB Crucial runs with approx 54GB free so I already use more than 60GB with OSX, Apps and Dropbox/Box/Copy folders, my iTunes and iPhoto libraries are on the 1TB HDD.

 

[MarvinHC]

Him... My local store says it does, so I guess I'll check it out... Thanks though.

Still interested to see what people think of a60 GB ssd... Do you guys think it'll be worth it to wait a few months (4-5) to get a120gb instead?

Not sure in which country you are but from what I see the 120GB have become so cheap, hardly a price difference to 60GB.

Example from Amazon.com:

Kingston V300 SSD 60GB: 63$
Kingston V300 SSD 120GB: 85$
(or 89$ for the very often recommended Samsung Evo 840 120GB)

No-brainer really.

Also keep in mind that very often the bigger the SSD the faster they are.

 

[thundar97]

Not sure in which country you are but from what I see the 120GB have become so cheap, hardly a price difference to 60GB.

Example from Amazon.com:

Kingston V300 SSD 60GB: 63$
Kingston V300 SSD 120GB: 85$
(or 89$ for the very often recommended Samsung Evo 840 120GB)

No-brainer really.

Also keep in mind that very often the bigger the SSD the faster they are.

Yes, I do believe I will go with something like a 120GB... Now the only thing left to do is figure out if that Harddrive Caddy is gonna work....

I'd love to get something from online, but I would need to find a vendor that accepts paypal, ships free/cheap and fast to canada, and has some good, reputable caddys...

 

[MarvinHC]

Yes, I do believe I will go with something like a 120GB... Now the only thing left to do is figure out if that Harddrive Caddy is gonna work....

I'd love to get something from online, but I would need to find a vendor that accepts paypal, ships free/cheap and fast to canada, and has some good, reputable caddys...

??? you make it sound like Canada is the end of the world. You have Newegg, Amazon, Best Buy and I guess plenty of others.

 

[thundar97]

??? you make it sound like Canada is the end of the world. You have Newegg, Amazon, Best Buy and I guess plenty of others.

Be that as it may, none of them actually sells any Caddys apart from this silverstone one. And I just realized it is a SATAI caddy, so pretty useless...

I was really hoping some local retailers would have something in stock, but so far I have had no luck finding anything. Also, Amazon, while it does ship OWCs DD, is asking for $60... not exactly a great price lol.

If any of you know of anyplace to get caddys in Toronto, please do let me know. PM is fine.

 

[MarvinHC]

Be that as it may, none of them actually sells any Caddys apart from this silverstone one. And I just realized it is a SATAI caddy, so pretty useless...

I was really hoping some local retailers would have something in stock, but so far I have had no luck finding anything. Also, Amazon, while it does ship OWCs DD, is asking for $60... not exactly a great price lol.

If any of you know of anyplace to get caddys in Toronto, please do let me know. PM is fine.

Two minutes of my time spent for you:
Caddy for 22 CAD on Amazon.cn:
http://www.amazon.ca/Drive-Unibody-...1132048&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=apple+sad+caddy

Same caddy from same seller on amazon.com so that you can see more feedback which confirms it works:
http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody...ok+Pro+13+15+17+SuperDrive+(Replacement+Only)

 

[thundar97]

Two minutes of my time spent for you:
Caddy for 22 CAD on Amazon.cn:
http://www.amazon.ca/Drive-Unibody-...1132048&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=apple+sad+caddy

Same caddy from same seller on amazon.com so that you can see more feedback which confirms it works:
http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody...ok+Pro+13+15+17+SuperDrive+(Replacement+Only)

No, I saw this, I did not, however, think of using amazon.com to get reviews. Thanks for that.

My concern was the strange build quality (lots of jutty out bits from what I can see) but i guess that doesn't create too much of a problem...

Thanks for all the help guys. I actually decided to go with a 256GB SSD and do the dual drive setup at a later date. I am debating between the Mushkin Chronos (not deluxe) and the Seagate 600. I should be getting the hardware tomorrow.

BTW, what do people think of used SSD...?

 

[thundar97]

Okay, sorry for the number of posts guys.

One last question (really the last one).

All these cheap Optibay/Datadoubler ripoffs use SATA1. So, if anyone has used any of these, please let me know what the performance is like.

 

[simonsi]

Umm, wrong way to look at it surely? I used the Titans caddy and my SSD in it connects at Sata3 6G speed....buy one that does the job properly...

 

[thundar97]

Umm, wrong way to look at it surely? I used the Titans caddy and my SSD in it connects at Sata3 6G speed....buy one that does the job properly...

I just ordered one off of eBay. Since they are all by the same manufacturer, I have been led to believe it is Sata3 compatible. SO YAY. I am thinking of leaving HDD in normal stock place because it has better sound proofing... is that true? and will SSD boot up in this caddy location?

 

[simonsi]

I just ordered one off of eBay. Since they are all by the same manufacturer, I have been led to believe it is Sata3 compatible. SO YAY. I am thinking of leaving HDD in normal stock place because it has better sound proofing... is that true? and will SSD boot up in this caddy location?

The standard HDD bay just mounts the HDD on the standard 4 screws, there is no soundproofing as such but it is mounted in insulators that would reduce vibration and noise being transferred to the case. My Hitachi is near silent, the previous Seagate not quite as quiet.

No idea on them all being the same manufacturer....

 

[MacSong]

Is it really necessary to place the SSD and HDD in this way that you've described? Can you go into more detail on this point for me please? I'd appreciate it !

 

[JTToft]

Is it really necessary to place the SSD and HDD in this way that you've described? Can you go into more detail on this point for me please? I'd appreciate it !

- Who and what are you asking?