Upgrade 15" MBP Apr 2010 - Where should the SSD go...HDD bay vs superdrive bay?

[gorbyno1]

Hi,

I bought a 15" MBP with a 500GB7200rpm HDD and want to add a SSD for my OS & the applications and use the HDD for the files. I want to put the SSD in the superdrive location because it is

1. Simpler to put in and remove (if I have to send MBP for service)
2. I do not have to deal with SMS (sudden motion sensor)

I have read many long threads about SSD's for MBP. However there have been no clear answers.

Could those with real experience (with Apr 2010 MBP) please list the pro's and con's of putting the SSD in the HDD bay versus the superdrive bay. (hibernation issues/ bootcamp bootup etc)

Cheers,
Gorby

 

[Hitrate]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1 like Mac OS X; da-dk) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/7C144)

Me liky to know too

 

[bugout]

I have my SSD in the optibay only because the WD 1TB drive won't fit there. It fits fine in the normal HD spot. No issues with bootcamp etc..

 

[jkester]

I have my SSD in the optibay only because the WD 1TB drive won't fit there. It fits fine in the normal HD spot. No issues with bootcamp etc..

Same. Although the WD 1TB would technically "fit" there, just not very nicely.

 

[Gorilla Power]

SSD should be in the Optibay since there are no vibration dampers for HDD in it. If you fit a hard disk into the caddy you probably will have noise issues.

 

[gorbyno1]

One Pro for SSD in superdrive

Thanks Gorilla power...

Pro's for SSD in superdrive bay
1. No vibration dampener in superdrive bay, so HDD likely to have noise issues
2. 1 TB WD HDD does not fit superdrive bay

Pro's for SSD in HDD bay


Cheers,
Gorbyno1

 

[golfhero]

I'm going to do the same thing. I'm planning on putting the SSD in the optibay and leaving my 500GB 7200RPM HDD in the default location.

I want to boot MacOS off the SSD in the optibay and have my Windows bootcamp partition on the HDD as well as an HFS data partition for Music, etc.

So will this work? Can I boot MacOS from SSD in optibay and boot Windows when needed from the HDD in its current bay?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gorilla Power]

I'm going to do the same thing. I'm planning on putting the SSD in the optibay and leaving my 500GB 7200RPM HDD in the default location.

I want to boot MacOS off the SSD in the optibay and have my Windows bootcamp partition on the HDD as well as an HFS data partition for Music, etc.

So will this work? Can I boot MacOS from SSD in optibay and boot Windows when needed from the HDD in its current bay?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, sure.

 

[piwi]

This is confusing. Some seem to have issues with hibernation and Optibay SSDs. Has any of you guys noticed that with your OptiSSDs setups?

 

[alphaod]

The only drawback to having the SSD in the optical bay is the lack of hibernation support; if you sleep it about 5% battery remaining it should last a day before it dies.

If you're using a 12.5mm drive, I think the optical bay solution is the only choice for your SSD.

Also the drive bay shock absorbers are good to have for your HDD even if it has the drop sensor.

 

[cyclical]

Is the issue just with hibernation (safe sleep), or sleep in general?

 

[alphaod]

Is the issue just with hibernation (safe sleep), or sleep in general?

Just hibernation. Note safe sleep is hibernation and regular sleep. Obviously that combination will not work either.

If you have the computer set to safe sleep, it will not hibernate. Won't have problems sleeping. For sake of efficiency I have it set to sleep only.

 

[calvy]

I was all set to put my on order SSD drive in my HD bay and move the current HD to the optibay. But then I read this thread and now I'm not sure. I hate to screw with my sleep settings by booting off the SSD in the optibay. But I sure as hell don't want noise and vibrations either.

Guess i won't have to decide till the end of the week anyway, since I have to wait for my drive to ship.