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Additional SSD HDD (keeping Optical Drive)
I've replaced my existing hard drive (250GB) with a 1TB drive and now I've got the ifixit bug!
I realise it's easy to replace the optical drive with an SSD but what if I want to keep the optical drive intact and just slip in either a 1.8 or 2.5 inch SSD?
Furthermore, I realise that the more recent Macs have the option for an SSD and they have unused SATA cables on the inside but mine didn't have the option and has no spare SATA connections to use.
Questions:
1. Can anyone suggest if it's possible to use some kind of double adapter on the existing HDD's SATA cables (power and data) and for the Mac to recognise it as a second drive?
2. Any suggestions for where to find SATA power and data double adapters?
3. Can anyone suggest where there may be room to squeeze either a 1.8 or 2.5 form factor SSD? (Since it emits very little heat, I really don't mind where it goes)
Thanks in advance
Edited by: Yang Shirley Song ( )
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Hi Chris,
There is no easy way to interswap your optical drive and hard drive internally. Although the SATA Wondercable will let you plug in SATA harddrives as well as optical drives externally.
This USB adapter will allow you to plug in the most common SATA optical drives and hard drives. — 26 available at 29.95 each.
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nick
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No, you have to get rid of the optical drive
You can get a external so if you need to use a CD, you can(if you are like me and NEVER use the optical drive, don't buy a external)
As it stands to do a SSD and HDD if you insist on keeping the internal drive, get this, but you need to buy 2 2.5'' harddrives, one SSD and one HDD
I have found a dual SATA power adaptor you may be able to hook up to the single plug in the computer originally
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Power...
I cannot find a SATA connector that has 2 connectors on one cable
You can try, but it may not work and you will have more trouble then needed, so be prepared to possibly remove the optical drive in the end to do this and return cables and adaptors
I'm sure Nick was just distracted and copy-pasted the wrong link, and that he'll edit it with a correction :)
I came across this: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imac_... It shows that you can take out your Airport card and use it to run 2 extra hard drives! In theory, you could use an Icy Dock dual 2.5 to 3.5 adapter in your hard drive bay and pack that with a 2.5 SSD and a 2.5 750GB 7200rpm HDD while still keeping your optical drive intact. The only drawback here would be the loss of your internal Airport card. Icy Dock Dual 2.5 to 3.5 bay: http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=79 2.5 750GB WD HDD: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western+D... Interesting stuff! Now to figure out how to do that AND retain the internal Airport card. HA!
