For $35, Hacker Will Swap MacBook Optical Drive For Blazing SSD Drive
11:14 am, August 25th, 2009, Leander Kahney
For just $35, a professional hardware called Reid will swap out your MacBook Pro’s optical drive for a super-speedy SSD drive.
Why would you want to do this? Because the SSD drive is an unbelievable 7x faster than a traditional hard drive, even a fast one. Use it as your boot disk, and the OS will fly. Store your movies and pron on the regular hard drive, which remains intact.
Reid already has this two-drive setup running on his new MacBook Pro. Reid took out the optical drive, which opened up a spare SATA interface. Apple doesn’t use standard SATA connectors, so Reid had to make his own by chaining together a couple of adapters from Fry’s and Amazon. It’s not pretty, but it works.
Reid is using the SSD as his boot disk and discovered that it runs an incredible 7x faster than his already fast 7200 rpm hard drive (which he’d upgraded also).
It cost about $300. “So, FOR LESS THAN APPLE CHARGES for the single 128GB SSD upgrade (which really is a POS, if you ask me), I got 280GB of reliable hard disk space. FmyWarranty!” he writes on his blog.
He’s now offering to sell the adapter for $30 apiece (plus free shipping). Or he will perform the upgrade himself for $35 (he’s a pr0). The customer supplies the parts. An 80GB SSD runs about $200.
“Just send me a heads up, a check, a second sata drive*, and your MacBook Pro (with a tracking #, PLEASE) and I’ll return the computer to you a day after it arrives (UPS $14.00).”
Email Reid at: reid.ttmmgwtf@installstuff.com
Posted by Leander Kahney in Customer Services, Hardware, Hardware Hacks, News | Comment on this article
is that a WIRE NUT? is he serious?
expert, on August 25th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Why not use the replacement tray found here then you dont have to use a wire nut or cram in the sata cable
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay/index.html
whyknot, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
“hardware hardware!”
Paul, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
sure bub, lemme send you my laptop. SSSSSSSSure
ryan, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
@Paul. thanks. going blind in old age. actually copy checked that post — and still couldn’t see it after you pointed it out.
Leander Kahney, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
My God, what a mess. That guy most certainly ISN’T a pro. I wouldn’t let him anywhere near a computer of mine. It’s a botched amateurish job. It really isn’t difficult to do this in a far more professional and reliable way. Don’t waste your money. There are a few well designed DVD>HD replacement drive carrier frames out there, complete with the correct wiring (of the correct length and no bloody Wire Nuts) for a reasonable price.
John, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I wish Apple would release a 13″ Macbook Pro that replaces the optical drive with an extra battery. A small laptop that has the battery life far beyond a Macbook Air would be perfect.
theguycalledtom, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
it’s not age… it’s really hard to copy check your own stuff
Paul, on August 25th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I just wish Apple would put E-Sata on the Mac Mini, then adding a second fast permenant drive would be an “It Just Works” no brainer.
Firewire 800 make sense on laptops where you need hot swap, but not a desktop where the extra expense and slower speeds are not wanted.
John, on August 25th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
please can we have a real benchmark, rather hearsay?
common COM!
ged, on August 25th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
What would Woz say?
fred edison, on August 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Amongst the other glaring issues … the drive just sits in there without any screws holding it into place?
Ace, on August 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
And how do I use my optical media after this? Is there an external box that fits my SuperDrive, or do I have to buy an entirely new one? It seems a lot smarter to swap the HD for the SSD, then pay 8 bucks for an external drive caddy.
And wire nut-free.
imajoebob, on August 27th, 2009 at 12:08 am