Mac mini 2,1 2007 - MiniPCIe SATA upgrade

[schreiberstein]

Hello!

I am planning to enhance my old Mac mini by replacing its WiFi-Card (MiniPCIe Airport) with a SATA III controller card.
(Example: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/mini_esata_card_mod/macmini_estatacard_mod.html )

Specifications:
Apple Mac mini (Macmini2,1) from 2007
Intel Core 2 Duo - 1.83 GHz
Intel GMA 950
2x2GB DDR2 Ram (Only 3GB are usable though. Chipset limitation.)
128GB SanDisk SSD
Mac OS X 10.8.5 (Using MLPostFactor, as the machine is not officially supported anymore)

The MiniPCIe card:
Delock MiniPCIe I/O PCIe full size (2x SATA III)
Amazon-Germany-Link: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0093IYYZM
It features an ASMedia 106x chipset, as far as I can see, which
is known to be supported by Mac OS X out-of-the-box and is even bootable.

I'd like to use the Mini as a server, mostly storage and some minor stuff, but FireWire 400 doesn't fit my needs regarding speed, as my aim is to run a RAID1 (mirrored drives) setup.
50 MB/s of maximum throughput is obviously to low for that task.

Hence it would be nice to get that little card into the Mini and route two high-speed (e)Sata cables to the outside, where it'll be interfaced by some kind of HDD-dock/enclosure.

I am now looking for the perfect method to route the cables to the outside.
I've only seen people who sawed holes into their Minis, but I don't want to modify it physically.
Removing the internal PATA-SuperDrive, which stopped working anyway, is what I am thinking of.
The SATA->eSATA cables would lead through the CD-slit at the front.
While the cable itself would fit between this thin slit, the plug doesn't.
Not even the thin eSATA ones.

I am now looking for special types of SATA-data-cables, which are possible to be fitted through the small CD-slit.
Something like dividable cables, whose smaller connector fit through the slit.
Or cables with interconnects like this: http://www.adafruit.com/images/medium/6pinjumpercable_MED.jpg
SATA cables with removable plugs would work, too.
But I haven't seen such things yet

Do you have an idea and/or product suggestion?
I would be really happy to solve this and get the Mini up-and-running.

Thank you in advance & Best regards
schreiberstein

 

[Sebinouse]

This is a very good idea !

Keep us posted when everything works properly ! For my par I use a Boardcom CRISTALHD instead of the wifi card to boost Bluray/FullHD decoding …

I googled "thin sata cable" and here is what I found : http://forums.vr-zone.com/singapore...molex-cable-modding-psu-hdmi-audio-video.html especially Item CAB-22 : "5 of these cables bundled together = same thickness as 1 normal SATA flat cable
Server Grade Quality. Much better than normal SATA cables"

 

[schreiberstein]

This is a very good idea !

Keep us posted when everything works properly ! For my par I use a Boardcom CRISTALHD instead of the wifi card to boost Bluray/FullHD decoding …

I googled "thin sata cable" and here is what I found : http://forums.vr-zone.com/singapore...molex-cable-modding-psu-hdmi-audio-video.html especially Item CAB-22 : "5 of these cables bundled together = same thickness as 1 normal SATA flat cable
Server Grade Quality. Much better than normal SATA cables"

Thank you very much for replying my post.
I think I won't do the modification and instead get a small PC to use as homeserver.
The reason is, that I'd like to use three to four harddrives :-/
I have some spare parts to build myself a small homeserver.
(Intel Core 2 Quad, 4GB Ram, 3TB and 2TB drive), too.
Even the smallest SATA-cables are still to huge to fit through the CD-slit.
It's not just the cable, it's the plugs :-(
But I'm uncertain about this whole homeserver-stuff.
Energy consumption and silence is important to me, hence the Mac Mini would be suitable, but... I'm uncertain.


Best regards & happy christmas in advance
schreiberstein