Optical Cable same as HDD Cable?

[SPNarwhal]

I'm looking into adding a 2nd harddrive to my iMac since there's a 3rd SATA port.

I'll cut to the chase:

This is the cable I need for the install

https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/iMac-Intel-27-Inch-Mid-2011-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit/IF174-002-3

Will this one do the same?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/593-1038-Ap...788831&hash=item3f851e322f:g:KSsAAOSww3tY7oti

It seems to me that it may be the exact same cord except the one from iFixIt has the two sides separated (data / power) while the OEM Optical Cable has them together.

Would it work? I assume it would still fit just the same into a 2.5 HDD.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

I would go with the one from ifixit. If your Mac is the 2011 27" model you will need the suction caps to remove the screen. Be aware the SATA III for the hard drive is 6Gb/ps, and the optical drive is SATA II, or 3Gb/ps which will affect the speed of an SSD mounted in the optical drive slot.

That is why many folks replace the 3.5" hard drive with a 2.5" SSD, and an OWC heat sensor kit is also required.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/

Also consider OWC's Data Doubler kits for installing an SSD in the hard drive or optical drive bays.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDMBS6E120/

 

[MichaelDT]

I would go with the one from ifixit. If your Mac is the 2011 27" model you will need the suction caps to remove the screen. Be aware the SATA III for the hard drive is 6Gb/ps, and the optical drive is SATA II, or 3Gb/ps which will affect the speed of an SSD mounted in the optical drive slot.

That is why many folks replace the 3.5" hard drive with a 2.5" SSD, and an OWC heat sensor kit is also required.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/

Also consider OWC's Data Doubler kits for installing an SSD in the hard drive or optical drive bays.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDMBS6E120/

2011 iMacs have 3 sata ports 2 are sata III one for the HDD and a usually unused for the factory SSD option which is what the OP is talking about, the only sata ii is for optical and is not used for SSD. In fact it’s a terrible and costly idea to install the SSD in the main bay on a 2011 because you need a sensor kit and adaptor. You’re better off leaving the unused original in there and using the spare sata iii port as it requires no sensor or modification beyond sticky tape.

Also OP, get the ifixit cables it’ll fit better, it’s a tight fit in that slot.

 

[SPNarwhal]

2011 iMacs have 3 sata ports 2 are sata III one for the HDD and a usually unused for the factory SSD option which is what the OP is talking about, the only sata ii is for optical and is not used for SSD. In fact it’s a terrible and costly idea to install the SSD in the main bay on a 2011 because you need a sensor kit and adaptor. You’re better off leaving the unused original in there and using the spare sata iii port as it requires no sensor or modification beyond sticky tape.

Also OP, get the ifixit cables it’ll fit better, it’s a tight fit in that slot.

Was just trying to avoid that $30 price point. I have the suction cups and such for the job already.

I think I might end up just buying this (which seems to be exactly what iFixIt sells anyway)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/593-1330-SS...869537&hash=item4409031a87:g:EXgAAOSw8yVZiuic


Was just trying to get the cable for as cheap as possible and wondering if the optical cable itself would fit into a 2.5 hard drive. I'm 95% sure it would, although you're right that cable length would be a possible factor. The thing is, if it's an optical drive cable from a 27" iMac, that means the cable length would be pretty much perfect to fit where the optical drive is (behind it, rather)-- the way iFixIt mounts it is just up in the left corner with the cable popping out; I think it would actually fit more flush if the cable was a straight cable (the Optical Drive cable is a straight cable) and mounted closer to the bottom rather than the top corner. Just didn't want to buy the cable and get the iMac taken apart just to find out the cable itself doesn't even fit. Pretty sure an optical drive and a 2.5 share the exact same sata/power connectors, though.

(PS: I was planning exactly what you said to do on the layout. SSD in the 2nd port since the main needs temperature. I actually have an SSD installed into this iMac right now and this whole upgrade is 70% driven by wanting to have temperature regulated on this machine. Right now I have the fans running at a constant speed to ensure it's not going to overheat or anything, but would rather the machine control the fans itself. Speeds should all be the same, I'd just need to select the SSD as the boot drive.)