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replacing mac mini optical drive with a SSD (updated: optibay pictures)
- Thread starter macchiato2009
- Start date
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I bought a 1.83ghz C2D Mac Mini back in January 2009 off of craigslist. The seller had upgraded the RAM (to 2.5gb) and also the Hard Drive (something I didn't care for - he took it to a 200gb 7200 rpm HDD. Had seen a lot of posts about taking it to 7200rpm that made me nervous). Anyways after I bought it turned out the seller had damaged the wifi during his install. The Apple store said they wouldn't cover this (luckily I bought the mac mini w/ plenty of the orig 1 year warranty left). I didn't really care much though because I was connecting it via ethernet anyways. Luckily the bluetooth was still working.
Also when I finally got speakers, my audio wasn't working and I took it back to the Apple store . Turns out the orig owner had messed up something w/ the audio too but luckily the apple store took care of that. Not sure if something was damaged or just left unconnected.
Anyways, on a diff note, my refurbished 2.53ghz Mac Mini is on the way. I'd like to upgrade to an SSD if it's going to make it feel faster. With the RAM at 4gb I probably won't be taking it any furter. I don't want the 360 Hard Drive to go to waste but I really don't care for it since this is a secondary computer, won't be putting much on here so would have been fine with the smaller 160gb. I definitely want the ability to play blu-ray and want the ability to rip blu-ray too to make my movies into videos for my iPod. Wondering if I should just go the external route or replace the optical. Or maybe I should move the Hard Drive to the optical slot and put an SSD in its original place. Have to do some research to figure out what to do.
why do you want to swap ssd and hd ?
if you currently boot with the ssd then everything is fine
swapping won't make a difference, both slots are using SATA 2 anyway
if you currently boot with the ssd then everything is fine
swapping won't make a difference, both slots are using SATA 2 anyway
^Well, in my trying to figure out what's the best way work in an SSD and blu-ray to my Mac mini, I'm confused about something.
Here was my train of thought: If I'm getting blu-ray, I don't need the optical anymore and can take that out giving me free space. Assuming I kept the blu-ray external (any advantage to internal? I'm guessing internal also limits my options?), I thought the SSD should take the place of where the internal hard drive is currently because that would be a "primary location" and then move the internal Hard drive to where the optical drive because that's a "secondary location". However, you said they are both SATA2 so it doesn't matter? So I could just throw the SSD where the optical was and boot from there correct?
I got my original train of thought from this post:
If it doesn't matter where, why move the internal hard drive where it currently is to the optibay after taking it out?
Also, tchockey, what macbook pro do you have that you're putting your new hard drive in:
Last year when my western digital passport 320gb external hard drive died (it was bought March 2008 for $135), I put it in my 15: 2.2ghz MacBook pro C2D SR. I'm not going to upgrade that hard drive any further since I'll probably be selling it sometime before late October (I like to sell my laptops before their applecare expires). but when I buy the replacement MacBook Pro, I'd like to max out that hard drive and I'm guessing it'll be cheaper on my own.
Lastly, this caught my eye:
I was debating hard on going with an iMac and as I started looking at models, I was even ready to go up to the top of line i7. But ultimately, the thing I disliked the most was the computer + screen in one. Also since this is my secondary home computer (and my next macbook pro should be pretty powerful) I felt I could get a softer home computer and save some money. So the more my soon-to-arrive refurbished Mac Mini 2.53ghz is like an iMac, the better
Here was my train of thought: If I'm getting blu-ray, I don't need the optical anymore and can take that out giving me free space. Assuming I kept the blu-ray external (any advantage to internal? I'm guessing internal also limits my options?), I thought the SSD should take the place of where the internal hard drive is currently because that would be a "primary location" and then move the internal Hard drive to where the optical drive because that's a "secondary location". However, you said they are both SATA2 so it doesn't matter? So I could just throw the SSD where the optical was and boot from there correct?
I got my original train of thought from this post:
If it doesn't matter where, why move the internal hard drive where it currently is to the optibay after taking it out?
Also, tchockey, what macbook pro do you have that you're putting your new hard drive in:
Last year when my western digital passport 320gb external hard drive died (it was bought March 2008 for $135), I put it in my 15: 2.2ghz MacBook pro C2D SR. I'm not going to upgrade that hard drive any further since I'll probably be selling it sometime before late October (I like to sell my laptops before their applecare expires). but when I buy the replacement MacBook Pro, I'd like to max out that hard drive and I'm guessing it'll be cheaper on my own.
Lastly, this caught my eye:
I was debating hard on going with an iMac and as I started looking at models, I was even ready to go up to the top of line i7. But ultimately, the thing I disliked the most was the computer + screen in one. Also since this is my secondary home computer (and my next macbook pro should be pretty powerful) I felt I could get a softer home computer and save some money. So the more my soon-to-arrive refurbished Mac Mini 2.53ghz is like an iMac, the better
just take your original HD out and put a SSD instead
for the superdrive, you will only need an optibay to install a HD
don't worry about bluray, it won't be supported anyway so don't waste time thinking about it
for the superdrive, you will only need an optibay to install a HD
don't worry about bluray, it won't be supported anyway so don't waste time thinking about it
Bluray isn't fully supported in OS-X but that's why some people have Windows installed
. I'm going to get one once they drop to about $50 or so.Bluray isn't fully supported in OS-X but that's why some people have Windows installed
i know that
but, to be honest with you, i am not a big fan of installing windows on a mac, even to read a blu ray...
prices will drop soon or are already dropping, i would buy a blu ray player to be connected to the tv in order to watch movies...
blu ray burners and discs are still too expensive for the moment to consider storage at this time
I have replaced my stock 1tb drive on my i7 27" with an intel X25 and the stock superdrive with a panasonic Bluray(osx dont support native bluray tho)
I use an external firewire 800 drive for my other stuff.
and have a modified MacBook Air Superdrive which works with my 27" (did the controller swap) but I don't use it regularily it was mainly meant for my Hackintosh Dell 10v.
I use an external firewire 800 drive for my other stuff.
and have a modified MacBook Air Superdrive which works with my 27" (did the controller swap) but I don't use it regularily it was mainly meant for my Hackintosh Dell 10v.
just got my optibay today
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
now the mini has a Intel Postville 80 Gb SSD as a boot drive
and a Samsung Spinpoint M7 500 Gb
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
now the mini has a Intel Postville 80 Gb SSD as a boot drive
and a Samsung Spinpoint M7 500 Gb
Too much hassle, I just want to buy "off the shelf" with SSD already in place. I know a lot of you get your kicks tweaking and improving your computers and understand the feeling of making something better ahead of the manufacture offering upgrades, but I just want to buy it, plug it in and enjoy. I'm willing to pay a reasonable premium for that pleasure. I just wish the updated minis would get released....
Yes. Just use some double-sided sticky tape and you'll be all set lol. Might also improve airflow a bit without that big clunky optical bay housing in the way
.I doubt Apple will release the Mac Mini with an SSD option but you never know. I'd love a space for 2 hard drives and an optical drive in my Mini. 128gb SSD boot/apps, 1tb home folder and Blu-Ray drive/burner.
Oh and quad cores and discrete graphics would be awesome too!
So take my 320gb Hard Drive out and put the SSD in instead. And then take the super drive out, get the optibay for $40ish from the internet, and put the 320gb Hard Drive I just took out there?
Stupid Apple 101 question but what does the integrated graphics part mean
Yeah, I was a little confused on the discussion in the thread early about what external superdrive options there were because if you already have a superdrive you are taking out, why not just reuse it in an enclosure? wouldn't that be cheaper than a new external drive?
Any suggestions? Something on the cheaper side but reliable. I really wouldn't be using this very often.
Bluray isn't fully supported in OS-X but that's why some people have Windows installed
This is something I'd like to do too. My Mac Mini is my secondary home office computer which I will only use so often. It can double as a blu-ray player sometimes when I am doing something off my MacBook Pro. I guess I would just have to install windows on it and restart via bootcamp into windows mode?
I'm trying to figure out if there are ways to use it as a TV. I have comcast (planning on getting FIOS soon) but don't want to pay extra for another set top box just to connect to my Dell U2410 monitor that I'm using w/ my Mac Mini
In the iFixit photos it show that 2 new cables are required for the late 2009 Mini in order to put an SSD or HHD in the optical drive spot. They mention a 15 pin SATA power to 4 pin Molex power and a 6 pin Slim SATA power to 4 pin Molex power. They then cut off both Molex ends, solder them and them continue with the conversion.
I need to source these 2 different cables to complete the job. Thanks for anyone's assistance.
Kindly clarify for a super-novice, like me!
Please see my request for help on the 1TB -Mac Mini for list of latest questions.