Second HDD: flex cable or external case?

[madrag]

I am going to get a mac mini (i7 2.6Ghz with the factory 1GB HDD) and will get an extra SSD drive (256GB) at Crucial or somehere else.

I would like your opinion about if it is best to:

A: get a flex cable and install the SSD and keep the HDD inside

B: get an external USB3 case and place the HDD in that case.

My doubts:

Option A is the most tidy, but I fear damaging the Mini, and also costs more than option B; and the Mini could be hotter with both drives inside?

Option B is cheaper, and I would put the HDD in the USB3 case, but the cases I'm after use the USB power, and I don't know if it will be noisy (because the HDD is outside) and if it performs well with USB3 vs inside?

Your thoughts?

 

[kdoug]

I am going to get a mac mini (i7 2.6Ghz with the factory 1GB HDD) and will get an extra SSD drive (256GB) at Crucial or somehere else.

I would like your opinion about if it is best to:

A: get a flex cable and install the SSD and keep the HDD inside

B: get an external USB3 case and place the HDD in that case.

My doubts:

Option A is the most tidy, but I fear damaging the Mini, and also costs more than option B; and the Mini could be hotter with both drives inside?

Option B is cheaper, and I would put the HDD in the USB3 case, but the cases I'm after use the USB power, and I don't know if it will be noisy (because the HDD is outside) and if it performs well with USB3 vs inside?

Your thoughts?

It's really not that hard with the correct tools and patience. I installed my Samsung 840 at work in my office machine and tonight I'll do the same for my home mac Mini. I broke no wires and had no issues with removing the circuit board. My advice, read the forum, watch the videos and get the kit from OWC.
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16391073/

 

[madrag]

I know that with some patience I can do it, but is it hotter with both disks inside? (the SSD occupies space and the HDD doesn't have "breathing" space, true?).

What attracts me about option B is not having to worry about getting the flex cable and mess inside the Mini, but I am not sure if the HDD performs well in an external USB powered case?

 

[kdoug]

I know that with some patience I can do it, but is it hotter with both disks inside? (the SSD occupies space and the HDD doesn't have "breathing" space, true?).

What attracts me about option B is not having to worry about getting the flex cable and mess inside the Mini, but I am not sure if the HDD performs well in an external USB powered case?

If you're going to get an enclosure, try to find a SATA III enclosure. There's no reason to get an M4 if it's going to be bottlenecked. I have both drives installed and not heard the fan kick on once! The factory 1TB 5400 is in the original location which is right next to the fan so it's not going to get any hotter.
The SSD has no moving parts so that's a non-issue.

 

[madrag]

If you're going to get an enclosure, try to find a SATA III enclosure. There's no reason to get an M4 if it's going to be bottlenecked. I have both drives installed and not heard the fan kick on once! The factory 1TB 5400 is in the original location which is right next to the fan so it's not going to get any hotter.
The SSD has no moving parts so that's a non-issue.

The enclosure is for the HDD, not the SSD...