Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So I just got screwed over on trying to add a second hard drive.
- Thread starter CorporateFelon
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I didn't see anyone attack you. I saw you make the incorrect assumption that the cables were the same (Apparently you thought you knew everything and everyone else here was wrong?
) and folks politely corrected you and provided part numbers. Your post stating that the cables were the same made people think you hadn't done this and didn't know they were different.So next time people should just not correct misinformation or incorrect assumptions? I don't think that would end up helping anyone.
If you took any of the posts as an attack then I think you need to toughen up a little and not take things so personally. This is the Internet.
I didn't see anyone attack you. I saw you make the incorrect assumption that the cables were the same (Apparently you thought you knew everything and everyone else here was wrong?
So next time people should just not correct misinformation or incorrect assumptions? I don't think that would end up helping anyone.
If you took any of the posts as an attack then I think you need to toughen up a little and not take things so personally. This is the Internet.
riiight. Have a good one bud
I don't mean to carry on this thread anymore than is needed, however to assist CH12671 coming to terms with his/her acceptance of the reality of the forum I state the following for the record...
The flex cable is essentially the same if it is flat and unfolded (as nollimac said). OWC confirmed this when it had to start producing flex cables for the 'new' config Apple is now using where it puts the single OEM drive in the upper bay occasionaly. (i.e. a flex cable for the free lower bay). They originally only sold cables for the upper free bay (most common config).
Apple does this (OEM HDD in the upper bay) so it can mass produce the more common HDD version of the mini and drop the SSD in the lower bay when it needs a fusion drive setup.
When the flex cable is purchased it is pre folded for the upper or lower bay drive specifically. That is why it has different Apple part numbers. I am guessing you could re-fold a flex cable backwards but it would stress the folds and possibly break.
So the flex cable is different for each drive because of the way it is folded. It still needs to be 'professionally' folded. The folding has to be precise to match the point on the logic board and not stress the cable as it wraps neatly around the drives.
I hope that helps you CH12671.
The flex cable is essentially the same if it is flat and unfolded (as nollimac said). OWC confirmed this when it had to start producing flex cables for the 'new' config Apple is now using where it puts the single OEM drive in the upper bay occasionaly. (i.e. a flex cable for the free lower bay). They originally only sold cables for the upper free bay (most common config).
Apple does this (OEM HDD in the upper bay) so it can mass produce the more common HDD version of the mini and drop the SSD in the lower bay when it needs a fusion drive setup.
When the flex cable is purchased it is pre folded for the upper or lower bay drive specifically. That is why it has different Apple part numbers. I am guessing you could re-fold a flex cable backwards but it would stress the folds and possibly break.
So the flex cable is different for each drive because of the way it is folded. It still needs to be 'professionally' folded. The folding has to be precise to match the point on the logic board and not stress the cable as it wraps neatly around the drives.
I hope that helps you CH12671.
Last edited:
except that my cable from OWC came flat and had to fold it myself, and even the instruction booklet has a 2 or 3 page spread on how to fold the cable
except that my cable from OWC came flat and had to fold it myself, and even the instruction booklet has a 2 or 3 page spread on how to fold the cable
I stand corrected on that point. Thanks.
i do appreciate the professionalism you exhibit while explaining the facts. It is much more easily palliated. My original post was based on the knowledge that OWC does sell two separate kits. However, when I ordered my kit I only needed to worry about the upper drive. When I looked at the lower drive "kit" it seemed to be an additional 2 dollars (plus or minus) and only included the studs to slip into the case. I didn't realize it had a completely separate cable. Another poster had already posted that he re-bent his cable and it worked, so I was just trying to help. The OP already had a cable that he thought wasn't going to work...but perhaps it would work, if he re-bent it. Maybe it's a bad idea, but it's a cable that is on hand, and there was a possibility of him having his mac mini back up and running in less than the time it takes to post here. But I appreciate the explanation this time!
I don't want to beat a dead horse.
But, no. The cable is actually different than just being folded in different ways.
Kind of hard to see in this one, but the Sata connectors are directly on top of each other(as they would be in the machine), and you can see that the other ends of the connectors are at different spots. They line up where they would connect on the logic board.
But, no. The cable is actually different than just being folded in different ways.
Kind of hard to see in this one, but the Sata connectors are directly on top of each other(as they would be in the machine), and you can see that the other ends of the connectors are at different spots. They line up where they would connect on the logic board.
Your photo shows they are the same when flat. Look at the top picture. There is one fold right at the edge of the data/power plate that plugs into the HDD that you have not seen. One is folded one way and one is folded the other.
I don't know, the board on the back of the SATA connector sure looks to be different as well.