HowTo: Latitude E-/Precision M-Series Second 2,5" HDD

Picked one up off of eBay that seems to be designed for Dells, as it was advertised for various Dell Precision and Latitude models. Finish matches well with my Latitude E6500, slides in perfectly. Has a green LED on the outside, and a little latch for pull it out, though the latch isn't spring loaded like the newsmodeus one, I also got it for only $20 shipped.

 

Why would anybody bother using eSata for an 8X dvd drive?

 

ICH9M I/O chipsets have only *sata* interfaces, unlike ICH8M which had SATA and PATA (PATA often used for the optical drive). Many manufacturers have since gone to SATA optical drives.

So to answer your question, the interface on the back of the dvd drive is a SATA connector, so it can be connected directly into an e-sata port. The older PATA optical drives on ICH8M or lower systems cannot do that. So it's great for E6400/E6500 users.

 

Ahhh,got it ,I was thinking more along the line's of what speed advantage would be had by going the eSata route,not compatability of interface like you point out.

Still seem's kind of an ugly/fragile way of getting an external DVD drive when for not that much expense,a nice slimline usb drive can be had if you don't want to go the massively better performing main's/usb external route.

I guess I'm not overly "green" when it come's to waiting 3 or 4 time's as long to get thing's done and would still own a fast external DVD unit if I wasn't using the bay for a 2nd hard drive,but then that's just me

 

Anyone see this? I wonder if they just used Lenovo's lol!

http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=224

 

So on E6400/E4300 raid is possible two drives?

 

Only Raid1 using IRRT Mode...

 

I've just picked up the newmodeus caddy and it works like a charm. Designed specifically for Dell chasis looks like a Dell component and has a spring loaded latch. Installed a Seagate 7200rpm 500gb as my data drive. Can't recommend it enough. I had bought one of the cheap $20 caddy's from China. Worked well enough but was only held in by friction and would fall out on the move.

I also purchased the eSata to Sata cable for the DVD-RW.

Perfect! They delivered it from the US to UK in two working days!

 

Can you post pics of it?

 

euh - see the link posted by sgogeta4. I'm using their caddy for my E6400 as well. I second what they're saying, the newmodeus kit is great, cheap and they deliver fast!