Adding extra mSATA SSD

This topic is dedicated to those who for some reason would like to add an extra bootable mSATA SSD drive to their system.

 

mSATA SSD's are best used for data storage ime - as long as a 2.5" SATA connector (or higher) is available.

An adaptor or soldering is not an elegant solution and can only become a source of problems immediately or in the future.

If capacity is the goal here, buying a larger 2.5" SSD is the best option.

If simply learning about the issues that can possibly be faced with your four listed options is the goal, good luck.

 

Deletedelete

 

If you actually need 4TB in a notebook form factor, you have the wrong chassis.

Just be sure to thoroughly test (for reliability) any mods you do before you start depending too much on this platform.

I think it would be much simpler, cheaper and reliable to have an external 4TB HDD instead.


Of course, the learning/experience part is worth something too - but that will be rendered moot in a few short months/years anyways.

 

Not knowing your notebook brand type, I#d check first
a. which of the connectors you quoted has the fastest connectio,for SATA this should be 6 GB
b. formwhich of the fast ones does your BIOS allow you to boot?
c. what size and performance do you want only fast IOPS for a short time or someewhat slower but sustained IOPS performance.
d:unless you opt for the mSATA slot consider also SSD and m.2SATA

I went for a mSATA for my windows 7 and retained a 1.5 TB HDD for storage and the optical drive.
YOu can find my mSATA experiencein myzBook 15 here http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-business-class-notebooks/750494-hp-zbook-15-owners-lounge-3.html

 

I went for HP due to the 3 years warranty for professional notebooks in my country without needing extra upgrade plan. Since HP also provides previous versions as refurbished notebooks with the same warranty, spare parts are somewhat available and because the good reputation andmy experience in getting mine repaired. Even my old HP6910pstill is in use as backup.

The present zBook provide significant improvement to the previous Elitebooks. While I was not looking for a workstation and wanted mor one without an external graphics card like my 8560p, I went for the zBook 15 because it was only at bit more expensive then a refurbished Elitebook,and much cheeper then the light version zBook 14. I looked also at Fujitsu and Lenovo, but overall they did not provide as many of the things I was looking for.
With the 5 year warranty upgrade I will hopefully use it for the next 5 years, and then some more.

As to the brake down history HP 6910 after two moth mobo, 2year 11 month display, elitebook 8560p 2 years 11 month one RAM slot defective, but it turned out the RAM. Repair time Monday to Friday, except the last time when they were slopyy and switched to next day repair without cost for me. Unfortunate for them that they broke/forgot and had to return 4 times. But since I need a functionalnotebook I already ha my zBook 15. Main problem I have is that the space key is not as responsive and sometimethe space is missing in my posts.

 

Updated first post.

 

I've got 3 news on the subject - good, bad and ugly.

The good: it's definitely absolutely positively possible to add an extra mSATA SSD to systems with an 12.7mm ODD bay and (eSATA port or non-whitelisted full-size minipcie slot). An HDD fits inside ODD/ODD-to-HDD adapter carcass alongside with an microsata 1.8" adapter for mSATA SSD with mSATA SSD itself, and there still is some (little) place for cables.

The bad: it's 2015 already, but I didn't receive one of the cables I needed to perform the mod on my current notebook - and I won't receive it I guess, should have asked seller for refund instead of resending the item. Anyway, I reviewed my priorities and will be getting an ultraportable convertible instead, thus won't spend money and effort on mods for my good old 5930G anymore. Still, I decided to share this information with the community, it may be usable for someone.

Now this is where it gets ugly. Even though major components fit inside the ODD carcass, (thick) cables hardly do. You should be ready to make custom cables yourself if you're willing to try. Best thing is to solder directly to ODD/ODD-to-HDD caddy slimline SATA connector (or use slimline sata extender cable as base and remove all PCBs), and use thinner cables with angled connectors for all connections - and it will still be hard to fit.

I was planning to desolder my thru-hole mounted esata-usb combo port and solder sata cable to it instead (alongside with short usb extender cable for infernal usb) - since it's bloody cheaper than buying the only mpcie-to-sata card with flat connectors in production, or buying any of cards with upside-looking connectors in hope to solder proper connector or cable to one of them - and doesn't require any drivers to work. Got everything but eSATA-to-microsata cable - which I needed desperately because it has good, not too big microsata connector which are rare, and any adapter would not fit. Better decision would be to solder power directly to the 1.8" adapter, but I kinda wanted it to be reusable just in case. I include a photo of 1.8"-to-mSATA adapter I managed to fit alongside the 9.5mm HDD. It has a nasty big voltage regulator or something-like-that on the back, but if you cut thick plastic where I marked and turn the thing upside down, it actually fits - with mSATA SSD in it. Still, extreme caution required while inserting such an optibay inside the notebook, and of course no top covers.