Is there any adapter or solution to make mSata work in place of a cd/dvd drive?

I just bought an Inspiron 15R SE. For my budget and the specs I got, I thought it was a good deal, $660 after tax. I got a 750gb 5400 RPM HDD, 6gb ram, AMD Raedon 2gb graphics card, 2.6ghz i5 processor. When buying it, I "thought" I could buy the daughter board that supports the mSata SSD port. Dell for that model makes 2 boards..and if you don't buy the top end model, you don't get the board that has the port. Well, turns out ...that board is extremely hard to come by.

So right now I am at home, with an Inspiron 15R SE that has the basic 750gb 5400 RPM, no mSata drive..and I jumped the gun (because of a Dell rep mind you) and purchased a 256gb Crucial mSata SSD. So that is sitting with me at home as well.

I am curious if there is another way to get this mSata card into my computer. For example, is it possible to replace my cd/dvd drive with a device that I can hook the mSata SSD into? Can I send the mSata SSD back, and purchase a regular SSD that I can install in place of the cd/dvd drive?

Just trying to think outside the box.

Thanks

 

I dunno if anyone makes a single converter yet, but you can definitely get a regular ODD to SATA caddy, and then put a SATA to mSATA adapter in that.

 

Can you expand on that a bit. thanks

doing some googling...this perked my curiosity

1.8 To 2.5 Msata To Sata Ssd Adapter - Buy Msata To Sata,Msata To Sata Ssd,Msata To Sd Card Product on Alibaba.com

Ok, I have been digging around. I came across this Dell thread

Re: Installing mSATA card on Inspiron 15R special edition (7520) - Laptop General Hardware Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

Basically, the guy says he tried this: Amazon.com: NEW SATA 2nd HDD caddy for 12.7mm Universal CD/DVD-ROM: Computers & Accessories

and then your saying this would go and connect to the inside? mSATA to SATA Adapter | eBay

?

thanks

 

Yup.

If you get the eBay one make sure your mSATA drive is the same length as the clips (the earlier one you linked looked like it could accommodate varying lengths). I'm pretty sure they are all standardized these days, but there may be some oddballs.

 

Wow. When looking at the mSata adapter fitting inside the ODD caddy...it almost appeared as if the connectors wouldn't match up. Would the mSata adaptor, in that specific example, need to be flipped face down?

I just got thinking... would this be easier?

Replace the 750GB 5400 RPM Sata HDD, with the mSata SSD (via some adaptor), and put the 750GB HDD in an ODD -> SATA Caddy?

Wasn't sure if one would make more sense over another?

Something like.

Replace the 2.5" 5400 RPM drive slot with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817998176

and then put the 750gb drive into an ODD -> sata caddy to keep the optical drive caddy even more simple (no more adaptor inside the caddy nonsense).

and hot damn...I can buy a external DVD enclosure and take my optical drive and make that

I love how this is starting to come together.

 

There's no reason you should not be allowed to buy the correct daughter board. It's part no is N7JHH. You should try getting in touch with one of the Dell reps here in the NBR forums. They can probably hook you up with the daughter board. Don't try calling the bottom feeder Dell Reps. Those guys only know what they read from a computer screen and will only give you the standard "Your system is incompatible with that upgrade because it was not ordered with it from factory."

If that doesn't work, you can always try something sinister. Reach out to other Dell 15R SE owners and see if one of them who has the correct daughter board will buy the daughter board with the mSATA port on it for you. All's Dell needs is a service tag no. for the correct system.

If all that fails, then you should consider getting the ODD to HDD caddy and the HDD to mSATA adapter. You will spend less time and money if you can get your hands on the daughter board.

Installing mSATA card on Inspiron 15R special edition (7520) - Laptop General Hardware Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

 

It's funny you say that. So I have not only talked to two del reps via chat online, I have called the spare parts department directly and N7JHH has actually been deactivated. I asked if there was another part # it has been replaced with, and after being on hold for a while, she said N7J97, but it is currently on backorder.

I have scoured the internet for N7JHH and only sketchy foreign websites seem to pop up.

My understanding is the replacement of the board is an involved process, in terms of how much of the computer you have to take apart. At least going with the caddys, the involvement is minimal, correct? Since it's all SATA interface, and reading the descriptions on the caddys...there is no interference or bottlenecks so there would be no speed diminishing effects.

If you go to the last post on that Dell forum you linked to, which I have read about 15x already...you will see who the last post author is

 

Again, get a second (or third, fourth, fifth) opinion. I wouldn't believe the phone reps if they said the sky was blue. Everytime I've called in the only try to push me into buying a new system. The "back-order" excuse is used usually when the rep doesn't want to look up the part. If Dell has parts for my old 2004 Inspiron, then they've got that daughter board somewhere, whether it's the older version or the new revision. I would still recommend you get in touch with one of the Dell support reps here in the forums. I know one is Rachid@Dell. I've had nothing but good experiences with the Alienware and Dell guys here. And I will look up in my email the rep whom took care of some issues I had with my cousin's L502x. Any of these people can help you more than the bottom feeder phone support.

 

Do you know what the specs are for the Inspiron 15R SE's optical bay? SATA II? SATA I? No need to spend more than you have to on faster SSDs/mSATA SSDs than the system can support.

 

I dont know...but it makes.sense to replace.the 5400 rpm hdd location with an msata to sata hdd enclosure...since ai know that is using sata3, then just move then just move the 5400rpm drive which is slow as it is into the opticsl drive spot.

 

The good thing about Dell notebooks is that they give you the instructions on how to do that correctly. Just look up the online manual. Here, I did it for you.

Inspiron 15R SE 7520 Owner's Manual

Page 77 tells you how to install the daughter board, which might be the part that yours is missing.

 

My Dell has a silver casing, so the Optical Drive front panel is silver, and many of the caddy's seem to have black. Does the faceplate of the optical drive come off so you can attach it to the front of the caddy so its seamless?

 

Yes it does. Just make sure you get the correct size of caddy. If your's is a Dell, then it's a 99% chance it uses a 12.7mm Optical Drive.

 

I did. I ordered the 12.7mm caddy, and I ordered a mSata -> sata HDD case.

 

I emailed the rep who helped me with the XPS troubles I had. She will get me a definitive answer on the daughter board soon. You should have all your options available (plus if the daughter board is real cheap, it can't hurt to get it too).

 

Ok, I emailed the person recommended in this thread too, but haven't heard a response.

During my chat session with a Dell Rep, they copied and pasted the information on their screen that showed the part existed, but there was a 0 stock count.

I emailed a website recently in a foreign country that was recommended for having the part, and they got back to me saying the price was now higher because of the difficulty in obtaining the part. It's definitely not easy to come by.

I certainly have no problem with the caddy solutions simply because it's less work/effort in terms of tearing the machine down. It might even become slightly lighter doing this, with the optical drive being removed. I also bought a slim DVD case, so I can make an external DVD drive out of it.

 

Yup. I just heard back from the Dell rep I email. She showed there was a 0 stock count as well, even in their warranty supply parts. Was the foreign parts website this one: Upgrade Options - The UK's leading provider of IT infrastructure and equipment ?

My rep told me to email them as well to see if they had it in stock. If they still sell it for £30, that would be about $45 (if you live here in the US). So, it is still available, just will cost more.

 

I heard back from that UK Parts place. They upped the daughter board's price to £45.

 

screw that, plus probably a 2-3 week delivery time...I am fine with my caddy solution which should be in place hopefully by Wed.

 

You should at least keep checking in now and then with Dell for the daughter board. Eventually it will be back in stock and I will guarantee you if you don't get it then, it will be a while before you will get another chance.

 

has anyone tried this, i am looking for the same the OP is, with the difference i want it in raid 0

Amazon.com: Dual mSATA to SATAII 2.5 Inches SSD Adaper with Housing: Computers & Accessories

i was wondering if there is any compatibility issue with some motherboards or not, i have an asus g73sw .I have read a lot of good things about the msi msata raid array so i definitely want to test it myself without spending on a new machine. also this adapter could be future proof, if i decide to get me a new laptop i could swap whatever hdd that comes in it with this adapter.

 

I literally just got off the phone with Dell (called 800.372.3355 and fought through menus for "Spare Parts") and was told that I cannot order part #N7J97. Has anyone else had this experience? Is there some magic code I can use that will let me order the part? I just ordered my 15R SE today so don't even have a service tag to use yet. Was that the issue? Thanks.

 

No, they are out of stock.

Has nothing to do with your Service tag. I assume you ordered one without the mSata SSD?

 

Correct. I wanted to try and order it ASAP, but knew there was dwindling stock. I figured they would at least let me place the order, but he told me that I could not order the part, not that they were out of stock.

 

interesting. I was actually told that #N7JHH was "deactivated" but I was referenced another part # (N7J97) that was on backorder. The only google results for N7J97 are from the posts I have made on this forum it literally is not mentioned anywhere else on the internet from what I can tell.

 

You can always try that place in Britain. It would cost $60 plus shipping, and you would need to set up drop shipping from the Britain to wherever you reside cause they don't ship internationally.

 

Anyone seen a SATA III 6GB/s mSATA to SATA adapter cheaper than this?

Renice mSATA to SATA II SSD Adapter | My Digital Discount

Optical Bay Caddy:

Amazon.com: JacobsParts® SATA 2nd HDD Hard Drive Caddy for 12.7mm Universal CD / DVD-ROM Optical Bay: Computers & Accessories

 

These are the exact parts I ordered and they have all worked like a charm.

Amazon.com: NEW SATA 2nd HDD caddy for 12.7mm Universal CD/DVD-ROM: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: USB2.0 Slim DVD / CD RW Burner External Enclosure Caddy Case with SATA Connetor For all Laptop Notebook dvd cd burner[ Case only!! Drive is not included !!]: Electronics

mSATA SSD Converter to 2 5 inch SATA Case | eBay

$34, plus shipping total was about $50 I think. I thought that was just fine and was cheaper then the daughter board.