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    SSD + HDD without losing the optical drive?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by trex2010, May 24, 2010.

  1. trex2010

    trex2010 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello everyone,

    I wonder if I can stick an SSD and an HDD into Dell Latitude E6510 without having to lose the optical drive. Anyone know if this is possible?

    Thanks!
     
    trex2010, May 24, 2010
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No, you will not be able to. Almost all <=15" notebooks have maximum 2 slots for either HDD, SSD, or ODD.
     
    sgogeta4, May 24, 2010
    #2
  3. Jlbrightbill

    Jlbrightbill Notebook Deity

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    There's always the Momentus XT!
     
    Jlbrightbill, May 24, 2010
    #3
  4. AndroidVageta

    AndroidVageta Notebook Evangelist

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    Not only is there not enough room but theres also not enough SATA connections...its not a desktop where theres more than you need...theres only what you need and nothing else.

    Have you thought of an external optical drive or hard drive? Those are really your only options.
     
    AndroidVageta, May 24, 2010
    #4
  5. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Like said, Momentus XT hybrid HDD/SSD.
     
    Phil, May 25, 2010
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  6. trex2010

    trex2010 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cool, thanks guys.

    The Momentus XT hybrid sure looks interesting...but I might just spring for a SSD/HDD combo. I don't use my optical drive that much. I work a lot with MATLAB and image processing that I acquire with a USB camera, so I would only need the ODD to install programs.

    But, since I plan on getting the roomy Slappa MASK backpack, I'll just toss an external optical drive in it, i think.

    EDIT:

    Maybe SSD/hybrid combo?! =D
     
    trex2010, May 25, 2010
    #6
  7. Volker

    Volker Notebook Consultant

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    Nothing that liberal application of duct tape couldn't solve! :)
     
    Volker, May 25, 2010
    #7
  8. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    You could do it if you tap the e-sata port internally and install a mPCIe sata SSD, running some IDE cable to it. Just mount the mPCIE SSD in the vicinity of an empty mPCIe slot.

    You'd get better performance by swapping out the optical drive and putting a optical bay caddy to host your HDD and put a X25M G2 in the primary drive bay. There's a cheaper enclosure that can convert your optical drive to an external usb unit. See sig for more details.
     
    User Retired 2, May 25, 2010
    #8
  9. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    If you only need the ODD to install programs, why not get a USB optical drive for ~$50 and call it good? I almost never have my external Blu-Ray drive plugged into my Envy, and it works great.

    Depending on what the optical drive is, you may be able to reuse it as nando4 says, for even less.
     
    Pitabred, May 25, 2010
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  10. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    Considered tapping the eSata port internally, but I would also have had to find power and, more importantly, space that wouldn't disrupt airflow too much.

    I rigged up a caddy for a 2.5" eSata that fits nicely into the open space under my Studio 1558 that's created by the 9-cell battery for a spare 250GB drive I had. I'm sure it'll get hot over there, but not much worse that it is for the internal drive. I thought about duct taping / carpet-taping the drive to the chassis, but that would leave marks all over.
     
    woofer00, May 25, 2010
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  11. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    I think SSD main HDD in bay is a good option, while putting an enclosure on your optical drive and using it as a USB drive. It's what I did with my Lenovo T500 and it was great. My optical drive was pretty much untouched because all software was available to me over the internet.
     
    Chango99, May 25, 2010
    #11
  12. KimoT

    KimoT Are we not men?

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    SSD + HDD is a great combo...my G51 has two bays, so I don't need to lose the ODD, but once I ripped my CD collection, I haven't really used my ODD much (Netflix for movies, iTunes for music, and installed Windows off a USB, and I've gotten most of my software as downloads: even .iso files have been installed by using a virtual CD drive). I'm looking at an eSATA blu-ray as the next upgrade...
     
    KimoT, May 26, 2010
    #12