Simple mSATA to SATA for optical bay hard drive?

Hey guys,

I've been struggling with my Alienware laptop that has only 128GB SSD drive. I have external 2.5 500GB hard drive and I'd like to put it inside laptop in the ODD since I never use it.
I know special cases for this are dirt cheap, but I don't feel like waiting for it to ship so I was thinking... Would it be possible to simply get a mSATA (my ODD has removable mSATA cable attached to it) to SATA adapter and fit the hard drive inside optical bay with some rubber and cardboard or whatever..? Do not lecture me about the fitting, but would technically this work?

Thanks!

 

tomsko, your ODD has slimline SATA connector. It has normal SATA for data and that weird slimline sata power connector. You need slimline-to-normal SATA power adapter, or power+data. I should notice, however, that you'd better maradeur your ODD case for the purpose if you insist on DYIing rather than buying.

 

Put the mSATA SSD in one of these which is placed inside one of these (or similar - check the height of the optical drive - it is likely to be either 9.5mm or 12.5mm).

You might find the speed of the SATA interface for the optical bay is only SATA 2 (more than fast enough for an optical drive). Notebook manufacturers often do this possibly to reduce power consumption or maybe it means they can use a cheaper chipset. However, SATA still gives most of the SSD benefits but with a slightly reduced maximum sequential read (and possibly write) speed.

John

 

tomsko, with all respect to John, he linked PATA version of HDD-to-ODD caddy, which is not compatible with your notebook. Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post - are you sure you external HDD has SATA interface at all? It may be native USB2.0 or 3.0, then you'll have to get a new drive as well.

 

Thanks for your replies guys!

Yes you are right FlashInTheNight86, my connector is slimline SATA not mSATA. I am sure my external hard drive is SATA interface and nor that drive nor my internal SSD is SATA 3 so I don't even bother about SATA 2/3 issues.
So basically I need slimline SATA to SATA+power. I will visit my local tech stores and if I don't find it I'll just order the 9.5mm optical bay case, it's realy sheap just 14$ some palces, but shipping to my country usually takes more than a month that's why I prefer not to do that. Also I could find the case locally but for 5x the price.

 

From China everybody has to wait. I ordered mine through ebay and it took over 3 weeks.