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    How does optical bay HDD work?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by allinwonder, May 23, 2012.

  1. allinwonder

    allinwonder Notebook Enthusiast

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    To further explain my question:

    For example, on Mythlogic site, there are two options:
    Swap Out Optical drive for additional Hard Drive +$39.20
    Optional Hard Drive Caddy for Optical Bay (Standalone) +$51.52

    Also on Xoticpc:
    Remove DVDRW Drive and Install Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy Only (SKU - S7R951) ( + 15 )
    Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy (Caddy Only) Used For Installing Your Own Hard Drive (this option includes the removed Optical Drive) ( + 45 )

    What do these two options mean? What will happen if I choose either or both?

    thanks!
     
    allinwonder, May 23, 2012
    #1
  2. gkrules

    gkrules Notebook Consultant

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    A hard drive caddy is essentially another hard drive slot. It allows you to put another hard drive in your laptop.

    These options give you just the hard drive caddy. (Which means no CD/DVD drive)

    These options give you the hard drive caddy AND the CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive(whichever one you chose). This allows you to swap between the optical drive and hard drive.

    The caddy looks like this: http://www.laptopkeyboards.org/images/E6400.jpg
     
    gkrules, May 23, 2012
    #2
  3. gwilled

    gwilled Notebook Deity

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    The cheaper option is cheaper because you forgo the DVD drive, which then gets put towards the cost of the caddy. The second option just gets you a separate caddy, so you have to pay for it as well as the optical drive.

    I'd just go with the first option unless you plan to get a drive enclosure for repurposing the optical drive of the second option.

    Not sure. But, I do believe it ends with the world imploding.
     
    gwilled, May 23, 2012
    #3
  4. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    i think the idea is you get rid of the dvd drive and it is replaced with another hard drive instead.
    you could then use an external usb dvd drive

    or the extra optional HD caddy is if you want to swap backwards and forwards between the hard drive and dvd drive.

    I THINK :D
     
    MrDJ, May 23, 2012
    #4
  5. b0b1man

    b0b1man Notebook Deity

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    Im using the HDD caddy in my optical bay.
    Got an external nice samsung dvd-writer. Using it only for OS installs and maybe reading old archive DVD's. Its portable, so its easy to carry.

    Its a sweet deal, really. You get 1 more HDD slot that way.
     
    b0b1man, May 23, 2012
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  6. Tmets

    Tmets De-evolving to Amoeba

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    I'v got the same. I was surprised how little I need the optical. I'v used the external one maybe 3-4 times.
     
    Tmets, May 23, 2012
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  7. allinwonder

    allinwonder Notebook Enthusiast

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    Great! Much appreciated. Looks like the cheaper one is the option for me.
     
    allinwonder, May 23, 2012
    #7
  8. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

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    Excellent choice :cool: something you won't regret, trust me mate
     
    jaug1337, May 23, 2012
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  9. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    If you do not want the optical drive, the caddy is $15. If you want to keep the optical drive, the caddy and removed optical drive are $45.
     
    Prostar Computer, May 23, 2012
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  10. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    Read the bold, it should help.
     
    Abidderman, May 23, 2012
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  11. Gear332

    Gear332 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yep! And like Tmets said, I was surprised just how little I need the optical drive. I was plugging in an external drive pretty much every time I booted my laptop. Now I never do, and instead have only plugged in my external optical drive maybe 5 times over the last 9 months or so. The only use I have for it is pretty much to install the OS. Since I've been playing with Windows 8, that's what accounts for the 5 or so times (switching back and forth between 7 and 8). Otherwise I'd have probably only used it once or twice. In my P170, I'm just going to have 3 total drives (without the mSata) instead of the 2 I have now. :)
     
    Gear332, May 24, 2012
    #11