samsung S5 2nd SATA hard drive

I've just purchased a samsung S5 NP530U4C-S01ES (14' / intel core i5 3317u / 8gbRAM / nvidia GT620M / 24gb iSSD / 1tb HDD / DVDrw )

I've seen many different "HDD caddys" to replace a SATA DVD drive for a HDD, like for example this one.

http://www.pro-battery.com/battery-detail.asp?id=1223

Has anybody succesfully replaced a samsung Series 5 DVD drive with one of those "HDD caddys/ 2nd SATA to SATA frame"?

Does anybody know the exact specs of the samsung S5 14' DVD drive?

It appears as a TSSTCORP_CDDVDW_SU-208AB , and I would like to confirm it's a SATA drive..

Thanks for your help

EDIT: I've found the size of the 14' Samsung S5 DVD drive, it's 9'5mm.( not like the standar 12.7mm-thick / high optical bay included in most laptops)..and I've found there are some SATA2SATA devices of this size, like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-to-SATA-2nd-HDD-HD-HARD-DRIVE-9-5mm-Universal-Caddy-CD-DVD-ROM-Optical-Bay/110923685582?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D401201814470955920%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D300943249025%26

but I still haven't found any info related to somebody using it in a 14 inches Samsung Series 5

 

Notebook optical drives are available in 3 standard sizes: 7mm (very rare), 9.5mm and 12.7mm. Choose the one that matches the size of your notebook.

This thread is about HDD caddies for the 2012 Series 7 but may be relevant.

John

 

thanks one more time for your help, John

I think this NP530u4c includes a 9'5mm DVD bay ... I've even found a replacement for series 5 NP550 DVD bay, but it seems this one uses a 12,7mm bay..

2nd HDD / SSD Caddy for Samsung Series 5, NP550 [OBHD-SATA12-SATA-BU] - $38.75 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

and I've found a standar cadyy for 9'5mm DVD bays:

Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy(p/n OBHD9-SATA-SATA-B) Black, 9.5mm [OBHD9-SATA-SATA-B] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

but I'm not completely sure this one will fit in my laptop (just because I still haven't read anything related to these samsung series 5 ultrabook NP530Uxx models, and I'd rather not being the 1st one to test it).I have read the whole thread and the 3 standar sizes etc...perhaps for a few € (about 15€ with shippings to spain) I could test one of those generic 9,5 mm caddy to check if it fits.For example this one(how I'm I sure it's SATA3?)

http://www.amazon.es/caddy-adapter-Laptops-9-5mm-Optical/dp/B00C94G7Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375923495&sr=8-1&keywords=2nd+HDD+caddy

thanks again

 

I'd get the caddy from Amazon.es. The fixing screw holes, if any, tend to be in the same places.

John

PS: The ODD interface in the notebook is most likely only rated at SATA 2. The caddy will run at the speed of the interface - it uses a simple pass-through electrical connector.

 

I understand what you say...i thought that using an intel HM76 ivy bridge/Panther Point chipset, both SATA ports (the one used by the HDD and the one of the ODD) would be SATA3..
My 1tb mechanical HDD is also working in SATA2 mode, but I thoght that was just because the HDD itself uses a SATA2 interface.
I've read about people replacing this HDD with a SSD and they say with a proper SSD (or HDD) it works in SATA3. I thought the ODD was in the same situation, and after replacing it with a SSD, the bus would work in SATA3.(because this is an intel HM76 chipset based mobo and it uses SATA3)

so are you telling me that these series 5 NP530U4C models don't use SATA3 buses at all? or only the HDD is using a SATA3 bus (but not the ODD)?

Where can I check all these info? (beacause tools like aida64 from windows8 or Hardinfo from ubuntu12.04 don't tell me anything new about this issue

 

Most of the Sandy and Ivy Bridge Models have SATA3 on the main port (used by the primary HDD) and SATA2 on the secondary (used by the ODD). Models with ExpressCache generally use a SATA3 port for the iSSD as well, although it's soldered, so you cannot use it for anything else.

That's been my understanding based on reports from users here, and I think that's what John meant.

 

Most notebook manufacturers seem to run only the primary storage interface at SATA 3. A possible reason is that faster interfaces use more power or maybe they have to pay Intel according to the hardware used.

Anyway, the SSD speed gain between SATA3 and SATA 2 is usually only noticeable in the streaming reads (and possibly the streaming writes depending on the SSD model). The more typical usage patterns don't spend much time overloading the SATA 2 interface.

In your case, the logical course of action is to put the SSD in the HDD bay and put the HDD into the ODD bay caddy. That gives you both performance and the capacity and is the route followed my a number of the 2012 Series 7 users.

John

 

you are both very kind..

I've also seen the specs of the intel HM76 chipset (only 2 SATA3 ports) so it's totally reasonable what you both say

I thought about using 2 SSDs (and leaving the 1tb HDD as external storage using a cheap USB3 enclosure)...even perhaps some software raid with 2 SSDs...but now I see that's not viable in this laptop

my concerns about using a SSD + HDD are related to power consuption (is it really so much difference?)...that's why I thought 2 SSDs would be better in this case...anyway, perhaps a good 128gb SATA3 SSD in the main SATA BUS running @ SATA3 speed and a "not so good/cheaper/bigger" SSD (256gb?) in the 2nd SATA port running at SATA2 speed would be the right option in my case...

my budget is very, very limited (Spanish unemployed, no stable incomes, no short-term perspectives to find a job...)

any suggestion for the SSD disks?

Thanks for your time & help

 

Yu can set the drives to power down after a user-defined idle period so, if you aren't actively using the HDD, then it will turn off. You can also check the idle power consumption of the HDD at Tom's Hardware.

The everyday performance difference between the good and the best SSDs is not large. I suggest you look at the Crucial range. They may not have class-leading performance but have an excellent reliability record combined with competitive pricing.

John

 

well, I finally bought a SSD and a caddy for a 2nd HDD for this laptop (Since last time we talk, I've had some problems with it).
Is there any guide that I should follow?
I mean, I know I have to deactivate express cache from windows, but my intention is to leave the original 1tb mechanic hard drive as it is now but replacing the DVD-drive with the caddy I've bought. In its place there will be a 256gb crucial MX100 SSD I've just bought.

The original 1tb hard drive's got three different OSes, and the recovery partition etc...even if windows 8 doesnt boot from the other SATA port, linux will.

The thing is that I don't want any linux distro, or GRUB bootloader or whatever having access to the 24gb sandisk cache SSD that is soldered to the motherboard of this laptop. I just want to erase the express cache data from windows and leave it as it is now as well, but I don't want to use it anymore. (I know I can't unplug it from BIOS or phisically, but for example, now this disk is never mounted or read (or written) from any of the linux distros I already have in the 1tb HDD. I'm talking about all of this because I've had this problem before after messing up with express cache software from windows 7 and windows 8. At one point the disk became accesible from linux, and everytime GRUB was updated,new entries were created for the partitions of the 24gb SSD cache disk.

My intention is to install a new windows 8 and a new arch linux in the 256gb SSD and eventually, from time to time, use any of the other 2 linux distros I already have in the 1tb HDD after I finish migrating all the data (and the warranty ends). After that I will format the whole disk and I will probably use it just for storage etc...but in the meantime I need to use OSs from the SSD and the HDD. I've done this whole operation before in other PCs with no problem at all with linux distros. The difference in this case is the 24gb cache disk that is soldered to the motherboard.

So... is there any good guide I could follow to deactivate express cache from windows, replace the HDD with a SSD and the DVD with the original HDD inside a caddy etc etc... in these kind of laptops? I've seen a few of them for many different models of laptops and notebooks, but some of them are a bit old, so I'm open to any advice in this topic

Thanks in advance for any help

 

I also have this notebook and wanted to do the same to improve performance.
Can you confirm that the caddy that you bought fits right?
Can you put a bookmark to that caddy?
Thank you.

To disable soldered SSD, when I bought the notebook I do some testing about it. At this moment I've Linux system partition installed in the SSD (without any problems) living with the 6GB hibernation partition. So yes, I replaced caching partition with Linux successfully simply uninstalling express cache software. I did it with gparted. You can reformat this driver with another partition system and/or delete partitions, so drive can't be used by the system. Do a full image of the disk with clonezilla or another thing, and if you see problems, just restore it with. In fact, reinstalling express cache software in my configuration will replace my Linux partition with express cache partition.

 

@adayth: Welcome to NBR, and thank you for posting that answer.

@eternota: As described by member adayth, you basically just need to uninstall the ExpressCache software in Windows. The iSSD itself doesn't do anything without that software. Once it is gone, you can delete its partition on the iSSD and do whatever you want with it. If you want to install Linux on the iSSD (or even a compact Windows installation) you will have to boot from the primary HDD/SSD since the iSSD cannot be booted directly. For this, you obviously need a boot manager on the HDD.

Edit: I took the liberty of deleting your post from this thread since you basically asked the same question as here. When you posted it, there still were no responses here, and it was >24 hours since your original post here. So there are no cross posting issues -- no worries in that regard. It just didn't really have relevance on the topic discussed in that other thread.

 

thank you both, adayth & Dannemand...and sorry for this late answer, I haven't seen this second page of the thread until today.

My idea is not using at all the 24gb sandisk iSSD disk, because if for any reason that iSSD is broken or damaged, the whole system becomes useless, I can assure you this. I had a probem with the iSSD disk only four months after buying the laptop, and samsung replaced the whole motherboard: the iSSD had bad sectors and smart problems and the system needed nearly 20 minutes to boot from any other HDD, USB or SSD.And everytime I tried to format the 1tb mechanical HDD or any other disk in the laptop I had errors, because disabling that iSSD disk during install was NEVER an option in windows,linux or freeBSD(and I never formatted it before it started to fail. It was been used just for caching through express cache and hibernation in windows, as samsung configured it).

I still haven't replaced the 1tb HDD with my new crucial 256gb SSD, and I still have not replaced the DVD drive with the caddy for the HDD, I'm actually working 12 hours/day until next friday (the 28th) and I don't have time for it until then.
The caddy I bought was this one, a 9,5mm caddy, NOT a 12mm caddy:

SilverStone SST-TS08

I'm pretty sure it fits well in this laptop, but I can't give you a right answer until next saturday, adayth
During this next weekend I will change the HDD and the DVD drive, and I will format the new SSD etc... I'll keep you updated.




I really appreciate your help, you both have clarified some topics I didn't know anything about. I don't feel "confortable" with this laptop and its problems with nvram,UEFI and linux, BIOS updates, the bad quality iSSD drive soldered to the motherboard, the not replaceable battery etc... but it's the only one I've got now and I don't want any troubles with it.

You both are very kind, we keep in touch

 

It's also very interesting what you say in your last paragraph...what did you do to get that? I mean reinstalling the caching partition in the iSSD just reinstalling express cache software from windows (7 or 8?) ...or is it just the default config? (I mean, you didn't configured anything special to get that behaviour from both disks, the HDD and the iSSD)

As I said before, I don't have any plans for that 24gb iSSD drive...I just want it to be disabled. I know that's not an option, so next step is not using it at all, and that's what I'm planning to do after installing tomorrow the crucial 256gb SSD, but just in case, I'd like to know how to get the express cache partition again the easiest/fastest way.

 

Maybe I don't understand you correctly, but once again: If you uninstall the ExpressCache software (using Windows Programs and Features control panel) the iSSD becomes just a regular SSD that you can use whichever way you want. There is no caching going on except through that ExpressCache software. Conversely, when you re-install the ExpressCache software, it will automatically create the necessary partition on the iSSD (if it's not already present) and start caching.

You do NOT want ExpressCache to be caching your new "real" SSD -- it will only slow things down and add unnecessary wear to both SSDs. So if you decide to install ExpressCache after getting the new SSD up and running (in order to cache the HDD) you should use ECCmd -EXCLUDE DriveLetter to make sure it leaves the "real" SSD alone.

As you mention, you don't want that iSSD to become defect, since it borks the entire computer and requires a motherboard replacement. In most cases, it just causes very slow startup (several minutes). Personally I have used ExpressCache extensively for 2.5 years on my NP700Z3A, and HWiNFO64 reports 98% Drive Life Remaining, based on its SMART readings. I watch that from time to time, and will stop using ExpressCache if Drive Life Remaining starts dropping.

 

@eternota: Thank you for the links. Please don't forget us and post if the caddy worked at the end.

As Dannemand, if you uninstall the Express Cache software you can use it as a normal SSD. When you reinstall this software, Express Cache partition will be recreated and used.

Just a note in case that you don't notice it yet. There is another "hibernation" partition in the SSD and right now I don't remember what Samsung driver or software enable it. But I remember for my initial tests that you can uninstall one driver/software and that partition will not be used at all.

I see how important is this iSSD for the notebook stability if it degrades. I'm planning right now to replace mi dvd drive with a SSD in the next year, after you confirm to me that it's possible at all

 

That is the hibernation partition used by Intel Rapid Start (not to be confused with Intel Rapid Storage which is a disk driver). Samsung Easy Settings (and presumably Settings as well for Win8.x) contains a module called FFSRConfigurer which is responsible for dividing space on the iSSD between ExpressCache and IRSTRT. I know nothing about this, but you can check John's IRSTRT thread for more info.

 

@eternota: Did you finally installed the caddy? Did it fit perectly? Any problems or thoughts that you want to share?
I'm still interested I'm buying a caddy for this laptop.

 

You may be waiting a long time for a reply - that member hasn't been visiting the forum for 6 months.

The optical drive bay HDD caddies are standard parts with two aspects to check: (i) Thickness (probably 9.5mm for recent notebooks) and (ii) the bezel (some don't have one and even if there is one it may not properly match the computer).

Prices have become very reasonable and something like this is probably suitable for your notebook (first check the thickness of your optical drive module).

John

 

Thank you for your answer. I just wanted to try if he forgot to post here the results. I'm not participate actively in this community by I used info posted here a lot of times and I was really interested in this topic.

Your post encouraged me to do the experiment, so I bought an standard 9.5mm caddy right now and I'll try to post my experience after installing it in my notebook.