Anyone tried to put SSD in Vaio Z and connect it to optical cable?

I replaced my Z's HDD with WD Scorpio Black, but I am considering putting extra SSD inside to be used as Windows Boot & Application Drive.

The choice would be either Intel X25-M or Mtron 3525 (100 MB / 100 MB read/write) - I still did not make my mind yet with regards to that.

Initially, I wanted to put my TZ's SSD inside Z (as my old TZ is still with me), but then I realized TZ's SSD has ZIF type connector and, even worse - Vaio Z's optical drive is actually connected to the board with SATA connector - not PATA (yep! although SiSoft Sandra identifies DVD drive as PATA).

So, apparantly, one more SATA cable and connector is there inside Vaio Z - connected to DVD drive. So, in theory - Z could be able to run 2 HDDs (or SSDs) without getting Sony's RAID cable and having to buy the right 1.8" SSDs and extra fittings.

My idea is just to disconnect Z's DVD drive and connect SSD and stick the SSD PCB somewhere inside (1.8" would actually even fit on the DVD drive itself, dunno if 2.5" would fit - but I'll figure that out)

Question is, did anyone actually try to connect a HDD/SSD to it and boot from it directly in Vaio Z?

If nobody tried - I will try to figure that over the weekend by connecting an 2.5" SATA HDD and trying to boot from it (by erasing boot record on the main drive, I hope the BIOS would try the other one...)
I will

 

Great Idea! ) I may get inside my Z once Intel's 128GB SSDs arrive here

 

I think Intel will come up with 160 GB version of the X25-M, not 128 GB.

Anyway, my idea is a no go

**** Sony! SATA >data< connector on the optical drive is the same, but the POWER part is not, it is much shorter than regular SATA (even than those mini SATA power connectors on 1.8" drives) and, also, SATA power pin arrangement is way too narrow compared to regular SATA.

However, MB connector for the optical drive is exactly the same compared to the HDD connector, so I tried connecting the HDD cable to the Optical MB connector, just to see if this might work. Well, no... BIOS won't see the HDD.

I suspect Sony changed power pins and most likely HDD gets no appropriate power when connected to the optical MB connector. Or, they hardcoded something in BIOS, which also wouldn't surprise me.

So, I guess... my only choice is to get decent size SSD - Intel's 80 GB is bare minimum, but I'd actually prefer fast SLC SSD of 128 GB - but this would cost almost as much as my Vaio Z

 

Hmm

After some research, I think I know what kind of connector-type Sony uses for Optical drive in Z - it is called "Micro SATA Slimline" (see attachment)

As I guessed yesterday, data path is 100% backwards compliant with the desktop SATA, however power connector is completely different.

Will continue researching if it is possible to somehow "steal" proper SATA power from somewhere else, and see if Z's BIOS would see the HDD connected to a optical drive connector.

 

Okay, I think I figured out what is going on finally:

Sony Vaio Z uses "Micro SATA Slimline" connector for the DVD drive, which is 100% compliant to the SATA standard for the data connector, but the power connector is different.

Furthermore, 1.8" SATA connectors use 3.3V only, not 5V - which pretty much explains why the HDD drive won't boot when I connected it via. Sony's HDD cable connected to the DVD MB connector.

Now, it would be interesting to see whether the 1.8" HDD SATA connector would be compliant to the "Micro SATA slimline" standard - I looked at some 1.8" Samsung SSDs and I cannot really say whether their power connector would allow the micro sata slimline connector to attach - as they are noticeably wider and have more pins...

So, right now I guess the only way to connect two drives (except Sony's RAID SSD configuration) would be to somehow steal 5V from somewhere and connect the second HDD/SSD to the optical MB connector via. supplied DVD cable that you would have to... hmm.. modify

 

I would also try the new bios - its supposed to be for raid too. the asia sony site has the expanation for the new bios - one was faster booting and the other was raid.

 

Yep - I have the latest BIOS, but that did not help booting 2.5" HDD from the DVD port from the MB.

However, I ordered 1.8" 64 GB Samsung SSD and that should work with 3.3 V - I'll report results as soon as it gets shipped to my home.

 

Well

Until Sony replies to my question whether it is possible to buy their RAID cable used to connect 2 SSDs in their 128GB SSD versions of Z, I am going to try another trick that might enable usage of two (hard/solid state) drives in Vaio Z:

I ordered "Slimline SATA Connector - Male" from DeLock that is used to extend Slimline SATA cabling on normal PC - this one has male Slimline SATA connector like Sony's DVD drive and outputs to standard SATA data female connector that you can stick in any HDD/SSD.

Next, I also have MOLEX->SATA Power connector used to wire SATA HDD power to standard Molex power connector. Now, only thing I need to do is to cut the Molex->Sata connector yellow/red/black cables and wire that to Slimline SATA connector's power cables and I would have "Slimline Sata -> SATA" adapter with proper power wires.

With some luck, I should be able to power and connect HDD to Sony's built-in slimline sata connector for ODD with that. With proper shaping with sharp knife, this connector should be very small - opening a 2.5" SSD and inserting PCB only might even be possible without getting the Optical drive out...

I'll post you with the results. Voltage and connection wise this must work. Only thing that might prevent it is if BIOS is somehow hardcoded to work with Optical drive only on the second SATA connector...

@edit - added picture of the connector. It is 4.99 EUR in Germany.

 

Hey psyq321, what type of improvement did you notice when you went from the stock 5400rpm hd to the 7200 wd?

 

Unfortunately, I never even got to test the 5400 RPM one - just booted Vista once upon delivery to see if the notebook is OK and then replaced it with WD Scorpio.

Now, WD Scorpio is replaced with Samsung SLC SSD, because I was really used to SSD access times from my past notebook (TZ)

I can compare SSD to WD Scorpio - and that is definitely in favor of SSD.

However with regards to 5400 RPM vs. 7200 RPM I cannot say too much

 

I have used both drives in my Sony SZ. The difference is noticeable. Using HDTunePro my drive is reporting more than 25% faster. In terms of "real feel" I would equate it to doubling ram.

 

I know this might be a stupid question, but I just need to make sure.

Does the z use a 2.5" or 1.8" HDD?

I wanted to exchange the HDD with a 2.5" SSD, but wasn't sure if it would work or not...