DIY: Adding SSD or HDD storage using an optical bay caddy

[moral hazard]

My GT627 has a SATA optical bay, would it be possible to have raid?

Is there such a thing as a miniPCIe raid controller or something similar?

[Cubic X]

What optical bay carry does fit in my Compal JHL90?

It has a 12.7mm height ODD and a ICH9-M chipset. I would like te see if it is possible to remove the DVD-RW and place an extra HDD in it .

[Fintan]

@Moral hazard
Your notebook will most probably not be equipped with Raid options. It was probably never designed to accomodate 2 hdd - let alone in raid config.

@cubix
You have 1 of 2 essential parameter for a caddy: the height.
The 2nd would be the interface of your current ODD: SATA vs PATA.
Find that and you can figure out what you need in the first post of this thread. Aside from cosmetic problems, it will be a fit.

[Cubic X]

@Moral hazard
Your notebook will most probably not be equipped with Raid options. It was probably never designed to accomodate 2 hdd - let alone in raid config.

@cubix
You have 1 of 2 essential parameter for a caddy: the height.
The 2nd would be the interface of your current ODD: SATA vs PATA.
Find that and you can figure out what you need in the first post of this thread. Aside from cosmetic problems, it will be a fit.

My current ODD has a SATA interface.
So I need a bay which is 12.7mm high and has a SATA interface, does it matter if it is made for a special type notebook? On ebay I see this kind of bays for Dell systems, Lenovo, HP, IBM, ect. I don't see a special bay for the Compal JHL90 (or Sager NP2096, which is the same).

[Fintan]

My current ODD has a SATA interface.
So I need a bay which is 12.7mm high and has a SATA interface, does it matter if it is made for a special type notebook? On ebay I see this kind of bays for Dell systems, Lenovo, HP, IBM, ect. I don't see a special bay for the Compal JHL90 (or Sager NP2096, which is the same).

Aside from cosmetic differences in the front-plate of the drive, no problem.
ODDs have standard sizes.

Now you know what you need, 12.7 mm with SATA interface - just look for that and disregard things like model numbers.

I had the same requirements as you had and found one on ebay. (which was specified for IBM R400).

Seem to be more difficult to find now however.
Refer to first post - nando has made a nice list of options.

PS: Don't worry about your english ~ my gf is worse. A little tip though - living goes with a V, not F.

[Cubic X]

Aside from cosmetic differences in the front-plate of the drive, no problem.
ODDs have standard sizes.

Now you know what you need, 12.7 mm with SATA interface - just look for that and disregard things like model numbers.

I had the same requirements as you had and found one on ebay. (which was specified for IBM R400).

Seem to be more difficult to find now however.
Refer to first post - nando has made a nice list of options.

PS: Don't worry about your english ~ my gf is worse. A little tip though - living goes with a V, not F.

I will search for an optical bay on ebay then, thanks for your'e information and confirmation .

PS: thanks for the tip! Changed the F to a V

[Joe Bleau]

I need some help please. This is for a Vaio F Series, similar to the FW. I saw the post #1 info about the FW. The Optical bay is 12.7mm, SATA interface. I know I need a HDD/caddy interface SATA to be used with the OEM SATA drive which is 9.5mm thick.

The question is: can I use a 9.5mm HDD Optical Bay Caddy in a 12.7mm Optical bay slot? I don't mind shimming with rubber or sheetmetal, if needed.

There is no 12.7mm caddy SATA/SATA on Fleabay @ the present.

[User Retired 2]

I need some help please. This is for a Vaio F Series, similar to the FW. I saw the post #1 info about the FW. The Optical bay is 12.7mm, SATA interface. I know I need a HDD/caddy interface SATA to be used with the OEM SATA drive which is 9.5mm thick.

The question is: can I use a 9.5mm HDD Optical Bay Caddy in a 12.7mm Optical bay slot? I don't mind shimming with rubber or sheetmetal, if needed.

There is no 12.7mm caddy SATA/SATA on Fleabay @ the present.

A 9.5mm sata-to-pata caddy works in a 12.7mm pata optical bay. The rear connector starts at the same height from the base, with the 12.7mm optical drive just having a higher top metal cover. I would then predict the same scenario occurs with the sata version.

Could try a US$22-delivered 12.7mm sata-to-pata caddy and a US$14-delivered 9.5mm sata-to-sata caddy and swap the circuit boards. Total cost=US$36. Getting close to the US$45 that newmodeus charges, but could always then re-sell the extra 9.5mm sata-to-pata caddy you'd make from the unneeded parts.

[Joe Bleau]

...I've tried a 9.5mm sata-to-pata caddy works in a 12.7mm pata optical bay. The rear connector is the same height from the base, with the 12.7mm optical drive just having a higher top metal cover.

Thank you nando4, that's the info I needed: "rear connector is the same height from the base".

It should be easy to stick some sliders on top of the 9.5mm caddy to eliminate the play.

I saw your post about the 12.7MM SATA/SATA being removed from eBay but noticed that some HK power sellers you linked to have 0 listings @ the present with this note: "we don't work from Feb.11 2010 to Feb.21 2010 for holidays".

So maybe it will be back & they don't want unhappy customers waiting for replies or shipping during the holidays?

BTW, anybody reporting HDD overheating problems using their caddy?

nando4, you are one helpful & persistent person, you have been working on this thread for a longtime! Vacations?

[Fintan]

I saw your post about the 12.7MM SATA/SATA being removed from eBay but noticed that some HK power sellers you linked to have 0 listings @ the present with this note: "we don't work from Feb.11 2010 to Feb.21 2010 for holidays".

You are correct, in my experience business will start again after the Chinese New Year's holiday. For most people I know that will be after next weekend.