Suggestions for replacing MBP superdrive with SSD?

[glitchrock-buddha]

I've been thinking lately that since I don't use the superdrive at all, I wouldn't mind moving it to an external enclosure and fitting an extra SSD hard drive in it's place on my unibody i7 macbook pro. Perhaps dedicated to sample libraries.

Does anyone have suggestions for a cost effective way to do this? I'd probably want to get as near to 500gb as I could.

I've seen this:
http://www.mcetech.com/optibay/

Optibay seems like a good way to go to get the right casing. However if you chose to get the 512gb SSD, it's an extra $869, which seems pricey compared to what's out there.

I was looking on Newegg at some SSD prices and found several around $400 for the same amount of space:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... name=512GB

Thing is, I'm not sure if they will all work or if some or much worse. Given the price disparity, it makes me wonder.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Edit: I realized this should probably be inthe lounge, sorry. Mods feel free to delete.

[piZMo]

check out http://www.crucial.com/uk/

[Cej]

I have done something similar with my MBP, and it rocks!!!
(....be careful with the angle of the screws on the back of your MBP >>> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1270)

I have a 256gb SSD for the OS and programs
I removed the super drive and put it into one of these
http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=2255
its a bit noisier than usual but I don't use it much anyhow

For libraries, projects, data and other stuff I fitted in place of the superdrive one of these
http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=1491
and one of these
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/37986-st9750420as

Having the ssd running the os and programs is the best way to do it especially if there's an i7 under your bonnet (hyper-threading technology)

hope this helps

[glitchrock-buddha]

I have done something similar with my MBP, and it rocks!!!
(....be careful with the angle of the screws on the back of your MBP >>> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1270)

Ya I've replaced the hard drive before and you do have to be careful with those little screws!

I have a 256gb SSD for the OS and programs
I removed the super drive and put it into one of these
http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=2255
its a bit noisier than usual but I don't use it much anyhow

For libraries, projects, data and other stuff I fitted in place of the superdrive one of these
http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=1491
and one of these
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/37986-st9750420as

Having the ssd running the os and programs is the best way to do it especially if there's an i7 under your bonnet (hyper-threading technology)

hope this helps

You think it's better to have the SSD for your OS and programs? I was thinking of using it for sample libraries. With all my Komplete/Kontakt libraries and Omnisphere/Trilian, that's already about 300gb.

Is it possible to have the SSD in your superdrive slot be your main OS hard drive? And use your internal default drive as a secondary one?

[knotkranky]

Definitely use the ssd for system and sounds. I have a OWC 500g and i'm ordering another in place of my MBP optical drive for 1tb internal, but now, on the one ssd, I have most of the live goodies and komplete ultimate all on one ssd. Zero performance issues. I'll never use hd's again, except for long term storage.

[Cej]

from my understanding,......
an operating system, when running a program, extracts the specific audio files and/or presets from a vst-plug-in sound or user library..... and then stores it to be used, and while in use, to a temp folder (on the main os drive, since that is where the program is running from...) from here, until "save"(ing) a project
.... (at this time anything audio or resample to audio, it is best to "collect all and save")..... thus data will be saved to the project folder 'of your choice....'.

....read/write speeds is a mas-debate..... not for me!

You think it's better to have the SSD for your OS and programs?

definitly!

I was thinking of using it for sample libraries. With all my Komplete/Kontakt libraries and Omnisphere/Trilian, that's already about 300gb.

miliseconds will be referenced with sound, delay, chorus, lfoo's and the like..... processors and the like are your production friend that will congruently sing with you in time.......

Is it possible to have the SSD in your superdrive slot be your main OS hard drive? And use your internal default drive as a secondary one?

not sure really.... I believe it is possible, but it will have to be a secondary boot drive at start up,.... but don't quote me I may be wrong

again, subjectively I hope this helps

[glitchrock-buddha]

I've ordered the 512gb crucial ram and the optibay enclosure to replace the superdrive. I figured I'll make a disc image of the OSX Lion and install the operating system on the SSD while keeping user folders on the internal drive. Should be interesting.

[FrankieP]

I replaced the 750GB HD of my Mid 2010 17" MBP with a 250GB OWC Mercury Extreme SSD last year and used the same HD to replace the Superdrive using the OWC Data Doubler. The OS is on the SSD and my samples and projects on the HD. Everything worked great until 3 days ago, when I turned on my MBP and was greeted with a grey screen and a folder with a big question mark. Somehow it couldn't find the OS. Did all the troubleshooting steps, resetting the PRAM, to no avail. I took out the SSD yesterday and connected it to my Mac Mini via USB. Disk Utility recognized the drive but the "Macintosh HD" partition was greyed out. Tried repairing it but it indicated an error and was not able to do the repair. Today I fired up Data Rescue and I was able to recover some files which I haven't backed up with Time Machine. Took 5 hours for a "deep scan" to recover the files. I have a feeling that something got corrupted and that the SSD drive is still good since it was recognized by the Mac Mini. I'm going to erase the drive tonight and try to reinstall my the OS with the Time Machine backup. I it fails, the SSD has a 3-year warranty and will be contacting OWC this week for a replacement. Anyway, going back to the OP's original question, yes! Replacing the Superdrive works.

[FrankieP]

BTW, I do have a question to other users that have done this modification. By doing this, does this void the warranty of MBP? If by chance that the problem isn't the SSD, but rather a bad cable or even the logic board, I do have Applecare and will be making a trip to the Apple Store to get one of their "geniuses" to troubleshoot it. Maybe I should reinstall the Superdrive back before doing so? Sorry to hijack this thread but I think this is somewhat related to the OP's query.

[Komodovaran]

BTW, I do have a question to other users that have done this modification. By doing this, does this void the warranty of MBP? If by chance that the problem isn't the SSD, but rather a bad cable or even the logic board, I do have Applecare and will be making a trip to the Apple Store to get one of their "geniuses" to troubleshoot it. Maybe I should reinstall the Superdrive back before doing so? Sorry to hijack this thread but I think this is somewhat related to the OP's query.

This does not void the warranty of the MacBook. Apple provides no support for your secondary harddrive in place of a superdrive, but the rest of the computer is still applicable to warranty.