Q: Second HDD for Latitude/Precision

Based on this post http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...grade&message.id=68340&query.id=253408#M68340
it would appear the Media bay only allows for 1.8" hard disks!

Is this true? Can anyone confirm this is true for both models?

2xHDD is a must for me - running VMs on a single disk is a _real_ drag!

Adam

 

A standard 9.5mm thick 2.5" HDD would physically fit in the bay. However, the optical drive SATA connector is a little different from the SATA connector on the HDD so it would need an adaptor.

However, if you go to the service manual and look under replacing the hard drive then there's detailed disassembly of the modular bay HDD and it does look to be a 1.8" drive. Since a 2.5" HDD is the same thickness as the bay there would be no room for top and bottom. However, there would be no technical problem with making a cradle which supports a 2.5" HDD around the edges.

The key question is whether a 1.8" SATA HDD has the same connector as a 2.5" HDD? If it does, then the media bay caddy and some tools should be enough to make a 2.5" HDD media bay unit.

The other, less tidy, workaround is to use the eSATA port with a 2.5" external HDD which has an eSATA connector. That's as fast as the internal interface.

John

 

Wow....what a disappointment,was hoping to get one shortly and put another 320GB into it.

I'm really annoyed over this

 

Off to the HP Forum! 8530w/p seem more practical all of a sudden. Had my heart set on a M4400 as well :|

Adam

 

Yes, a second 2,5" Hard Disk is a must.

http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&safe=off&q=external+media+Bay+Module+E6500

E.g. to copy and then change the Hard Disk.
In Jan/09 I want to copy the Hard Disk to a
fast, quiet and economic 250GB SSD (Solid State Disk).

The X18-M SSD beast was tested twice as fast as a configuration of two Velocirator Hard Drives (10K) at RAID-0 (this was the fastest actual configuration).
0,06 Watt idle power and 0,15 Watt active power is insane compared with
1,10 Watt idle power and 3,00 Watt active power of my slower 7K200.
To my calculations this can give us +15% battery life and
up to +200% 'Hard Disk' performance.

Maybe I can copy it twice. First to a 1,8" and then back to the 2,5" SSD.
Or I can use an external eSATA 2,5" disk drive.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=de&q=ebay+esata+2%2C5

 

And for this reason I've ordered an 8530w

 

You can get a SSD in 1,8" flavor that fits the current madia bay nice.

 

I just got one of these babies

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280295814557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018

 

I have also been waiting for someone to make these available,it will work great in conjunction with my Mtron mobi SSD.

 

Thats still 1,8" drive. Painfully slow .
Unless you're buying that for the caddy rack.