Some of my investigations on how to get SATA working on my machine may be useful to Macbook Air users with the same chipset. This is a work in progress but is presented for your consideration on how to get a SATA interface where one hasn't been supplied.
1. Enabling ICH8-M SATA controller
MacBook air Hacking - USB PORTS announced there was an unused SATA port on a MBA. This got me curious in finding and enabling a ICH8-M SATA controller on a HP 2510P with the same chipset. I succeeded in enabling the SATA controller to be visible in the OS. Relevant documentation on how to do this is here. All that remains now is finding the 4 SATA I/O from the southbridge pins on the systemboard, plus a 3.3V and GND (6 lines) and connecting it to say the Samsung SSD (below). I present this here so perhaps MBA ppl can do this too, and more importantly, identify if that is *all* that is required to get it working. Left: test pads from Macbook air southbridgeRight: SATA I/O pins on southbridge of interest2. Use the Sony SATA to ZIF AdapterPreliminary findings are here. Has a proprietory connector on the systemboard side though. Sony part number 1-878-429-11 as used in Sony Vaio P series.3. Creating a microSATA to ZIF adapterIf the native SATA controller cannot be enabled and it's I/O lines found, all is not lost OR the Sony adapter is too expen$ive, then could have a go at making this. The parts are rather inexpensive.
The 1.8" harddisk measures at 2.13x2.79in, we find this could potentially fit:Size of SATA to 3.5" IDE adapter: 2.13 in x 1.81 (size as given for 2-port version)Size of 3.5" IDE to ZIF adapter: 3.54 in x 1.30
Total: 3.54 in x 3.112 Size (shrunk) estimate: 2.13 in x 2.33 (removal of 2x~0.39 IDE connectors + more)I have *no* performance benchmarks to say how effective, or not, this would be but am awaiting feedback in those threads about it. More details, including source of parts, in thread titled For those with slow 1.8" PATA drives wanting SATA...
Followup
If anyone has success enabling and using the SATA controller and/or creating the microSATA to ZIF adapter, please chime in on the threads above with what could be quite useful information to others in the same boat.I guess our platforms are the same (chipset) but different at the same time 1.8" SATA SSD offers a considerable performance boost to 20MB/s 4200rpm 1.8" HDD or 32MB/s 5400rpm 1.8" HDD.
I have a 13" MacBook Pro 2011, 2.3gHz, 320GB. What connector does it have? And would SATA still work with my laptop? One more question, what are the exact dimensions of the hard disk drive bay in my laptop, the manual only says 2.5".
Im considering purchasing a higher capacity internal hardrive around the 750Gb/1Tb mark. However my macbook is the early 2008 model, and it seems the majority of hardrives are SATA II, having speeds of 3Gbt, which my mother board may not be capable of (apparently only 1.5Gbt) From researching and reading some reviews of others who have purchased internal drives on Amazon UK, some have had difficulty due to this problem, but have been able to fix the issue with a firmware update reducing SATA II drive speeds to 1.5Gbt.
Questions I have: Do all SATA / SATA II internal hardrives need a firmware update if replacing on to a new computer?(If so, would I need to look for a specific firmware update for the specific drive I intend on buying? And if you're in the knowledge would you mind posting links to these updates?)What is the process of updating the firmware i.e. would I need to put firmware on external usb hardrive 1st, then upload it to macbook after installing new internal drive (if it boots up my OS that is) etc. Would a 'hybrid' (disk+solid state) drive be compatible with a macbook as old as mine?Do I need to update my operating system to OS X Lion first, or can it be done after installing the drive?
my current laptop hardware:
Macbook Pro 15.4" (Early 2008 Model) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz ProcessorGeForce 256Mb 8600M GT Graphical Processor Intel ICH8_M AHCI 1.5 Gbt MotherboardToshiba MK1655GSXF 160Gb 2.5" Hard DriveOperating System: OS X Leopard 10.5.8
Info: MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 15.4" 2.4Ghz (Early 2008 Model)
I'm looking for a new HD to replace the original, now failing Maxtor drive in my G5 tower (1.8 Ghz dual processor, purchased in Aug. 2004), and have just about settled on the Western Digital Caviar SE16 series. It seems there are two types -- SATA and SATA II -- and I'm not sure about how to make a decision on which particular WD model to buy.
Will either type work in my machine? Or would the SATA II have potential compatibility problems? I read somewhere in these forums that someone with a G5 had bought an SATA II drive, and it wouldn't run with his system. (He said he had to reset some jumper switches to reduce the transfer rate of the drive ??, but now I'm told elsewhere that SATA drives don't have jumper switches.
Information: 1.8 DP G5, 1.5 GB RAM w/ Superdrive Mac OS X (10.3.x)
I am now shopping for a new internal HD of MAC G5; previous HD died. I have decided on a Western Digital and was about to order one when I became alarmed by the SATA II listings. Is there a difference between SATA and SATAII that I should be concerned about the comptability? Don't want to get it and find out it doesn't work!
I have tried a lot of online tutorials on how to enable PHP on a Mac and nothing seems to work. I'm hoping another 'Mac' person out there knows the secret to what I am missing. =)
Info: MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2 GHz), Mac OS X (10.6.8)
I am unable to get into my account info on the iTunes store to check my account info. I keep getting a message that it is unavailable and try later, but this has been going on for weeks.
I'm having a hard time trying to pin down what type of SATA connector the MBA rev C is using for its storage.
I found this DVnation page that lists 3 possible rev. C MBA ssd upgrades, but it is only mentioned that the connector type is Micro-SATA. Does this mean that the Intel X18 is as of rev C also suitable for the MBA (or any other regular 1.8" SATA ssd or hdd for that matter)?
All channels are jammed where I live and channel 14 is the one with the less overlapping. It is enabled on my AP but not on my airport card, how can I turn it on? I bought my Mac in Canada but I know live in Japan where channel 14 can be used.
first time to this site. I am looking into upgrading my pathetic 100 gig HDD that came in my MacBook pro and was wondering if any SATA 2.5 HDD will work? I am looking at a 500 gig 7200 RPM but the ones I find locally say they work PC only. Thanks in advance!
I found a MacBook Air Rev. A 1.6GHz/4200rpm 80GB for 1299 at bestbuy, brand new, factory sealed. One could argue that I'm OCD, and I just can't stand the sluggishness of the eye candy in Leopard and cover flow chopiness (it isn't that bad really, but it just irks me.) And yes, I've enabled QuartzGL, and no I can't stand the tearing that occurs when beamsync is disabled.
I have a Macbook white Early 09' (February) and apple says that it is a ATA Hardrive which I thought was ridiculous because almost all laptops have SATA Hardrives and some people on the forum talk about replacing there white macbook's hardrive which is a ATA Hardrive with a SATA Hardrive. I want to replace my 120GB ATA HD with a new one , but is it possible to replace a ATA HD WITH A SATA HD?, OR is there no difference?
with the new MacBook Pros (13" and 15" only) concerning SATA II and third party drives in many forums, such as the Apple Support forum and the OCZ forum:[URL] [URL]As I understand it, the first mid 2009 MacBook Pros supported SATA I speeds only. After many user complaints, Apple addressed the issue with a firmware update, but it seems the MBPs hardware has a problem with full SATA II speeds since many users reported issues with 3rd party drives after the firmware update.
i have a internal HD (WD CAVIAR) from an old windows computer that i decided i wanted to try to make as a EXT HD. so i got a USB to SATA connector that came with the power supply cable to the wall. so i plug in the connector in the HD then the usb into the computer then the power supply into the HD then the wall. then connector lights up and in system profiler it recognizes the usb to ATA bridge but disk utility doesnt recognize it. only once the HD showed up in disk utility but when i went to erase, a problem came up.
Im planning to get the MBA soon. But IF I were to buy the MBP should I go with the new advanced faster 128GB SSD or trusted slower and cheaper 500GB or 700GB SATA? What are the differences?Worth the $$$ of upgrade? I'm fine as long as it runs smoothe (as in not waiting for [URL] to load for 2 min.), and which one will LAST LONGER.
Looking at my system profiler, while there is nothing attached to it, it does report the presence of a SATA port. Is that correct? Can it ever be used with another internal drive?
To cut a long story short, I'n on my 4th June '09 MBP. Those darn SATA issues have caused freezing and beachballing on each of the MBPs.
I'm taking it back to Apple today for a full refund. I'm convinced this generation of MPS are all affected and I'm staying well clear.
I've been looking on the Refrub Store and this seems to fit my needs but will it also have the SATA issues?
Also, is there anything about this notebook/generation that I should be aware of? I want this to be the last MBP! (well, at least for a couple of years).
I have an early 2008 black macbook and would like to upgrade the HD to 1TB if poss, has anyone done this already or can you tell me which is the best HD to buy.
