macdan
I'd noticed the interface board on Apple's 6x and 8x CD drives have the same pinout as do 2.5" HDs, and so theorized that with a right-angle adapter one could readily convert either of those EBMs into a HD EBM. I bought some right-angle headers from digikey (part number S2204-25-ND.) The pins are rather flimsy as these are intended to soldered to a PCB and not for this sort of duty. However they're strong enough to make good contact inside the IF board's connector. Once in place I don't think their flimsy-ness should be an issue. Thusly connected an old 1.3 GB PB drive worked just as I hoped it would. It shows up on ATA bus 4 ID 0, is mountable and bootable. It's not perfect however . . . On any start/restart I get a message saying there's a problem with the EBM HD and it doesn't auto-mount. Mounted using Drive Setup the drive then works fine anyway. The complaint might just be peculiar to my test setup and/or HD and/or driver (Drive Setup 2.0.7.) Weird since it boots OK. It sleep-swaps in and out (when not the startup disk of course) apparently without issue (unmounting the volume before sleep), and I was able to successfully hot-swap it out (unmounting the volume first) but hot swapping it in caused problems. It appeared as a PC card to the system, and afterwards the drive's directories were irrevocably damaged. Also, if I started up the 'Book without the HD EBM in place, slept it, inserted the HD EBM and then awoke, the 'Book couldn't see anything on the EB bus at all. The HD didn't even power/spin up suggesting the bay isn't powered if no device is found on startup.
Anyway, here's some pics, starting with a 6x if board and CD drive: |
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So here's what I put together, a 12.5mm high drive, a right-angle adapter and the 6x drive's interface board: |
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Here I've got the adapter attached to the IF board, and then those to the HD: |
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And here's the lot stuffed into the EBM shell, hot-melt-glued into place (hot-damn I love hot-melt glue!! :-) These show my rough prototype, but face (the old CD's face?) and top are easily added (using more hot-melt glue of course!!) |
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Based on where the right-angle adapter placed my HD I can only use 12.5mm or less thick drives. That's not a problem as any drive in which I'd be interested will be no thicker. |
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2004.01.17 - original page