msata connector for satellite p75 a7100

[warehouse553]

I recently bought a laptop from Toshiba that lists 3 hard drives in the BIOS but only has 2 bays. The original configurable P70-ABT2G22 came with an msata connector but mine does not. I was wondering why my BIOS lists 3 hard drives since it only came with two? Can I add an msata connector by soldering one where it should be? Will it work if I try it? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[USAFRet]

Can you solder on an mSATA port? Maybe.
Will it work? Almost certainly not.

 

[warehouse553]

Can you solder on an mSATA port? Maybe.
Will it work? Almost certainly not.

So I can never use this hard drive?

 

[Emerald]

there is either a mSATA port on the motherboard with a SSD card, or the SSD is soldered onto the motherboard.

you would have to open/take apart the laptop to get access to it.

 

[USAFRet]

Can you solder on an mSATA port? Maybe.
Will it work? Almost certainly not.

So I can never use this hard drive?

Highly doubtful. I can't say 100% no, but if it is not configured that way out of the box...99.9% no.

 

[Emerald]

how big are the drives listed?

 

[warehouse553]

how big are the drives listed?

There are 2 bays on the bottom. Drives 2 and 3 as they are listed in the BIOS are filled. One with SSD and the other with a mechanical one. Hard drive 1 is suppose to be the msata. It shows up in the BIOS but there is no connector on the motherboard. I opened it up and checked! The P75 is identical to the P70 but without the msata connector.

If the BIOS recognizes it, I don't understand why soldering a connector onto the motherboard to look like the P70 wouldn't work?

 

[USAFRet]

1. Find and buy the proper connector.
2. How are your surface mount soldering skills?

 

[warehouse553]

1. Find and buy the proper connector.
2. How are your surface mount soldering skills?

I don't know where to buy or find one and I am a computer novice, unfortunately. Aren't all msata connectors the same. My brother is very computer literate and I'm sure he could do it!

 

[Emerald]

do you have a temperature controllable soldering iron?

to much heat might damage other components.

also you easily run the risk of shortening out circuits since the traces are very close together.

 

[warehouse553]

do you have a temperature controllable soldering iron?

to much heat might damage other components.

also you easily run the risk of shortening out circuits since the traces are very close together.

No, I don't but can get one. Where can I get the connector?

 

[USAFRet]

1. Find and buy the proper connector.
2. How are your surface mount soldering skills?

I don't know where to buy or find one and I am a computer novice, unfortunately. Aren't all msata connectors the same. My brother is very computer literate and I'm sure he could do it!

"computer literate" does not automatically translate into being able to surface mount a new connector, and having the proper equipment to do it.

Additionally, does the whole motherboard chipset and cooling support a new device in that location?

Lastly...you would completely kill any warranty on this.

 

[warehouse553]

1. Find and buy the proper connector.
2. How are your surface mount soldering skills?

I don't know where to buy or find one and I am a computer novice, unfortunately. Aren't all msata connectors the same. My brother is very computer literate and I'm sure he could do it!

"computer literate" does not automatically translate into being able to surface mount a new connector, and having the proper equipment to do it.

Additionally, does the whole motherboard chipset and cooling support a new device in that location?

Lastly...you would completely kill any warranty on this.

I don't know, but if the p70 does, the p75 probably does as well. But basically, you're saying its not worth it? Right?

 

[USAFRet]

Modding laptop hardware to accept new hardware is almost certainly not worth it.

In addition, the potential speed difference between a regular SATA SSD and an mSATA SSD is not that much.

 

[warehouse553]

Modding laptop hardware to accept new hardware is almost certainly not worth it.

In addition, the potential speed difference between a regular SATA SSD and an mSATA SSD is not that much.

I bought this laptop because I wanted a 17 inch with a 1080 screen an msata and 2 hard drives. I feel cheated out of 1 hard drive and I can't find any thing else reasonably priced. I don't want a Qosmio or Alienware!

 

[USAFRet]

Well, it seems you bought one that does NOT support an mSATA drive.

 

[Emerald]

the mSATA connector is not accessible from the outside, you will have to open the laptop case.

also some motherboards don't use a physical mSATA connector, but mount the SSD chips directly onto the motherboard.

if this is the case on your motherboard, then that why you see a third drive.

 

[Emerald]

easiest way to test is disconnect you two drives and check if the first drive is still listed.

if it is, you have a mSATA; however, it might be on-board SSD which cannot be changed.

 

[warehouse553]

the mSATA connector is not accessible from the outside, you will have to open the laptop case.

also some motherboards don't use a physical mSATA connector, but mount the SSD chips directly onto the motherboard.

if this is the case on your motherboard, then that why you see a third drive.

I've opened it and it looks exactly like the p70 but without the connector. Toshiba should've included the connector, it wouldnt have costed that much! I guess I'll try to return it but I don't know of any laptops that meet my specifications under $1,000! Thanks anyway you guys!