WTB: FRU 40Y8725 2nd SATA HDD Adapter for Ultrabay Slim

[baraider]

Got a SSD as my main drive so I have the old drive I want to put in the drive bay.
My machine is T60-2623 D6U.

If you have a good condition OEM FRU 40Y8725 2nd SATA HDD Adapter for Ultrabay Slim, let me know.

[smw6230]

A quick and perhaps relevant piece of advise. If at all possible get a genuine IBM/Lenovo T60 SATA adapter and do not settle for a cheap knockoff. The knockoffs work as I had a PATA to SATA knockoff in my old A31 and the performance really suffered (chronic audio dropouts). Now that may well have resulted from the A31 PATA to SATA internal bridge but it was awful.

I got lucky on ebay and purchased a genuine T60 HDD adapter for $18 including shipping and it works flawlessly.

You can tell the genuine IBM adapter from the knockoffs by looking for a UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label atop the bridge on the adapter. If you see the underwriters approved label then you know that you've got a genuine article.

Good luck.

Having said that, here is a T60 SATA listed on ebay. It doesn't have the UL sticker but according to the seller it comes in the original box and contains the instructions. You might want to check in with the seller to make sure that its genuine if you are interested.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170632108175?ss ... 1423.l2649

[Radioguy]

It's a shame that the seller used pictures of the PATA version in an SATA adapter auction, but it's not uncommon; especially in auctions for a knockoff.

I agree that obtaining a genuine IBM/Lenovo version is best, but it is notoriously difficult to do at a reasonable price. If you are set on it, I would recommend limiting searches to sellers based in the USA. That guarantees nothing, but most knockoffs are directly sold by Asia-based sellers and this will cull a lot of them. Of the US sellers, you can weed out the domestically-based sellers who are also selling knockoffs by looking for similar auction listing styles to that of the Asia-based ones. Things like erroneous pictures are also a giveaway. While also not a guarantee, sellers with multiples of the item are more likely selling a knockoff. Often you will see multiple listings for the item from the same seller with slightly different minimum bids, and that's usually another indicator. Most sellers with the original part usually don't offer such high quantities spread over several listings.

Of course, also look at feedback in general. Sellers who sell knockoffs, usually sell a variety of them, and their varying quality is often reflected by poor feedback.

Now, all said, there are a few different aftermarket knockoff versions; including one or two that are quite similar to the original in quality. Identifying the better non-OEM versions from even lower quality ones is difficult, though. If time is not an issue, you can shop around, including contacting sellers, and eventually discern the wheat from the chaff. However, if you want to expend the least effort, then again, limit searches to the FRU and OPT numbers from US sellers, and still message the seller before buying. There's sometimes a legitimate US seller that may lackadaisically list one with no FRU, but include a real picture. Those are worth following up as well.

Altogether, these tips are applicable to a variety of parts auctions, but I find them especially so when it comes to fining these adapters.

[baraider]

Thanks for the info and tips guys. I have several Thinkpads so I bought my fair share of parts. I usually got them from a member here who has business servicing Thinkpad. I already emailed him but i figure with this hard to find part, my best bet is on ebay.

I'm sure someone here may have them laying around.