Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

X230/X240 series specific matters only
Post Reply
Message
Author
blue2
Freshman Member
Posts: 100
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:55 am
Location: Paris, France

Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#1 Post by blue2 » Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:44 am

I'm moving from an X61 to an X220/X230. I realize that the Ultrabases are different. But as the device slot is the same form factor, I wonder about device compatibility, either forwards or backwards.

Will the burners (ultrabay slim) from my Ultrabay X6 work in the Ultrabase Series 3?

Will the serial ultrabay slim burners that will come with my Ultrabay Series 3 work in the Ultrabay X6 ?

What confuses me about this is that the 2nd HDD Adaptor that I use in the Ultrabay X6 for adding a secondary drive is marked as "Serial ATA".

Many thanks to whomever can clear up this confusion.

RealBlackStuff
Admin
Admin
Posts: 17485
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
Contact:

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:16 am

Not compatible.
X6 ultrabay uses PATA CD/DVD drives with old-fashioned PATA connectors.
The X220/X230 generation has SATA drives with SATA connectors.

The HD adapters (CD-drive size/shape) in X6 had an external PATA connector, with in internal SATA connector for SATA drives.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.

theterminator93
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 770
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:45 pm
Location: Avon Lake, Ohio, United States

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#3 Post by theterminator93 » Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:18 am

The drives will not interchange. Starting with the models immediately after the *61 series the ultrabay switched from PATA to SATA at that time.

However - the ultrabay hard drive adapters accept a SATA disk, so you CAN re-use the hard drive, but you'll need to acquire a SATA ultrabay adapter (SATA in the regard that the interface between the bay and the host is SATA - not because it allows use of a SATA disk, which it does).

Photo showing different connections here: http://www.newmodeus.com/pics/OBHD/OBHD ... mpare2.jpg
Daily: W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T420 i7-2640M·NVS 4200m·IPS FHD | X220 i7-2640M | T601F T9900·NVS 140M·IPS UXGA
Wife's: T61p T9500·2010 FX570m·WUXGA | X220T i7-2640M
Others: T400·61p·61·60·43·42p|X41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote|380D|365XD|701C|755C

blue2
Freshman Member
Posts: 100
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:55 am
Location: Paris, France

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#4 Post by blue2 » Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:08 am

Thank you both for that clarification.

So the burners from each pertain just to that particular Ultrabay.

Now regarding secondary hard drives in the Ultrabay Series 3, the secondary HDs WILL work but the 2nd HDD Adaptor marked "Serial ATA" will NOT work due to the external connector being different? Do either of you happen to know the P.N. for the 2nd HDD Adaptor required in the Series 3? Is it just this one, P.N. 43N3412, or will others work?
Last edited by blue2 on Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

axur-delmeria
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1269
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#5 Post by axur-delmeria » Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:17 am

According to Thinkwiki, P/N 43N3412 is correct as you mentioned, but the following FRUs are alternate names and are compatible:

ASM P/N: 43N3414, FRU P/N: 43N3415
ASM P/N: 43N3428, FRU P/N: 43N3429
Daily driver: X220 4291-P79 i5-2520M

In reserve: X61 T7500, X60 T2300
In pieces: X60s CS U1300 [board only], two retired but working X61Ts
RIP: 760XD 9546-U9E

blue2
Freshman Member
Posts: 100
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:55 am
Location: Paris, France

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#6 Post by blue2 » Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:11 am

Thank you for those additional P.N.s.

The Ebay listings in Europe have the caddy, REFURBISHED at between 75 - 100 EUR. Just a little exaggerated.

While 3rd party parts are listed at 8 - 10 EUR. Anyone have any experience with a reputable 3rd party part? Either this one http://www.ebay.fr/itm/2nd-SATA-Hard-Dr ... xyzTJTjfHC or this one http://www.ebay.fr/itm/2nd-SATA-HDD-SSD ... SwD0lUbNF3

dr_st
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 6646
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:20 am

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#7 Post by dr_st » Thu Nov 26, 2015 3:42 pm

I've used some of these cheap knock-off ones, and they worked fine. I didn't use them extensively, though, nor for a long period of time.
Current: X220 4291-4BG, T410 2537-R46, T60 1952-F76, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G
Collectibles: T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X32 (IPS Screen)
Retired: X61 7673-V2V, A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Past: Z61t 9440-A23, T60 2623-D3U, X32 2884-M5U

blue2
Freshman Member
Posts: 100
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:55 am
Location: Paris, France

Re: Ultrabay Series 3 from Ultrabay X6 - devices forward or backward compatible ?

#8 Post by blue2 » Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:04 pm

Thank you for that. I think these third party products are worth a shot. I was just surprised to see the Lenovo parts listed to be so expensive. I can't imagine them to be rare and I remember selling my old Ultrabay 2nd HDD adaptors for peanuts once new Ultrabay standards came out.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad X230 and later Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests