Thinkpads Forum

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.