HP Blackbird 002 SATA II Backplate not upgradeable to SATA III? [ Edited ]

[3DFuzion]

I'm stuck with using an HP Blackbird 002 Has some of you didn't know the HP Blackbird 002 uses a SATA 2 back plate that allows the hard drives to simply slide into place like a server basket. So what's to gain for me if i upgrade to a new SATA III drive? Since I'm running on a SATA 2 platform will I see any boost since the hard drives will throttel down. I noticed 64mb cache etc. but really, is there some thing so amazing that I need one of these hard drives since I'm stuck with SATA 2 on the hp blackbird 002? I guess while I'm at it I'm wondering if that back plate if removed would allow for such conversion? In addition I know there's some lighting and cables powered to the back plate has shown in the example pictures below. I'm also interested in knowing if anyone has ever been able to mod their blackbird 002 besides using a  pci-ex1 sata 3 (6gb/s) card to power SATA 3? What are my real options?

 

[old_geekster]

3D, this is the problem with electronic components.  They are upgrading so fast that there is no way to keep up with them.  I don't believe that you would see very much performance boost from the new drive.  It would be backward compatible, however.

As for changing the backplate, I don't believe this would help, either.  The SATA ll is built into the motherboard.  It could not be changed.

[3DFuzion]

So what your saying is the the HP BLACKBIRD 002 uses a SATA 2 backplate only? Even if I change out the motherboard that supports SATA 3 due to the HP BLACKBIRD 002 SATA backplate only supporting sata 2? There for I'm simply stuck unless i purchase a brand new computer case? The HP BLACKBIRD 002 backplate is the problem then. What do you think?

[Big_Dave]

Hi 3DFuzion,

You will not see much of a performance improvement by just going to SATA III with some exceptions.  Perhaps a 10K or 15K SATA III hard drive might show some improvement.  The biggest performance boost with SATA III would be to use a SATA III SSD.

[3DFuzion]

Okay, thanks for the heads up. Moving forward I am waiting for the Intel X79 Chipset to come out. Once it hits the market I am planning to buy the latest Corsair computer case and liquid cooling kit unless I can some how use the Asetek OEM Stock liquid colling seup from the HP Blackbird 002. Has much has i like the HP Blackbird I still want to part ways with it because of how fast the technoloy is changing. I wish there was a hardware flash kit to flash the backplate to SATA III just to simply stay current. To bad no company can produce the aftermarket kit to do the trick.....

[GTODave]

wouldn't it be possible to remove the backplane, forgo the lighting or invert the backplane and locate it to the open space above it if you want to keep the lights, and just plug the drives directly to the motherboard? the cages may prove sturdy enough to hold the drives, especially ssd's and if not it shouldn't take too much effort to come up with a support mechanism for the back. remember mr. bean from the old boards?

[3DFuzion]

wow! nice find indeed. Well wonder how he was able to fix that HHD kit inside his bird. Just goes to show ones knowledge base can be on another tech savy level when it comes to mods and Mr. Bean got it down to a "T" Hope he posts on here and is watching. Also, I do not even enable any of the lights on the hp blackbird. The rear I/O, Stand LED are all off. Now if the power contacts use a fan then I need to think outside the box and need some suggestions but has for the case lights all are off on mine to help reduce transfer of heat..... Hope for some feedback keep it rolling in. Share, invent, think outside the box.....

[GTODave]

he had many posts on the old board but i can't seem to find anything anywhere for the old boards content. i guess hp wants to be sure it has no connection whatsoever to the gaming community anymore so it removed the content. here is a great  link  from mr. bean. there is alot of info from him out there. you should have no problem contacting him. sas cage part number is HP ML370 T05 SAS drive cage and drives HP 146gig 2.5" SAS harddrives. i think you can modify the BB  to meet your needs after seeing what mr. bean has accomplished.

[PhotoOtaku]

I'd pull the "backplane" (the PCB out) and run power and data cables to the drives which I would keep in there caddys.  

...and as you said if you need the LED lighting, you can always find a power source for those somewhere.

[porky133]

Yup, that's what I'm gonna do when I upgrade to X79 later this year. If you look around hard enough you may be able to find a SATAIII backplane but I'd think it more trouble than it's worth.