Can I switch ODD to SSD in my HP Pavilion 15 n070sw

[hubithebubi]

Hello. English is not my native language, so please be patient 🙂

I have HP Pavilion 15 n070sw (no longer under warranty)

I would like to switch my Optical Disc Drive to SSD. 

How does it look from the technical side - what do I have to pay attention to in order to be compatible with my hardware? What disk should I choose at all? I thought about the 256 GB capacity (they are probably also 240 GB - also ok), with read and write about 500 MB/s and 500 MB/s. However, the write may be slower to make a price off, but the 240 GB is the minimum, I guess.

Price up to $100.

Thanks in advance,

Hubert.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Let's discuss a bit before you plunge in here. Here's your Service manual:

Manual

Yes you can replace the optical drive with a caddy that will hold a 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD. 

Your optical drive is 9.5 mm so you need one like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Zheino-Aluminum-Adapter-Universal-DVD-ROM/dp/B01B77AXGA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qi...

But the problem is that the port where the DVD drive connects to the motherboard is slow...it is a lower SATA version so if you spend money to have a fast SSD it is wasted by attaching it to a slow port. And even more importantly you cannot boot from a disk riding shotgun out on the optical port. So that means you can't install Windows on it and you will essentially have an expensive place to store your movies and your mp3s which a slower cheaper hard drive could do just as well. 

No, the only way this makes any sense is to open it up and put the SSD in the main chassis where the hard drive is now and this is the job most people are trying to avoid who think about an SSD in an optical caddy. Seems so easy and solves all the problems, right? If only. Put the original hard drive in the optical caddy and use it for storage is the way to go to keep the storage capacity. 

Also we are not selling anything so no need to haggle price with us. $100 is going to be tight to get a 240-256 gig SSD plus an optical caddy. Figure more like $135. 

Anyway, we can walk you through this. Access to the hard drive bay is not super simple on your machine but can be done if approached carefully. Pages 57-71 of the Manual will give you an idea what is involved and there are instruction videos out there, too. 

Post back with any questions and please Accept as Solution if this is the answer you needed, even if not the one you wanted. 

[hubithebubi]

Thank you for your answer.

Ok, you convinced me to switch my HDD with SSD and connect HDD to my ODD slot.

So in this case, I need an optical caddy for my HDD. Which model should I choose? Just search for any SATA 9.5 mm?

[Huffer]

I linked you to one. Try to get one that has a switch inside the kill the "tray open" signal to the computer. HPs really need to have that shut off. You are going to have to transplant the little mounting bracket on the back of the DVD drive over to the caddy and then also the faceplate. Not hard to do. Where do you live (country) and we can help you locate a good SSD and a good caddy and let us know if you need the video for opening up the laptop. 

[hubithebubi]

I'm from Poland. I would be grateful for a video!

[Huffer]

This is the 15-n200 model but so similar it is very helpful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9x1lcuNtfU