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OWC DIY Kit (Data Doubler + SSD) and SuperSlim USB 2.0 External Enclosure Review

Storage/SSD by stefan @ 2012-10-18

The OWC DIY Kit is compatible with the latest Mid-2012 non-Retina Macbook Pros and helps us install an additional disk drive by replacing the Apple SuperDrive. The kit also incorporates a high-performance SSD from the same manufacturer (SandForce powered) and for $39.99 extra we can also have the Super Slim USB 2.0 Enclosure for the removed SuperDrive.

OWC SuperSlim Enclosure Installation Part I

OWC also supplies with the kit the Value Line SuperSlim enclosure; this one also comes in a separate cardboard box, with a photo of the product on the top:

By reading further on the box, we can learn of the compatible disk drive units that can be installed; also here we'll get to see the logos of the compatible platforms:

On one of the package sides, we get to see the full list of Specifications, the Operating Environment conditions, along with the System Requirements and Package Contents:

The bottom side of the box will show an additional photo of the product which describes the ports, along with a small product description:

The enclosure is kept fixed inside with foam material:

Besides the main product, we will also find inside an USB 2.0 cable, necessary mounting screws and a small Assembly Guide:

The Assembly guide tells us the exact steps that we must follow for a successful installation:

The USB enclosure is all-black, which in our opinion gives it a more professional look than the one from MCE:

The front comes with the slot loading opening:

On the back side if the enclosure, we will find the DC-IN and USB ports:

Comment from jmke @ 2012/10/18

bit of a markup for the Mac Superslim drive swap, as most SSD are now sub $1 per GB, still a nice kit, much more useful than a DVD drive.

Excellent installation pictures and benchmarks.

Can you use this drive as boot drive for Mac OS X? (while in the new superslim enclosure) ? or do you need to swap the internal HDD?
the Sata speed is 3Gbps on the DVD port?

Comment from Stefan Mileschin @ 2012/10/18

Of course you can use the drive as bootable for OS X. This is the best use for it basically in my opinion. My benchmarks done in OS X show SATA 6Gbps speeds for the SuperDrive bay interface.

Comment from jmke @ 2012/10/18

that's pretty awesome, most OEM systems have no 6Gbps for their DVD drives

Comment from Stefan Mileschin @ 2012/10/18

From what I have read, 6Gbps works well since the 2011 Late versions of Macbook Pro on the SuperDrive interface. This is why Mac Pro Unibody is still awesome compared to Retina or Air regarding possible internal storage space

Comment from jmke @ 2012/10/23

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ifty-minidrive

:-)

64Gb extra storage for cheap!

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