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[Guide] HP 6300 Pro / HP 8300 Elite - A 100 percent Working and Easily Affordable CustoMac

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2. Yes there is only one space for an internal 2.5" HD, if you want to keep the optical drive. As mentioned there is an mSATA slot, which is faster than a hard drive but not as fast as an SSD in the 2.5" slot.
phrozenpenguin, sorry for the dumb question, but since you seem to know these HP Elite 8300 Ultra Slim models so well, I thought I'd ask.

1. If I wanted to swap out the optical drive and use the included HD as a secondary drive, what type of cable is needed to supply both power/data to the secondary HD?

Here's an image of the internal guts of this ultra-slim with the optical drive and boot SSD removed with a close up on the connector:

nOzhHH7.jpg


G7gO8Eb.jpg


I have also found that with the included metal bracket that holds the SSD, it's actually possible to stack the SSD and HD right on top of each other with the included bracket, provided the HD is on top and facing with the data cable in the opposite direction (toward the back of the machine). Not sure if this is a good idea due to heat, but it fits and almost looks as if this was intended with a cutout of the metal for the top data port.

2. So in theory would it be possible to have the SSD connected as the boot drive normally, the HD connected as a secondary drive to the blue SATA port (which is normally used by the optical drive on the motherboard) and then the optical drive connected via the mSATA slot via an adapter?

Just thought it would be cool to have the SSD, HD, and Optical Drive all connected at the same time if possible. Thanks for any info.
 
phrozenpenguin, sorry for the dumb question, but since you seem to know these HP Elite 8300 Ultra Slim models so well, I thought I'd ask.

1. If I wanted to swap out the optical drive and use the included HD as a secondary drive, what type of cable is needed to supply both power/data to the secondary HD?

Here's an image of the internal guts of this ultra-slim with the optical drive and boot SSD removed with a close up on the connector:

nOzhHH7.jpg


G7gO8Eb.jpg


I have also found that with the included metal bracket that holds the SSD, it's actually possible to stack the SSD and HD right on top of each other with the included bracket, provided the HD is on top and facing with the data cable in the opposite direction (toward the back of the machine). Not sure if this is a good idea due to heat, but it fits and almost looks as if this was intended with a cutout of the metal for the top data port.

2. So in theory would it be possible to have the SSD connected as the boot drive normally, the HD connected as a secondary drive to the blue SATA port (which is normally used by the optical drive on the motherboard) and then the optical drive connected via the mSATA slot via an adapter?

Just thought it would be cool to have the SSD, HD, and Optical Drive all connected at the same time if possible. Thanks for any info.

Sorry for the delayed response. I hadn't really looked at that cable before, but the kind of adaptor you need would probably be this one. Just be careful with the genders and also I imagine it will only supply 5v so only suitable for a 2.5" drive.

I don't have any 2.5" drives in mine so can't see what you are looking at regarding the space.

In theory that would be possible to have all three connected....but why do you need an optical drive? Genuine question, I haven't used one in years and the only reason they are still in my 8300's is that I don't have blanking plates for them! I do have an external USB drive buried in the drawer for the odd occasion.

By far the easiest option for three drives is to have a 2.5" mechanical in the caddy, a mSATA SSD (still quick, just not as quick as it could be) in the mSATA slot and keep the optical. I cannot confirm what speed the SATA slot for the DVD runs at, so it might also be the same as the mSATA slot..in which case you would just get an mSATA to SATA adaptor and not need the adaptor linked above!

For me, I run the mSATA SSD, nothing in the caddy, and the optical drive not used. I get my big files off NAS or internet, and it is mainly an office box.

You can also replace the fan's if you want to make it a bit quieter :)
 
Sorry for the delayed response. I hadn't really looked at that cable before, but the kind of adaptor you need would probably be this one. Just be careful with the genders and also I imagine it will only supply 5v so only suitable for a 2.5" drive.

I don't have any 2.5" drives in mine so can't see what you are looking at regarding the space.

In theory that would be possible to have all three connected....but why do you need an optical drive? Genuine question, I haven't used one in years and the only reason they are still in my 8300's is that I don't have blanking plates for them! I do have an external USB drive buried in the drawer for the odd occasion.

By far the easiest option for three drives is to have a 2.5" mechanical in the caddy, a mSATA SSD (still quick, just not as quick as it could be) in the mSATA slot and keep the optical. I cannot confirm what speed the SATA slot for the DVD runs at, so it might also be the same as the mSATA slot..in which case you would just get an mSATA to SATA adaptor and not need the adaptor linked above!

For me, I run the mSATA SSD, nothing in the caddy, and the optical drive not used. I get my big files off NAS or internet, and it is mainly an office box.

You can also replace the fan's if you want to make it a bit quieter :)
Thank you so much for your reply and for your time in seeking out an adapter. It's a bit of an odd cable to me, and I think that adapter you selected would work perfectly. I double-checked the adapter and the genders seem to work perfectly. Just ordered.

You're exactly right. I really don't need the optical drive at all, but I just figured since it was in there and I had an empty mSATA slot it might be worth having all three connected.

I'll get that adapter, disconnect the optical drive cable and not use it, keep the SSD as-is via the caddy connection for maximum speed as the boot drive, and then stack the 2.5" HD on top of the SSD within that caddy bracket and connect it with via the optical cable drive + adapter. I'll see how/if it works, and that way if I ever am in dire need of an optical drive, it's I can just pop off the top of the case, and connect it (and disconnect the HD after a shutdown.)

Thanks again for your detailed reply and info. Very appreciated.
 
I wonder how i can configure in Clover for using the Elite 8300 with 1050 Ti for dual or triple moniter use. I have followed the guide for setting up everything and it work perfectly with 1 monitor right now.
 
I wonder how i can configure in Clover for using the Elite 8300 with 1050 Ti for dual or triple moniter use. I have followed the guide for setting up everything and it work perfectly with 1 monitor right now.
Two monitors should work without doing anything else. Not sure if three will work though.
 
I was re-reading the setup guide in anticipation of updating my bios to 3.06. While the guide states that bios 2.99a is required for Sierra or High Sierra, I've been running bios k01 v02.90 just fine. I initially installed El Capitan in 2016, then updated to Sierra about a year ago (haven't made the jump to HS yet.)

I don't see anything in particular in the change notes for 2.98/2.99 that would seem to affect me.

Just an FYI.
 
I was re-reading the setup guide in anticipation of updating my bios to 3.06. While the guide states that bios 2.99a is required for Sierra or High Sierra, I've been running bios k01 v02.90 just fine. I initially installed El Capitan in 2016, then updated to Sierra about a year ago (haven't made the jump to HS yet.)

I don't see anything in particular in the change notes for 2.98/2.99 that would seem to affect me.

Just an FYI.
You might want to flash to the newest 3.06 for the spectre and meltdown patches it includes. The guide does say that if you are at least on 2.83 that the install will work but anything lower than that should be flashed to the 2.99 revision.

Screen_Shot_2.jpg
 
I hadn't really looked at that cable before, but the kind of adaptor you need would probably be this one.
phrozenpenguin, just wanted to follow up on this and give you a HUGE thank you for the heads up about that adapter.
It works like a charm! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

For testing purposes, I removed the metal caddy, and just sat the SSD in the main caddy slot as the boot drive, and then used that cheap adapter to connect the cable that perviously was going to the optical drive, and now have it connected to the 750GB mechanical HD that came with the computer. Works perfectly! Rebooted and both drive show up. Here's the testing setup with the adapter:

1IefPtY.jpg


I'll find a way to stack the two drives in the caddy space so that the optional drive will physically on top (just disconnected) and if I ever needed it (doubtful) I'll just turn that screw, open the box, and re-connect it without the adapter.

If I just take out the metal caddy entirely, and connect everything, it all stacks nicely even with the optical drive back in place. Here's a top view with the SSD, HD, and Optical drive (disconnected) all in place:

tj3A0Nl.jpg


I could secure it with zip ties or something, but only the SSD has a chance of getting disconnected. It's likely fine. Love having options, and this is a really nice setup for cheap.

Thanks again for your help and pointing me in the direction of that adapter. Much appreciated.
 
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@HackaShaq You should remove that AMD graphics card from the MXM slot. Those draw a good amount of power even at idle. Great to see the adapter works for your mechanical 2.5" drive.
 
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