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Aluminum Unibody MacBook Q&A - Updated May 15, 2017
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Is it possible to add a second internal hard drive or SSD to a "Unibody" MacBook? If so, how?
As shipped, the "Unibody" Aluminum 13-Inch MacBook models -- the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) and "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Unibody) -- are not designed to accommodate a second internal hard drive or SSD.
In fact, you have to go all the way back to the PowerBook G3 series to find Apple notebooks designed with a second "swappable bay" that could be used to hold a second hard drive, a removable storage drive (floppy, Zip, optical, etc), or even a second battery.
However, for those who do not use the optical drive that much and are happy to use an external one when it is needed, it is possible, even straightforward, to replace the internal optical drive in the "Unibody" MacBook with a hard drive or SSD. It simply involves purchasing an upgrade kit and the right hardware.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Aluminum Unibody MacBook -- MacBook5,1)
Identification Help
The Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook is the only Apple notebook made from an aluminum case that says "MacBook" on the lower display bezel and that has an optical drive so it is pretty easy to spot.
However, confirming identifiers still is smart to ensure that you will buy compatible parts.
These Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook models can be collectively identified externally by the 2254 EMC Number in tiny print on the bottom of the notebook toward the hinge and in software by the MacBook5,1 Model Identifier.
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify these systems by their Serial Numbers and more.
Additional details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
Secondary Storage Upgrade Kit & Instructions
The easiest way to swap out the optical drive with a second hard drive or an SSD is to use a bracket like the Data Doubler from site sponsor Other World Computing.
The Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook can support any 9.5mm tall 2.5" SATA hard drive or SSD. However, for optimal performance, it is important to use a SATA 2.0 (3 Gb/s) drive as a faster SATA 3.0 (6 Gb/s) drive only will run at SATA 1.0 (1.5 Gb/s) in this model.
For storage compatibility details for each Mac, including all MacBook models, refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Storage Upgrade Compatibility Guide.
OWC provides this helpful video that covers the entire installation procedure:
After watching the video, you should be able to determine whether or not this is an upgrade you would feel comfortable performing yourself or if you would prefer to hire a professional.
In addition to the Data Doubler, OWC sells a wide variety of hard drives and SSDs and external optical drives compatible with this MacBook.
Also see:
- How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Unibody" MacBook? How much RAM of what type does it support?
- How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Unibody" MacBook?
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