Mac mini: How to solve IDE device ID address conflict (master/slave setting)?

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I have put a small SATA SSD along with a SATA-IDE bridge adaptor inside a Mac mini G4. Now it does not recognize the optical drive sharing the same Mac's IDE host any more. Obviously the SATA-IDE bridge is not configured to properly support Cable Select to set Device ID1 (slave). In the Mac mini the optical drive is set to device ID0 (master), usually. Having the SSD set to appear as device ID0 (master) as well causes the system to ignore the optical drive. On the SATA-IDE bridge adaptor I cut everything that could connect the device ID setting input to ground (pin 28 of the IDE pins as well as pin33 of the JM20330 bridge chip). The device still works and still appears as device ID0 (master). The machine boots lightning fast, but the optical drive remains unusable. At this point I am stuck. Might it be appropriate to set the optical drive to device ID1 (slave)? Could somebody share information on how to appropriately hack the Mac mini's interconnect board that plugs both drives into the mainboard? Information on setting the optical drive itself from Cable Select mode to a fixed ID1 (slave) would be welcome, also.

 

[trag]

Slave/Master setting information is going to be specific to your drive.  On full size drives there's usually a jumper.   However, I bet on these "laptop" models, because they have the compact connector, that there's no separate jumper for Master/Slave and the setting is included in the connector.  Which would mean that the Interconnect board's "wiring" is probably setting it.

I think I would look for a pinout for that connector.    It should identify which pin is used to tell the drive to configure as master/slave, and from there you can trace the pin on the interconnect board and see if there's a resistor to be moved/removed.

 

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Hi, thank you for your reply! The interconnect board appears to be a multilayer PCB with very tiny traces. The JAE KX14-50K11D connector from the interconnect board to the optical drive is surface mounted. I would have to disconnect pin 47 of the JAE connector to set the optical drive to ID1 (slave), as long as it is internally set to Cable Select mode. However, I would need a microscope to do the soldering and check for a proper result, which I do not have at hand. Also, the PCB in the optical drive itself is not that easily to access. Luckily, in one of my drawers I found an adapter from 44 pin IDE to SATA with soldering pads to appropriately code the IDE device ID of the bridge chip. Now I ordered a simple mechanical adaptor to connect the IDE-SATA bridge adaptor to the micro SATA SSD. I will try to swap the currently used IDE-mSATA bridge connector by the combo of a properly ID coded IDE-SATA adaptor plus SATA-mSATA adaptor. Results will be posted.

P.S.: A very good compilation of basic information and pinout tables for the different flavours of IDE interfaces can be found in German language on Mike's webpages.

 

[trag]

I look forward to reading how it all turns out, or about any progress.

 

[register]

O. K., now I have got the SATA-mSATA adaptor and stacked it with the IDE-SATA bridge adaptor in its factory set state of »cable select« mode. With this combination the Mac mini correctetly recognizes the mSATA SSD as device ID1 and the optical drive as device ID0. However, one problem solved, another arises: The set of mSATA SSD with attached adaptors will not fit into the fan frame / air duct which usually holds the HDD with a few screws you only can reach after the fan has been removed .

The testing has been performed without the fan. Accordingly, the G4 will run only until the heat spreader becomes warm and the CPU exceeds the maximum allowed temperature. It will not overheat, but instead switch off iteself automatically. At least this behaviour leaves enough time to boot and check the system information on ATA attached devices. Everything is operational, still. Now I will wait for another, shorter mSATA-SATA adaptor to arrive. I will keep you informed on further progress.

 

[trag]

You might try the Sintech ST6008C.    I have not tried it, but I've had good luck with Sintech adapters in the past.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SINTECH-Mini-SATA-mSATA-SSD-to-44pin-IDE-adapter-with-case-as-2-5-HDD-ST6008C-/222225769059

A little cheaper from Sintech, but I'm not sure how shipping would work out:

http://eshop.sintech.cn/mini-sata-msata-ssd-to-44pin-ide-adapter-with-case-p-1018.html

Oh, I guess you might want to email Sintech and ask how the adapter handles Master/Slave.

Just to preserve info;  if the adapter uses a Marvel 88SA8052, it looks like pins 47 & 48 are CS_N1, CS_N0.   I'm not certain whether those are Cable Select (which we want) or Chip Select, which would be useless to us...  Ah, heck, here's the pinout image:

 

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Hello, thank you for your support! Currently I am waiting for the ordered short adapter to arrive. I will post any results after my next attempt to fix the machine.