Thinking of adding an OWC Data Doubler with SSD to my early 2009 17" MBP…

This is a LIST of questions (thank you (!) for any intrepid techie's patience, in advance). I've searched the web thouroughly, and found conflicting advice, and not much hard evidence. Also, many of the references I found were to different MBP models, so maybe not applicable to my own.

I own a 17" early 2009 unibody MBP 2.93 GHz (model 5,2), running Mountain Lion, fully software updated, with 8GB RAM and a 7200 rpm 750GB HDD.

I am considering adding one of OWC's Data Doublers with a SSD to it, and putting my optical drive in an external enclosure.


1) What performance gains would one expect from one of your 3G drives in an older model like the 2009 MBP?

2) I understand that using a 6G SSD in a 2009 MBP actually reduces throughput to 1.5 Gbit, which is below the laptop's theoretical SATA II 3 Gbit capability. Will using one of OWC's 3G drives in my laptop allow it to achieve the 3 Gbit "link", and "negotiated link", speeds that I see it achieving with my current HDD?

3) Should the SSD be placed in the main hard drive bay of the laptop, or will 3G speeds also be realized in the optical bay location?

4) If I must place the SSD in the hard drive bay, is there any risk (heating, shock, etc) to my platter hard drive, which I would put in the optical bay position?

5) Does anyone know of any reliable battery life figures reflecting running both a SSD and a platter HDD in a MBP (as opposed to original configuration of HDD / optical drive)?

6) I have read stories of people losing SSD speed over time (months, years). Is that widely the case, and have any of you had that experience with OWC's SSD's?

7) I have read conflicting reports of whether or not TRIM and GC work constructively, or destructively, with each other. What should one do for a 3G OWC SSD in a 2009 MBP?

I know this is a long list of questions, and I appreciate any and all help I can get!

J