What adapter or sled is everyone using to connect SSD drives?

[cbster]

I'm patiently awaiting the arrival of my new Mac Pro. I just received my OWC ssd that I'm going to use as my boot drive.

What adapter or special drive sled is everyone using to connect their ssd's?

[Cindori]

I used icydock. the one that came with my intel g2 ssd did not fit macpro sled design.

but really, the ssd drive can just be attached to the sled with tape or a string or anything, there is no moving parts so no worry.

[VirtualRain]

I used icydock. the one that came with my intel g2 ssd did not fit macpro sled design.

but really, the ssd drive can just be attached to the sled with tape or a string or anything, there is no moving parts so no worry.

:D love it! Although I use the IcyDock as well.

[sboerup]

I have mine just resting in the 5th drive bay, nothing special. But, you can "mount" the SSD in one of the 4 bays without a special sled. Its stays in fine, but I would add some tape or something else if you plan on moving it. You don't want to break the ports on either your drive, or worse, the mainboard.

[Ryan P]

I've been looking at this to install 4 SSD's in the optical bay. http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.display&product_id=188

Velcro would probably work just as well!

[barefeats]

Icy Dock from OWC is a good option. Or you can use custom sleds by MaxUpgrades and TransIntl designed to mount any 2.5" drive in the Mac Pro. There are also kits to mount SSDs and other notebook drives in the optical bay and PCIe bay.

[xgambit3]

OWC also has a nice bracket to mount the SSD in the extra optical bay. The link is here:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MM35T25/

[SnoFlo]

I just let the SSD rest in the 2nd optical bay, no worries.

[studiox]

I'm using two of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817991007 for my Intel SSD's

[strausd]

Mine will be in the optical bay, but I thought I would make it at least look good and get an OWC Multimount :)

[xgman]

Or just by a 3.5" version to start with.

[alphaod]

Or just by a 3.5" version to start with.

Except most SSDs are in the 2.5" formfactor? :confused:

[cured.not.dried]

i just used the brackets mine came with but got a sata male to female cable and wound it from port 2 to slot 3. you hafta use the 15+7 pin ones (power+data) or else the logic board won't recognize it.

i wish i had known about that kingston drive carrier from this guy's post:

I'm using two of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817991007 for my Intel SSD's

that looks perfect.

[glassbathroom]

I'm using an Icy Dock. It's a really neat bit of kit. Makes me feel better, as it was hanging by the connector for a day or so!!!

[ghostchild]

do these work with laptop hds if i wanted to put on into my mac pro?

[jessica.]

icydock from newegg.com < $20 for me. Only holds one 2.5" SSD.

[milbournosphere]

that looks perfect. Too bad they're out of stock right now:(

[Killerbob]

The Kingston Drive Carrier works perfectly. Watch out for the OCZ "adapter" which does not work in the MP sledge.

[Cynicalone]

I use this from MaxUpgrades…

http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.display&product_id=180

[philipma1957]

Too bad they're out of stock right now:(

I have velociraptor aluminum sleds


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136322&cm_re=velociraptor-_-22-136-322-_-Product


I have six extra pm me for details note: just the aluminum sled not the velociraptor. they are collecting dust. I can fit two in a small us post office flat rate box. they turn your 2.5 into a 3.5 no one makes anything sturdier then this. solid aluminum block

[Transporteur]

Too bad they're out of stock right now:(

The Kingston drive carrier is the exact same thing as the Icy Dock carrier, only the label is different. ;)

Icy Dock at Newegg: Hit me (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994064&cm_re=icy_dock_2.5_3.5-_-17-994-064-_-Product)!

BTW: I also use the Kingston carrier in my lower optical bay.

[xgman]

Except most SSDs are in the 2.5" formfactor? :confused:

but not all, here area few 3.5" models including some of the fastest vertex 2's:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/solid_state_drives/sata_3_5_solid_state_drives

http://www.corsair.com/products/ssd_performance/default.aspx

[waiwai]

The Kingston Drive Carrier works perfectly. Watch out for the OCZ "adapter" which does not work in the MP sledge.

hmmm that's odd... I have been reading on these forums that individuals have had success with the included 3.5" OCZ adaptor. Did you physically try one???

[silby101]

hmmm that's odd... I have been reading on these forums that individuals have had success with the included 3.5" OCZ adaptor. Did you physically try one???

Yup, I did.

Since I already had one SSD in my optical bay, I needed to figure out how to install a second SSD on the cheap. I've heard of people using tape to hold the SSD to the top, so that the connector doesn't have any stress on it, but tape? Come on.

Since the OCZ drive I got came with an adapter of sorts, I thought I'd give it a try. Problem that has already been stated, is that it mounts the SSD from the top, and adapts it for a side mount, but the Mac Pro mounts drives from the top, so what am I to do?

Since I had a HDD installed in the bay beside the one I was going to install the SSD into, I figured I could use it to support the SSD. So I came up with the following solution.


I installed the SSD free hanging onto the connectors, since the SSD is so light, there isn't much pressure on the connector, but enough that I wouldn't want it hanging there forever. It also isn't horizontal so the connection may come loose at some point.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040720.jpeg

Use the adapter and screws that came with the OCZ drive, and attach it to the drive next to the bay you want to install the SSD into.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040721.jpeg
There are already holes on the HDD that line up with the adapter, and they are threaded to the same pitch as the screws that come with the SSD, so I used those.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040722.jpeg
Slide the HDD partially into place, but it can't go the entire way because the SSD is hanging down.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040723.jpeg
Push the SSD up a little so that the adapter can slide under it. http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040724.jpeg
Then push the HDD all the way into place. You can see that the SSD is now sitting horizontal, and no pressure is being put onto the connectors. It is also impossible for it to fall down.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040725.jpeg
In order to put the Mac Pro HDD adapter back into place, you need to remove two of the screws from their rubber mounts, otherwise the screws get caught on the SSD
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040726.jpeg
Here it is, finished looking good from the outside, since all the Mac Pro HDD sleds are in place, even though one of them isn't directly being used.
http://members.shaw.ca/csilbern/P1040727.jpeg

[Spud1]

Silby - many thanks for your idea of re-using the "Standard" 2.5-3.5" adaptor - I have just done the exact same thing but using the samsung adaptor (its the same thing..just not powder coated in black ;) )

Has done the job perfectly and saves me spending £15 on an IcyBox - thanks!

[Flocarino]

I have these 2 in my Mac Pro, both from OWC and work perfectly:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/ADPTADRV/

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MMP35T25/

[silby101]

Silby - many thanks for your idea of re-using the "Standard" 2.5-3.5" adaptor - I have just done the exact same thing but using the samsung adaptor (its the same thing..just not powder coated in black ;) )

Has done the job perfectly and saves me spending £15 on an IcyBox - thanks!

NP. It also saves from having to spend $19.99 on more additional extra hardware that isn't necessary. :p

[CIA]

Sorry to resurrect this older thread, but the technique listed above to attach the sled that came with my Crucial M4 to the adjacent hard drive and just use it as a cradle for my SSD works like a charm in my 08 Mac Pro. Now i just wish the back pane was SATA III.