How To: Make your own Mac Pro SSD adapter for $5 or less.

[HXGuy]

Finally got one of my SSD's in yesterday (#2 coming tomorrow) and I've been searching for a solution to mount the SSD in the Mac Pro HDD Sled. Looked online and on here...saw there are adapters you can but for $25+, and since I need two...didn't really feel like shelling out $50+.

So...came up with my own solution which I think should work very well and doesn't look all that bad in my opinion...and then did a quick DIY for anyone else looking to install an SSD.

Enjoy and let me know what you think. www.macprossdinstall.com

[johnnymg]

Hot glue is much cheaper and makes for a cleaner install.

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by johnnymg

Hot glue is much cheaper and makes for a cleaner install.

But how many people have a hot glue gun handy? And do you still use a CD for that or what do you use for a mounting plate?

Plus, how easy is it to remove the SSD from the sled if you need to change it out?

[HXGuy]

Had to redo the whole site as it wasn't showing up properly in my browsers.
Can you guys let me know if it shows up ok on your end and what browser you are using?

http://www.macprossdinstall.com/Mac_...D_Install.html

[tobyg]

I actually bought one of the adapters from OWC. I don't like it very much. It does the job, but barely. The latch on the back of the Mac doesn't shut all of the way, and you can see the little pin that's supposed to lock the drive cages in place doesn't fit in just right.

Your way looks very interesting. However, i worry about tape + heat. I suggest you check on it every couple of days initially to make sure the tape hasn't loosened up because of the heat.

However, your site did give me an idea for a different way to accomplish this. Shouldn't cost much more money, but would require more tools and more time. I'm going to try it out soon.

[ActionableMango]

First of all, kudos for the DIY approach. $25 for a simple size adapter is an outrage frankly, especially since several of them seem to have problems. It's why I bought 3.5" SSDs in the first place.

HOWEVER...

I feel like that tape will loosen, particularly where it "curves" between the right edge of the SSD and the right edge of the CD.

Also, in my experience masking tape often shreds and leaves behind horrible residue if you leave it on too long. It is meant for temporarily masking a surface to protect it from paint, not for long-term mounting of electronics in a warm to hot environment.

[HXGuy]

Im actually looking at redoing this...still using the CD but drilling holes and actually screwing it down. I am a bit concerned about the tape as well.

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by HXGuy

Im actually looking at redoing this...still using the CD but drilling holes and actually screwing it down. I am a bit concerned about the tape as well.

do the cd drilling and dump the tape do it quickly that tape will stick like a mo fo

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by philipma1957

do the cd drilling and dump the tape do it quickly that tape will stick like a mo fo

Yea, Ill work on it later today. The tape says it has a 14 day removal period so it should be ok.

[HXGuy]

Ok done...much cleaner right?



Write up coming up shortly.

[AlphaDogg]

Originally Posted by HXGuy

Ok done...much cleaner right?

Image

Write up coming up shortly.

That looks a hell of a lot better!

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by AlphaDogg

That looks a hell of a lot better!

The catch with this setup is that there are screws on only one side, for both the CD-to-sled and the SSD-to-CD because as you can see in the picture, the screws protrude past the CD surface and where the SSD is mounded flush, you can't use screws. I feel confident about it though as the SSD will support themselves just by the connector, it's just not the way you want to go because of gravity but this gives it plenty of support. I'm happy with how it came out.

[CFoss]

Why risk damaging the drives when you can spend $10 more for a proper enclosure? You've all ready spent around the same amount.

The second solution looks a little decent... but I would still go with a proper solution.

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by CFoss

Why risk damaging the drives when you can spend $10 more for a proper enclosure? You've all ready spent around the same amount.

The second solution looks a little decent... but I would still go with a proper solution.

Actually I spent $3 total for the tape. The cheapest solution I found was for $15/each and I need two.

It's really not about the money though, I actually ordered a couple Icy Dock adapters anyway anyway, but I like tinkering with stuff and doing DIYs so this was a fun little project.

[Einz]

What size is Apple's SSD (3.5 or 2.5) in a BTO Mac Pro?

[ActionableMango]

Much better. I'm glad you got rid of the masking tape.

[milbournosphere]

I'm glad that works for you, but seeing that SSDs are still so expensive, I'll just spend the extra 20 bucks and get a proper sled from OWC. I get the feeling that if that plastic ever fails, it won't go well for the hard drive (and possibly the sata connector on the logic board).

[tobyg]

I went to Home Depot and bought this.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1&ddkey=Search

I spent some time cutting, drilling, bending. What I came up with works, but doesn't look too pretty. I spent about an hour on it, and had I spent more time and used real tools (vs just using the side of my desk to make the bends, without even really measuring, I just eyeballed it) it could probably come out really nice. I have 9 more sheets, so I can have another go at it one day when I get bored.

Oh and it fits real well. Slides right in, no resistance or anything when going into the SATA connector. For eyeballing it, it lines up perfectly. So for that I'm happy.

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by milbournosphere

I'm glad that works for you, but seeing that SSDs are still so expensive, I'll just spend the extra 20 bucks and get a proper sled from OWC. I get the feeling that if that plastic ever fails, it won't go well for the hard drive (and possibly the sata connector on the logic board).

I still ended up ordering a couple of these...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z2QDNE

$29 for two, good price and from the comments, seems to work well with the Mac Pro.

[Transporteur]

Originally Posted by HXGuy

I still ended up ordering a couple of these...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z2QDNE

$29 for two, good price and from the comments, seems to work well with the Mac Pro.

Looks identical to the Icy Dock or Kingston SSD carrier, which is what I use since day one. Definitely recommended for the 3.5" drive sleds. For the ODD bay, there are other options for multiple SSDs.

[HXGuy]

Originally Posted by Transporteur

Looks identical to the Icy Dock or Kingston SSD carrier, which is what I use since day one. Definitely recommended for the 3.5" drive sleds. For the ODD bay, there are other options for multiple SSDs.

It is the Icy Dock actually, same part number.

[milbournosphere]

Originally Posted by HXGuy

I still ended up ordering a couple of these...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z2QDNE

$29 for two, good price and from the comments, seems to work well with the Mac Pro.

I'm thinking that I'll probably go with a set of traditional brackets and mount my SSD in the lower optical bay. I just came across two matching WD greens, so my two remaining drive bays are now spoken for. I don't use the the lower optical bay, so I'll just head down to frys and pick up some of those cheap side brackets for 5 bucks

[cjgonzales1900]

I am planing on buying a SSD from either OWC or OCZ. I currently own a OWC 120GB SSD. I want to get either the 40-60gb range for the OS and a few files. My question is will the OCZ 3.5" adapter work to mount the 2.5" SSD in the second optical bay? has anyone tried it?

[ActionableMango]

Originally Posted by cjgonzales1900

I am planing on buying a SSD from either OWC or OCZ. I currently own a OWC 120GB SSD. I want to get either the 40-60gb range for the OS and a few files. My question is will the OCZ 3.5" adapter work to mount the 2.5" SSD in the second optical bay? has anyone tried it?

No, an OCZ 3.5" adapter for a 2.5" drive will not work in a 5.25" optical bay by itself. You need to add a 3.5" to 5.25" adapter.

[milbournosphere]

Originally Posted by cjgonzales1900

I am planing on buying a SSD from either OWC or OCZ. I currently own a OWC 120GB SSD. I want to get either the 40-60gb range for the OS and a few files. My question is will the OCZ 3.5" adapter work to mount the 2.5" SSD in the second optical bay? has anyone tried it?

If you buy an SSD that comes with a 2.5" to 3.5" bracket (like the intel 320s for example), you can purchase these for peanuts and they'll work just fine. It's not the prettiest, but I just did installed my new SSD and everything went in nicely.