Is there any space limit for the 2008 mac pro, in terms of hard drive space. I might get 3, 2TB internal Hard drives. Are the SATA ports inside the mac pro limited to a certain amount?
Not that I know of. The limit is mostly set by whatever the max hard drive size available was when the product launched.
just to check before I buy these drives, its SATA 3.0Gb/s not the slower speed right?
Yes, its 3.0GB/s but its backwards compatible with the slower speeds. You can put 4 2TB drives into the four drive bays and if you want, you can also fit another one in the space for a second optical drive and if you're feeling really sadistic, you can remove the optical drive and put another one in for a total of 12TB.
maybe I should just cut a hole in the side, and get an adapter and put 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 TB of hard drive space in.
Hehehe, A man after my own heart! https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/707152/
BTW, There is a limit actually but it's huge and I dunno what it is. We're definitely safe for a few years yet.
is there really an adapter to add more sata drives or daisy chain them?
maybe I should just cut a hole in the side, and get an adapter and put 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 TB of hard drive space in.
You know we are "this" close to asking you what you are doing with so much space... lolz
A single SATA port can handle up to 15 drives with Port Multiplier chips, if that helps.BTW, There is a limit actually but it's huge and I dunno what it is. We're definitely safe for a few years yet.
A single SATA port can handle up to 15 drives with Port Multiplier chips, if that helps.
So for a system using 6 SATA ports, you can get up to 90 drives on it. Using 2TB disks, you get a max of 180TB. Until even larger drives show up.
Would that be enough capacity to tide you over for a few days?
It's the Pro Drive, which is just a Port Multiplier chip added to a sled that holds 2 * 2.5" drives. But you can use PM enclosures that can operate up to 15 drives. Most I've come across however, operate 5 drives on a single port, and you can find enclosures that operate a pair (10 drives total).In another thread you mentioned sleds with multiplier chips. Do you have a link. Also I thought all that was needed were Y-Cables... It needs circuitry too?
A single SATA port can handle up to 15 drives with Port Multiplier chips, if that helps.
So for a system using 6 SATA ports, you can get up to 90 drives on it. Using 2TB disks, you get a max of 180TB. Until even larger drives show up.
Would that be enough capacity to tide you over for a few days?
It's the Pro Drive, which is just a Port Multiplier chip added to a sled that holds 2 * 2.5" drives. But you can use PM enclosures that can operate up to 15 drives. Most I've come across however, operate 5 drives on a single port, and you can find enclosures that operate a pair (10 drives total).
You can use Y cables for power, but not data.
No problem.Thanks man! Yeah I was under the impression that MP SATA was already PM'ed. Guess not. But what's the deal with the Max Capacity? It says:
Max Capacity 1TB (2 x 500GB)
That's for real or just the current state of HDDs at the time of writing? Oh, wait... 2.5"?? Notebook drives? Oh my! Dang I was hoping they were just hanging an extra desktop HDD off of the sled. Ah, oh-well.
No problem.
As the PM chips (one per sled) would add cost to the board, I tend to think of a little bird... Cheap. Cheap.
As I understand it, the 2.5" models where due to space constraints. Not quite enough clearance for a pair of 3.5" drives.
I guess they wanted a part that could operate in all 4 sleds, and may not have wanted to cause the loss of slot 4. Dunno for sure, but oh well.Agreed.
There is tho. For bays 2, 3, and 4 you can have multiple drives. As you hang more than just the intended single drive you start covering up PCIe slots but you only need a disclaimer notice to alert potential buyers to remedy that.
I guess they wanted a part that could operate in all 4 sleds, and may not have wanted to cause the loss of slot 4. Dunno for sure, but oh well.
Perhaps an industrious person will figure out a way to do it. Hint. Hint.
I wasn't thinking of a product for commercial production. Not as much fun that way. Just a good "How To" for those here on MR.
I can do it for me. Not sure I'd want to create a product or not tho. I dunno how much demand there would be for it. I imagine not a whole lot.
I wasn't thinking of a product for commercial production. Not as much fun that way. Just a good "How To" for those here on MR.
It could certainly help a few members, and possibly those interested in an internal RAID setup (clearance for power+data cables?).For sure! It'll be a month or more till I do it but I'll definitely photo-document the process!
(clearance for power+data cables?).