How to get an IDE 3.5 drive into a Mac Pro

[fab5freddy]

I just bought a brand new Mac Pro 8-core,
but have an IDE 3.5 harddrive that i would like
to stick into one of the SATA bays .......but how ??

the plugs don't match....., but is there any kind of adaptor
that would turn an IDE plug into a SATA ??

thanks!!

 

[brand]

There are adapters that convert an IDE drive to SATA or a SATA drive to an IDE. Unfortunately none of them will work with the way the hard drive bays are designed in the Mac Pro. Your only option would be to place it in the second optical drive bay.

 

[richard.mac]

you could try this http://www.satacables.com/html/sata-acessories.html

got no idea if it would work on a Mac Pro or not. but its got a lifetime warranty which is always good.

 

[CanadaRAM]

There's no physical room for an adaptor in the 3.5" drive bays. Your only recourse internally is to mount it in the spare optical drive bay. Or as posted, much easier just to stick it in a USB or Firewire external case and have done with it.

 

[fab5freddy]

Ok, So could i stick the IDE 3.5 drive
in my Empty Optical Drive Bay ??

That would awesome if i could,
because the other 4 bays are already full.

 

[eluk]

Ok, So could i stick the IDE 3.5 drive
in my Empty Optical Drive Bay ??

That would awesome if i could,
because the other 4 bays are already full.

Yes, indeed.

 

[Tallest Skil]

This should work for you.

 

[yeroen]

Why do you want to put in in your Mac Pro? Just pick up an external IDE drive enclosure that hooks up to your Mac Pro via USB. You can then clone or copy whatever contents you need to a new SATA internal drive.

 

[fab5freddy]

well, then i would waste a perfectly good 500 GB Drive....!

Isn't that a waste ??

 

[CanadaRAM]

well, then i would waste a perfectly good 500 GB Drive....!

Isn't that a waste ??

eh? You buy enclosure, you put IDE drive in enclosure, you attach enclosure to MacPro by USB or Firewire, you use drive. What waste?

 

[fab5freddy]

well, i don't want to clutter my desktop...
i'd like to put it inside of my Mac Pro....

that's the reason ; - )

 

[Wild-Bill]

Go for it. I stuck a 5th HDD in my MP's lower optical bay. It was a bitch routing the SATA cable, but since you're gonna use an IDE drive and there's an extra IDE adapter up there, you shouldn't have any problem. You just need a way to mount it in there.

 

[fab5freddy]

great. thanks!