Hunting G4 Mac Mini SSD - Specific Adapter!

[Wild Hare]

Be On the LookOut for…
the AS331 V1.5 / SATA2IDE44VAO SSD adapters.

First mentioned and tested - back in May of 2021.
It now seems that the original supplier (and others)
no longer have the V1.5’s available.

And those work so very well in the G4 Mac mini!

Mac Mini SSD Adapters

Mac Mini SSD Adapters

macos9lives.com

Instead, all now found are of the V1.3 variety. And those
(while they may also work) are just a bit “flaky” in the mini.
Maybe not just running OS 9 - but dual boot w/ OS X?
[Not so good.]

The "in-line" flat configurations pictured are the best.
And while the MCA004 V1.3’s have that same in-line
configuration, they’re also V1.3. (Work /but problems).
[And the IDE44-SATA22F does not fit inside the mini.]

Hope to test the “new” AS331 V1.3 but think their
performance (and V1.3 version number) may not
equal that of the original V1.5’s. *They have not,
in previous testing.

So, if anyone stumbles upon the original ones, V1.5
do please let me know so I can maybe order TEN of them!

Thanks!

*Apologies to you Dark Mode users for the colored text.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Or instead of going on a quest for elusive products, you could buy the adapters which have red PCBs: they offer guaranteed compatibility on all Macs with IDE/PATA interfaces. They're very easy to locate and can be picked up inexpensively. I've been using them for years. Here's one that I installed in my iMac G3.

 

[ervus]

I've had good luck with the msata adapters. These easily fit in the space for a 2.5" drive in the mini and powerbooks.

Do the "V1.5" adapters have some advantage? It looks like you have to take the SSD apart to get them to fit.

 

[Wild Hare]

2018 - the first mini converted here was with an msata sled, which worked great. However after a great deal of research and testing MANY simpler & less costly adapters… the AS331 / V1.5s were found to be a much less expensive alternative & performed great up to and including a 1TB SSD (Didn’t test a 2TB - I’m frugal / cheap.)

The other, similar V1.3 adapters (also JMicron-based) have difficulties even dependably booting a 128 GB SSD in dual-boot / dual partitioned installations. Now, this may have improved with the current V1.3’s over the last year (as I’m currently testing a V1.3 purchased May 2021, but I doubt it). AND I haven’t tested one in a solitary “OS 9 only” capacity. [All dual-boots w/ Tiger here.]

And yes, I easily removed all external cases from the SSDs for the Mac minis… which I reasoned only increased and improved cooling air flow around the “naked” SSD and within the mini itself?

*The red, Marvell-based Addonics & StarTech adapters will simply not fit within the snug confines of the G4 Mac mini AND they were about $20.00 more expensive than the AS331 / V1.5 adapters ($4 - $6.00 in 2021). I do have red Marvell-based adapters in Quicksilvers and MDDs.

If you add the total costs of a msata sled and an msata... the AS331 / V1.5 SATA2IDEVAO's were a much more economical performance alternative.

 

[TheShortTimer]

*The red, Marvell-based Addonics & StarTech adapters will simply not fit within the snug confines of the G4 Mac mini AND they were about $20.00 more expensive than the AS331 / V1.5 adapters ($4 - $6.00 in 2021).

That adapter wouldn't fit, really? I'd crack open my G4 Mini but I can't be bothered to revisit it again with a putty knife.

Addonics and StarTech are not the only manufacturers of the Marvell based adapters and I paid £5 GBP ($6.51 USD) each for my Manhattan branded ones during 2020 - with free shipping included.

...They're very easy to locate and can be picked up inexpensively.

Why would I have stated the above in my original reply if it were not the case? Particularly when posts exist where I explicitly mentioned how much I paid for them.

 

[Wild Hare]

I’ve no doubt that you paid less for the Marvell-based Manhattan branded 158282 adapters back in 2020, but a quick search here (now in the U.S.) has them up in the $17 to $20.00 price range… and with one on NewEgg.com for a completely ludicrous $149.53. BUT perhaps more specifically, the Marvell-based msata sled adapters (necessary for use in the Mini) were equally as overpriced. (Here in 2021.)

AND from these photos, you might glean the actual physical size difference (overall length, at least an eighth of an inch difference) between the 40-pin StarTech / Addonics / Manhattan and a 44-pin MCA004 / V1.5 (similar in size to the SATA2IDE44VAO V1.5) which is necessary to use AND to fit within the confines of the G4 Mac Mini.

So, crack open your G4 mini and try your fit your Manhattan 158282 inside with an SSD. Then connect its' 40-pins to the 44-pin connector.

And here are pics of the AS331 V1.5 SATA2IDE44VAO inside an actual G4 Mac Mini:

 

[Wild Hare]

Here’s a better side-by-side size comparison picture between the StarTech (40-pin) and the JMicron-based (44-pin) adapters. Unless I’m really missing something here (and I very well could be) and the Manhattan variant adapters were VERY different than the StarTech / Addonics, etc. - how do those fit inside a G4 Mac Mini with an SSD?

Was there a 44-pin “Manhattan” adapter?

 

[TheShortTimer]

I’ve no doubt that you paid less for the Marvell-based Manhattan branded 158282 adapters back in 2020, but a quick search here (now in the U.S.) has them up in the $17 to $20.00 price range… and with one on NewEgg.com for a completely ludicrous $149.53. BUT perhaps more specifically, the Marvell-based msata sled adapters (necessary for use in the Mini) were equally as overpriced. (Here in 2021.)

I responded with the intention to help and now it seems that a pissing contest is underway and that's no fun at all. Certainly not for me anyway.

Here's an eBay listing in the U.S. for the Manhattan 158282 and bidding starts at $9.66 USD. If I was in the States I'd place a bid on it.

AND from these photos, you might glean the actual physical size difference (overall length, at least an eighth of an inch difference) between the 40-pin StarTech / Addonics / Manhattan and a 44-pin MCA004 / V1.5 (similar in size to the SATA2IDE44VAO V1.5) which is necessary to use AND to fit within the confines of the G4 Mac Mini.

So, crack open your G4 mini and try your fit your Manhattan 158282 inside with an SSD. Then connect its' 40-pins to the 44-pin connector.

View attachment 1988887

View attachment 1988888

And here are pics of the AS331 V1.5 SATA2IDE44VAO inside an actual G4 Mac Mini:

View attachment 1988891

View attachment 1988892

You ignored the following:

I can't be bothered to revisit it again with a putty knife.

Unless a fault develops with the computer, I'm loathe to go through the hassle of removing the case again: ever.

Here’s a better side-by-side size comparison picture between the StarTech (40-pin) and the JMicron-based (44-pin) adapters. Unless I’m really missing something here (and I very well could be) and the Manhattan variant adapters were VERY different than the StarTech / Addonics, etc. - how do those fit inside a G4 Mac Mini with an SSD?

View attachment 1988946

Was there a 44-pin “Manhattan” adapter?

Although the Marvell chipset adapter is larger than your favoured one, these images do not accurately portray that it's still quite small and thin and I wager that the Mini would easily accommodate it along with a drive whose housing has been removed.

Ordinarily I would demonstrate this but I lack the inclination to crack open the Mini once more, nor do I have a suitable SSD on hand that would fit the adapter (the Mini currently has an M.2 installed) and given events this week in my personal circumstances, life is really too short for pissing contests.

 

[Wild Hare]

While I appreciate your intention to help, you ignored the initial request of helping to locate a specific adapter. Instead, you offered what you thought might be a better alternative, which will not work for at least two primary reasons: (1). The StarTech, Addonics and yes… even the Manhattans, are 40-pin adapters, and (2). They will not fit within the space available anyway.

Now you may feign indignation and term this a “pissing contest” - when it is in actuality merely an examination of facts. However, if you are willing to wager on this (as you’ve stated) I’d be willing to bet one of my Mac Minis against yours. But of course, you cannot be “bothered” and rather conveniently… don’t have a suitable SSD on hand to check. (*And no fair hacking up the mini’s internal plastic framework to try to accommodate a Manhattan adapter.) And you don’t need an SSD, just put a Manhattan adapter in your mini… attached to the female receiver. Won’t fit.

With all that said, you may now examine the attached photo showing the restrictions of an actual Mac mini’s internal frameworks and note the restrictive “ledge” on the left that extends downward thus limiting the width of any adapter one might choose to attempt using. And while you’re at it, count the pins on the adapter and the holes on the 820-1660-A.

Again, thanks for your attempt at helping.

 

[indibil]

Hello, i have installed this in my Mac Mini G4 with a 128GB mSATA SAMSUNG inside, and with two partitions: Mac OS 9.2.2 and Mac OS X 10.4.11 :
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3283..._list.0.0.5565194d2hw8BC&gatewayAdapt=glo2esp

Works great!