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Need Quick Help - OWC SSD in my Optical Drive

lbeck

lbeck

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 5, 2009
381
0
I know to install a OWC SSD in one of the four hard drive bays of a Mac Pro I need to purchase an ICY DOCK tray to make it fit the 3.5" bay.

But I want to install the SSD in one of my empty optical drives, do I need the ICY DOCK Tray for that as well? Or something else?
 
You could get something like this

But I personally plan to just stick it in the empty bay with no mount. It is an SSD so no moving parts!!
 
SSD in Optical Bay

I have my new OCZ Vertex plugged in and just laying in my bottom opitical bay. No problems.
 
MFDoom said:
You could get something like this

But I personally plan to just stick it in the empty bay with no mount. It is an SSD so no moving parts!!
Click to expand...

I got a lian li setup from newegg
posted some pics here
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1015412/

works nice the two screw holes dont match up ? but two do this is to install in the bay ? but it fits tight enough that its not a issue ? depends on if you want to save $20 over the other solution ?

:)
 
I just bought the adapter that OWC sells (it's just a Star Tech bracket). I think they sell a couple different adapters for the lower optical bay, actually, but I bought the kit and that comes with the Icy Dock 3.5" and the bracket that makes it fit to 5.25".

This one looks like it holds a mechanical + SSD or either/or:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/MM35A52CMB/

Of course, you'd require additional cables for running both at the same time in addition to your stock optical drive.
 
+1 on using the OWC Multi-Mount, mine just arrived today, I can fit two SSD's inside the lower optical bay (I just don't have the SATA ports, so one of the SSD's will live outside in an eSATA enclosure).

You don't have to use an Icy Dock anything... there are a blue million ways to mount 2.5" and 3.5" hardware in optical bays, sure Icy Dock might have a solution but saying you *have* to use something specific isn't true.
 
I'm looking mainly to optimise output and render times from FCP but the SSD will help re opening FCP projects and/or - ah! - rebooting. Next is internal software raiding of two of remaining four drives. Hitting edge of my budget here so what's faster: 0-raiding 7200 drives or investing in 10000rpm velociraptor drive?
 
I just got the OWC adapter to mount 3 SSDs in one of the optical bays. Works great. Sure it only has mounting hardware for 2 drives, but 3 will fit if you suspend the third between the other two.

Alternatively you can get a regular 3.5" drive and mount the SSD together on the same adapter. Both work great.
 
Alphaod - how are you going to connect all those drives? Where are the extra SATA cables? Aren't the mounts in question from owc only mechanical pieces, not electronic? Hope I'm mistaken.

Thx
 
MFDoom said:
You could get something like this

But I personally plan to just stick it in the empty bay with no mount. It is an SSD so no moving parts!!
Click to expand...

Agreed............... spending $20 on a 5cent piece of plastic is just WRONG! :)

JMO, but unless you are accustomed to moving your 40+ pound MP around there is no reason to mount an SSD in an adapter.

cheers
JohnG
 
johnnymg said:
Agreed............... spending $20 on a 5cent piece of plastic is just WRONG! :)

JMO, but unless you are accustomed to moving your 40+ pound MP around there is no reason to mount an SSD in an adapter.

cheers
JohnG
Click to expand...

Good point. I'll have to take precautions if I ever move my MP since the SSD will just be sitting in the bay. But other than that it will be good to go!
 
I just went ahead and ordered the so-called 'powder blue' owc mount for two drives for the optical bay in spite of suggestions to let it set unsecured on bay floor. It's like going out without sunglasses on a cloudy day, every time I decide I won't need them, the sun comes out. So it is I'm sure with the mount. If I'd decided against it, the next week some twist of fate would have me picking up the MP and carting it somewhere only to hear 'Ker-lunk!" of the SSD inside smashing against the side.

The question of cables to connect more than one drive in opt bay without an extra controller is still a mystery. There are only two SATA connections in this part of the machine, right? Both nominally for DVD burners?
 
AfterglowMP said:
I just went ahead and ordered the so-called 'powder blue' owc mount for two drives for the optical bay in spite of suggestions to let it set unsecured on bay floor. It's like going out without sunglasses on a cloudy day, every time I decide I won't need them, the sun comes out. So it is I'm sure with the mount. If I'd decided against it, the next week some twist of fate would have me picking up the MP and carting it somewhere only to hear 'Ker-lunk!" of the SSD inside smashing against the side.

The question of cables to connect more than one drive in opt bay without an extra controller is still a mystery. There are only two SATA connections in this part of the machine, right? Both nominally for DVD burners?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like the thought of the SSD being secure, also, just so I don't ever have to worry about it.

As for the dual-mount, some people remove their DVD burner and power two drives instead, I'm guessing. Throw the burner into an external enclosure. There must be a way to feed more power, too, isn't there?
 
from my link above if you want a cheap way to mount a SSD in the optical bay ?

lian_1.jpg
 
AfterglowMP said:
Alphaod - how are you going to connect all those drives? Where are the extra SATA cables? Aren't the mounts in question from owc only mechanical pieces, not electronic? Hope I'm mistaken.

Thx
Click to expand...

There aren't any extra ports, so I use a PCIe RAID card to do the job.

And the mounts fit any standard drive. That includes SSDs. (The cable ties are only used since the middle drive doesn't have any screw mounts to attach to)

mr_3vertex2-092910.png


johnnymg said:
Agreed............... spending $20 on a 5cent piece of plastic is just WRONG! :)

JMO, but unless you are accustomed to moving your 40+ pound MP around there is no reason to mount an SSD in an adapter.

cheers
JohnG
Click to expand...

The old adage: "Don't just a book by its cover."

It's actually solid anodized aluminium.
 
Alphaod ... thats a beauty. Three SSD's in that thing is awesome. For now I'll leave my single in the optical bay by itself but I'm going to order that mount so I can eventually stack three of those bad boys. Thats awesome.
 
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