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OCZ SSD Core in Mac Pro ?

N

ntux

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 29, 2008
37
0
Hi,

Has anyone tried using one of the new OCZ SSD Core Series drive in a Mac Pro ?

Since they're approaching reasonable prices (for SSD drives, anyway), I'd be interrested in using one (a 64GB) as a system drive.
But since i've read that many people are experiencing issues in AHCI mode, I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has ever tried using one in a Mac Pro (1st or 2nd gen) under leopard, and if it worked fine.

Thanks.
 
If you do go with it, at 2.5", some type of adapter would be required.
More $$. :(
As for the AHCI issue, I don't know for sure. IIRC, can't it be disabled?
 
nanofrog said:
If you do go with it, at 2.5", some type of adapter would be required.
More $$. :(
As for the AHCI issue, I don't know for sure. IIRC, can't it be disabled?
Click to expand...

Two thoughts. Nanofog once suggested (to me) using the MaxUpgrades Velociraptor adaptor (a 2.5" to 3.5") with an SSD. Might work. Also, I asked the people at DVNation about this, and they sell their 2.5" SSDs with adaptors if requested. Depending on where you buy your SSD, the company might solve the problem for you.
 
Thiol said:
Two thoughts. Nanofog once suggested (to me) using the MaxUpgrades Velociraptor adaptor (a 2.5" to 3.5") with an SSD. Might work. Also, I asked the people at DVNation about this, and they sell their 2.5" SSDs with adaptors if requested. Depending on where you buy your SSD, the company might solve the problem for you.
Click to expand...
The MaxUpgrades part should work, but at just short of $50 USD, some might think twice. I guess it comes down to 'If you need it, you need it". :eek:

I wasn't aware DVNation had a solution available. Nice to know, Thanks! :)
Any idea on cost?
 
I say dont waste your money on an 128GB SSD...why not install a WD Raptor? Isnt that fastest enough to last a year until the prices drop and the sizes increase?
 
noodle654 said:
I say dont waste your money on an 128GB SSD...why not install a WD Raptor? Isnt that fastest enough to last a year until the prices drop and the sizes increase?
Click to expand...
That's going in another thread. :) WD has just released a 3.5" backplane compatible unit (replacing previous 3.5" unit), so no additional mounting hardware needed. ;) :cool:
More $$ left in our pockets is definitely a good thing. :D
 
noodle654 said:
I say dont waste your money on an 128GB SSD...why not install a WD Raptor? Isnt that fastest enough to last a year until the prices drop and the sizes increase?
Click to expand...

It's a tough call. Depending on how much matters, the benchmarks may justify getting an SSD. I'm leaning towards one myself, but I'm reluctant to get an MLC model like the OCZ Core. I may get an SLC option. The Mtron MOBIs are the cheapest out there, but not the fastest in terms of read and write speeds. In the end, however, they are still fast with access and known to be stable.
 
Guys -

I've been running a 3.5" 64gb Mtron Pro 7000 (Sata 1) in my Mac Pro since late last year. I have 2 32gb partitions on it for OSX and Windows Vista -- the Mtron is my boot drive. I also have a 1tb data drive in there too.

Under OSX I get just over 100MB/s read rate. My Mac Pro boots significantly faster than the stock 250gb drive it replaced and still a bit faster than a WD Raptor (Mtron has a .1ms access time!). I don't usually even see the spinning gear it boots so fast!

Under Windows Vista, I am "locked" at the 80MB/s transfer rate because of AHCI being turned off. I still think it's really fast!

Just popped in a 64gb OCZ Core and installed Windows Vista on it and I am getting average read speeds of 123-130MB/sec -- much faster under windows than the Mtron. This is because it's SATA 2 and OCZ actually states that for better performance AHCI should be turned OFF. It's FAST!

Think I'm gonna keep it in there for Vista and reinstall OSX on the Mtron dedicate all 64gb of it to OSX.....

Just my experience.....

Aaron



ntux said:
Hi,

Has anyone tried using one of the new OCZ SSD Core Series drive in a Mac Pro ?

Since they're approaching reasonable prices (for SSD drives, anyway), I'd be interrested in using one (a 64GB) as a system drive.
But since i've read that many people are experiencing issues in AHCI mode, I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has ever tried using one in a Mac Pro (1st or 2nd gen) under leopard, and if it worked fine.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
NYCubby said:
Guys -

I've been running a 3.5" 64gb Mtron Pro 7000 (Sata 1) in my Mac Pro since late last year. I have 2 32gb partitions on it for OSX and Windows Vista -- the Mtron is my boot drive. I also have a 1tb data drive in there too.

Under OSX I get just over 100MB/s read rate. My Mac Pro boots significantly faster than the stock 250gb drive it replaced and still a bit faster than a WD Raptor (Mtron has a .1ms access time!). I don't usually even see the spinning gear it boots so fast!

Under Windows Vista, I am "locked" at the 80MB/s transfer rate because of AHCI being turned off. I still think it's really fast!

Just popped in a 64gb OCZ Core and installed Windows Vista on it and I am getting average read speeds of 123-130MB/sec -- much faster under windows than the Mtron. This is because it's SATA 2 and OCZ actually states that for better performance AHCI should be turned OFF. It's FAST!

Think I'm gonna keep it in there for Vista and reinstall OSX on the Mtron dedicate all 64gb of it to OSX.....

Just my experience.....

Aaron
Click to expand...
Nice info! :)

Personally, I'll wait for SSD's to mature so capacities increase, and the prices to fall well below the stratosphere ($/GB). ;)
 
OCZ Core 64GB SSD in Mac Pro

ntux said:
Hi,

Has anyone tried using one of the new OCZ SSD Core Series drive in a Mac Pro ?
Click to expand...

Hi.
I do.

I'm running the OCZ core 64GB model in a 2008 Mac Pro. I've got it mounted in the 2nd DVD bay inside. It has power there since I don't use the DVD power supply. I have it plugged into one of those extra unused SATA ports on the logic board (#5 & 6).

I'm using it because it's quiet -- it's the only drive inside the Mac, the CPU & GPU fans are the only things I can hear. It's a lot quieter and less hot that the 160GB Raptor I had in there before. I keep the loud hard drives in the closet.

I honestly can't say much about the performance since the Raptor performance was great and the stats are pretty similar. I can't say anything about system startup because I have an Areca RAID card that adds a minute to system startup -- plus I just don't care, that's my coffee break time.

Here is the Xbench results when I have the drive running as a boot drive.
OCZ_Core_Xbench.gif

It doesn't seem spectacular. Seems the 4k random performance is very slow. As a single user I doubt that will be much of an issue. I wonder if I attach the OCZ SSD to the Areca Card if that would increase the 4k performance... ? Honestly I don't really use Xbench much.


Anyway, Photoshop opens in 1.5 seconds now, but I don't really have anything to compare that to... After Effects about performs the same. Maybe it's a tiny bit "snappier" and more responsive but RAM is the big factor in AE. Performance is still reliant on the performance of the other disk drives especially if I'm dealing with a lot of video. I do a bit of 3D animation but I haven't had a chance to make any real world comparisons. Honestly I think there should be a noticeable (small) difference in render times -- but yeah, inconclusive.

Anyway, I've also had many HDD go south on me. Having a hot old Raptor in a cool new system seemed like a liability. Also I've got Time Machine and a 3rd backup should my entire system burn up.

In conclusion. I like it, but it's not mindblowingly fast. Yes I do notice a difference, even from a Raptor, but it's not significant. It is fast, it is quiet. But it's cheap enough now that I can replace it in a couple years with whatever sci-fi drives they have out in a few years.
 
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