Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
SSD in the 2nd optical drive, pics? hard?
- Thread starter Rafalski24
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The only way to use all the SATA ports on the logic board, is to use the HDD bays, as well as both of the ODD_SATA ports. Any RAID card would have to be cabled to drives located in some other location, ideally in an external enclosure, as it leaves the empty optical bay capable of using the ODD_SATA port for it, and leaving the optical drive attached as is. Again, the need for external enclosures adds funds to the overall system.
In my system all logic board SATA ports are dedicated. The four HHD ports are all meant for mass data storage. They are not filled up but will get in some years. I'm using 150-300 GB per month for new stuff and will be adding a 2TB hard disk every 8 months. My system is not meant to have an external enclosure. I just have a Quickport adapter with eSATA for cloning to HDDs which go into the cup board.
Obviously your system is constructed to keep the SATA ports on the logic board used, save perhaps the remaining ODD_SATA port for the 2nd optical bay, which contains the SSD's. You could of course, move the eSATA bracket to that port, and retain another pair of ports on the ARC-1210 for future use (a better way to go IMO). But swapping ports around can be done later, if ever needed. No need to mess about with it now, as you've got it all working the way you want.
The ODD SATA "A" is for the Blu-Ray and "B" currently for Windows. I have no alternative because Windows will not boot from the ARC-1210. The ARC-1210 1-4 ports were meant to drive two SSD RAID0 arrays for OS X and Windows respectively. As the Windows doesn't work port #3 is currently dedicated to eSATA and port #4 is reserve. If Areca ever sort it out the ports #3 & #4 will be used to run the Windows RAID0. The ODD port "B" will be switched to eSATA if I ever manage to boot Windows by array. Then all ports will be utilized.
If the Maxupgrades HDD bay adapter is used, you lose the HDD bay SATA ports located on the logic board, due to the inability to use cabling (stupid PCB trace routing). This is a problem, especially in terms of cost in the '09's.
I consider the use of 3,5" bays for 2,5" drives a waste of capacity. I want to max my internal storage to 8 TB and hope by the time it is filled the new drive capacity will be up to 4 TB/drive. Then I might push this exercise to 16 TB server capacity. Via my WLAN I will have all my music, films and pictures available everywhere in the house. SSD RAID0 arrays give me the chance to run my operating systems as fast as possible without using HDD ports. Except for the TC I want no external storage.
That would be a PITA.
This seems to be an issue with that particular model then, as IIRC, the 1680 series would allow multiple OS's to boot off of it without having to swap out firmware if OS X was in the OS mix.
Overall, I understand the reasoning behind what you did, and it seems to be working for you ATM, just the unused ports on the RAID card are an issue, and I'd feel"cheated" as well.
As do I, and the fact the ICH10R has the throughput limit on the '09's, it's even more so IMO. The band goes too quickly if SSD's are on the logic board. By far better suited for mass storage.
I don't blame you, and went with a large full tower case in order to fit the drives. It's also less expensive. External enclosures that can hold the drive quantity my case does, is 2x+ in terms of cost vs. full tower + PSU ($1300 - 1400 for externals <including needed cables> vs. $500 for a case and PSU). Massive difference in cost.
would i be able to buy this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016
and put it in this: http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=180
then slide it into my second HD bay and clone my boot drive to it?
and put it in this: http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=180
then slide it into my second HD bay and clone my boot drive to it?
Yes, but there's less expensive ways to place an SSD in an HDD bay than the Maxupgrades mount.
One way is to use the mounting plate included in the retail version of the Intel drive.
The second, is to use an adapter made by Icy Dock (here). Half the price as the Maxupgrades mount.
Yes you can.
And while cheaper options are out there, as nanofrog pointed out, I actually do like my maxupgrade trays a lot. Even though a bit pricier.
The maxupgrade sled is used instead of the Apple one, which leaves you with a spare HD tray, which in itself would cost you about $50. That extra Apple HD tray comes in handy for swapping backup HDs for off-site storage.
Actually I have only one unused port.
I have the option to drop in an additional 80 GB Intel and do a three SSD RAID0 for OS X booting. I might do this for capacity or speed reasons.
There might be people out there with a similar philosophy on mass storage who could use such a setup nicely for OSX only and use a 320 or 640 GB 4x SSD RAID0. In combination with 8 TB of mass storage it makes for a very slick system. One can always divide the mass storage by two and do the backup internal. Four TB fully backupped is not bad either.
Pro Drive
http://barefeats.com/hard108.html
Can shove 2 * 2.5" SSD's into that and set it as RAID 1 or RAID 0 with a simple dip switch on the enclosure
Wish I had enough cash for a couple of SSD's !!
Maybe if they bring newer ones out and your looking for a new home for those intel ones give me a shout
I just realised the down side of the pro drive ( Not compatible with Nehalem 2009 Mac Pro. )
DOH !!
http://barefeats.com/hard108.html
Can shove 2 * 2.5" SSD's into that and set it as RAID 1 or RAID 0 with a simple dip switch on the enclosure
Wish I had enough cash for a couple of SSD's !!
Maybe if they bring newer ones out and your looking for a new home for those intel ones give me a shout
I just realised the down side of the pro drive ( Not compatible with Nehalem 2009 Mac Pro. )
DOH !!
Sorry, I think of the eSATA bracket as an "unused port", as it's not attached to a full time access drive. It' s not a usual setup to me to have a RAID card port dedicated as an eSATA location.
Yeah I'm weird, but oh well.
That's what I'm used to doing with unused ports on a RAID card. They're kept available for expansion/performance.
It would be a nice way to go. Perhaps use the SSD's for working data, such as current projects for video/graphics editing, then archive the final results to mass storage when completed. Then on to the next project...
You can ('06 - '08' models), but the performance would suck, compared to what a pair of SSD's is actually capable of.Pro Drive
http://barefeats.com/hard108.html
Can shove 2 * 2.5" SSD's into that and set it as RAID 1 or RAID 0 with a simple dip switch on the enclosure
Wish I had enough cash for a couple of SSD's !!
Maybe if they bring newer ones out and your looking for a new home for those intel ones give me a shout
I just realised the down side of the pro drive ( Not compatible with Nehalem 2009 Mac Pro. )
DOH !!
The reason, is that little device uses a Port Multiplier chip, which switches multiple drives on a single SATA port, so it's throttled. PM chips can do 250MB/s at best (striped pair), and IIRC, that product is less (200MB/s max).Not a good way to go with SSD's. They're fine for mechanical though.
Instead of the MaxUpgrades Maxconnect sled for 2.5" drives for the HDD bays, how about their Max Connect for Mac Pro Optical Drive Bay installation kit SZ-MCMPOPT04.
http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=158
It allows for 2 2.5" SATA drives in the lower optical bay and includes mounting brackets, 2 sata cables, and 2 power cables and leaves the four HDD bays fully available. At $89 it's not the cheapest, but if you have only one optical drive it is probably a more efficient use of space and looks like a clean installation.
Here's a thread elsewhere in the forum showing the complete installation:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/769785/
http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=158
It allows for 2 2.5" SATA drives in the lower optical bay and includes mounting brackets, 2 sata cables, and 2 power cables and leaves the four HDD bays fully available. At $89 it's not the cheapest, but if you have only one optical drive it is probably a more efficient use of space and looks like a clean installation.
Here's a thread elsewhere in the forum showing the complete installation:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/769785/
It makes more sense for an optical bay installation. Using an SSD in an HDD bay is a bit more expensive (i.e. the Icy Dock adapter), but it does work.