MP 1,1-5,1 2.5" SSD adapters for cMP drive trays

[macstatic]

I need a 2.5" drive adapter so I can mount a 2.5" SATA SSD on one of my cMP drive trays/sleds.
Newertech/OWC has one such adapter (the AdaptaDrive):

... but since I have to order this from abroad, with the taxes, shipping etc. it'll become very expensive, so I was wondering if there are any "off the shelf" type similar adapters for your average PC or whatever, or if the one from OWC has specific dimensions for the cMP, and this is what I must get?

 

[Steve_Jones]

I ended up buying some 3d printed drive sleds that came with holes predrilled for SSDs. You'd probably save a bunch of shipping since they're considerably lighter.

 

[amstel78]

You can purchase 2.5 to 3.5 drive adapters that will mount to factory MP drive sleds.

 

[TimTheSheriff]

I've used these: https://www.owcdigital.com/products/mount-pro
They're also available here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303818056486

 

[Juicy Box]

You don't need anything fancy or expensive. 3.5"/2.5" SATA adapters are really (relatively) cheap.

There are hundreds of them on eBay and Amazon for less than $10.

I like Icydock, and use this one:

ICY DOCK Light Weight 2.5" to 3.5" SATA (22pin) HDD & SSD Converter / Mounting Kit for Internal 3.5" Drive Bay | EZConvert Lite MB882SP-1S-2B Dual (Two Units)

Introducing the ICY DOCK EZConvert MB882SP-1S-2B: another milestone in our 2.5” SSD product line. Through manufacturing efficiency, we have managed to redesign the original MB882SP-1S-1B without any sacrifice to our standard of high quality products. The new version is lighter weight for simplici...

www.amazon.com

You can find them on eBay in the multipacks for about $10 each.

If that is too much, there are cheaper options for you.

 

[sailmac]

I've used several of these in my 5,1. Works fine and might be easier/cheaper for you to obtain?

Sabrent 2.5” SSD & SATA Hard Drive to Desktop 3.5” SATA Bay Converter Mounting Kit (BK-PCBS)

 

[permanentmacdabbler]

I've used several of these in my 5,1. Works fine and might be easier/cheaper for you to obtain?

Sabrent 2.5” SSD & SATA Hard Drive to Desktop 3.5” SATA Bay Converter Mounting Kit (BK-PCBS)

View attachment 1735979

I second this and it's usually cheap. I do have one of these mentioned previously:

It's a lot better quality light weight and slots in and out more smoothly and directly to the SATA port (I do worry about the additional SATA to SATA connection on others and the angle looks a tiny mm off on my Sabrent) but the Sabrent posted above was much more cost effective especially long term as it is compatible with other devices so can still be used if (when) the Mac Pro kicks the bucket.

 

[mikas]

+1
OWC Drive Sled til MacPro 2009-2012 from Norwegian reseller. A little steep price I think. I buy OWC stuff from here though (to Finland).
Not everything from OWC is top notch, but these things have worked for me.

 

[KeesMacPro]

+1 for the OWC mount pro.

Personally I'm far from a OWC fan, but this is a very well made product with a nice appearance.
The main reason for me to choose this one is, as mentioned by @permanentmacdabbler too, that the SSD is connected directly to the SATA port and not through another connector.
One thing i noticed though: it seems that the OWC drive sled is a fraction of a millimeter too long or so (or it's the blue paint in the cutout where the door mechanism slides), because closing the side door I notice a little more resistance with 1 or more of these sleds inserted...

 

[dom512]

Another +1 for the OWC. Just bought a OWC mount from Amazon for little money. Worked perfect! Got my SSD out of the extra optical drive bay.

 

[macstatic]

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Apparently getting a decently priced adapter (i.e. EUR 10-20/US$ 12-24) looks to be easier said than done here in Norway! And the ones i've found seem to be made for mounting the adapter to the sides of a 3.5" bay, not from underneath as with the Mac Pro sleds.

Strangely a few regular (non-Mac specific) local dealers sell the OWC "AdapaDrive" adapter, but regardless where I buy from (including OWC Europe) the end cost will be around EUR 40/US$ 48 (the 2.5" OWC sled from Matrix audio or directly from OWC Europe being a little cheaper) regardless of where I buy them from. I'll probably just have to bite the bullet, but try to order it together with other needed items to cut shipping/duty costs down.

You guys have a point with the OWC 2.5" sled connecting the drive directly to the Mac Pro backplane. On the other hand the AdaptaDrive adapter I've already got has worked flawlessly for years, and it's not something you plug in and out all the time, but definitely something to consider (though I have the same "not quite a perfect fit" experience as KeesMacPro points out, with my OWC 3.5" replacement sleds).

I might just end up ordering one of these SSD solutions together with an OWC USB-3 dual drive dock which appears practical for making external backups.

 

[jbarley]

I stopped using adapters along time ago.
I just remove the little circuit board from the SSD case and plug it in directly.
Been running like this for several years now without any issues whatsoever.

 

[amstel78]

I've used this in a few MP sleds without issue:

ORICO 2.5 SSD SATA to 3.5 Hard Drive Adapter Internal Drive Bay Converter Mounting Bracket Caddy Tray for 7 / 9.5 / 12.5mm 2.5 inch HDD / SSD with SATA III Interface(1125SS)

ORICO 2.5 SSD SATA to 3.5 Hard Drive Adapter Internal Drive Bay Converter Mounting Bracket Caddy Tray for 7 / 9.5 / 12.5mm 2.5 inch HDD / SSD with SATA III Interface(1125SS)

smile.amazon.com

 

[KeesMacPro]

I've used this in a few MP sleds without issue:

ORICO 2.5 SSD SATA to 3.5 Hard Drive Adapter Internal Drive Bay Converter Mounting Bracket Caddy Tray for 7 / 9.5 / 12.5mm 2.5 inch HDD / SSD with SATA III Interface(1125SS)

ORICO 2.5 SSD SATA to 3.5 Hard Drive Adapter Internal Drive Bay Converter Mounting Bracket Caddy Tray for 7 / 9.5 / 12.5mm 2.5 inch HDD / SSD with SATA III Interface(1125SS)

smile.amazon.com

Looks good but.... not quite sure €108,30 is worth it....
Ah , that's with taxes included... ? ? ?

 

[amstel78]

Looks good but.... not quite sure €108,30 is worth it....
Ah , that's with taxes included...

That's nuts. It's only $6.99 here.

 

[rpmurray]

I went with these Fenlink 2.5" to 3.5" Internal SSD Hard Drive SATA Drive Converter.

 

[rx78]

I stopped using adapters along time ago.
I just remove the little circuit board from the SSD case and plug it in directly.
Been running like this for several years now without any issues whatsoever.
View attachment 1736708

I've done that with my SATA M.2 drives with an adapter board. They just sit there chilling.

 

[psvcb]

I've done that with my SATA M.2 drives with an adapter board. They just sit there chilling.

Are you putting the SATA M.2 into a SATA Bay or PCIe Adapter Board?

 

[rx78]

Are you putting the SATA M.2 into a SATA Bay or PCIe Adapter Board?

SATA M.2 to SATA converter like this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VX615T9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_T8H8C7PEXASJ4DZDETNC

Had a couple of m.2 drives that weren't being used for anything so I thought I might as well.

 

[DPUser]

I stopped using adapters along time ago.
I just remove the little circuit board from the SSD case and plug it in directly.
Been running like this for several years now without any issues whatsoever.
View attachment 1736708

You can do the same thing without removing the case, too.

It would be interesting to compare SSD Temp (is there a sensor?) with and without case. I always thought the case served as a heatsink...

 

[jbarley]

You can do the same thing without removing the case, too.

It would be interesting to compare SSD Temp (is there a sensor?) with and without case. I always thought the case served as a heatsink...

Been there and done that.
But I wouldn't try it without some means of support.
The added weight of some cases might play hell with the sata sockets.