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A cheap, easy way to install SSD in your Mac Pro

Apple2

Apple2

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 28, 2010
94
0
Providence, RI
If you're like me, you bought an SSD, bought a mounting bracket, only to find out that it doesn't work with Apple's underside mounting. The OWC replacement sleds designed for SSD are too much (30-40 USD), you could get another drive for that much. After having this problem, I fabricated a drive carrier using industrial epoxy. This isn't a solution that most people can use, and it certainly isn't one that I'd care to repeat. After finishing this, unfortunately, I came up with a quick and easy way to mount a single SSD in your Mac Pro.

You'll need your Mac Pro, a little screwdriver (Phillips), and your SSD. The Mac Pro WILL NEED TO HAVE ONLY ONE SUPERDRIVE INSTALLED. If you want, you can pull out the second one.

Here's how to do it:

1: Open the case and remove the tray with the superdrive. Disconnect the SATA cables from the drive before removing it.

2: Unscrew one of the four mounting screws stored in a line on the superdrive's aluminium bracket. Leave the other three, you'll only need one. Put it through the hole at the back of the side with the decorative plate.

3. Put your SSD in the bottom tray, and screw the single screw into one of the holes on the side. Make sure you get the connectors facing the back.

4. Reconnect SATA cables, reassemble computer.

This isn't a perfect method, and isn't the most secure one either, but most people don't move their Mac Pro that much, and its a quick way to save a few bucks. If you're not playing bop-it with your MP, you should be fine.

Hope this helped people like me who've had trouble with their SSD installation.

-A2
 
Or you could buy this OWC adaptadrive which works in the mac pro and is under $20 bucks. I like everything nice and neat... even if i can't see it.
 
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Apple2 said:
If you're like me, you bought an SSD, bought a mounting bracket, only to find out that it doesn't work with Apple's underside mounting. The OWC replacement sleds designed for SSD are too much (30-40 USD), you could get another drive for that much. After having this problem, I fabricated a drive carrier using industrial epoxy. This isn't a solution that most people can use, and it certainly isn't one that I'd care to repeat. After finishing this, unfortunately, I came up with a quick and easy way to mount a single SSD in your Mac Pro.

You'll need your Mac Pro, a little screwdriver (Phillips), and your SSD. The Mac Pro WILL NEED TO HAVE ONLY ONE SUPERDRIVE INSTALLED. If you want, you can pull out the second one.

Here's how to do it:

1: Open the case and remove the tray with the superdrive. Disconnect the SATA cables from the drive before removing it.

2: Unscrew one of the four mounting screws stored in a line on the superdrive's aluminium bracket. Leave the other three, you'll only need one. Put it through the hole at the back of the side with the decorative plate.

3. Put your SSD in the bottom tray, and screw the single screw into one of the holes on the side. Make sure you get the connectors facing the back.

4. Reconnect SATA cables, reassemble computer.

This isn't a perfect method, and isn't the most secure one either, but most people don't move their Mac Pro that much, and its a quick way to save a few bucks. If you're not playing bop-it with your MP, you should be fine.

Hope this helped people like me who've had trouble with their SSD installation.

-A2
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did when I bought my Intel G2, a few years back!;)
 
I just moved the optical drive to the bottom optical slot and set my SSD on top of it with some double-sided foam tape in between. Cheap. Easy. Room for more SSDs up there, too. I also have an SSD in a blue OWC sled. It was $19.95 plus shipping and works perfectly with my 2009/2010.
 
The best thing EVER invented. Just put in ANY RAW drive and you're good to go . It takes large drives and solid state drives. GREAT for back ups. Put a raw drive in and back up and store away.

It's already saved two computers. I plugged in the box with a solid state drive and a CLEAN system. Plugged it into the non functioning computer fired it up, it started from teh external Voyager and it then fixed the drive.

Also I cloned my working hard drive and bring it with me on vacation, and hook it up to a lap top. So I have my entire Desktop with me, PLUS it's safe if anything happens to the original hard drive - That has happened three times already and I was up with the clone in minutes.


This thing is BRILLIANT

http://www.newertech.com/products/voyagerq.php
 
kendall69 said:
The best thing EVER invented. Just put in ANY RAW drive and you're good to go . It takes large drives and solid state drives. GREAT for back ups. Put a raw drive in and back up and store away.

It's already saved two computers. I plugged in the box with a solid state drive and a CLEAN system. Plugged it into the non functioning computer fired it up, it started from teh external Voyager and it then fixed the drive.

Also I cloned my working hard drive and bring it with me on vacation, and hook it up to a lap top. So I have my entire Desktop with me, PLUS it's safe if anything happens to the original hard drive - That has happened three times already and I was up with the clone in minutes.


This thing is BRILLIANT

http://www.newertech.com/products/voyagerq.php
Click to expand...

I've got one of those for reading drives out of some of the computers I work on, but I prefer my startup+data disks to be inside the computer. The Mac Pro case provides more protection for the drive, while the docks can easily be pulled off a table (First hand experience, really bad day...)
 
I still fail to see how someone that can afford to buy an SSD feels the need to cheap out on a proper mounting solution that can be had for less than 20 bucks...
 
JesterJJZ said:
I still fail to see how someone that can afford to buy an SSD feels the need to cheap out on a proper mounting solution that can be had for less than 20 bucks...
Click to expand...

Exactly. I paid all of 15 with 2 day free delivery from Amazon (I'm a prime member) for my icy dock. Seems silly to risk destroying my SSD when a cheap solution exists. It also isnt worth my time rigging up something that takes even a half hour to make for all of $15 saved.
 
If you are gonna' use one of the four trays for your SSD, I concur that the $15-20 mounting solutions are worth it. However, if mounting in the optical bay, I see no reason to go to the trouble of installing anything, unless you move your Mac around a lot. Also, if mounting hardware is not used in the optical bay, one can deposit several SSDSs there.

Remember, they are Solid State Drives... no moving parts. These things don't need to be handled with the care spinners do.
 
DPUser said:
If you are gonna' use one of the four trays for your SSD, I concur that the $15-20 mounting solutions are worth it. However, if mounting in the optical bay, I see no reason to go to the trouble of installing anything, unless you move your Mac around a lot. Also, if mounting hardware is not used in the optical bay, one can deposit several SSDSs there.

Remember, they are Solid State Drives... no moving parts. These things don't need to be handled with the care spinners do.
Click to expand...

How many drives do you need in there? This one holds 3 and costs $15 :D

extremepcgear_2227_5524863
 
Last edited by a moderator:
JesterJJZ said:
I still fail to see how someone that can afford to buy an SSD feels the need to cheap out on a proper mounting solution that can be had for less than 20 bucks...
Click to expand...

yea.... except when people dump that much money, the extra 20 makes them annoyed.

I went with an icy dock for 15 bucks.
 
Phrygian said:
yea.... except when people dump that much money, the extra 20 makes them annoyed.

I went with an icy dock for 15 bucks.
Click to expand...

exactly, there are a few things that i just dont like to pay for. I fabricate stuff whenever possible. Build the equipment cases out of plywood. Coat of black paint and some corners, they look pretty decent, and it saves thousands of dollars
 
kendall69 said:
The best thing EVER invented. Just put in ANY RAW drive and you're good to go . It takes large drives and solid state drives. GREAT for back ups. Put a raw drive in and back up and store away.

It's already saved two computers. I plugged in the box with a solid state drive and a CLEAN system. Plugged it into the non functioning computer fired it up, it started from teh external Voyager and it then fixed the drive.

Also I cloned my working hard drive and bring it with me on vacation, and hook it up to a lap top. So I have my entire Desktop with me, PLUS it's safe if anything happens to the original hard drive - That has happened three times already and I was up with the clone in minutes.

For upper or lower bay mounting I'm partial to OWC's blue anodized aluminum fixtures. Sure they cost a little more but aren't even hidden details important?

This thing is BRILLIANT

http://www.newertech.com/products/voyagerq.php
Click to expand...

I've got two of those sitting on top of my MP. They're connected by FW800 but soon by USB3 or eSATA. They are one of the handiest peripherals I've every owned. I use them constantly.
 
slughead said:
How many drives do you need in there? This one holds 3 and costs $15 :D
Click to expand...

But the Mac Pro uses the bottom mounting screws on a 3.5" HDD and hangs them upside down. Basically you screw a little piece of metal onto the bottom and slide them into the case. There is no room for something like this in the MP case.

And yes, I am probably going to buy one of the OWC sleds in the future. But I didn't feel like waiting for the thing to arrive, nor paying again for something I had already bought.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Apple2 said:
But the Mac Pro uses the bottom mounting screws on a 3.5" HDD and hangs them upside down. Basically you screw a little piece of metal onto the bottom and slide them into the case. There is no room for something like this in the MP case.

And yes, I am probably going to buy one of the OWC sleds in the future. But I didn't feel like waiting for the thing to arrive, nor paying again for something I had already bought.
Click to expand...

That adapter is for a 5.25" bay to hold 3 more hard drives, I thought that was what your original post was about. It is not for a 3.5" sled. For the regular drive sleds I'd just use a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter like ICY doc's or OWC's.
 
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Sorry, it looked like it was in a PC's 3.5" rack in the images. Now someone just needs to come up with a way to get more than two SATA connectors up there without an external card...
 
Apple2 said:
Sorry, it looked like it was in a PC's 3.5" rack in the images. Now someone just needs to come up with a way to get more than two SATA connectors up there without an external card...
Click to expand...

That's easy. Just double-sided tape 3 SSDs together and mount them into one 2.5" to 3.5" adapter frame (don't use the enclosure, just the mounting frames).

Right now I have my SSD stuck to the Mac Pro cover with double-sided foam tape.
 
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