Any internal HDD limitations for Mac Pro 3,1?

[isisism]

I was just about to buy a 6tb internal hdd - non-boot, I have an SSD boot drive - and was wondering if there are any limitations as to size, cache, mounting holes, etc. of any drives I need to consider?

I'm looking to buy a WD Black 6tb - WD6002FZWX:

• 6TB Storage Capacity
• 3.5" Form Factor
• SATA III 6 Gb/s Interface
• 128MB Cache

 

[Zlobnick]

6+ TB drives usually have different mounting holes. Google it out. You can even buy appropriate drive brackets for your MacPro. But that can be easily fixed with duct tape because 2 of 4 screws actually align

 

[isisism]

6+ TB drives usually have different mounting holes. Google it out. You can even buy appropriate drive brackets for your MacPro. But that can be easily fixed with duct tape because 2 of 4 screws actually align

Thanks. I searched and found little info, but did see something about mounting holes on an 8tb Seagate drive being a bit off. So would a WD 4tb Black have the same mounting holes I need? I can just do 4tb, though the 6tb is at the sweet price point right now.

So only the mounting holes are an issue? Don't have to worry about the specs?

Don't want to spend much money on this system unless it's stuff I can take into a new system once it die.

 

[Zlobnick]

I've never seen 4TB drives that won't fit natively in any MacPro (except Trashcan, of course). With 6TB and up - I have. 6 TB Toshiba drives have this new holes scheme, and sure 8 TB Seagates.

Capacity shouldn't be an issue, I have several 8TB drives in both 2,1 and 5,1 machines and they all work fine. There could be some problems with some older external docking stations and enclosures with 4TB+ drives though, but that's a whole another issue. And it's not Mac related issue.

 

[nigelbb]

Even if you get one of the 6/8TB drives that has the new mounting layout at least two of the screws match up. I have 3x8TB drives in my 2008 Mac Pro 3,1 each secured with two screws & some gaffer tape.

You can buy new sleds from OWC to accommodate these drives for the 4,1/5,1 but these will not fit a 3,1.