MP 7,1 Best internal storage bracket options for 2019 Mac Pro?

[ZombiePhysicist]

I'm currently using the Pegasus J2i bracket:

Promise Pegasus J2i 8TB Internal Storage Enclosure for Mac Pro

Promise Pegasus J2i two-drive internal storage enclosure delivers 8TB of SATA storage for your Mac Pro. This module can be installed in your Mac Pro and connects to the main logic board with included cables. You also have space to add a second 3.5-inch SATA drive to your system.

www.apple.com

I currently have a 3.5" 16TB spinner and a 2.5" (with a 2.5->3.5 adapter) 15TB U2 SSD in there.

I was hoping to find a bracket that could hold those 2 drives and maybe one more 2.5" SATA drive for boot camp use. If it held 2 more 2.5" drives that would be even more awesome.

Does anyone know of any brackets that might accomplish that?

Also, are there some cool brackets you're enjoying and like, and think they are particularly good?

If so, please share and thank you!

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I just found these, seems transient.com has a few interesting options:

PRO CADDY V INTERNAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS For NEW MAC PRO 2019 Archives - TransIntl

www.transintl.com

This two are kind of interesting:

Pro Caddy V New Mac Pro 2019 Five(5) Internal drive solution 1 x 3.5-inch HDD + 4 x 2.5-inch SSD - TransIntl

You have the option of adding five more internal drives. Please choose from the following options below. You can choose up to (1) 3.5" HDD and up to (4) 2.5" SSD Drives. Enter quantities below.

www.transintl.com

Pro Caddy V New Mac Pro 2019 Ten(10) Internal drive solution 10 x 2.5-inch SSD - TransIntl

You have the option of adding ten more internal drives. Please choose from the following options below. You can choose up to (10) 2.5" SSD Drives. Enter quantities below.

www.transintl.com

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

And I found this Sonnet 3 drive mount:

Fusion Flex J3i (3-drive mounting system for 2019 or 2023 Mac Pro)

3-drive mounting system for 2019 Mac Pro. Add your own hard drives or SSDs to addd up to 36TB of storage.

www.sonnetstore.com

 

[prefuse07]

Yeah, I almost bought the transintl one, but just went with sonnet instead. The sonnet is great for what it is...

In my J3i I have:

1. My Time Machine HDD -- a 4TB Toshiba from like 2014 (solid as a tank)
2. My Windows SSD -- a Crucial MX500 2TB SSD
3. My Gaming SSD -- a Crucial MX300 750GB SSD

Time Machine and Windows are both connected via SATA, and the Gaming drive is connected via USB 3.0

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Did you go with the sonnet because it's more compact vertically and more kind of teh same size as the J2i?

I wonder what the transintl brackets, seem to be taller and if that doesnt affect air flow.

Also, they have 2 kinds of brackets I could use (see below).

In their I should take the one that can use up to 5 drives, but the spacing between the 4 2.5" drives is pretty tight, and my U2 2.5" drive is pretty fat, so it might not fit properly there. Cant tell. My hope would be that the U2 drive might just take up 2 slots, but that would leave me with 2 more slots. one for boot camp, and then one extra for whatever, if I need expansion.

But, if I choose the other bracket, it would have more room for the U2 to breathe, and I imagine that drive could use it as it's my main drive. But if I choose just the 3 drive bracket, then I start thinking about the sonnet bracket you got as it seems more compact. Then again, not sure if the tightness is a feature or a bug depending on the heat from the drives...

 

[prefuse07]

I went with sonnet for some (kinda stupid reasons, lol)

1. Being that sonnet is in SoCal -- it would arrive here in the Bay Area quicker. lol I know...
2. I only have 3 drives, and the nMP only has 2 SATA + the single USB 3.0. I am not sure how transintl gets around these with their cables -- do they daisychain them? can you even do that? How would they connect more than 3 drives to the nMP board?

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I went with sonnet for some (kinda stupid reasons, lol)

1. Being that sonnet is in SoCal -- it would arrive here in the Bay Area quicker. lol I know...
2. I only have 3 drives, and the nMP only has 2 SATA + the single USB 3.0. I am not sure how transintl gets around these with their cables -- do they daisychain them? can you even do that? How would they connect more than 3 drives to the nMP board?

Good question. They dont seem to provide cables, which is another check box in favor of the sonnet. My guess is you get a SATA adapter card and get your own cabling for the extra drives?

 

[prefuse07]

Good question. They dont seem to provide cables, which is another check box in favor of the sonnet. My guess is you get a SATA adapter card and get your own cabling for the extra drives?

But the nMP board only has 2x SATA ports and the single USB 3.0 one, so how would you connect more than 3 drives?

Can you daisychain SATA?

Maybe there is a SATA>PCIe cable? *shrug*

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

But the nMP board only has 2x SATA ports and the single USB 3.0 one, so how would you connect more than 3 drives?

Can you daisychain SATA?

Maybe there is a SATA>PCIe cable? *shrug*

Yeah, I almost bought the transintl one, but just went with sonnet instead. The sonnet is great for what it is...

In my J3i I have:

1. My Time Machine HDD -- a 4TB Toshiba from like 2014 (solid as a tank)
2. My Windows SSD -- a Crucial MX500 2TB SSD
3. My Gaming SSD -- a Crucial MX300 750GB SSD

Time Machine and Windows are both connected via SATA, and the Gaming drive is connected via USB 3.0

Hmmm, Jesus I didnt think about that. I might need a USB hub or something in there!

I have a U2 drive, but I think it's jerry rigged in there and needs the internal SATA port it!!?!

Mac Pro support for NVMe U2 Micron 9300 Pro 15.36TB U.2 Drive SSD?

Ok so I got the drive. I got a bracket and it all seems to fit in decently tidy. Some pics: So I have the Pegasus J2i in there. Swapped the useless 8TB for a 16TB spinner. I got a 3.5" to 2.5" bracket. One note, the screws in the J2i that hold larger drives, are too big for both the 2.5"/3.5"...

forums.macrumors.com

I'd have 3 drives total:

15TB U2 (partially plugged into SATA for power, other part into U2 control card)
16TB spinner plugged into U2

Yea, I guess I would use the USB3 port cable thing to power the 3rd drive for bootcamp, so it should work.

 

[prefuse07]

Here is my setup:

 

[prefuse07]

It looks like some of your other PCIe slots are available -- maybe you can just slap your bootcamp drive in there with an OWC Accelsior S?

Then again, it appears you aren't using that USB 3.0 plug, so the J3i does make sense...

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

It looks like some of your other PCIe slots are available -- maybe you can just slap your bootcamp drive in there with an OWC Accelsior S?

Then again, it appears you aren't using that USB 3.0 plug, so the J3i does make sense...

True and good point. It’s so nice to have so many options! Love this machine.

 

[PineappleCake]

Here is my setup:

View attachment 2177467

View attachment 2177468

man, that 7,1 is a work of art. Much more than the 6,1 and 5,1 were. So happy the rumours point to the 8,1 being the same case.

Yo, @ZombiePhysicist. Here's a good one and I want to get this in the future as well.

A ADWITS Quad M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe X16 Adapter,ASM2824 PCI Express 3.0 X16 Switch to 4 Ports M.2 Adapter Card,Supports RAID,PCIe Bifurcation,4 X4 NVMe(AHCI Compatible)M.2 SSD in Size 2242/2260/2280/22110

A ADWITS Quad M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe X16 Adapter,ASM2824 PCI Express 3.0 X16 Switch to 4 Ports M.2 Adapter Card,Supports RAID,PCIe Bifurcation,4 X4 NVMe(AHCI Compatible)M.2 SSD in Size 2242/2260/2280/22110

www.amazon.com.au

EDIT: Ahh you said for 2.5" drives. This is for M.2 drives but maybe usful if ever want M.2 drives.

Another reason why PCIe slots are important. So much STORAGE :0

 

[tsialex]

Yo, @ZombiePhysicist. Here's a good one and I want to get this in the future as well.

A ADWITS Quad M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe X16 Adapter,ASM2824 PCI Express 3.0 X16 Switch to 4 Ports M.2 Adapter Card,Supports RAID,PCIe Bifurcation,4 X4 NVMe(AHCI Compatible)M.2 SSD in Size 2242/2260/2280/22110

A ADWITS Quad M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe X16 Adapter,ASM2824 PCI Express 3.0 X16 Switch to 4 Ports M.2 Adapter Card,Supports RAID,PCIe Bifurcation,4 X4 NVMe(AHCI Compatible)M.2 SSD in Size 2242/2260/2280/22110

www.amazon.com.au

EDIT: Ahh you said for 2.5" drives. This is for M.2 drives but maybe usful if ever want M.2 drives.

Another reason why PCIe slots are important. So much STORAGE :0

This ADWITS card is known to NOT work with Macs, multiple people tested it with MacPro5,1 and MacPro7,1 and it's even listed on the do not buy list of the stickie thread:

PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

This is a general info thread for blade SSDs that can be used in the Mac Pro. This is a WikiPost so anyone with the proper credentials may edit it. NVMe SSDs can be used as a boot drive in the MP5,1 and MP6,1 with the latest firmware installed (beginning with version 140.0.0.0.0 for MP5,1 and...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[PineappleCake]

This ADWITS card is known to NOT work with Macs, multiple people tested it with MacPro5,1 and MacPro7,1 and it's even listed on the do not buy list of the stickie thread:

PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

This is a general info thread for blade SSDs that can be used in the Mac Pro. This is a WikiPost so anyone with the proper credentials may edit it. NVMe SSDs can be used as a boot drive in the MP5,1 and MP6,1 with the latest firmware installed (beginning with version 140.0.0.0.0 for MP5,1 and...

forums.macrumors.com

Thanks for that. I wonder why?? Are drivers the issue?

 

[flowrider]

Promise Pegasus J2i Alternative？

Are any 3rd party parts available yet? Because really don't need that 8TB drive. and the cable and cage should not be very hard to make for companies like OWC In Mac Pro 5,1 era is there any similar Alternative? When about those 3rd party parts come out after the Mac Pro 5,1 release?

forums.macrumors.com

SSD and spinning drives for Fusion Flex J3i?

I just threw my money down on the Fusion Flex J3i (3-drive Mounting System for 2019 Mac Pro). I'm thinking of either 2 SSD 4TB and one spinning 4 TB for back up, or 2 spinning drives and one SSD. Suggestions for which drives best to get or stay away from with the 2019 Mac Pro?

forums.macrumors.com

Lou