hard drive swap, 2008 to 2012 MacPro

[DeltaMac]

Is there any hardware difference that would prevent just sliding a drive sled out of a 2008 MacPro3,1 and it will mount and work simply by sliding that same sled (with hard drive attached) into a 2012 MacPro5,1?

Or - is the only way for the hardware (the hard drive) to function is to swap sleds, too?

(I'm trying to make this a simple fix for a friend of mine, trying to help him out, and I can't see the two MacPros over the phone. )

 

[ActionableMango]

Unfortunately the drive sleds for those two model years are different.

 

[flowrider]

Yes, the sleds are different. AMHIK. The 3,1 sled is shorter then the 4,1 and 5,1 sled.

Lou

 

[AidenShaw]

Is there any hardware difference that would prevent just sliding a drive sled out of a 2008 MacPro3,1 and it will mount and work simply by sliding that same sled (with hard drive attached) into a 2012 MacPro5,1?

Or - is the only way for the hardware (the hard drive) to function is to swap sleds, too?

(I'm trying to make this a simple fix for a friend of mine, trying to help him out, and I can't see the two MacPros over the phone. )

I would look on this as an opportunity to migrate from an 8 year old drive to a brand new one.

 

[DeltaMac]

I would look on this as an opportunity to migrate from an 8 year old drive to a brand new one.

Yeah, I would agree, but the problem now appears to be that my buddy has a work 2012, and wants to take the 2012 data drive home to use in his 2008. The connector area of the hard drive won't engage the receptacle in the 2008, and is prevented by the hard drive temp sensor, mounted between each set of hard drive connectors on the 2008. THAT single hard drive from the 2012 MP has connectors that just won't fit in the 2008, because of physical interference with the temp sensor.
So, not an 8 year old hard drive.

I'm trying to get him to use an external SATA dock, if his work won't let him replace the drive because of the connectors.

 

[nigelbb]

Yeah, I would agree, but the problem now appears to be that my buddy has a work 2012, and wants to take the 2012 data drive home to use in his 2008. The connector area of the hard drive won't engage the receptacle in the 2008, and is prevented by the hard drive temp sensor, mounted between each set of hard drive connectors on the 2008. THAT single hard drive from the 2012 MP has connectors that just won't fit in the 2008, because of physical interference with the temp sensor.
So, not an 8 year old hard drive.

I'm trying to get him to use an external SATA dock, if his work won't let him replace the drive because of the connectors.

The drives themselves will fit it's just the sled that doesn't. The only physical difference in all the years that SATA disks have been shipping is that some 8TB disks have different locations for the mounting screws. As this sounds like a temporary arrangement it's probably too much hassle to unscrew from the 5,1 sled & fit the disks in the 3,1 sled so just get some SATA extension cables & run them from inside the Mac with the side panel off to the disks sitting on top of the case.