How To: Make your own Mac Pro SSD adapter for $5 or less.

[cjgonzales1900]

No, an OCZ 3.5" adapter for a 2.5" drive will not work in a 5.25" optical bay by itself. You need to add a 3.5" to 5.25" adapter.

Also I was planning on buying a 3.5" SSD Vertex 2 here:
Vertex 2 3.5"
Does anyone know if this will mount into the Mac Pros Sata Bay?

 

[HXGuy]

Also I was planning on buying a 3.5" SSD Vertex 2 here:
Vertex 2 3.5"
Does anyone know if this will mount into the Mac Pros Sata Bay?

Looking just at the picture it should mount just fine. Good price for a 120GB SSD, I paid $220 for the Intel SSD.
How are reviews on the Vertex.

 

[ActionableMango]

Also I was planning on buying a 3.5" SSD Vertex 2 here:
Vertex 2 3.5"
Does anyone know if this will mount into the Mac Pros Sata Bay?

Yes, I have an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD 3.5" and it works perfectly with the Mac Pro hard drive sleds.

If you want to put it in the optical bay as you stated earlier, you'll still need a 3.5" to 5.25" adapter.

 

[scottjua]

Thanks! Did this last night, on my new mac pro and it worked great.

I tried drilling holes and screwing in the SSd to the CD, but the only bolts I have don't match the thread pitch on the SSD body, so I had to use tape.

I tried velcro, but it was too bulky. Tape it is, until, I get the right bolts/screws, and then I'll just mount it with screws.

I also couldn't get my head around $25 adapters...

 

[kudukudu]

HXGuy, I like your second attempt. Are you still planning on doing a write up for this?

 

[Draeconis]

I've just made my own CD-based mount at work, will test it when I get home.

 

[spidey3]

These ideas look great - but I worry about cooling. Would definitely want to drill a bunch of holes in any of those sheets - so that airflow can better reach the SSD enclosure...

 

[Feek]

My SSD just hung in the case on the connector. No problem.

 

[skyton]

Thanks for posting these ideas!
I am thinking about going down the SSD route and don't like the look of the adapters I have found.

 

[Yetihunter]

Zombi Thread Resurrect

Utilizing a SATA connector that is surface mount soldered to a vertical PCB as your only form of support = either you're saudi royalty rich or just plain too careless to deserve a $3k + computer.

Masking tape and compact discs is a ridiculous over expenditure of workmanship. Aside, any sort of tape...not so good an idea.

Those OWC shelves look perfect, but they're $20 a pop; and you already have a sled.

Traditional sleds won't work, because you'll need a sata cable, and there's just not enough clearance without trashing connectors/joints/cable.

But this is all mute.

Looking at an SSD, let's consider the connector side, positioned so that it's at the left (for mac pro connection) the top. The backmost, leftmost mounting hole lines up with the backmost, leftmost mounting screw on the Mac Pro sled. You'll have to remove (and save or toss) the leftmost screws on the Mac Pro sled and obtain the correct size screws for your ssd. Nonetheless, you've got one corner covered, free.

The leftmost right most screw hole on the sled will have to remain a "wash". It won't be used.

For the right side, you're looking for something like this:

http://www.hardwaresource.com/hinges/SPECIALTY+HINGES/Chest+Hinges+-+Box+Hinges+-+Lid+Supports/Toy+Box+Lid+Supports/7-1%7C2%22+Lid+Support

You can remove the extraneous hinge stuffs.

or this

http://www.strapworks.com/Metal_Slides_p/ms-f.htm

The backmost/rightmost mount for the ssd is flush to the sled's mount; so you can use anything that is between 2 and 3 inches in length (5.1 to 7 cm).
For the right most/top most, we have an angle to contend with. The distance is 2 inches (5.1 cm) center to center.

If you own a drill press, or proper drill bits and a steady hand; you can buy flat brackets at the hardware store. They may have oil or lubricant on them, however and are often made of unpainted/treated zinc. Not sure how that will chemically interact inside of the computer.

Buttt, if you own a drill press; you are probably aware that you can always order metal plate from companies like "speedymetal" or "onlinemetals", although, at such a small size, I'd just buy a stainless steel wall plate and adjust from there.

I recently grabbed some pre-drilled brackets from the hinge section of a hardware store. They matched up, so I'll chime in if it works. I'd have preferred a flat hinge ala my example, but know one around carries them for some reason.

 

[phpmaven]

Utilizing a SATA connector that is surface mount soldered to a vertical PCB as your only form of support = either you're saudi royalty rich or just plain too careless to deserve a $3k + computer.

Masking tape and compact discs is a ridiculous over expenditure of workmanship. Aside, any sort of tape...not so good an idea.

Those OWC shelves look perfect, but they're $20 a pop; and you already have a sled.

Traditional sleds won't work, because you'll need a sata cable, and there's just not enough clearance without trashing connectors/joints/cable.

But this is all mute.

Looking at an SSD, let's consider the connector side, positioned so that it's at the left (for mac pro connection) the top. The backmost, leftmost mounting hole lines up with the backmost, leftmost mounting screw on the Mac Pro sled. You'll have to remove (and save or toss) the leftmost screws on the Mac Pro sled and obtain the correct size screws for your ssd. Nonetheless, you've got one corner covered, free.

The leftmost right most screw hole on the sled will have to remain a "wash". It won't be used.

For the right side, you're looking for something like this:

http://www.hardwaresource.com/hinges/SPECIALTY+HINGES/Chest+Hinges+-+Box+Hinges+-+Lid+Supports/Toy+Box+Lid+Supports/7-1%7C2%22+Lid+Support

You can remove the extraneous hinge stuffs.

or this

http://www.strapworks.com/Metal_Slides_p/ms-f.htm

The backmost/rightmost mount for the ssd is flush to the sled's mount; so you can use anything that is between 2 and 3 inches in length (5.1 to 7 cm).
For the right most/top most, we have an angle to contend with. The distance is 2 inches (5.1 cm) center to center.

If you own a drill press, or proper drill bits and a steady hand; you can buy flat brackets at the hardware store. They may have oil or lubricant on them, however and are often made of unpainted/treated zinc. Not sure how that will chemically interact inside of the computer.

Buttt, if you own a drill press; you are probably aware that you can always order metal plate from companies like "speedymetal" or "onlinemetals", although, at such a small size, I'd just buy a stainless steel wall plate and adjust from there.

I recently grabbed some pre-drilled brackets from the hinge section of a hardware store. They matched up, so I'll chime in if it works. I'd have preferred a flat hinge ala my example, but know one around carries them for some reason.

I'm not sure why you're resurrecting a year old thread but, why would anybody go through all this trouble to try and Micky Mouse something when you can get an Icy Dock adapter, which is great (I have 3), for $15?

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

Here's my ghetto mount till my OWC Mount Pros come in

 

[Yetihunter]

I believe it's called: bad reaction to meds. :0

Ps - I totally just bought osx sleds.

I'm not sure why you're resurrecting a year old thread but, why would anybody go through all this trouble to try and Micky Mouse something when you can get an Icy Dock adapter, which is great (I have 3), for $15?

 

[annalivia]

SSD adapter for even less $

This describes a DIY adapter for a 2'5 SSD mounting in a standard MacPro-bay.
Time: 20 minutes.
Cost: less to nothing
Level: if you can hold a drill you’ll succeed!

Details: leaves no permanent marks on your Mac or any accessories.
What you’ll need:

materials:
-aluminium sheet, 90 x 105 mm, thickness around 0.5 mm
This sheet material should be sturdy, but somehow flexible as well.
(I took mine from an old fridge-door…)
-2 bolts for the SSD (M3-size for the Samsung I was about to install)
-2 nuts and bolts M5 (for the MacPro-bay)

Tools:
-knife-cutter
-drill
-screwdriver

This how to:
Refer to the drawing below. This has a 5mm grid.

1. Cut the alu-sheet to size with the knife-cutter.

2. drill 2 holes 3.5m

3. drill 2 holes 5mm
Use a file to smooth any irregularities. Now keep your work area free from any aluminium particles messing up delicate electronics!

4. mount the SSD with the two M3 bolts.
(after you've seen the final result, you will understand you won't need the other 2 bolts)
Now you have your SSD-base ready.

Next:
5. Remove the bolts (and its rubbers) from the MacPro-bay
(the rubbers prevent vibration from a HDD-drive; SSD won't need this)

6. Fix the SSD-base to the MacPro-bay with two M5-nuts and bolts.
Align and fix, according to any other available HDD-bay from your Mac.

7. Now retract your SSD-bay carefully in your Mac. Don’t force!
When it doesn’t fit easily, try to re-align your SSD-base and try again.
Mine worked flawless at first attempt!

 

[h4lp m3]

Had to redo the whole site as it wasn't showing up properly in my browsers.
Can you guys let me know if it shows up ok on your end and what browser you are using?

http://www.macprossdinstall.com/Mac_Pro_SSD_Install.html

And it STILL doesn't show up! FAIL N00B!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

And it STILL doesn't show up! FAIL N00B!

You replied to a dead, 4 year old thread, and you're calling HIM a N00B?