Internal SATA cables for SSD

[macstatic]

I'm planning to add a second SSD (the first one is placed in the lower optical bay connected to the unused SATA connector already there) and I'm not sure which cables to get. Both SSDs will be placed in a metal bracket I've mounted in the lower optical bay.

Currently I have one drive bay unused, so I could connect a SATA cable there, or I could run a cable from one of the internal SATA connectors of my SIL-3132 PCIe SATA card (pictured below).
Specifically, which cables do I need to get for those two options, and does the narrow connector which goes to the SATA card supply power for the SSD as well?

 

[DPUser]

You'll need a separate power cable for the SSD.

I used a power cable splitter to divide the power portion of the Optical Bay combo SATA/Power cable into two headers wheich connect to the two SSDs, then disconnected the SATA portion of this cable at the motherboard and ran a regular SATA cable from the MoBo up to the optical bay for one SSD, and another SATA cable from a PCIe card like yours for a second SSD.

Another option is to simply ditch the optical drive and connect your two SSDs in the optical bay using the exisitng connections available there.

 

[macstatic]

Would that be something like this? (image linked from here):

As for the data connector, would that be a cable with a 7-pin SATA connector at each end? Like one of these:

 

[Loa]

Hello,

Any SATA power splitter will do, but for the data cable, make sure you get a cable that is 1 meter long (39 inches). Regular 3 feet cables will be a very tight fit, and I'm not even sure that it will fit.

Loa

 

[macstatic]

Oops -just ordered a 50cm cable!
Using a tape measure I found that to be sufficient from the SATA PCIe card to the optical drive bay. I figure I can pass it through one of the openings on the side of the optical drive cage. Would I have to pass it behind the main board/power supply etc. instead? I can probably change my order if I need to.

I also ordered this power splitter which I intend to plug into the existing SSD, then plug the unused optical drive #2 SATA connector into the adapter. I hope the power connectors are the right type for that other SSD, allowing room for the separate SATA data cable (the 50cm one).

 

[DPUser]

Oops -just ordered a 50cm cable!
Using a tape measure I found that to be sufficient from the SATA PCIe card to the optical drive bay. I figure I can pass it through one of the openings on the side of the optical drive cage.

That's what I did.

 

[macstatic]

I'm scratching my head trying to find out what you mean by looking through the various SATA cables/adapters widely available.

Are you saying that you disconnected the cable which goes from the upper optical drive on the motherboard itself? I've only had my Mac Pro for a short time, so what would I need to open/disassemble in order to get to that connection? Are there any other power connectors available which are easier to get to and can be split into two?

 

[DPUser]

Here's what I did to connect 3 SSDs which all reside in the optical bay:

SSD1 simply replaced the optical drive. It uses one of the "combo" SATA/Power connectors available in the optical bay.

SSD2 and SSD3 take their power from the second optical bay "combo" connector into which is plugged a power splitter like the one you ordered. I had to remove some plastic tabs from the splitter male(single) connector to allow it to mate properly with the "combo" power connector.

When the power cable is plugged in to the "combo" connector, the "combo" SATA conection is blocked and cannot be used. I unplugged the other end of the SATA portion of the "combo" connector from the Mac Pro motherboard and replaced the SATA connection with a standard SATA cable routed from the motherboard back into the optical bay. It provides the SATA connection for SSD2

SSD3 SATA is connected via another SATA cable which runs to a PCIe card similar to yours.

capisce?

 

[macstatic]

Aha!
Forgive me for seeming a bit "slow"
I'm more of a visual person, so I opened up my machine to take a look (I'll upload photos later in case others are interested) and understand what you mean now. Here's one I took which shows the optical drives' individual SATA connectors and combined power connector.

 

[macstatic]

Success!
After waiting forever for my new SSD, cables etc. to arrive I finally installed everything and it all works! There's only one problem.... the Mac Pro door won't close! Apparently there's no room for any cables (even flat ones) between the door and the case

So for those of you who have done this before: where did you route the SATA cables? I've got a Mac Pro 5.1 (2010). I hope I won't have to open everything up in order to place the cables behind the motherboard.

 

[macstatic]

I'm the OP with a couple of updates to the above.

Loa was absolutely right about the SATA cable length! 50cm was too short.
This is what I originally did (with a red 50cm SATA data cable as shown here):

That worked, but was a tight fit (both to the SATA PCIe card and to the SSD placed in the optical bay).
So what I've done now is remove the red 50cm cable, then place two 1m long SATA data cables from the PCIe SATA card, into the small opening on the left hand side of the computer which leads to the optical bay compartment (you have to remove the "floor" of the optical bay as well) and alongside the two existing "lower" and "upper" SATA cables:

So now I have 3 additional SATA connectors in the "lower" optical drive bay (2 from the SATA PCIe card, one from the existing "lower" bay device)!
I probably need to add an additional power splitter for adding power to the 3rd device, but other than that the only minor irritation is the need for adding a new SATA data cable from the "lower" connector on the cMP backplane board (see photo in posting #9) whereas I'd prefer just using the SATA connector already there (an additional 3 SATA cables going into the optical bay takes a fair bit of room although doable).