List of SATA SSDs known [not] to work in iMac G5s and Power Mac G5s

[Amethyst1]

This post aims to consolidate information on which SATA SSDs have been tested to work fine using the Power Mac G5’s and iMac G5’s on-board SATA ports. This isn't just limited to SATA III SSDs. Any SATA SSD that's been successfully used in a G5 can be listed here.

List of SSDs known to work in G5s

Manufacturer	Model & Capacity	Controller	SATA Interface	G5 model	Notes
OWC	120GB Mercury Electra 3G [2.5"]	SandForce SF-????	SATA II	A1047 (mid 2004) DP 2.0GHz	serves as boot drive
OWC	500GB Mercury Electra 6G [2.5"]	SandForce SF-????	SATA II	(late 2005) Quad Core 2.5GHz
Intel	160GB 320 Series [2.5"]	Intel 320 (G3?)	SATA II	(late 2005) Quad Core 2.5GHz
Kingston	240GB SA400S3	Phison PS3111-S11 ???	SATA III	(late 2005) Quad Core 2.5GHz	tested with GRUB / Linux
OCZ	120GB Vertex 3	SandForce SF2281	SATA III	PowerMac11,2

List of SSDs known NOT to work in G5s

Manufacturer	Model & Capacity	Controller	SATA Interface	G5 model	Notes
Intel	180GB Pro 2500 Series [2.5"]	?	SATA III	Aug 2004 iMac G5 1.8GHz	Not visible in the internal SATA-bus. Does work and boot when installed in external FW case.
Crucial	500GB MX500	Silicon Motion SM2259	SATA III	PowerMac7,3 and PowerMac11,2

 

[joevt]

Maybe include list of SSDs known to not work properly in Power Mac G5s.

 

[Amethyst1]

Maybe include list of SSDs known to not work properly in Power Mac G5s.

I’ll add a second table. Thanks for the hint. 👍

 

[haralds]

I added my Mac Mini config, which should also work in G5.

 

[Amethyst1]

I added my Mac Mini config, which should also work in G5.

Since the G5s use a different chipset and don’t require a PATA-to-SATA bridge, that is not a given. The thread is meant to list configurations that are known (not) to work in G5s. I have moved your config to this thread, however.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

I bought two 500GB Mercury Electra 3G for my Late 2005 PowerMac G5 2.0 MP, and the system will not boot with them connected. I used them with and with a NewTech SATA 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor as well. I can boot into the OS copy I made using a Firewire drive, and can boot the 10.5 Install DVD as long as they SSDs are not connect. An old SATA hard drive works fine. It doesn't matter if it's one of both SSDs either.

 

[amishallin]

Samsung 870 doesn't work. I've tried 1TB and 512GB (from a gaming PC that was upgraded). They will sometimes show up in Disk Utility and can be formatted but disappear on reboot... may show up again in 5 or more reboots still containing things copied to them previously.

My quad (built-in SATA) currently has 2 2TB OWC Electra 3G drives and they work great. The NewerTech AdaptaDrive thing works too... just need longer bolts to fit the goofy drive bay rails.

The OWC Electra drives seem to be the best for compatibility. Have these in a QuickSilver G4, B&W G3 and even a Performa 6300 with their adapter. The G3 and G4 are using Sonnet Tempo SATA cards... no SATA/ATA adapter and are bootable.

 

[svamethyst99]

seagate za500cm10002 500GB SSD does not work in a G5. i have a 600GB intel 320 on the way that i got for a little under $20 which was quite a steal and i'll see if that works in mine.

 

[Project Alice]

I just connected an SSD to my Mystic G4 with an SIL3114 SATA controller card. It was already using the SATA card as a boot device for the last like 5 years with a HDD.
I’ve had nothing but random problems since connecting the SSD. Leopard refuses to install on it, I tried 3 different installers and they all get about half way before failing saying the source media is damaged.
Cloning Leopard from the HDD that was already in it using CCC.. It just, “completes” without copying any data whatsoever.

Tiger however installed just fine, until updating to 10.4.11 then it KP’s randomly when booting.
It’s a Crucial 240GB, which I think is the MX series like the one listed not working in a G5. It might be a CX. I stuck it in the ZIP drive slot so I can’t readily look at it right this second.

Edit: it’s a 240GB Crucial BX500

Could this have anything to do with the SSD not functioning properly on a SATA I controller, much like when connected to G5s?

 

[Project Alice]

I’ve just got my OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD installed in my iSight G5, and it is not recognized whatsoever. Glad I spent the time taking this thing apart.

Now I have a SATA II SSD with no purpose.

 

[joevt]

I’ve just got my OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD installed in my iSight G5, and it is not recognized whatsoever. Glad I spent the time taking this thing apart.

Now I have a SATA II SSD with no purpose.

I think it should have worked according to their website:
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades...mension_ssd_sshd_or_hdd_91=SSD#top-of-results
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades...mension_ssd_sshd_or_hdd_91=SSD#top-of-results
Does the drive work in anything else?
Have they changed the specs or chips of the SSD since they created these pages?
Are you using a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter? Is it seated correctly? Does the SSD and adapter work in a 3.5" SSD enclosure?

 

[Project Alice]

I think it should have worked according to their website:
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades...mension_ssd_sshd_or_hdd_91=SSD#top-of-results
https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades...mension_ssd_sshd_or_hdd_91=SSD#top-of-results
Does the drive work in anything else?
Have they changed the specs or chips of the SSD since they created these pages?
Are you using a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter? Is it seated correctly? Does the SSD and adapter work in a 3.5" SSD enclosure?

It works fine in my USB 3 enclosure. I actually used that to clone the internal HDD first.

I was using a 2.5” to 3.5” adapter, but I tested this out before putting the iMac back together, because I suspected this.
I tried first with the adapter and then I plugged it in without the adapter. Not recognized either way.
I booted the iMac from netboot to see if it was recognized. Under system profiler, SATA showed no SATA devices present.

The adapter is an Orico 2.5 to 3.5”. I know it works because I took it out of my Mac Pro for this.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve changed chipsets or firmware in the years since.

I ended up sticking a 10,000 RPM HDD I had laying around in the iMac G5. It’s louder, but it’s faster; and I was unsure of the original drive’s reliability because it would occasionally do weird things.
But I think it would be good for others to know, the OWC mercury 3G might not be a valid option anymore.

This was my second OWC Mercury 3G. I returned the first one. I wanted to be sure it wasn’t a bad one. The original one I had wasn’t recognized in a G5 tower. It was recognized in a G4 with a SATA controller card, but didn’t work right. So thats two same model SSDs tested not working in three different PPC Macs.
I might see if I have an early Intel Mac that needs an SSD. Don’t really know what else to do with it.

 

[joevt]

Don’t really know what else to do with it.

Connect it to a IDE to SATA adapter for an older Power Mac?

 

[Project Alice]

Connect it to a IDE to SATA adapter for an older Power Mac?

Eh. I don’t like those. I use them in laptops because there’s not really a choice.
I might need one in a MacBook, I think I have an SSHD hybrid drive in my black one.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

I’ve just got my OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD installed in my iSight G5, and it is not recognized whatsoever. Glad I spent the time taking this thing apart.

Now I have a SATA II SSD with no purpose.

Are you still within the return period? Either way, OWC has really good support, I would reach out to them to see what they have to say about it. Maybe there was a firmware on the drive that broke compatibility, maybe they could send you a different drive. If not, you should be able to get a firewater enclosure off of eBay, then you can either boot off of that, or use the drive is for extra storage.(it’s not a perfect answer, but at least it wouldn’t be wasted.).

 

[jktwice]

I know it isn’t a SSD but an Apple OEM Seagate ST31000528AS I picked up doesn’t work at all in the Power Mac G5. I find this to be really interesting because it is a SATA 2 drive and I kinda expected it to just work because of that fact.

Also does anyone know the part number for the rubberized screws you put in to mount the hard drives? Thank you!