Mac Pro 3.1 - SSD PCIe Upgrade Help!

[edhgreatone]

Hi I have a early 2008 Mac Pro 3.1 and I'm expanding the ram from 12gb to 16gb and also upgrading to a OWC Accelsior S SATA III 1 TB PCIe SSD. I have a few questions and could use help. I've done quite a few searches and none of them complete address my questions. I'm running Captain OS I believe.

I want this SSD to be my primary boot up drive. My understanding is you can hold down the option key and select it upon boot up and then also change it in settings. I don't get how you can select the SSD as a boot up drive when the OS isn't even installed on it?

1. Do I have to clone the old HD to SSD in order to use as a permanent boot up drive
2. Which PCIe slot is a 16 pin? Apparently the 2008 models have 2 PCI 2.0's a 1 PCI 1.0

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated, I don't want to mess anything up!

 

[OS6-OSX]

A couple of things while you are in the waiting room.
1. Go to Apple (see photo)

to get OS info and a few other specs
2. A site to look at until the calvary comes. https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-eight-core-2.8-2008-specs.html

 

[edhgreatone]

A couple of things while you are in the waiting room.
1. Go to Apple (see photo) View attachment 806385 to get OS info and a few other specs
2. A site to look at until the calvary comes. https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-eight-core-2.8-2008-specs.html

Thanks for that info - you system looks fully upgraded!

I am still looking for figure out basic info on the SSD install. Any specific info would be great.

 

[barmann]

If you google 'mac pro 3.1 pcie ssd' , and 'OWC Accelsior S mac pro 3.1' you'll find a bunch of info .
Also some discussions on possible issues with a PCIe boot drive in the MP 3.1 .

As for cloning your OS installation to any new drive - yes, you need to do it to use it as the system drive .
There are different ways to do so, I prefer a new OSX install and using migration assistant to transfer the old data .

Sorry for not being more specific, but you seem to lack a lot of basic knowledge - no offense - and explaining it all in detail would make a very long posting ...

Fear not though, it's not rocket science and with a little research you'll get it done in no time .

 

[edhgreatone]

If you google 'mac pro 3.1 pcie ssd' , and 'OWC Accelsior S mac pro 3.1' you'll find a bunch of info .
Also some discussions on possible issues with a PCIe boot drive in the MP 3.1 .

As for cloning your OS installation to any new drive - yes, you need to do it to use it as the system drive .
There are different ways to do so, I prefer a new OSX install and using migration assistant to transfer the old data .

Sorry for not being more specific, but you seem to lack a lot of basic knowledge - no offense - and explaining it all in detail would make a very long posting ...

Fear not though, it's not rocket science and with a little research you'll get it done in no time .

Thanks how about we start with some basics then?

Step 1 install need card into PCIe slot (my guess is the 16 one is labeled somewhere correct?)

Step 2 hold down option while booting up and select new drive as boot drive? Does a fresh install of the os download onto the new drive? Or do I have to reformat drive before I can use it?

Just a couple basics questions here and googling is coming up with a lot of custom builds and things that aren’t applicable.

 

[barmann]

Thanks how about we start with some basics then?

Step 1 install need card into PCIe slot (my guess is the 16 one is labeled somewhere correct?)

Step 2 hold down option while booting up and select new drive as boot drive? Does a fresh install of the os download onto the new drive? Or do I have to reformat drive before I can use it?

Just a couple basics questions here and googling is coming up with a lot of custom builds and things that aren’t applicable.

Step 1 : Install OWC Accelsior S in any free PCIe slot . ( make sure an SSD drive is mounted to it - the Accelsior S is just a carrier/adapter ) . Don't worry about 16x etc. , the MP 3.1 will deliver SATA III speed from any slot .

Step 2 : Format the new SSD in disk utility, choose Mac OS Extended . It will be an empty hard drive .
Empty as in nothing there, no system or data .

Step 3 : Copy/clone/install+migrate your current system from your old hard drive to the new SSD .
( Google 'clone osx to new hard drive' or such ) .
It does not happen on its own by some sort of magic , you need to do it by yourself ...

Step 4 : Restart holding down the option key, select the system on the new SSD .

Step 5 : In system preferences , go to Startup Disk, select your new SSD, restart .

Step 6 : Done .

 

[edhgreatone]

Step 1 : Install OWC Accelsior S in any free PCIe slot . ( make sure an SSD drive is mounted to it - the Accelsior S is just a carrier/adapter ) . Don't worry about 16x etc. , the MP 3.1 will deliver SATA III speed from any slot .

Step 2 : Format the new SSD in disk utility, choose Mac OS Extended . It will be an empty hard drive .
Empty as in nothing there, no system or data .

Step 3 : Copy/clone/install+migrate your current system from your old hard drive to the new SSD .
( Google 'clone osx to new hard drive' or such ) .
It does not happen on its own by some sort of magic , you need to do it by yourself ...

Step 4 : Restart holding down the option key, select the system on the new SSD .

Step 5 : In system preferences , go to Startup Disk, select your new SSD, restart .

Step 6 : Done .

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for thanks so much.

Question on #3 - can I use time machine to restore and install OS X onto the new SSD?

And lastly when all steps are complete, what’s the easiest way to verify I am using the SSD as the new boot/system drive?