Recommended Drive Sled Adapter for 2.5"

[Auggie]

Thanks for finding that. The WD IcePack is exactly the same as the VelociRaptor Heat sink that I use. Didn't know it was available separately, at a much higher price.

https://www.amazon.com/IcePack-Adap...TF8&qid=1545496829&sr=8-1&keywords=wd+icepack

Actually, that version of the IcePack on Amazon you linked to is the "dumb" non-electronic version and may not align the 2.5" properly to quick-connect/hot-swap/tool-less backplanes.

The version I'm going to get is the exact same that comes on your aforementioned VelociRaptors: WDSL00S. At the moment, they can only be found on eBay used starting at $13 shipped, presently. I haven't found a complete VelociRaptor module for less than $15 shipped so far.

 

[parisinvest]

Even at the holiday sale price of $20 from its regular $30, the OWC 2.5" drive sled is bit pricey (though solidly built), so I'm trying to locate a generic 2.5-to-3.5" adapter that would properly locate the 2.5" drive for use on an OEM cMP drive sled (5.1).

Any recommendations for verified compatible adapters?

please search foxconn 654540-001, this is cheaper and only model designed and made by apple factory, and it fit for mac pro 1.1 to 5.1, i use it on mine and never have problem with it

 

[Auggie]

please search foxconn 654540-001, this is cheaper and only model designed and made by apple factory, and it fit for mac pro 1.1 to 5.1, i use it on mine and never have problem with it

Now this is definitely something to consider as it is the cheapest electronic adapter... Unfortunately, I had already pulled the trigger on two different sleds for my needs.

The first was a used IcePack off eBay; the version with the PCB. I selected this for my VHS conversation project because it provided the physical outward dimensions of a regular 3.5" HDD to allow it be compatible with the ejectable, tool-less hot-swap 3.5" bay I installed on the PC being used to digitize my VHS tapes directly onto an SSD.

The second was the blue OWC sled. After experiencing a whole bunch of problems and agonizingly slow speeds booting off my regular spinners as I was cloning and restoring Mojave to a larger SSD, I realized I needed a small SSD that would simply be used for booting onto for performing drive cloning, restores, recovery and repairs (I do have a dedicated 2.5" USB drive that I had used for these purposes for many years before but its Lion OS is incompatible with the Radeon 580). Although I would have preferred a non-CMP specific adapter, time and price made the OWC available through Amazon the quickest and cheapest option. Besides, the 120GB SSD would be "permanently" attached and only used for cloning/restoration/recovery operations. Thus, having its own dedicated sled makes it easily swappable when needed without having to borrow a sled from an existing installed drive.

 

[Auggie]

I use a WD VelociRaptor heatsink mount that I buy from eBay. I buy the complete HDD/heatsink mount and remove and discard the HDD. The smallest HDD is 80GB. I just bought another two as I am replacing my last two spinners with 2.5" Samsung SSDs. I paid $11.50 ea for them. They are heavy metal, very strong and good quality. They also do a good job of keeping my drives cool.

I have to say the VelociRaptor/IcePack heatsink has impressed me so overwhelmingly that I went ahead and bought two more. As these have the exact same outer dimensions of a 3.5, they fit seamlessly anywhere a regular 3.5 fit. I have two open 3.5” internal bays in my Chenbro 43348 that I will install SSDs into. It already has its two dedicated externally hot-swappable 2.5” bays filled. I noticed one of the SSDs runs hot so these IcePacks with their built-in heatsink should help.

Thanks again for this recommendation! I would never have known about them without it!

 

[barmann]

Thanks for the Velociraptor tip from me as well .
Coincidentally, I've just replaced 2 WD 3000HLFS HDDs with an SSD, and those Velociraptors have the smart adapter as well .
The SSD popped right in and works fine in my cMP .

Now I need to find an enclosure for those fat Velociraptor drives ; 2.5 ", but over 14mm thick ....

 

[flowrider]

^^^^As I posted, my Velociraptor HDDs are long gone.

Lou