SSD in Mac Pro

[johnnymg]

Just to be clear: the "new 3.5" version does also install into the drive bays of the MP without interference - they just won't work unless you find some other way to close the back switch .

You're stating that the 'new 3.5" version' has an interference problem with the back switch. That's interesting...............

cheers
JohnG

 

[TPadden]

You're stating that the 'new 3.5" version' has an interference problem with the back switch. That's interesting...............

cheers
JohnG

John,

I don't know how to state it simpler - there is nothing there to interfere; because there is nothing there. The new drive casing is too thin to make contact with the switch on the board. There is nothing to close the switch.

Nothing can be understood, but not by attempting to define or describe what it is...it is known only in negation of what it is not. Why contemplate the existence of the state of something that isn't there, let's not waste our time, let's just get a drink and contemplate our drunken state when we reach it .....

Tom

 

[Transporteur]

John,

I don't know how to state it simpler - there is nothing there to interfere; because there is nothing there. The new drive casing is too thin to make contact with the switch on the board. There is nothing to close the switch.

That "switch" is nothing more than a grounding contact for the hard drive. The hard drive connected to the connector will work perfectly fine without making contact to that contact.

 

[johnnymg]

That "switch" is nothing more than a grounding contact for the hard drive. The hard drive connected to the connector will work perfectly fine without making contact to that contact.

Thanks for a non bafllegab explanation of the "switch".

 

[FireArse]

Mounting

You need to find a mounting kit for a 3.5" Drive/some way of sticking it in there, then again, any 3.5" SATA SSD.

I bought a 2.5-inch SSD for my MP and my mounting kit comprised of a blob of Blu-Tack. Why pay for anything else?!

FireArse

 

[jamesdmc]

That "switch" is nothing more than a grounding contact for the hard drive. The hard drive connected to the connector will work perfectly fine without making contact to that contact.

Thanks for the clarification. So OCZ believes the grounding contact is not needed for the new form factor. I wonder if the new style case is made of plastic.

I also wonder what I'll find when I open my 120GB 3.5" OCZ drive when I get home this evening. Because the one I ordered from Newegg to upgrade my 2007 iMac shows the old style enclosure whereas they advertise others with the new style enclosure.

 

[TPadden]

That "switch" is nothing more than a grounding contact for the hard drive. The hard drive connected to the connector will work perfectly fine without making contact to that contact.

I ACTUALLY HAVE THE NEW OCZ 180GB 3.5" DRIVE (do you?) - AND YOU ARE WRONG! It won't post if nothing closes the "grounding switch" in my 4.1 MacPro.

I just tried it again - removed it from the optical bay and mounted it in bay 1 and it WON'T "work perfectly fine" - IT WON'T WORK AT ALL (regular height 3.5 drives do) .

I don't want anyone to return a perfectly good drive because it won't post in the lower drive bay.

 

[TPadden]

I also wonder what I'll find when I open my 120GB 3.5" OCZ drive when I get home this evening.

If it is a new one and posts from the lower drive I'll be eating some crow ..... but I tried again and mine plain WON'T! Mine's back in the optical bay working like a champ .

 

[TPadden]

Thanks for a non bafllegab explanation of the "switch".

Yeah, an explanation that isn't correct and doesn't make any sense is preferable as long as you can understand it.

I've never heard of a hard drive that needed a "grounding contact" once pins were connected - my bet is it is a "PRESSURE SWITCH" that needs to be closed by contact (since non metal will do the job).

 

[sgginc]

My Icy Dock is plastic and it works in Mac Pro 3,1

I also doubt a 4,1 Mac Pro has any grounding switch.
But they do have those rubber bumpers in the drive sleds
that mine does not have.

Thanks ... Ken

 

[Transporteur]

I ACTUALLY HAVE THE NEW OCZ 180GB 3.5" DRIVE (do you?) - AND YOU ARE WRONG! It won't post if nothing closes the "grounding switch" in my 4.1 MacPro.

Well, actually I am wrong.
I had something about grounding in mind, but after looking at the description of the board again, I realised that these connectors are thermal sensors (which explains why they are made out of metal!).

Anyhow, as I said before, it is NOT a pressure switch in any form.
The drive connected to the SATA port does NOT need to touch the sensor to work perfectly fine!
Regular 2.5" drives (SSD or mechanical) work on the ports as well and they don't touch the sensors!

So there must be anything else wrong with your SSD!

 

[TPadden]

Well, actually I am wrong.
I had something about grounding in mind, but after looking at the description of the board again, I realised that these connectors are thermal sensors (which explains why they are made out of metal!).

Anyhow, as I said before, it is NOT a pressure switch in any form.
The drive connected to the SATA port does NOT need to touch the sensor to work perfectly fine!
Regular 2.5" drives (SSD or mechanical) work on the ports as well and they don't touch the sensors!

So there must be anything else wrong with your SSD!

That makes more sense; I'm new to Macs and no matter what people complain about PC's it is easier to find out about the motherboards. Strange that my SSD works in the upper drive though; I'll have to play with it some more - you've got my curiosity up. I just couldn't see anything else that would cause it to work upper and not lower. Perhaps the pins aren't completely inserting .....all I get is the ? Folder

I'll bow to your knowledge though and eat some crow ......

Tom

 

[sgginc]

My 2.5 SSD had issues too w/ sled

I have a Mac Pro 3,1 which does not use the rubber inserts in the HD sleds.
I drilled a couple out and put the rubber inserts in.

They work fine with 3.5 drives but when I used an Icy Dock converter for my 2.5 SSD WITH the rubber inserts it was not recognized.
It really would not seat correctly as with the 3.5 drives.

Without the rubber inserts with the Icy Dock, all was well.

Try tightening the screws a little more.
This will bring the drive up a little and it might seat better.

Thanks ... Ken

 

[TPadden]

Try tightening the screws a little more.
This will bring the drive up a little and it might seat better.

Thanks ... Ken

All,

Gotta be something simple like that - the drive works flawlessly in the upper bay ..... I'll play some more when I get the chance.

Sorry about the wise ass replies - sometimes I need coffee and sometimes I've had too much ....

Tom

 

[jamesdmc]

If it is a new one and posts from the lower drive I'll be eating some crow ..... but I tried again and mine plain WON'T! Mine's back in the optical bay working like a champ .

Just opened my 3.5" OCZ drive. It's the new style. Although I do have a 2008 Mac Pro that's getting a SSD upgrade (also a 120 GB OCZ), the Mac Pro is getting a 2.5" drive for the optical bay using one of these (gonna try to stick a 5th 7200 RPM drive in the Mac Pro also). I bought the 3.5" drive for my 2007 iMac. I've seen pictures of what it takes to mod the iMac brackets to put a 2.5" drive in there, so I went with a 3.5" drive in hopes to avoid busting out the drill.

Tell you what, though. I'm still waiting for a drive caddy for the iMac (all the other parts are here), so this weekend I'll pull the Boot Camp drive from bay 4 of my Mac Pro and pop my 3.5" OCZ drive in there. Just to see what happens. I have the original Apple drive sled of course, but also a Pro Sled from Transintl. I'll try both and report back my findings.


James

 

[Transporteur]

That makes more sense; I'm new to Macs and no matter what people complain about PC's it is easier to find out about the motherboards. Strange that my SSD works in the upper drive though; I'll have to play with it some more - you've got my curiosity up. I just couldn't see anything else that would cause it to work upper and not lower. Perhaps the pins aren't completely inserting .....all I get is the ? Folder

Actually I have no idea what might cause that issue. All six SATA ports are completely equal (besides the fact that the lower 4 can be used for SAS drives with the Apple RAID card as well, but that doesn't matter here), hence you should be able to swap the drives between the ports.

I can do that with whatever drive connected to my Pro and I never had any issues.
But as you said, maybe the drives does not fully connect to the port (unfitting mounting holes for example). I always use 2.5" SSDs so I can't say that for sure. You might wanna compare the alignment of the holes with a mechanical 3.5" drive.

However, just to test it, try to connect the drive without the sled and see if the Pro boots from it.
Just make sure to support the drive so that it doesn't bend the port.

This works very good ;

 

[TPadden]

However, just to test it, try to connect the drive without the sled and see if the Pro boots from it.
Just make sure to support the drive so that it doesn't bend the port.

This works very good ;

I WAS WAAAAY PAST WRONG ....... my sincere apology to everyone; yep, removed the sled and carefully inserted and supported the drive; it booted fine in the lower slot.

 

[Transporteur]

I WAS WAAAAY PAST WRONG ....... my sincere apology to everyone; yep, removed the sled and carefully inserted and supported the drive; it booted fine in the lower slot.

Don't worry about it. But what caused the problem? Did OCZ really changed the positions of the mounting holes?
That would be ridiculous as those are standardised along 3.5" drives.

 

[TPadden]

Don't worry about it. But what caused the problem? Did OCZ really changed the positions of the mounting holes?
That would be ridiculous as those are standardised along 3.5" drives.

I don't think so - the mounting holes are plastic and that in combination with the rubber washers must be off just enough. Eye-balling it, they look like everything aligns .....

 

[sgginc]

Those rubber washers will compress if you tighten the screws

I don't think so - the mounting holes are plastic and that in combination with the rubber washers must be off just enough. Eye-balling it, they look like everything aligns .....

Those rubber washers will compress if you tighten the screws.
Try tighter then looser.

The drive should slide in w/o too much force and be flush with the front.

Thanks ... Ken