In response to a recent blog question we received: Yes, you can install a 5th hard drive into the new 2009 Mac Pro ‘Nehalem’ machines. Simply use the second optical drive bay. The SATA connection is the same for a hard drive as it is for an optical drive and both run off the same system BUS.
Adapter bracket attached to a 3.5" SATA hard drive.
Now, the only issue you will run into is how to secure the drive. Simply put, Tab A is not supposed to go into Slot B. How do you get a 3.5″ drive installed into a 5.25″ bay? You use an adapter bracket.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/CLONESLED/
We do carry just such a bracket that will work – originally designed for the Mac clones and PC cases – it does functionally secure your drive in the bay. However, if you use your Mac Pro in an audio-sensitive manner, be advised that suspended metal-on-metal provides no soundproofing. While this will work for those that don’t mind the low hum of a drive spinning, this is not a solution for extra storage capacity if your Mac Pro is intended to be in the same room as your audio recording.
Hard Drive installed into the 2nd optical bay of a Mac Pro
For those audiophiles among you who must have a zero ambient noise environment, don’t fear … we’re working on it. Currently, we’re waiting on delivery of additional bracket systems and when we’re satisfied with their performance, we’ll be offering one or more solutions to you. Watch the blog for developments on this and if you haven’t already, sign up for OWC Larry’s newsletters where the latest and greatest products are usually first announced.
UPDATE (4/17/9) - Well, the good news is that we have found a very elegant solution for installing 3.5″ drives into the optical bay of the Mac Pro that does reduce the hard drive noise as I mentioned back on the 6th of this month. The bad news is we’re still a few weeks out before we’ll have any stock on them. However, you can check out the X-Swing by (((NoiseBlocker))) and even pre-order.
X-Swing installed pics:
The optical and one hard drive installed.
Two hard drives installed.
Note:
Only the above two configurations will fit in the optical drive bay of the Mac Pro. Two hard drives plus one optical drive combined is too large for the space.
Saturday, 21. March 2009
I would guess that these brackets would work on a 2008 Mac Pro as well.
Friday, 27. March 2009
The brackets will actually work for mounting just about any 3.5″ hard drive in a 5.25″ drive bay.
Friday, 3. April 2009
We just got a new Mac Pro at work. I noticed that the mounting brackets that Apple uses internally have 2 rubber washers on each mounting point.
If we got your bracket and did the same for mounting a 5th drive in the 2nd optical bay, wouldn’t that be just as good as the Apple solution? Or do you think we would need some other sound dampening because the optical bay is closer to the edge of the case than the 4 HDD bays?
We are looking to put the computer in the same room as the HD video camera and record direct to disk uncompressed. We need a workable, quiet solution ASAP.
Sunday, 5. April 2009
Is there any tutorial somewhere that shows how to install a 5th hard drive in the Mac Pro Nehalem? How do you access the 5.25″ bay?
Monday, 6. April 2009
Hi Tony, the washers could certainly help in a pinch. The washer material and size could definitely be a factor in how much noise reduction it offers.
We have tested and found a solution that we should be offering very soon. It is a product that reduces hard drive noise by as much as 7dbA, which brings the total noise emission of the drive below the ambient noise of the Mac Pro itself. Perfect for using in a live studio setting. I hope to hear more details on an official release date ASAP and promise to post its release here as soon as I know.
Monday, 6. April 2009
Stan, the Mac Pro ‘Nehalem’ optical drive replacement video will be posted on our website by Friday. Watch the blog as OWC Chris S. announces each new video here first.
Friday, 17. April 2009
Well, the good news is that we have found a very elegant solution for installing 3.5″ drives into the optical bay of the Mac Pro that does reduce the hard drive noise as I mentioned back on the 6th of this month. The bad news is we’re still a few weeks out before we’ll have any stock on them. However, you can check out the X-Swing by (((NoiseBlocker))) and even pre-order.
Wednesday, 13. May 2009
hi OWC Michael. Just wondering if there is a link for your above post number 6. I found the one for adding / replacing the optical, just wondering if that is it, or is there another one for adding the 5th drive. (connectors, correct way to put in the X-Swing etc). Cheers, Drew
Wednesday, 13. May 2009
The optical drive replacement video shows how to get into the optical drive bay. To date, we have not made a video showing the installation of the X-Swing, but the instructions that come with are quite clear on how to correctly install the hard drives into that bay.
Wednesday, 13. May 2009
OK, thanks. Also, I’m told I need some sort of connector between the 3.5″ hard drive and whatever the optical plugs into… Does OWC sell them? Cheers
Thursday, 14. May 2009
If you have a SATA hard drive, the connections are the same and no other cables would be necessary. On the other hand, if you were really looking to add an IDE/ATA drive to the system, you would need to use an adapter like the Sonnet Tempo Bridge. OWC Part Number: STITPASA
Thursday, 14. May 2009
hi again OWC Michael
OWC have put my order on hold at my request to see if I can add this connector that I will need to connect the 3.5″ Hard drive to 5.25″ optical cable to my order. They need an “item code” to complete the order. Any chance you can provide a link / item code for the exact thing I need? (There is something called “Newer Technology USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter”, but I don’t think that is what I need) Thanks!!
Friday, 15. May 2009
^ please disregard above – I am an idiot. I thought there was supposed to be a special cable connecting the hard drive (iso SuperDrive). I’m assumng the cable commg out of the mac connects to either the hard or super drive as is.
Friday, 15. May 2009
Just to make the issue of whether an additional adapter is needed in installing a 5th hard drive into ANY Mac Pro…
The blog was written in reference to the latest Mac Pro ‘Nehalem’ model which has a SATA optical drive (prior versions of the Mac Pro came with an IDE optical drive). So, type of drive can make a difference depending on the model of Mac Pro being installed in.
Basically here is the breakdown between type of hard drive and Mac Pro model:
If installing a SATA hard drive in a ‘Nehalem’ Mac Pro, then no additional cables or adapters are needed.
If installing an IDE hard drive in a ‘Nehalem’ Mac Pro, then an adapter for the drive like the STITPASA is needed.
If installing an IDE hard drive in a previous model of Mac Pro (ie. ‘Woodcrest’, ‘Harpertown’ or ‘Clovertown’), then no additional cables are needed.
If installing a SATA hard drive in a previous model of Mac Pro (ie. ‘Woodcrest’, ‘Harpertown’ or ‘Clovertown’), then an adapter such as ADDADSAIDE would be required.
Friday, 10. July 2009
Can we get some pics of the X-Swing installed? Will two disks fit?
Tuesday, 14. July 2009
I’ve added a few pictures of the X-Swing to the post (please pardon the composition, they were done rather quickly). To answer your question though, yes two disks will fit. But only two. That’s one hard drive and one optical drive – or two hard drives.
The nice thing is only one X-Swing would be necessary in either event as there are two ways it can be installed. One for single drive use, one for double drive use on the bracket.
Installing two hard drives and an optical drive poses a problem in fitting all three into the optical drive bay bracket.
Tuesday, 14. July 2009
Would it work to install the boot drive in the optical bay? The boot drive is the one least likely to be swapped out and if it were in the optical bay then there would be 4 bays available for easy exchange.
Thursday, 16. July 2009
Erick – Absolutely, a drive installed in the optical drive bay could be used as the boot drive.
Thursday, 22. October 2009
using a SATA drive in the 2008 MP in the optical bay, would it not be simpler to take a cable from one of the spare sata ports on the motherboard and use an adaptor for the power cable?
Thursday, 22. October 2009
You certainly could go that direction, yes. The power adapter you speak of can be found here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Micro%20Accessories/SATAPA/
But for a greater set of SATA options down the line, I’d suggest using those additional motherboard ports to add eSATA to the system:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/MPQXES2/
Thursday, 22. October 2009
Thanks, good advice. Is there a board that does both extra internal and external SATA ports, to me that would be the bonus option.
Saturday, 28. November 2009
This is a great post; very helpful.
OWC Michael, is there an X-swing like device that can hold two 2.5″ SSDs in the lower optical bay, while still allowing for a standard superdrive on top? I know I can’t put the SSDs in the 3.5 mounting brackets they come with, as the two wouldn’t fit together.
I’m on a 2006 Mac Pro, and will be taping into the 2 extra sata ports on the motherboard.
Saturday, 28. November 2009
Hi OWC,
In reply 2 you said it will fit just about any 5.25″ bay. I’m not running a macpro but would like to install 3.5″ HDs into my 4 spare 5.25″ bays. So just to confirm they work with any standard tower case yes?
I’m using the Antec P138 case. Thanks. Daniel.
Sunday, 29. November 2009
Wonderful post! This is great news :) So for a 2008 Mac Pro let me check, I’d need:
1) X-Swing: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Noiseblocker/HDC65/
2) SATA to SATA standard 7 Pin connecting cable (18″): http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Micro%20Accessories/SATA18L/ OR http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Micro%20Accessories/SATA18S/
3) Serial ATA (SATA) Power Adapter cable 15 Pin to 4 Pin (12″): http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Micro%20Accessories/SATAPA/
I know I need the first two things, but do I also need the power cable adapter? Be great to know before ordering, thank you! (to save opening up my Mac before ordering :)
Monday, 30. November 2009
I would like to know the answer the question that James (#22) asks. I am planning on doing the same exact thing.
Tuesday, 1. December 2009
Hello James and Dylan,
In answer to your question, we don’t carry a product yet that will install two SSD drives in a single 5.25″ bay. However, we currently do offer a solution for installing one based on the X-Swing here.
Tuesday, 1. December 2009
Hello Daniel,
I’m assuming that you meant the Antec P183 case, and yes, any standard 5.25″ Optical drive bay should have no issues with installation.
Saturday, 9. January 2010
just to make sure…
for the 2009 you can use EITHER the X-Swing OR the Clonesled…
or do I need BOTH these items?
Monday, 11. January 2010
You are correct, EITHER the X-Swing OR the Clonesled will allow you to mount a 3.5″ hard drive in a 5.25″ bay.