Motherboard connectors on 2008 Mac Pro

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Level 1

31 points

Motherboard connectors on 2008 Mac Pro

Hi everyone, I am installing a 5770 graphics card plus an SSD and extra 3.5" drive in the second optical drive bay of my 2008 Mac Pro. I'm also replacing the current faulty optical drive. I bought all the stuff from OWC but they didn't include any instructions for the 5770 and limited ones for the drives. I've worked out how to install the card but I want to be sure to connect the power to the right socket on the motherboard. The Apple instructions shows them differently to mine and names them connector A and B with both marked as PCIE AUX. Mine are marked PCIE and Boost. I figure it should be the PCIE one. Yes? Also I will probably have to keep coming back with more questions as I install the drives. Thanks in advance.

2008 Mac Pro 8 core 2.8Ghz, 6G RAM, Late 2008 MacBook, Airport Extreme, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 8:35 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

ananderson43

Level 1

4 points

Feb 22, 2017 5:08 PM in response to Magicpony

No need to use the east connections on the motherboard if you have an empty drive bay.

Mount your ssd on an OWC adaptadrive,

and mount the adaptadrive on one of the Mac Pro Drive Bay Sleds and just plug it in as if you were putting in a regular 3½ inch HDD. Since you are probably going to want to use the new SSD as your boot drive, you are going to have to clone your boot disk over to the SSD using something like CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner).

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2017 6:43 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

This is the only blue sled that I found at OWC and it will not work in MacPro's. If you found a different one, let me know as the one I posted is half again more expensive than this one.

OWC 2.5" to 3.5" Drive Adapter Bracket

Compatible with side mounted bays. Not compatible with front mounted bays like those in the Mac Pro. I am also presuming that Apple's sled's and sled mounting tracks are patent protected.

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Answer 3

Feb 22, 2017 5:35 PM in response to ananderson43

OWC sells a different blue SSD sled that LOOKS like it will do this job -- but it is spaced for the 2009 and later models, ONLY. The blue one can NOT be used (successfully) in the 2006 through 2008 models.

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Answer 4

Feb 22, 2017 7:12 PM in response to ananderson43

This is what I alluded to. I should have taken the time to get the picture and name, sorry.

OWC Mount Pro

2.5" Drive Sled for 2009-2012 Apple Mac Pro

.

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Answer 5

Jan 19, 2011 4:52 AM in response to Magicpony

They are electrically identical. Use whichever is easier to connect without twisting or pinching the wires. As long as the connectors plug together, rest assured you have the right wires with the right voltages to power your display card.

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Answer 6

Magicpony Author

Level 1

31 points

Jan 19, 2011 2:06 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank You.

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Answer 7

Feb 29, 2012 12:34 PM in response to Magicpony

Magicpony how did you use the esata connections to the mother board with the ssd? ie, are there extra conncections on the mohterboard and if so where?? I'm having the same problems!!!

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Answer 8

Feb 29, 2012 1:28 PM in response to the black sun

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MPQXES2/

2006 through 2008 Mac Pro have these extra ports on the motherboard.

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Answer 9

Mar 1, 2012 7:24 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

thanks!

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Answer 10

TStam

Level 1

76 points

Mar 2, 2012 11:25 AM in response to the black sun

Be advised those "odd sata ports" on the motherboard are not seen by Windows if you are a bootcamper. There is a way using ahci drivers, but it doesn not appear simple to me.

The ports work fine in OSX, including for booting.

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Answer 11

TStam

Level 1

76 points

Mar 2, 2012 11:29 AM in response to TStam

Just curious, with the 5770 are you able to play HD purchased content in iTunes? I "upgraded" to the Nvidia GT-120 once and was greeted with the HDCP error. Could only watch SD. I returned the card and used a GTX-285, which worked fine but is now failingt. I am considering the ATI for my 2008, but am afraid this may happen again.

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Answer 12

Feb 22, 2017 5:14 PM in response to ananderson43

east should read esata. Damned Spell Check!!

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