MacPro 2010 5-6TB Drive alternatives

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Level 1

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MacPro 2010 5-6TB Drive alternatives

I have a 2010 MacPro: MacPro5,1 running 10.10.3. I use it for video editing and photography apps-Lightroom/PS.

My current drives are starting to get close to capacity...I'm currently using WD 3TB Black and Green Drives. I don't prefer RAID as I've had issues with corrupt drives and lost data using RAID in the past. Thus, I use Carbon Copy to back up nightly: drive to drive. I also have two drives that I rotate for offsite storage.

I was hoping to start to migrate to 5 or 6TB drives however I read the Hatter said that the WD Red drives will only work in a NAS/RAID configuration? Is that accurate?

If so WD Black max's out at 4TB. So what drive would you recommend for 5/6TB sizes for my configuration. I'm considering WD Green's but concerned about performance.

My last question is related to eSata/USB3.0 interfaces for the same Mac. I bought a Call DigitFast USB PCI card a couple years ago but when Apple went to Yosemite CallDigit could not provide the proper drives to keep the card alive. Any suggestions on replacement eStata or USB3.0 drives?

Many thanks

Posted on Jun 28, 2015 11:12 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Jun 28, 2015 12:46 PM in response to TommyH

- This USB card works with Yosemite

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/allegrousb3pcie4port.html

- Here is a sled for the large drive like the 6 TB ones. The standard sled uses holes in the drive that are not deep enough for the standard screws. You can shorten the screws to use the standard sleds

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MPRODBKTLG6/

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Answer 2

TommyH Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 28, 2015 5:51 PM in response to lllaass

Thanks Illaass!

I just ordered the PCI card great suggestion.

Any thoughts on whether the WD Red drives would work internally on the MacPro? Or recommendations on 5/6TB drives that might?

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Answer 3

kahjot

Level 4

2,462 points

Jun 29, 2015 7:34 PM in response to TommyH

TommyH wrote:

My last question is related to eSata/USB3.0 interfaces for the same Mac. I bought a Call DigitFast USB PCI card a couple years ago but when Apple went to Yosemite CallDigit could not provide the proper drives to keep the card alive. Any suggestions on replacement eStata or USB3.0 drives?

The current CalDigit eSATA/USB3 card works with Yosemite, as does the first generation card. In terms of drives, I would suggest HGST, and one of the mounting brackets from OWC mentioned above. I have a 6TB HGST attached to my 2010 Mac Pro, but it is in an external case.

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