2 hidden data port on Mac Pro 1,1

The cabling in the Optical bays in Mac Pro 1,1 through 3,1 2008 model have ATA/IDE cabling in the Optical bays, with 4-pin molex power connectors.

In my opinion, Apple included these two extra SATA ports to hedge against Optical drives in ATA/IDE form becoming too expensive or obsolete. The extra ports gave them the data connection to allow them to switch over to SATA Optical drives (with 4-pin molex power or an adapter) without revising the mainboard.

There is no explanation of how to use them in any official Apple literature. They are too close together, and using both requires you to use at least one right-angle connector. Convenient power is not provided, as these were never for your convenience. Finding power for additional drives attached here is your problem. (ask on hobbyist sites)

For the major re-design for the 2009 model, these ports were eliminated, and the Optical bays got SATA cabling (including SATA power).

This internal BluRay kit includes a SATA cable and power cable to use one of the SATA ports for the internal BluRay drive in a pre-2009 Mac Pro

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/LG/WH14NS40MP/

I had the 2006 and 2008 Mac Pro. In the 2008 Mac Pro I utilized thise two extra data ports to configure as follows:

Manhattan iede to sata bridge to attach a data blu ray burner, a Pioneer. Then in the bottom of the optical bay I installed a Vantech Nester plastic data encore and placed two SSD drives in there. Had to run data cabling from those two extra ports to the optical bay lower tier. 21 inch will do it and 18 is too short to make the journey.

Then one SSD in bay 2 along with three hard drives. So I had 6 internal drives and one data burner working flawlessly in that Mac Pro. The 2006 Mac Pro I utilized one of the two sata ports also and ran two burners. One side and one data.

The only issue is matching up what KIND or style of connector to be able to attach them to those two extra ports. Use your brains and commonsense. Also to do the job properly you'll need to remove some of the internal parts but I did not do that, I just cut some of the plastic surrounding those ports so I could connect those cables. Looks like heck but I was the sole owner and I don't usually open the Mac Pro to admire the insides.

Apple does not respond in these forums unless a post has not has a reply in a day or so. Thus, Apple will not respond to your discussion. We are all users like yourself