Which 256gb SSD for Macpro?

Darryn · 14 Apr 2012 at 09:47

Ive got an Early 2008 Macpro(3,1) with a Crucial 128gb M225 SSD as a boot drive, I've also got 3x 2tb internal HDDs so no more room to add another internal drive.

Im running OSX 10.7.3 along with a boot camped Win7 HomePrem off the 128gb SSD and its starting to get pretty much full, so i want to upgrade to a 256gb drive, my first instinct is to go for the Crucial M4 which on paper is a massive step up in speeds from my M225, but there seems to be loads of similar or even better spec drives out there, so i thought id ask before buying.

Also the Macpro 3,1 is only a Sata 3gb/s interface, so will i even see any real world benefits from the faster drives.

lamboman · 15 Apr 2012 at 21:05

Specs with SSDs refer to the best possible scenario for that drive, and don't mean a huge amount in real-world performance. Not going to go into any details, but in short, the huge speeds of the Sandforce drives (Corsair Force GT, Vertex 3, etc) refer to the compressible data performance, rather than the incompressible performance.

You won't notice any benefit of using a SATA 6Gbps over a 3Gbps, other than the fact that most of the 6Gbps ones will be restricted by the 3Gbps bandwidth.

Having a look at what OcUK are offering, the Performance Pro is only a tad more than the m4 and will be bit quicker.

SteveHarratt · 3 May 2012 at 20:45

Hi
Could you tell me how you attached the SSD to your Mac, I have ordered a Crucial 256gb for my machine which is also an early 2008
Regards

Steve

Trusty · 3 May 2012 at 20:56

Put it in the optibay.

Darryn · 4 May 2012 at 00:32

SteveHarratt said:
Hi
Could you tell me how you attached the SSD to your Mac, I have ordered a Crucial 256gb for my machine which is also an early 2008
Regards

Steve

I put mine in an Icydock MB882SP-1S-1B 2.5" to 3.5" SSD & SATA Hard Drive Converter, this adapter holds the drive in the correct position to line-up the backplane so that you connect it into the Macpro as you would any normal 3.5" Sata HDD.