OWC ships 2.5-inch drive sleds for 2009, 2010 Mac Pros
updated 04:40 pm EDT, Thu April 7, 2011
Sleds offer airflow, direct connections
Other World Computing has launched a new drive sled for Mac Pros, the Mount Pro 2.5". The gear works with notebook-sized SATA hard disks or SSDs, and fits 2009 and 2010 Pros with model IDs 4,1 or 5,1. The brackets are made of powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum, and are visually identifiable from the Pro's 3.5-inch sleds because of blue coloring. The Mount Pro allows direct connection to a motherboard's SATA port and uses an open design for better airflow.
Although the sled works with any 2.5-inch disk, it's intended for SSDs. SSDs are not available in 3.5-inch formats, and are far faster than conventional hard disks. OWC quotes speeds up to 285MBs for its own SSDs.
The Mount Pro is $25 and is now available. OWC specifically warns that the bracket does not work with earlier Mac Pros built between 2006 and 2008.
