Mac Mini G4 - reliable IDE<->SATA adapters?
  • Just looking around
    Chefsessel
    Posts: 11 from 2018/1/5
    Hello everybody,

    it has been some time since I've dabbled with MorphOS last on my since deceased PowerMac G4 Quicksilver. I am, however, getting a Mac Mini G4 and am looking into getting Morph OS on it again! Great to see the progress that has been made in the past few years!

    The Mac Mini doesn't come with a HD and I want a modern solution (either SSD or m.2) anyway.

    I've looked through the wealth of adapters offered on ebay, but I'm not sure which to pick. There is the size issue, as space is rather scarce inside the little case. I also know from Mac forums that compatibility definitely is an issue with some adapters and the Mini won't work with any IDE<->SATA adapter.

    Can anyone recommend me a model that is known to work?

    Thanks in advance for your help!
  • »30.12.22 - 09:30
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  • MorphOS Developer
    cyfm
    Posts: 537 from 2003/4/11
    From: Germany
    I use a

    Delock IDE->mSATA Adapter

    in both my Mac mini and PowerBook for years now. The required mSATA module is probably not that common any longer but at least the solution fits nicely with it's 2,5" frame and doesn't overheat opposed to some other (often cheaper) china solutions.
  • »30.12.22 - 11:00
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Zylesea
    Posts: 2053 from 2003/6/4
    Quote:

    Chefsessel schrieb:


    Can anyone recommend me a model that is known to work?

    Thanks in advance for your help!


    Not a particular one, but i bought two (one for the mac mini the other one for the Powerrbook) different el cheapo ide to mSATA adapters from ebay for really low money (some chinese sellers) and both work reliable since i got them.
    Both are opreated with Kingston mSATA SSDs.
    My bang for the buck advice: cheap mSATA IDE adapter, + quality SSD. Works for me.
    --
    http://via.bckrs.de

    Whenever you're sad just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.
    ...and Matthias , my friend - RIP
  • »30.12.22 - 15:28
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  • Just looking around
    Chefsessel
    Posts: 11 from 2018/1/5
    Thanks to both of you for taking the time to answering!

    I've received the Mini yesterday evening. It works well, booting fine from the OSX CD that came with it. I've robbed my hobbyist basement chest of computer stuff and even came up with a nameless cheap IDE->Sata adapter in a black 2,5" case as well as a 128 GB mSATA module that I once got for free with an order. Had totally forgotten about it.

    Unfortunately, the Mini doesn't recognize it. I have no means to verify if it's the adapter or the module, so I guess I'll go and look for that delock adapter @cyfm suggested and go from there.

    If somebody has any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

    [ Edited by Chefsessel 31.12.2022 - 10:07 ]
  • »31.12.22 - 10:05
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  • Just looking around
    Chefsessel
    Posts: 11 from 2018/1/5
    Alright, just ordered the Delock converter. It's not cheap - to be had for about 35€ but including a fitting frame. I also ordered a Kingston KC600 256GB mSATA. I hope the combo will work. I'll report back here once I received and tested it, just in case somebody else runs into the same problem.

    Thanks again for the helpful advice!

    [ Edited by Chefsessel 02.01.2023 - 11:59 ]
  • »02.01.23 - 11:54
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    koszer
    Posts: 1246 from 2004/2/8
    From: Poland
    Quote:

    Chefsessel wrote:
    I've robbed my hobbyist basement chest of computer stuff and even came up with a nameless cheap IDE->Sata adapter in a black 2,5" case as well as a 128 GB mSATA module that I once got for free with an order. Had totally forgotten about it.

    Unfortunately, the Mini doesn't recognize it.


    I'd go and check if that adapter doesn't have a MASTER/SLAVE/CABLE SELECT jumper. I once saw one (Delock if I remember correctly) that was misbehaving in PowerBook G4 just because it was jumpered improperly and conflicted with optical drive.
  • »02.01.23 - 15:13
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  • MorphOS Developer
    cyfm
    Posts: 537 from 2003/4/11
    From: Germany
    Quote:

    koszer schrieb:
    Quote:

    Chefsessel wrote:
    I've robbed my hobbyist basement chest of computer stuff and even came up with a nameless cheap IDE->Sata adapter in a black 2,5" case as well as a 128 GB mSATA module that I once got for free with an order. Had totally forgotten about it.

    Unfortunately, the Mini doesn't recognize it.


    I'd go and check if that adapter doesn't have a MASTER/SLAVE/CABLE SELECT jumper. I once saw one (Delock if I remember correctly) that was misbehaving in PowerBook G4 just because it was jumpered improperly and conflicted with optical drive.


    At least the Delock is one of the adapters which has the option to change that config. Mac mini requires cable select if I remember correctly.
  • »06.01.23 - 06:39
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    sailor
    Posts: 357 from 2019/5/9
    From: Central Bohemi...
    Here in article 5. are photos of three working adapters + SSDs.

    Unforunatelly I have no product names, only more photos, if you are interested.
    I confirm, that first two adapters have not jumpers for Master/Slave. So as cyfm said, selection done by Cable select.

    Adapter in 5.2 should have jumper marked "HDD select" ;-) , but it is not soldered - i.e. stays open.



    [ Edited by sailor 06.01.2023 - 12:09 ]
    AmigaOS3: Amiga 1200
    AmigaOS4: Micro A1-C, AmigaOne XE, Pegasos II, Sam440ep, Sam440ep-flex, AmigaOneX1000
    MorphOS: Efika 5200b, Pegasos I, Pegasos II, Powerbook G4, Mac Mini, iMac G5, Powermac G5 Quad
  • »06.01.23 - 10:57
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Travis_H
    Posts: 142 from 2009/12/17
    From: Salem, Oregon,...
    This worked for me:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GRMUQRG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Outfitted with this:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JJ3XCLF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    The first drive I purchased was a name-brand (Transcend) and it didn't work.

    TJH
  • »09.01.23 - 21:14
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Templario
    Posts: 532 from 2012/4/28
    You can find IDE adpaters in Vesalia.de shop for example these:
    https://www.vesalia.de/e_cfide1825.htm

    https://www.vesalia.de/e_ide25cfx2hdd.htm
    This last I bought although still I don't used.
  • »10.01.23 - 09:19
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > https://www.vesalia.de/e_cfide1825.htm
    > https://www.vesalia.de/e_ide25cfx2hdd.htm

    CompactFlash and SATA/mSATA are different things.
  • »10.01.23 - 10:35
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  • Paladin of the Pegasos
    Paladin of the Pegasos
    koszer
    Posts: 1246 from 2004/2/8
    From: Poland
    Quote:

    sailor wrote:
    So as cyfm said, selection done by Cable select.



    I have a slight problem with such adapter and PowerBook A1139.
    The harddrive works OK in all three modes (CS, Slave and Master), but the optical drive is not recognized in any of these (like - at all, the machine doesn't see it's there. It just gets power, so it spins up a little on boot). When I unplug the harddrive the SuperDrive starts working again and I can boot from CD with no problems.

    I'm starting to think there's something wrong with the cable connecting SuperDrive to the motherboard.
  • »27.01.23 - 14:30
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