Recommended SSD / IDE adapter combo that works with OS 9? (iBook clamshell)

[YorkerPizza]

I've heard some SSDs and IDE adapters don't play nicely with classic Mac OS, so I want to make sure I buy the right combo to put in my clamshell (300MHz). I'd hate to go through the whole disassembly process only for my chosen setup to not work in my system.

I'm curious what combinations have worked while running OS 8 or 9 in other peoples' clamshells. I'd like to use an mSATA SSD but I'm open to other solutions if those are reliable and easy to acquire.

 

[AndiS]

Your best bet is always a Compact Flash to IDE adapter because CF Cards speak IDE natively. But if you want something bigger, more modern or available: I have something like this in a Powermac G4 and a Mac Mini G4 that boots MacOS 9: Amazon Link (German but you get the idea)

For slower machines like the G3 Clamshell iBook I would also give a SD-Card to IDE Adapter a try. I also have such an iBooks and want to replace the non-working CD Drive with one of these adapters.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Your best bet is always a Compact Flash to IDE adapter because CF Cards speak IDE natively

Only some of them, and good luck finding one that’s guaranteed to work. For 90% of cases, I find SD adapters work just as well, and SD cards are a lot cheaper than CF (and faster). CF works well if you find the right cards, but I’ve had terrible luck with that.

 

[mac27]

Hi @YorkerPizza - I've replaced all of the hard drives in my fleet of six Clamshells with mSATA drives over the last year using Transcend mSATA drives inside of these mSATA-to-IDE enclosures, and have had a good experience with them. This encompasses all colors/models and all of the processor speed variants.

OS 9 seems to play well with them, no issues to report. Some folks around the Internet have reported issues with their Clamshells not waking from sleep under OS 9 after installing certain SSDs in them - perhaps the premade ones? don't remember - but I have not had these issues with this particular combo.

Links to the products I used are also available at the bottom of this page, along with some photos of what the solution looks like.

I've also used CF adapters in a few of my machines, but have heard that sometimes these can have long-term reliability issues. Others prefer them, though (as seen on this thread) so the decision is yours

 

[YorkerPizza]

Hi @YorkerPizza - I've replaced all of the hard drives in my fleet of six Clamshells with mSATA drives over the last year using Transcend mSATA drives inside of these mSATA-to-IDE enclosures, and have had a good experience with them. This encompasses all colors/models and all of the processor speed variants.

OS 9 seems to play well with them, no issues to report. Some folks around the Internet have reported issues with their Clamshells not waking from sleep under OS 9 after installing certain SSDs in them - perhaps the premade ones? don't remember - but I have not had these issues with this particular combo.

Links to the products I used are also available at the bottom of this page, along with some photos of what the solution looks like.

I've also used CF adapters in a few of my machines, but have heard that sometimes these can have long-term reliability issues. Others prefer them, though (as seen on this thread) so the decision is yours

Thank you! I've also heard about CF long-term reliability issues so I'm going to go with the mSATA and IDE combo you recommended. Seeing it installed in an iBook on your website was helpful too.

 

[Realitystorm]

I've had good luck with industrial CF cards, they are designed for better IDE compatibility https://www.savagetaylor.com/2023/12/17/ide-replacing-your-old-ide-drive/