MP All Models PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

[Borowski]

I can confirm that the

Western Digital SN720

also works in Mac Pro 5.1.
Seems to be an OEM model, which uses the same controller as the recommended WD Black SN750 (WD/Sandisk Controller 20-82-007011). The low-end variant SN520 should work, too, but lacks 2 lanes and has only half speeds.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I have a 128GB MZ-KPW1280/0A7 SSPolaris I pulled from a damaged 2019 iMac.

Is there an inexpensive PCIe card that I could use inside a Mac Pro 5,1? I do have BootROM 140.0.0.0.0, and have viewed the Wiki here, but it's a bit overwhelming.

128GB is plenty big enough to for a boot drive (for me), and I'm wondering if this is a cheap way to boost SSD speeds over the SATA drive I have in my 5,1 right now.

 

[tsialex]

I have a 128GB MZ-KPW1280/0A7 SSPolaris I pulled from a damaged 2019 iMac.

Is there an inexpensive PCIe card that I could use inside a Mac Pro 5,1? I do have BootROM 140.0.0.0.0, and have viewed the Wiki here, but it's a bit overwhelming.

128GB is plenty big enough to for a boot drive (for me), and I'm wondering if this is a cheap way to boost SSD speeds over the SATA drive I have in my 5,1 right now.

Everything you asked is answered on the first post already, just take your time and read it. See 12+16 adapters and 144.0.0.0.0.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Everything you asked is answered on the first post already, just take your time and read it. See 12+16 adapters and 144.0.0.0.0.

I did read it

Best I can tell, I need this: https://www.riitop.com/products/pci...m-key-2230-2242-2260-2280mm-ssd-with-heatsink

and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/114003278613

 

[tsialex]

I did read it

Best I can tell, I need this: https://www.riitop.com/products/pci...m-key-2230-2242-2260-2280mm-ssd-with-heatsink

No, this is a M.2 M-key adapter.

and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/114003278613

Nope, this is a 12+16 to M.2 adapter. If you install this you gonna block the next slot.

The answer is here:

Recommended PCIe adaptors for Mac Pro 5,1 & 7,1:

Standard PCIe x4 cards (tops at 1500 MB/s with MP5,1, double with MP7,1)(no switch):
Low cost:

Be warned, don't use AHCI and NVMe blades without having a heatsink installed, you will have thermal throttling frequently and may cook your blade.

• RIITOP M.2 NVMe to PCIe Adapter [M2TPCE16X] with HEAT SINK - operates at PCIe x4 but keyed to fit 4x/8x/16x slot - good for low cost NVMe M.2 upgrade where PCIe x4 speed is sufficient, low profile does not impede GPU air cooling if used in slot 2
• Lycom DT-120
• Micro Connectors M.2 NVMe + M.2 SATA 80mm SSD PCIe x4 Adapter with Heat Sink - Model PCIE-M20802HS (only the M.2 NVMe slot has been tested)
• For proprietary 12+16 Apple SSDs (usually Apple blades used on Macs from 2013~2015): generic adapter from eBay (e.g. "2013-2014 Macbook Air SSD PCIe adapter 4X") (no brand)

2013-2015 MacBook Air A1465 A1466 Pro A1502 A1398 MD712 SSD to PCI-E 4X Adapter | eBay

2013 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2014 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2013 Macbook Pro A1493 A1502 (MD864 MD865 MD293 Md294) SSD. Apple's new SSD is a PCI-e 4x interface.

www.ebay.com

 

[BeatCrazy]

No, this is a M.2 M-key adapter.



Nope, this is a 12+16 to M.2 adapter. If you install this you gonna block the next slot.

The answer is here:

2013-2015 MacBook Air A1465 A1466 Pro A1502 A1398 MD712 SSD to PCI-E 4X Adapter | eBay

2013 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2014 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2013 Macbook Pro A1493 A1502 (MD864 MD865 MD293 Md294) SSD. Apple's new SSD is a PCI-e 4x interface.

www.ebay.com

Thank you! For $6, seems like an easy buy.

Do you have a heatsink recommendation for the "Gen 5B SSPolaris" type SSD?

 

[tsialex]

Do you recommend a heatsink for the "Gen 5B SSPolaris" type SSD?

Install first, see the clearances between the blade and the next PCIe card, then you find a heatsink that fits.

 

[MrScratchHook]

I did read it

Best I can tell, I need this: https://www.riitop.com/products/pci...m-key-2230-2242-2260-2280mm-ssd-with-heatsink

and this https://www.ebay.com/itm/114003278613

you can use a simple lycom dt 120 single nvme pcie. $20...i have 2, they work

 

[BeatCrazy]

you can use a simple lycom dt 120 single nvme pcie. $20...i have 2, they work

Have you noticed improvements using PCIe SSD vs. SATA?

 

[tsialex]

you can use a simple lycom dt 120 single nvme pcie. $20...i have 2, they work

Did you even noticed that he wants to install a 12+16 AppleOEM blade? AppleOEM blades have a completely different pin-out, is not a M key standard NVMe blade like yours.

 

[MrScratchHook]

Did you even noticed that he wants to install a 12+16 AppleOEM blade? AppleOEM blades have a completely different pin-out, is not a M key standard NVMe blade like yours.

no i had'nt, i might've missed it upon reading since its so much to look over.

 

[MrScratchHook]

Have you noticed improvements using PCIe SSD vs. SATA?

in regards of saving my projects, pcie is faster, takes about 3 minutes to save about 500gb of music files, i saved 300gb of a music file in about 1 minute, as opposed to 1 hour to sata, the last time i used pcie for macos there wasnt much difference from sata.

 

[BeatCrazy]

No, this is a M.2 M-key adapter.



Nope, this is a 12+16 to M.2 adapter. If you install this you gonna block the next slot.

The answer is here:

2013-2015 MacBook Air A1465 A1466 Pro A1502 A1398 MD712 SSD to PCI-E 4X Adapter | eBay

2013 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2014 Macbook Air A1465 A1466 (MD711 MD712 MD760 MD761) SSD. 2013 Macbook Pro A1493 A1502 (MD864 MD865 MD293 Md294) SSD. Apple's new SSD is a PCI-e 4x interface.

www.ebay.com

Hi again, one more question... using this adapter with a 128GB MZ-KPW1280/0A7 SSPolaris drive, in the #2 or #3 PCIe slot, would I expect macOS Monterey to recognize the drive as internal or external?

 

[tsialex]

Hi again, one more question... using this adapter with a 128GB MZ-KPW1280/0A7 SSPolaris drive, in the #2 or #3 PCIe slot, would I expect macOS Monterey to recognize the drive as internal or external?

Again you are asking something that is already clearly answered on the first post, I'll copy it here to make it easier for you:

What are internal storage for the Mac Pro firmware:
​

Mac Pro year model:	Model Identifier:	What Mac Pro firmware recognize as internal drives:
Mac Pro (2006)	MacPro1,1	SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
8-Core Mac Pro (2007)	MacPro2,1	SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2008 Mac Pro	MacPro3,1	SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2009 Mac Pro	MacPro4,1	SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2010 Mac Pro	MacPro5,1	SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2012 Mac Pro	MacPro5,1	SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
late-2013 Mac Pro	MacPro6,1	Only the 12+16 AppleOEM PCIe SSD is an internal drive.
2019 Mac Pro	MacPro7,1	Only the T2 Storage is an internal drive for T2 Security. While the two SATA ports of the logic board are internal for macOS, T2 Security definitions override macOS and you can only boot from SATA native ports with relaxed T2 Security, with external boot enabled with Startup Security Utility. Any PCIe connected storage are external for the firmware and T2 Security.

 

[GregorPQ]

Is there a way to use an Intel SSD DC P4608 6.4TB
on the PCIe-bus of a Mac 5.1?
As there is no driver - where can I get a working driver for this SSD?

Thanks!

 

[joevt]

Is there a way to use an Intel SSD DC P4608 6.4TB
on the PCIe-bus of a Mac 5.1?
As there is no driver - where can I get a working driver for this SSD?

Thanks!

What macOS version are you using?

 

[GregorPQ]

What macOS version are you using?

10.14.6

 

[mattspace]

Can I get a second set of eyes on these figures - just installed Highpoint 1104f in 7,1 in a PCI3 x8 slot, with 2x Samsung 990 Pro SSDs in it.

Freshly formatted, typical write to both drives is 2940-2960MB/s and read fairly stable at 2984 MB/s. It's a little faster than the internal drive at 2880ish and 2960ish.

With dual MPX, and and an Afterburner, my system is now showing 100% PCI on both pool A & B.

 

[bnzf]

Does 2TB, or larger, AHCI PCIe M.2 SSDs exist?
It should be for a MBP late 2013 that should stay at OS 10.9 and who's 1TB SSD is getting full.

 

[tsialex]

Does 2TB, or larger, AHCI PCIe M.2 SSDs exist?
It should be for a MBP late 2013 that should stay at OS 10.9 and who's 1TB SSD is getting full.

Nope, no one sold 12+16 PCIe AHCI blades with 2TB. OWC have the Aura X2 2TB blade, but is a NVMe blade, so, won't work for you.

You can only get NVMe, which won't work with Mavericks.