B/M-key PCIE adapter suggestion

[Zeke D]

I might get a B/M-key ADATA SU800 SATA m.2 card. I want to run it in a PCIE slot, but I can't seem to find a card that has an on-card SATA controller. They all have a SATA plug, which is pretty useless on a cMP. Suggestions?

 

[Slash-2CPU]

SATA m.2 will be limited to ~500MB/s even if you can find a controller card the works. Unless you’re getting the card for free, it’s not worth it.

One possibility would be an inexpensive m.2 SATA to 2.5” adapter and install that on a 2.5” SATA to PCIe host card.

Problem is that a PCIe m.2 to PCIe card has no real chips or logic on it. You can buy one for $13-16. Any SATA to PCIe card has a controller onboard. That controller adds actual cost to doing what you’re thinking about.

 

[tsialex]

I might get a B/M-key ADATA SU800 SATA m.2 card. I want to run it in a PCIE slot, but I can't seem to find a card that has an on-card SATA controller. They all have a SATA plug, which is pretty useless on a cMP. Suggestions?

This one has a SATA600 controller on-board

StarTech.com 2x M.2 SATA SSD Controller Card - PCIe - PCI Express M.2 SATA III Controller - NGFF Card Adapter

 

[Zeke D]

This one has a SATA600 controller on-board

StarTech.com 2x M.2 SATA SSD Controller Card - PCIe - PCI Express M.2 SATA III Controller - NGFF Card Adapter

Thanks for finding this for me Alex. It looks like OS X through 10.12 is supported by the manufacturer, but like @Slash-2CPU said, the $57 cost for the adapter is crazypants. I was getting the SATA m.2 for free, but $57 will go most of the way toward a nice AHCI m.2

 

[tsialex]

Thanks for finding this for me Alex. It looks like OS X through 10.12 is supported by the manufacturer, but like @Slash-2CPU said, the $57 cost for the adapter is crazypants. I was getting the SATA m.2 for free, but $57 will go most of the way toward a nice AHCI m.2

It's not cost-effective and a bad fit for a Mac Pro.

You can buy a cheaper Chinese one without SATA controller and use the second ODD SATA port, but it's a rat's nest.

 

[Slash-2CPU]

You could use one of these adapters and put it in your spare optical drive 5.25” bay.
Sabrent M.2 SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6PMZLW/

Minimal cost and you don’t lose a PCIe slot. Trade off is 266MB/s max real throughput, but depending on the model of SATA m.2, it might not be capable of a whole lot more than 300-350MB/s anyway.