MP 7,1 Installing Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus ?

[bxs]

Subject: Installing Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus ?

In a weeks time I will be installing the KryoM.2 with a 2TB Samsung blade in my MP7,1. I'm assuming a 8x PCIe slot will suitable for this, right ?

I already have Vega II, Afterburner and Sonnet x16 PCIe card installed.

 

[tsialex]

Subject: Installing Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus ?

In a weeks time I will be installing the KryoM.2 with a 2TB Samsung blade in my MP7,1. I'm assuming a 8x PCIe slot will suitable for this, right ?

I already have Vega II, Afterburner and Sonnet x16 PCIe card installed.

M.2 devices are PCIe x4 devices.

 

[bxs]

M.2 devices are PCIe x4 devices.

Yes I know... but the only x4 slot is occupied by the Apple i/o card. So that leaves me only the other slots so will have to use a x8 slot which is more than enough, and should work presumably.

I'm really not after speed as the 2TB blade will be configured as 2x APFS Containers with one being a backup for my internal Apple 1TB SSD and the other a boot image for testing new macOS things. The x4 speed should be more than enough for me.

 

[tsialex]

Yes I know... but the only x4 slot is occupied by the Apple i/o card. So that leaves me only the other slots so will have to use a x8 slot which is more than enough, and should work presumably.

I'm really am not after speed as the 2TB blade will be configured as 2x APFS Containers with one being a backup for my internal Apple 1TB SSD and the other a boot image for testing new macOS things. The x4 speed should be more than enough for me.

Yes, it will work with any slot, no problem. Throughout will be limited to around 3200MB/s max, as any x4 device installed in a MP7,1.

 

[SteveZee]

Can anyone add any more real life info on this item please? the adapter

 

[bxs]

Can anyone add any more real life info on this item please? the adapter

I will this coming Friday when I receive, install and test the adapter.

 

[tsialex]

Can anyone add any more real life info on this item please? the adapter

Did you thought about going to the kryoM.2 thread?

Aqua Computer kryoM.2 evo PCIe 3.0 x 4, adapter

I just installed this PCIe card with a 970 pro NVMe to boot from ( big thanks to TSIALEX for modding my boot rom's top man ) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0742LW4WB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this adapter card is very very nice, and as I have the PX1 angel wings to...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[bxs]

Subject: Installing Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus ?

In a weeks time I will be installing the KryoM.2 with a 2TB Samsung blade in my MP7,1. I'm assuming a 8x PCIe slot will suitable for this, right ?

I already have Vega II, Afterburner and Sonnet x16 PCIe card installed.

Gosh, the shipping for this item is torturous as it goes through various custom checking stations on its way to me from Germany. I just hope it's packed securely to avoid damage.

Germany->England->USA (at least it's not passing through China )

 

[SteveZee]

Did you thought about going to the kryoM.2 thread?

Aqua Computer kryoM.2 evo PCIe 3.0 x 4, adapter

I just installed this PCIe card with a 970 pro NVMe to boot from ( big thanks to TSIALEX for modding my boot rom's top man ) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0742LW4WB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this adapter card is very very nice, and as I have the PX1 angel wings to...

forums.macrumors.com

Yes I did examine that, but not as gospel because it refers mostly to older MacPros.
I want to outfit the MacPro 2019, so I want to be sure.
That said, now I'm worried. After eons of research, I just ordered
Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB
but your thread #47(?) March 2019 said
"but the 970EVO Plus is incompatible with macOS."
I know you know everything, but I gathered here and there that is not true anymore? I hope!
Also, is that chip double sided? How can we know?
Thank you !

 

[tsialex]

Yes I did examine that, but not as gospel because it refers mostly to older MacPros.
I want to outfit the MacPro 2019, so I want to be sure.
That said, now I'm worried. After eons of research, I just ordered
Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 500GB
but your thread #47(?) March 2019 said
"but the 970EVO Plus is incompatible with macOS."
I know you know everything, but I gathered here and there that is not true anymore? I hope!
Also, is that chip double sided? How can we know?
Thank you !

EVO Plus manufactured since September 2019 already have the macOS compatible firmware. If you are unlucky enough to get one NOS with the original firmware, you have to update with Windows and Samsung Magician or alternate methods.

500GB, 1TB and 2TB models are single sided. Sonnet has a table of what blades are single/double sided:

https://sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/M2_compatibility.pdf

All this info is linked on the first post of the PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI thread.

 

[SteveZee]

EVO Plus manufactured since September 2019 already have the macOS compatible firmware. If you are unlucky enough to get one NOS with the original firmware, you have to update with Windows and Samsung Magician or alternate methods.

500GB, 1TB and 2TB models are single sided. Sonnet has a table of what blades are single/double sided:

https://sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/M2_compatibility.pdf

All this info is linked on the first post of the PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI thread.

Great thanks. I read so much that I forget this or that detail, then I cant remember exactly where what was and etc.

But now I see Kryo M.2 has 2 versions. I guess this one is for single sided:

Kryom. 2 PCIe 3.0 x Adapter M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD – Key with Passive Cooler

The kryoM.2 is a PCIe 4x adapter for M.2/M-Key NGFF PCIe SSD and is compatible with the form factors 2280, 2260 and 2242. The adapter uses a multilayer PCB with gold surface where the individual layers are connected to each other to optimize the thermal management. The SSD is installed with a the...

www.amazon.com

and this one must be for double sided:

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

www.amazon.com

Can I use the DOUBLE SIDED adapter card with the single sided Evo+ ? Would I only be enhancing the cooling by doing this? And then someday put in a double sided chip.

 

[tsialex]

Great thanks. I read so much that I forget this or that detail, then I cant remember exactly where what was and etc.

But now I see Kryo M.2 has 2 versions. I guess this one is for single sided:

Kryom. 2 PCIe 3.0 x Adapter M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD – Key with Passive Cooler

The kryoM.2 is a PCIe 4x adapter for M.2/M-Key NGFF PCIe SSD and is compatible with the form factors 2280, 2260 and 2242. The adapter uses a multilayer PCB with gold surface where the individual layers are connected to each other to optimize the thermal management. The SSD is installed with a the...

www.amazon.com

and this one must be for double sided:

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

www.amazon.com

Can I use the DOUBLE SIDED adapter card with the single sided Evo+ ? Would I only be enhancing the cooling by doing this? And then someday put in a double sided chip.

KryoM.2 = accept both double or single sided M.2 blades.
KryoM.2 EVO = only single sided M.2 blades.

 

[Snow Tiger]

Subject: Installing Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter with 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus ?

In a weeks time I will be installing the KryoM.2 with a 2TB Samsung blade in my MP7,1. I'm assuming a 8x PCIe slot will suitable for this, right ?

I already have Vega II, Afterburner and Sonnet x16 PCIe card installed.

Oh my , somebody is splurging on themselves ! 🤑

You'll like the KryoM.2 . It's the Lamborghini of adapters .

It's the best retail adapter for these drives I can think of , without going to water .

 

[SteveZee]

KryoM.2 = accept both double or single sided M.2 blades.
KryoM.2 EVO = only single sided M.2 blades.

Great but how do you know that? I thought I read those things and NO clue !??
Also that magician software does not say anything about being Mac friendly, all windows.

 

[tsialex]

Great but how do you know that? I thought I read those things and NO clue !??

Go to the AquaComputer site and read the description, it's there.

The way the second heatsink is mounted on the kryoM.2 EVO PCB blocks double sided blades.

[automerge]1582761785[/automerge]

kryoM.2 evo PCIe 5.0/4.0/3.0 x4 adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with passive heatsink

kryoM.2 evo PCIe 5.0/4.0/3.0 x4 adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with passive heatsink: The kryoM.2 evo is a PCIe 5.0 x4 adapter for single sided M.2/M-Key NGFF PCIe SSDs and is compatible with the form factor 2280. Special features of the kryoM.2 evo: - Large passive heatsink for the top...

shop.aquacomputer.de

 

[bxs]

Great thanks. I read so much that I forget this or that detail, then I cant remember exactly where what was and etc.

But now I see Kryo M.2 has 2 versions. I guess this one is for single sided:

Kryom. 2 PCIe 3.0 x Adapter M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD – Key with Passive Cooler

The kryoM.2 is a PCIe 4x adapter for M.2/M-Key NGFF PCIe SSD and is compatible with the form factors 2280, 2260 and 2242. The adapter uses a multilayer PCB with gold surface where the individual layers are connected to each other to optimize the thermal management. The SSD is installed with a the...

www.amazon.com

and this one must be for double sided:

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

Aquacomputer KryoM.2 Evo PCIe 3.0 x4 Adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key with Passive Heatsink

www.amazon.com

Can I use the DOUBLE SIDED adapter card with the single sided Evo+ ? Would I only be enhancing the cooling by doing this? And then someday put in a double sided chip.

I now have received my KryoM.2 today and will install it in my MP7,1 and test it with a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB blade, and will post results back here.

 

[SteveZee]

Go to the AquaComputer site and read the description, it's there.

ok that is obvious (thanks for the arrow !)
Well THAT was not on the amazon promo.
I'll remember your help FOREVER, or a while, whichever comes first. !!!

Anything to say about that magician software (windows only) for the evo+ ?

 

[tsialex]

Anything to say about that magician software (windows only) for the evo+ ?

Nothing to say, I used Magician maybe two times.

You don't need Magician to upgrade the firmware, see my previous post.

 

[bxs]

I now have received my KryoM.2 today and will install it in my MP7,1 and test it with a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB blade, and will post results back here.

So I installed my KryoM.2 PCIe x4 card today with a 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus blade installed in it. The MP7,1 discovered it without issues.

The 2TB was split into two APFS Containers with one being for backup of my internal Apple 1TB SSDS, and the other for testing macOS versions.

I installed the KryoM.2 in PCIe slot 7 immediately under the Apple PCIe x4 i/o card. There was ample room for it in that slot.

The KryoM.2 is extremely well designed, is solid metal and has very substantial cooling for both sides of the Samsung flash/SSD blade.

I paid attention to how the card components were to be assembled and made a dry fit before making a final installation of the Samsung blade.

The instructions do not give any clues how it all goes together except for detailing the switch that controls LEDs; ON, OFF and SSD activity. I left the switch in the position the KryoM.2 came with which happen to be "SSD Activity". The SSD activity LEDs are Bright orange and flicker wildly when data is being written and read to the card/blade.

The one issue (minor at best) was the amount of effort to remove the small screw that is used to hold the Samsung blade down and in place after being inserted to the base connector. Once removed and taking care to support the card from breaking or cracking, all was all well.

The underside cooling heat sink with its sticky thermal pad must be dropped into place before inserting the blade into the card. The thermal pads are covered with a thin plastic film that must be removed on both sides before applying to the heat sink and the top side of the Samsung blade. Once all of this has been done, the silicon spacer and the top metal heat sink cover can be screwed back done securely with 4 screws.

The kit does not provide a Philips screw driver.

I attach a bunch of screen shots and photo images.

The Black Magic Disk Test and the AJA System Test program showed the 2TB blade was capable of delivering a good 3,000 MB/s for writes and reads (see screen shots)

At this time I'm satisfied that this KryoM.2 is a perfect compliment for my MP7,1 for holding a backup for my internal Apple SSD and for holding test versions for macOS. I can now abandon my two external self powered SSD enclosures (OWC Envoy Pro EX and a Samsung T5) for the same purpose I'm now using the KryoM.2 for. Everything I need is now internal to the MP7,1.
[automerge]1582767749[/automerge]

So I installed my KryoM.2 PCIe x4 card today with a 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus blade installed in it. The MP7,1 discovered it without issues.

The 2TB was split into two APFS Containers with one being for backup of my internal Apple 1TB SSDS, and the other for testing macOS versions.

I installed the KryoM.2 in PCIe slot 7 immediately under the Apple PCIe x4 i/o card. There was ample room for it in that slot.

The KryoM.2 is extremely well designed, is solid metal and has very substantial cooling for both sides of the Samsung flash/SSD blade.

I paid attention to how the card competes were to be assembled and made a dry fit before making a final installation of the Samsung blade.

The instruction do not give any clues how it all goes together except for detailing the switch that controls LEDs; ON, OFF and SSD activity. I left the switch in the position the KryoM.2 came with which happen to be "SSD Activity". The SSD activity LEDs are Bright orange and flicker wildly when data being written and read.

The one issue (minor at best) was the amount of effort to remove the small screw that is used to hold the Samsung blade down and in place after being inserted to the base connector. Once remove taking care to support the card from breaking or cracking, all was well.

The underside cooling heat sink with its sticky thermal pad must be dropped into place before inserting the blade into the card. The thermal pads are covered with a thin plastic film that must be removed on both side before employing to the heat sink and the top side of the blade. Once all of this has been done, the silicon spacer and the top metal heat sink cover can be screwed back done securely with 4 screws.

The kit does not provide a Philips screw driver.

I attach a bunch of screen shots and phot images.

The Black Magic Disk Test and the AJA System Test program showed the 2TB blade was capable of delivering a good 3,000 MB/s for writes and reads (see screen shots)

I have successfully booted up from both of the KryoM.2 macOS boot images and they show up when Starting with the Option key pressed. 👍

At this time I'm satisfied 👍 that this KryoM.2 is a perfect compliment for my MP7,1 for holding a backup for my internal Apple SSD and for holding test versions for macOS.

I can now abandon my two external self powered SSD enclosures (OWC Envoy Pro EX and a Samsung T5 that were cluttering up my desk with being connected to my OWC TB3 Dock) for the same purpose I'm now using the KryoM.2 for. Everything I need is now internal to the MP7,1.

I attach some additional photo images of the KryoM.2 here...

 

[John_B Beta]

So I installed my KryoM.2 PCIe x4 card today with a 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus blade installed in it. The MP7,1 discovered it without issues.

The 2TB was split into two APFS Containers with one being for backup of my internal Apple 1TB SSDS, and the other for testing macOS versions.

I installed the KryoM.2 in PCIe slot 7 immediately under the Apple PCIe x4 i/o card. There was ample room for it in that slot.

The KryoM.2 is extremely well designed, is solid metal and has very substantial cooling for both sides of the Samsung flash/SSD blade.

I paid attention to how the card components were to be assembled and made a dry fit before making a final installation of the Samsung blade.

The instructions do not give any clues how it all goes together except for detailing the switch that controls LEDs; ON, OFF and SSD activity. I left the switch in the position the KryoM.2 came with which happen to be "SSD Activity". The SSD activity LEDs are Bright orange and flicker wildly when data is being written and read to the card/blade.

The one issue (minor at best) was the amount of effort to remove the small screw that is used to hold the Samsung blade down and in place after being inserted to the base connector. Once removed and taking care to support the card from breaking or cracking, all was all well.

The underside cooling heat sink with its sticky thermal pad must be dropped into place before inserting the blade into the card. The thermal pads are covered with a thin plastic film that must be removed on both sides before applying to the heat sink and the top side of the Samsung blade. Once all of this has been done, the silicon spacer and the top metal heat sink cover can be screwed back done securely with 4 screws.

The kit does not provide a Philips screw driver.

I attach a bunch of screen shots and photo images.

The Black Magic Disk Test and the AJA System Test program showed the 2TB blade was capable of delivering a good 3,000 MB/s for writes and reads (see screen shots)

At this time I'm satisfied that this KryoM.2 is a perfect compliment for my MP7,1 for holding a backup for my internal Apple SSD and for holding test versions for macOS. I can now abandon my two external self powered SSD enclosures (OWC Envoy Pro EX and a Samsung T5) for the same purpose I'm now using the KryoM.2 for. Everything I need is now internal to the MP7,1.
[automerge]1582767749[/automerge]

I attach some additional photo images of the KryoM.2 here...

Thanks for the post and the photos. I did mine last week too - and also found that the screw that you have to undo - the one that holds the m.2 blade in place was super hard to undo - in fact on the first evo that amazon sent me I came to the conclusion that it was pretty much fused into place and just had amazon send a replacement, which worked.

Remember if the flashing orange light annoys you to set the switch on the evo to 'off' or you will end up like me, being annoyed and then having to pull the whole mac out of its nice tidy spot, disconnect everything to get the case off, pull the card out, and then flip the switch on the card lol.

 

[simonnelli]

Thanks for the post and the photos. I did mine last week too - and also found that the screw that you have to undo - the one that holds the m.2 blade in place was super hard to undo - in fact on the first evo that amazon sent me I came to the conclusion that it was pretty much fused into place and just had amazon send a replacement, which worked.

Remember if the flashing orange light annoys you to set the switch on the evo to 'off' or you will end up like me, being annoyed and then having to pull the whole mac out of its nice tidy spot, disconnect everything to get the case off, pull the card out, and then flip the switch on the card lol.

I even taped over the activity LEDs on the KryoM.2 Evo Adapter because thise LEDs can't be controlled with the switch.

A few weeks ago I wrote to Aquacomputer if they have black slot covers to replace. Unfortunately they don't and suggested to paint them black after removing the two screws.

 

[John_B Beta]

I even taped over the activity LEDs on the KryoM.2 Evo Adapter because thise LEDs can't be controlled with the switch.

A few weeks ago I wrote to Aquacomputer if they have black slot covers to replace. Unfortunately they don't and suggested to paint them black after removing the two screws.

Oh noez! I switched mine to 'off' and there's no more flashing orange light out of the back for me - it has 3 settings, on, off, and something like activity, so maybe yours isn't on off? But maybe some other little lights are flashing and I don't see them. Good luck!

 

[simonnelli]

Oh noez! I switched mine to 'off' and there's no more flashing orange light out of the back for me - it has 3 settings, on, off, and something like activity, so maybe yours isn't on off? But maybe some other little lights are flashing and I don't see them. Good luck!

I took out my two cards several times to check the switch (quite a pain on MP7,1 because you always have to close the case entirely to check). The four LEDs in the red square keep on blinking on access (visible on the back shining through the silicone pad)

Image courtesy of @bxs

 

[bxs]

My MP7,1 is under my working table and I use the KryoM.2 (has a 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus blade) for holding a clone of my internal Apple 1TB SSD and Apple's macOS Beta builds.

Because of this, I like having the flashing orange LEDs as confirmation I'm running off the KryoM.2 rather than my Production internal Apple 1TB SSD.

As an aside, are you guys finding the KryoM.2 temps are being controlled OK ? Using DriveDX when pounding on the KryoM.2 with lots of writes/reads I did notice the temp grew from a stable 98ºF to around 111ºF and then back down to 98ºF after I quit the write/read pounding. I have no idea if the temp would climb above 111ºF had I continued to pound on the KryoM.2.

What has been the highest temp you've seen on the KryoM.2 ?

 

[simonnelli]

I've never measured temps above 104°F with Samsung 970 Evo plus (screenshot in °C, as I'm in Europe and reasonable 😜). As I don't have many cards inside the MP7,1 at the moment, I spaced them evenly out.

1TB model inside Kryo m2 Evo

2TB model inside Kryo m2 Evo