MP All Models macOS PCIe SATA SSD Adapters (MP5,1 & MP7,1)

[bsbeamer]

Wiki thread for compiling a list of confirmed PCIe SATA SSD adapters for MP5,1 with macOS. They're not as fast as NVMe, but they're widely available. Should also be helpful with options for transition to MP7,1 and (should) achieve faster read/write speeds with native PCIe 3 availability for adapters that support.

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Card: Angelbird Wings X2
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x2
Number of SATA SSDs: 2
Availability: $140-150 USD
Link: https://www.angelbird.com/prod/wings-x2-1103/
Link: https://www.angelbird.com/downloads/wings-x2-1103/
Status: Confirmed with Mojave 10.14.6, see #6 for SSD compatibility
Additional Power: None Required
Note: ASMEDIA ASM1062R

Card: Apricorn Velocity Duo x2
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x2
Number of SATA SSDs: 2
Availability: Officially Discontinued
Link: https://www.apricorn.com/upgrades/vel-duox2
Status: Confirmed with Mojave 10.14.6
Additional Power: None Required
Speeds: Typically around 480MB/s Write & 510MB/s Read in non-RAID configurations with Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSDs
Notes: Marvell 9230. Randomly occasionally will not properly mount a drive. Requires full shutdown and restart to workaround when experiencing issue.

Card: Apricorn Velocity Solo x1
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 1
Availability: Officially Discontinued, Limited Stock Remains (as of October 2019)
Link: https://www.apricorn.com/upgrades/vel-solo-x1
Status: PENDING CONFIRMATION
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Asmedia 1061

Card: Apricorn Velocity Solo x2
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x2
Number of SATA SSDs: 1 (or 2 with extension adapter)
Availability: Officially Discontinued
Link: https://www.apricorn.com/upgrades/vel-solox2
Status: Confirmed with Mojave 10.14.6
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Marvel 9182

Card: OWC Accelsior S
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x2
Number of SATA SSDs: 1
Availability: Typically $45-50 USD
Link: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDACL6G.S/
Status: Confirmed with Mojave 10.14.6
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: ASM1062

Card: Sonnet Fusion Dual 2.5 Inch SSD RAID (FUS-SSD-2RAID-E)
Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
Number of SATA SSDs: 2 with USB-C 10Gbps
Availability: $130, will be available late January 2020
Link: https://www.sonnettech.com/product/fusion-dual-ssd-raid/overview.html
Status: SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, confirmed see #26
Additional Power: None Required
Note: ASMedia 3142, hardware RAID available. NOT bootable.

Card: Sonnet Tempo SSD
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x2
Number of SATA SSDs: 1 (or 2 with extension adapter)
Availability: Typically $90-100 USD
Link: https://www.sonnettech.com/product/tempossd.html
Status: Confirmed with Mojave 10.14.6
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Marvel 9182

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Card: Sonnet Fusion Dual U.2 SSD PCIe Card (FUS-U2-2X4-E3)
Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16
Number of U.2 SSDs: 1 or 2
Availability: $200 USD (pre-order as of September 2020)
Link: https://www.sonnettech.com/product/fusion-dual-u2-ssd/overview.html
Manual: https://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/fusion_dual_u2_ssd_pcie_card_qsg.pdf
Status: PENDING
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: This is a U.2 SSD adapter (not SATA). Adding for an additional high-capacity option that is compatible with both MP5,1 and MP7,1 in similar form-factor. Please see post #52 for details.

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Card: Sedna PCI Express Quad
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 4
Availability: Typically ~$90 USD
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SJSR4C1
Status: SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Part Number SE-PCIE-SSDx4-SATA6G-EX, Marvell 88SE9215
Note 2: There is a Quad RAID version of this card, Part Number SE-PCIE-SSDx4-SATA6G-RAID, based on Marvel 88SE9230 that does not advertise macOS compatibility

Card: Sedna PCI Express Dual (Short)
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 2
Availability: Typically ~$50 USD
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MTFDY76
Status: SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Part Number SE-PCIE-SSDX2-SATA6G-SH-P

Card: Sedna PCI Express Dual (Extended)
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 2
Availability: Typically ~$50 USD
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L5SPWNV
Status: SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Part Number SE-PCIE-SSDX2-SATA6G-EX-P

Card: Sedna PCI Express SATA III
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 1
Availability: Typically ~$40 USD
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01452SP1O
Status: SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional Power: None Required
Notes: Part Number SE-PCIE-SSD-SATA6G-2P

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Card: Icy Dock ToughArmor MB839SP-B
Interface: PCIe 2.0 x1
Number of SATA SSDs: 1
Availability: $70-$100 USD
Link: https://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=306
Link: https://www.newegg.com/icy-dock-mb839sp-b/p/N82E16817994239
Status: Confirmed with Monterey 12.0.1
Additional Power: None Required
Note: ASMEDIA ASM1062
Note: Removable drive / Hot-Swap

 

[bsbeamer]

Adding this in case it's helpful in the future:

https://www.marvell.com/storage/system-solutions/assets/Marvell-88SE92xx-002-product-brief.pdf

 

[SnakeCoils]

Do not forget the Angelbird Wings X2, one of the few card to offer bootable hardware RAID0 configuration, maybe a bit picky about the SSD to use but a very nice and fast PCIe-SSD adapter.

WINGS X2 - Expandable PCIe SSD with RAID | Angelbird

The Angelbird WINGS X2 is an expandable PCIe SSD Hardware RAID adapter. TRIM Support and driverless operation. Connect 2.5in Solid State Drives or Hard Drives

www.angelbird.com

 

[gugy]

I have the Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 with Samsung EVO's in RAID 0 for a couple of years. They have been reliable and no issues so far.

 

[bsbeamer]

Do not forget the Angelbird Wings X2, one of the few card to offer bootable hardware RAID0 configuration, maybe a bit picky about the SSD to use but a very nice and fast PCIe-SSD adapter.

WINGS X2 - Expandable PCIe SSD with RAID | Angelbird

The Angelbird WINGS X2 is an expandable PCIe SSD Hardware RAID adapter. TRIM Support and driverless operation. Connect 2.5in Solid State Drives or Hard Drives

www.angelbird.com

Can you 100% personally confirm compatibility with Mojave 10.14.6 on MP5,1? Looking to post verified info as much as possible.

Any idea what chipset it uses?

 

[SnakeCoils]

Can you 100% personally confirm compatibility with Mojave 10.14.6 on MP5,1? Looking to post verified info as much as possible.

Any idea what chipset it uses?

I personally used this card for my OSX install for about a year, now after a parenthesis with a NVMe drive (Samsung 970EVO) I went back to the Sonnet Tempo SSD Pro Plus with a RAID0 software configuration using a couple of Crucial MX500 because it has a super fast boot time. The same Crucial SSDs do not worked at their maximum (plus other oddities) on the Angelbird so I am planning to replace both with a couple of Angelbird-approved Solid State Drive. I like very much the idea of an hard RAID0 because it is trasparent to the MacPro and therefore I can format it in APFS and installing Mojave without the need to clone it to a HFS+ soft raid like my actual setup.
It is compatible with 10.14.6 both on 4.1 flashed to 5.1 and 5.1 native but to perform at its best it needs different SSDs than the Crucial MX500 (that instead works GREAT when installed on the Sonnet Tempo SSD Pro Plus). No idea about the chipset they used, to discover it I should remove the blue aluminium heatsink in the middle but I fear to damage something.

 

[bsbeamer]

Do you happen to know what revision or version your Angelbird Wings X2 is? Seems like three different versions were released under the same name. The first actually supported 4 x SATA SSDs in some capacity and possibly required additional power. The latest version (currently for sale) only supports 2 x SSDs.

Would assume the chip could be ID'd under the blue cover, but unsure. I've not personally used this adapter.

 

[SnakeCoils]

Do you happen to know what revision or version your Angelbird Wings X2 is? Seems like three different versions were released under the same name. The first actually supported 4 x SATA SSDs in some capacity and possibly required additional power. The latest version (currently for sale) only supports 2 x SSDs.

Would assume the chip could be ID'd under the blue cover, but unsure. I've not personally used this adapter.

My version is labeled 1.3 on the PCB and matches the currenly item on sale. Just checked the chipset, after carefully removing 4 torx screws and thanks to a good magnify lens I read it is an ASMEDIA ASM1062R (the "R" letter at the end means it is the hardware raid version of the ASM1062).
I know there was a prototype version of this card with eSATA ports also but sadly it never went in production.

 

[Bggale]

My version is labeled 1.3 on the PCB and matches the currenly item on sale. Just checked the chipset, after carefully removing 4 torx screws and thanks to a good magnify lens I read it is an ASMEDIA ASM1062R (the "R" letter at the end means it is the hardware raid version of the ASM1062).
I know there was a prototype version of this card with eSATA ports also but sadly it never went in production.

Have you been able to format your Wings X2 as a RAID 0 in APFS? I got an error when I tried. I’m using it in my nMP (7.1).

 

[SnakeCoils]

Have you been able to format your Wings X2 as a RAID 0 in APFS? I got an error when I tried. I’m using it in my nMP (7.1).

My board, lately equipped with two identical (also in firmware) 240 Gb Kingdian SSDs, worked flawlessy in partitioning and formatting the hardware RAID0 volume in APFS resulting in a single 480 Gb bootable disk. However in the meantime I've sold my Angelbird board because in comparison the NVMe disks performances are so high (almost twice the measured transfer rates of the Angelbird) that it was an easy choice and now my MacPro 5.1 relies on a single Samsung 970EVO (1 Tb). To be honest before taking this decision I have also ordered from Angelbird a couple of their WRK ECO SSD (480gb and 90 euros each) to be sure the whole assembly worked at its best (Angelbird both the board and the SSDs) but the performance were REALLY disappointing (750 mb/s) compared to what they declare as specs (950 mb/s) and this poor level of transfer rates was almost the same both in software and hardware RAID0 configuration.
Angelbird declare a verified compatibility on 4.1 and 5.1 MacPros only, the new 7.1 is not mentioned at all, maybe they should update their page with a note about possible issues in this configuration.

 

[zedex]

Where are all the HIGHPOINT cards?

HPT Rocket 644L PCIe 2.0 x4 (2 lanes)
HPT RocketRAID 2720 PCIe 2.0 x8 (8 lanes)
HPT RocketRAID 2744 PCIe 2.0 x16 (16 lanes!!)
HPT RocketRAID 2740 PCIe 2.0 x16 (16 lanes!!)

 

[bsbeamer]

Where are all the HIGHPOINT cards?

If you can PERSONALLY confirm them, add to the Wiki list.

 

[bsbeamer]

There is a new FUS-SSD-2RAID-E product for MP5,1 & MP7,1 from Sonnet that will be available in late January 2020. Hardware RAID dual SATA SSD plus USB-C in one slot.

Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID - SONNETTECH

Dual 2.5-inch SSD PCIe 3.0 card with hardware RAID controller, plus 10Gbps USB-C port. Add your own choice of SSDs.

www.sonnettech.com

Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID - Tech Specs - SONNETTECH

View videos and tech specs for Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID, determine hardware and OS compatibility, and see recommended accessories.

www.sonnettech.com

https://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/fusion_dual_25-inch_ssd_raid_qsg.pdf

Mac Compatibility

• Mac Pro 5,1 (Mid 2010 & Mid 2012) with available full-length PCIe slot
• Mac Pro 7,1 (2019)
• macOS 10.10.5, 10.12.6+(4)
• macOS Catalina compatible
• Note: not compatible with macOS 10.11

From website:

Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID
Dual 2.5-inch SSD PCIe 3.0 card with hardware RAID controller,
plus 10Gbps USB-C port • Add your own SSDs

Great 2-Drive Hardware RAID 0 Performance
Install the Sonnet Fusion card into a PCIe 3.0 slot of a computer or Thunderbolt 3 expansion system and achieve great transfer speeds up to 1000 MB/s!

Still use a Mac Pro 5,1 tower? Enjoy performance up to 770 MB/s now, and migrate the Sonnet card to the new Mac Pro (2019) to enjoy even better performance.

 

[bsbeamer]

According to the PDF, more than just MP7,1 and MP5,1 are supported. Seems to be same compatibility as their other USB-C products. Uses an ASMedia 3142.

Mac Compatibility
Mac Pro® (3,1, 4,1, 5,1, or 7,1 [2019])
macOS 10.10.5, 10.12.6+(2)
(not compatible with macOS 10.11)
macOS Mojave compatible

Mac Pro (2019), Mac Pro (Mid 2012), Mac Pro (Mid 2010), and Mac Pro (Early 2009) users may install the card into any available slot; Mac Pro (Early 2008) users should use slot 2 when available for best performance

 

[zedex]

I have added some photos here to demonstrate economic ways of continuing to use SATA HDD/ SSD / M2 B-Key (*NOT* PCIe M-Key) in 7,1 and 5,1..

@bsbeamer can rule on relevance to this thread (but remember - these AIC cards pictured have all the same properties as the ones already discussed above).

Take one of these..

use SAS to SATA 4-way splitters to set up arrangements like this..

one card.. occupying one slot.. providing the opportunity to connect up to 16 SATA drives of all types. This photo shows gumsticks mixed with spinners..

i'll thumbnail a few other images below for those that would like to see more of this approach..

 

[bsbeamer]

IF you're adding these solutions to the Wiki list, they really should be in their own category with notations for "drive mounting required" or similar. The majority (all?) cards in this thread so far are for internally mounted PCIe options.

At that same point, 10Gbps USB-C arrays offer full ~500MB/s speeds with the majority of SATA SSDs in non-RAID configs in MP5,1. A simpler setup and option for many users.

 

[zedex]

Thanks @bsbeamer - I take your point and I defer to the narrow definition initially prescribed in the opening post.

For the benefit of forum members, at some point I think we need to identify the wide array of high quality solutions centred on SATA storage interface technologies. The PCIe Add In Cards that host 2.5-in (and m2) SSDs directly are important but examining the variants is also important because of the high cost third-party solutions being marketed to 7,1 owners (despite the fact that almost 30 pre-existing cMP 5,1 third-party products are also fully compatible).

Your observation regarding USB 3.0++ cards is also correct - perhaps 'SATA storage' is the superset and 'PCIe hosted SATA', 'SAS/SATA PCIe cards' and 'USB 3 / USB-C / eSATA' should be defined as three discrete subsets. Could be complicated without a well-designed data model. I'll have a go offline and in the mean time we'll just stick with the 'PCIe hosted SATA' subset type that you used to open the thread. Cheers for you feedback - David

 

[bsbeamer]

According to this article:

Sonnet Fusion Dual SATA SSD card offers Mac Pro storage expansion over PCIe | AppleInsider

Sonnet is giving Mac Pro owners an extra option to boost the capacity of their workstation with high-speed storage, with the Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID PCIe 3.0 card enabling solid-state SATA drives to be installed via one of the expansion slots.

appleinsider.com

The new Sonnet Fusion Dual SATA SSD will be $130. Great price for what it offers for both MP5,1 and MP7,1.

 

[zedex]

I have to agree (assuming features in article are accurate). I just bought the Sonnet Tempo Pro Plus (EOL) on EBAY last week because prior to this offering - it was the only true 4 lane dual 2.5in SATA PCIe AIC. They've really slashed the price. It definitely looks like candidate number one given that the Caldigit FASTA boards are no longer in production.

 

[Sailor Ed]

Now available for purchase from the Sonnet site, I just ordered one.

Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID - SONNETTECH

Dual 2.5-inch SSD PCIe 3.0 card with hardware RAID controller, plus 10Gbps USB-C port. Add your own choice of SSDs.

www.sonnettech.com

 

[bsbeamer]

Now available for purchase from the Sonnet site, I just ordered one.

Intended for MP5,1 or MP7,1 usage?

 

[Sailor Ed]

Still using my 5,1

 

[awkward_eagle]

Now available for purchase from the Sonnet site, I just ordered one.

I have 4x 2.5" ssds and was hoping to use two of these cards ( both in JBOD mode ) to software RAID 0 all four ssds together using Disk Utility. Can you confirm that JOB mode "bybasses" the RAID controller on the card so the drives show up individually to MacOS?

 

[startergo]

According to this article:

Sonnet Fusion Dual SATA SSD card offers Mac Pro storage expansion over PCIe | AppleInsider

Sonnet is giving Mac Pro owners an extra option to boost the capacity of their workstation with high-speed storage, with the Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID PCIe 3.0 card enabling solid-state SATA drives to be installed via one of the expansion slots.

appleinsider.com

The new Sonnet Fusion Dual SATA SSD will be $130. Great price for what it offers for both MP5,1 and MP7,1.

Boot Support

• No

Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID - Tech Specs - SONNETTECH

View videos and tech specs for Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD RAID, determine hardware and OS compatibility, and see recommended accessories.

www.sonnettech.com

 

[bsbeamer]

Just saw that few days ago. Basically an internal hardware RAID only. Good for storage and work drives. Stick with NVMe for bootable.