MBA early 2015 confusion about storage protocols SATA or NVMe

[RoboMcD]

I am busy upgrading my early 2015 MBA, bought in 2017 with a new 280 GB or 500 GB m2 NVME SSD using a Sintech adapter and was checking for compatibility. However, when checking the Hardware definitions in my MBA, I am getting confused (again).

I was under the impression that everything now is using NVMe. However, when looking in Hardware under

- NVMExpress, it mentions "This computer doesn't contain any NVMEpress devices".
- PCI, it mentions "This computer does not contain any PCI cards or devices"
- SATA, it mentions a lot of info.

Serial-ATA device tree:
Apple SSD SM0128 GB

Apple SSD Controller:
Vendor: APPLE
Product: SSD Controller
Physical Interconnect: PCI ?????
Link width: x4
Link speed: 5.0 GT/s
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 supported

I though that definitely in the early 2015 and later macbooks, everything was NVMe. So why does it mentions a PCI SATA? or is this just Apple's funny way of stating things.

AHCI version 1.30 supported. Does that means it only supports it and actually is using NVMe or it is using AHCI?

 

[xboxbml]

I am busy upgrading my early 2015 MBA, bought in 2017 with a new 280 GB or 500 GB m2 NVME SSD using a Sintech adapter and was checking for compatibility. However, when checking the Hardware definitions in my MBA, I am getting confused (again).

I was under the impression that everything now is using NVMe. However, when looking in Hardware under

- NVMExpress, it mentions "This computer doesn't contain any NVMEpress devices".
- PCI, it mentions "This computer does not contain any PCI cards or devices"
- SATA, it mentions a lot of info.

Serial-ATA device tree:
Apple SSD SM0128 GB

Apple SSD Controller:
Vendor: APPLE
Product: SSD Controller
Physical Interconnect: PCI ?????
Link width: x4
Link speed: 5.0 GT/s
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 supported

I though that definitely in the early 2015 and later macbooks, everything was NVMe. So why does it mentions a PCI SATA? or is this just Apple's funny way of stating things.

AHCI version 1.30 supported. Does that means it only supports it and actually is using NVMe or it is using AHCI?

I have 2015 MBA and MBP. I put NVME in both. They did not come with NVME. PCI is not PCIe. Apple shows that item in there, but it does not contain any PCI devices. This is my NVMe on MBP. I don't have MBA with me to see its items.
Generic SSD Controller:
SHGP31-2000GM:
Capacity: 2 TB (2,000,398,934,016 bytes)
TRIM Support: Yes
Model: SHGP31-2000GM
Revision: 31060C20
Serial Number: ASCCN48441
Link Width: x4
Link Speed: 8.0 GT/s
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
Removable Media: No
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
EFI:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
File System: MS-DOS FAT32
BSD Name: disk0s1
Content: EFI
Volume UUID: 0E239BC6-F960-3107-89CF-1C97F78BB46B
disk0s2:
Capacity: 2 TB (2,000,189,177,856 bytes)
BSD Name: disk0s2
Content: Apple_APFS

What you show there in yours I believe is a standard Apple drive in your machine.

 

[Mactech20]

I think it was after Mojave that most devices got firmware updates to enable NVME if they did not have it already.

Your device fully supports NVME and you don't need to worry. Personally all I would worry about is sketchy adapters. Ive repaired countless iMacs and I only use the OWC direct fit NVME blades because I don't want to deal with some adapter going bad or not enabling a computer to boot, I've heard a few stories.

It just shows up like that in your system report because that's the type of SSD you have installed in there right now. Default for a 2015 MBA is an AHCI SSD.

 

[xboxbml]

I think it was after Mojave that most devices got firmware updates to enable NVME if they did not have it already.

Your device fully supports NVME and you don't need to worry. Personally all I would worry about is sketchy adapters. Ive repaired countless iMacs and I only use the OWC direct fit NVME blades because I don't want to deal with some adapter going bad or not enabling a computer to boot, I've heard a few stories.

It just shows up like that in your system report because that's the type of SSD you have installed in there right now. Default for a 2015 MBA is an AHCI SSD.

Actually, it was at High Sierra that NVMe support was added...but anyone doing an NVMe drive should IMO update to the latest supported OS for their model with the Apple stock drive installed before installing the NVMe one..That will update any firmware on the machine as well.