Resolved NVME SSD SLOT 2 only showing link width of x4, should I move it?

[FirDerrig33]

I currently have a WD SN750 500GB NVME SSD installed in slot 2 of my Mac Pro 5,1 and it shows the link width is x4 when that slot should be x16. Based on the data she for that drive having up to 4 lanes, does it make more sense to install that one into slot 3 and get the same performance and install a better card into slot 2?

Thanks in advance for any clarification!

 

[tsialex]

M.2 devices have only four lanes or less. M.2 is a miniature of a x4 PCIe slot.

Read the first post of the PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI sticky thread for more info and to know the multiple M.2 cards that are compatible with MacPro5,1.

 

[joevt]

WD SN750 supports only link width x4 but it does support link rate 8.0GT/s. To convert 5.0GT/s x16 to 8.0GT/s x4, you need to connect the M.2 device to a PCIe gen 3 or later switch (≥ 8.0 GT/s) that has at least x8 upstream connection (≥ x8).
PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI has more info.

 

[FirDerrig33]

M.2 devices have only four lanes or less. M.2 is a miniature of a x4 PCIe slot.

Read the first post of the PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI sticky thread for more info and to know the multiple M.2 cards that are compatible with MacPro5,1.

Thank you for that. I did read that post before posting this thread and I have ben using this SSD for a while now knowing that it is in fact compatible.

WD SN750 supports only link width x4 but it does support link rate 8.0GT/s. To convert 5.0GT/s x16 to 8.0GT/s x4, you need to connect the M.2 device to a PCIe gen 3 or later switch (≥ 8.0 GT/s) that has at least x8 upstream connection (≥ x8).
PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI has more info.

I definitely looked at those before posting this and it's really the cost that prevents me from even considering it. with all of the upgrades that I want to do: more memory, SSDs, SSD sled adapters, extra side panel...those would cost less than one of the cards/switches I would need and not sure if the speed of that is worth the cost at this point. I even considered the McFiver (which I did not se on that list which is also expensive). LOL, sadness.

I was just wondering that if it was in fact x4, if moving it to slot 3 would result in the same performance anyway and I can try to find a different solution for a faster drive in slot 2. Basically, does having it installed in slot 3 result in the same performance I'm getting from it in slot 2?

 

[tsialex]

Basically, does having it installed in slot 3 result in the same performance I'm getting from it in slot 2?

Yes.

 

[FirDerrig33]

Yes.

cool. thank you very much for the reasurance.