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PCIE M.2 NVMe on MacPro

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itdk92 said:
Nice. In my case I couldn't even get Bootcamp to recognize the DVD I made with a genuine copy of windows 10 :/
Any tricks or things I should be aware of in this regard?

Also it would be for another machine, with two 1080TI, a pcie drive for macOS and a regular SSD on a SATA II port for Windows
Click to expand...

I really can't remember. I also download Windows 10 from MS official website, burn that onto a DVD. And went through the installation process. I did that more than 18 months ago, can remember if bootcamp gave me any warming / error (from memory, didn't, but can't sure).

Anyway, if that happen to me, I will put in the Win 7 disc, let bootcamp run. And swap disc just before reboot to let bootcamp continue the installation process.
 
Hey guys, I just finished my latest app: Trim Enabler 4.
One of the big features is that I built a S.M.A.R.T feature that supports NVMe - the worlds first for Mac OS.

zFAec0u.png

I haven't tried it with PCIe drives yet though. But if it works I think it could be of interest to NVMe drive owners in this thread.

The app can be downloaded here: https://cindori.org/trimenabler/ (free 14 day Trial)
 
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Cindori said:
Hey guys, I just finished my latest app: Trim Enabler 4.
One of the big features is that I built a S.M.A.R.T feature that supports NVMe - the worlds first for Mac OS.

zFAec0u.png

I haven't tried it with PCIe drives yet though. But if it works I think it could be of interest to NVMe drive owners in this thread.

The app can be downloaded here: https://cindori.org/trimenabler/ (free 14 day Trial)
Click to expand...

How confident are you that the app will work with Pcie drives?
 
Cindori said:
Hey guys, I just finished my latest app: Trim Enabler 4.
One of the big features is that I built a S.M.A.R.T feature that supports NVMe - the worlds first for Mac OS.

zFAec0u.png

I haven't tried it with PCIe drives yet though. But if it works I think it could be of interest to NVMe drive owners in this thread.

The app can be downloaded here: https://cindori.org/trimenabler/ (free 14 day Trial)
Click to expand...

Once again, thanks for creating such a great apps. Since you mentioned about NVMe SSD. And that's not even supported OOTB (like TRIM is not OOTB supported). Do you think it's possible (or a good idea) to make a apps that able to 1 click enable NVMe SSD (of course, not bootable). e.g. As an extra function of TRIM Enabler.

I don't know how hard it is, and I don't know if there is any legal problem (e.g. Need to include a 3rd driver in your apps, which need others approval). But just thinking this will be a "killer function" for cMP user :D
 
Cindori - any plans to update Disk Sensei?

I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500GB NVMe blade in a PCI-e adapter, and it's in a FusionDrive (FD) with a Western Digital Black Caviar 2TB HDD. When I benchmark my NVMe drive using Disk Sensei (and other similar utilities like BlackMagic, TechTool Pro, Drive Genius etc) it writes data to the blade to begin with (maybe 4GB or so), but then switches to the HDD and continues the remainder of the tests on the HDD. Is there any way you can make Disk Sensei stick to benchmarking the NVMe for the entire benchmarking tests, or is this a limitation of FD?
 
itdk92 said:
How confident are you that the app will work with Pcie drives?
Click to expand...

Fairly confident, but needs testing, which is why I'm reaching out here. If you have a PCIe drive, give the free trial a try and let me know!

JedNZ said:
Cindori - any plans to update Disk Sensei?

I have a Samsung 960 EVO 500GB NVMe blade in a PCI-e adapter, and it's in a FusionDrive (FD) with a Western Digital Black Caviar 2TB HDD. When I benchmark my NVMe drive using Disk Sensei (and other similar utilities like BlackMagic, TechTool Pro, Drive Genius etc) it writes data to the blade to begin with (maybe 4GB or so), but then switches to the HDD and continues the remainder of the tests on the HDD. Is there any way you can make Disk Sensei stick to benchmarking the NVMe for the entire benchmarking tests, or is this a limitation of FD?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Disk Sensei is up next and the two major priorities are NVMe drives and Apple File System features & support.
 
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Cindori said:
I haven't tried it with PCIe drives yet though.
Click to expand...

S.M.A.R.T. data is reported for my Samsung SM951 AHCI (in a PCIe adapter in a Mac Pro 2009). Thanks! However:
  • There are a few "Unknown Attribute" entries.
  • The disk size is not rounded and therefore too wide for its box
  • The "PCIe" box is not displayed
  • Trim is reported as "not enabled" despite being enabled with the "trimforce" command in the Terminal
 

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Hi everyone,

Thinking of replacing my HDD with a Samsung SM951 AHCI M.2 blade SSD as my boot drive. I also found a Lycom DT-120 PCIe adapter for the SSD, but it holds a single blade. Anyone have any recommendations on a double-blade adapter?
 
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@Squuiid @h9826790 how can I tell if the SSD is NVMe or AHCI? Is there something in the model # that will identify it? I've tried to Google what the difference is but nothing came up :confused:

I found this one on ebay thats says "AHCI version" but then in the description it says NVMe but supports AHCI. I'm a little confused as to what it actually is.
 
Of note, under "Features it does specify..

"Compatible" with the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, or the current 'cylindrical' model Mac Pro
Support Standard AHCI driver"

No mention of a cMP.
 
jbarley said:
Of note, under "Features it does specify..

"Compatible" with the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, or the current 'cylindrical' model Mac Pro
Support Standard AHCI driver"

No mention of a cMP.
Click to expand...
Assuming the part number is correctly listed then yes it is the AHCI version: MZHPV256HDGL
How do I know? I Googled it.
 
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jbarley said:
Of note, under "Features it does specify..

"Compatible" with the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, or the current 'cylindrical' model Mac Pro
Support Standard AHCI driver"

No mention of a cMP.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, there is only SSD that the nMP cannot use but cMP can, not the other way around.

And NVMe SSD required NVMe driver, cannot use ACHI drive and run as "compatible mode".

Clearly the seller don't know what he is selling, I will avoid that if I really want to avoid the NVMe SSD. Unless it's really really cheap, and the seller can provide the real photo of the actual goods, not any downloaded photos from Google.
 
superparati said:
Hi,

Yesterday I did install my new Lycom DT-120 with its SM951 512GB (NVMe) M.2 PCIe.
I've to admit, it's fast! Moving from a SSD SATA II to a PCIe SSD it is a different world!

With the raise of the SSD it change my way of working but in the meantime the size of the files just boom!
After working/testing with a RAM disk to improve my way of working with all the pros and cons, I found the best of the two worlds! Secure and efficient!

Here is how i did proceed to install my card and the SSD on my MacPro running over El Capitan.
my SIP was already deactivated, before anything I suggest you to deactivate the SIP if you are going to do the same :)

  1. Install your card on the Slot 3 or 4 of your MacPro
  2. Download the NVMe driver here
  3. Copy the kext file NVMeGeneric.kext into /Library/Extensions
  4. cmd + i on the Extensions folder and update the permission by clicking on "apply to enclosed items"
    cmdi.png
  5. Reboot my computer
  6. Open the terminal and enter the following command line: "
  7. sudo kextload /Library/Extensions/NVMeGeneric.kext"
  8. A popup window should appear asking you to reinitialise the new detected support.
  9. Do it
  10. Happy!

You can reactivate SIP after :)

Bench
ssd-m2-pcie.png



​
However, the system information software doesn't seems to recognise the PCI card or the NVMe support.
When I click on NVMEExpress tab i have this message
This computer doesn't contain any NVMExpress devices. If you installed NVMExpress devices, make sure they are connected properly and powered on.

PCI tab
There was an error while gathering PCI device information.

Do you know why? is it a limitation of El capitan?

Other quick question because I don't find the answer. How can I activate the TRIM and where can I see the TRIM support confirmation?
The SSD is displayed as an external support which is strange with Disk utility.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Downloaded the file and entered the lines in terminal, then it asked for a password! You have any Idea?
Regards George
 
Hi all,


I just installed M.2. MZHPV256HDGL with Lycom DT-120 in slot 4 in my MacPro 2009 5,1 (yes firmware upgrade - Sierra ). I cloned the system to the M.2. with Carbon Copy Cloner.

Everything works good. I can boot it from M.2 and works Ok.

However, When I run GeekBench 4, I found the benchmark score goes significantly lower than previous. The machine had score around 26000 previous, now it can only about 20000. Moreover, disk speed test by Blackmagicdesign shows good mount of read speed around 1200 mb/s but the write speed scored around only 100 mb/s.

Previously, it had Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD on Pcie slot 4. At the time, I have about 400 mb/s for write and read speed measured by Disk Speed Test - Blackmagicdesign.

Anyone has the same experience ?

Screen Shot 2017-09-09 at 8.17.54 AM.png
 
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llpoohjmac said:
Hi all,


I just installed M.2. MZHPV256HDGL with Lycom DT-120 in slot 4 in my MacPro 2009 5,1 (yes firmware upgrade - Sierra ). I cloned the system to the M.2. with Carbon Copy Cloner.

Everything works good. I can boot it from M.2 and works Ok.

However, When I run GeekBench 4, I found the benchmark score goes significantly lower than previous. The machine had score around 26000 previous, now it can only about 20000. Moreover, disk speed test by Blackmagicdesign shows good mount of read speed around 1200 mb/s but the write speed scored around only 100 mb/s.

Previously, it had Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD on Pcie slot 4. At the time, I have about 400 mb/s for write and read speed measured by Disk Speed Test - Blackmagicdesign.

Anyone has the same experience ?

View attachment 716531
Click to expand...

TRIM still enabled?
 
h9826790 said:
TRIM still enabled?
Click to expand...

Thank you for prompt reply.

How can I enable TRIM ? I have couple of SSDs on SATA and PCIE, but none of them enable TRIM.
Does TRIM only matter for M.2. ?
[doublepost=1504961775][/doublepost]
llpoohjmac said:
I just enable TRIM but trimforce and the disk speed test scored 1100 MB/s for write and 1300 MB/s for read.

Thank you
Click to expand...
 
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llpoohjmac said:
Thank you for prompt reply.

How can I enable TRIM ? I have couple of SSDs on SATA and PCIE, but none of them enable TRIM.
Does TRIM only matter for M.2. ?
[doublepost=1504961775][/doublepost]
Click to expand...
From the Terminal, enter the command:
Code: 
sudo trimforce enable
 
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Everything is slow. I don't think TRIM would make that much of a difference. My results, with TRIM enabled are below.

Black Magic 3.0 Results - SM951.png

Lou
 
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superparati said:
Hi,

Yesterday I did install my new Lycom DT-120 with its SM951 512GB (NVMe) M.2 PCIe.
I've to admit, it's fast! Moving from a SSD SATA II to a PCIe SSD it is a different world!

With the raise of the SSD it change my way of working but in the meantime the size of the files just boom!
After working/testing with a RAM disk to improve my way of working with all the pros and cons, I found the best of the two worlds! Secure and efficient!

Here is how i did proceed to install my card and the SSD on my MacPro running over El Capitan.
my SIP was already deactivated, before anything I suggest you to deactivate the SIP if you are going to do the same :)

  1. Install your card on the Slot 3 or 4 of your MacPro
  2. Download the NVMe driver here
  3. Copy the kext file NVMeGeneric.kext into /Library/Extensions
  4. cmd + i on the Extensions folder and update the permission by clicking on "apply to enclosed items"
    cmdi.png
  5. Reboot my computer
  6. Open the terminal and enter the following command line: "
  7. sudo kextload /Library/Extensions/NVMeGeneric.kext"
  8. A popup window should appear asking you to reinitialise the new detected support.
  9. Do it
  10. Happy!

You can reactivate SIP after :)

Bench
ssd-m2-pcie.png



​
However, the system information software doesn't seems to recognise the PCI card or the NVMe support.
When I click on NVMEExpress tab i have this message
This computer doesn't contain any NVMExpress devices. If you installed NVMExpress devices, make sure they are connected properly and powered on.

PCI tab
There was an error while gathering PCI device information.

Do you know why? is it a limitation of El capitan?

Other quick question because I don't find the answer. How can I activate the TRIM and where can I see the TRIM support confirmation?
The SSD is displayed as an external support which is strange with Disk utility.

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Hi,

My Mac Pro 2009 (flashed to 5.1) panics when I do step 7!
What is going wrong?
 
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