MP All Models PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

[Grumply]

Wow, is the 7104 or the 7140 bootable?

M.2 Non-Bootable - Gen3 | HighPoint-tech.com

SSD7000 series controllers are fully independent NVMe RAID storage solutions. Unlike the vast majority of NVMe controllers available for mainstream PCIe 3.0 host platforms, SSD7000 series controllers are not restricted to a particular chipset or motherboard series, and require no bifurcation...

www.highpoint-tech.com

Do they need drivers?

I can boot my Windows install off both of them in my 7,1. Haven’t attempted an OSX boot from them myself though (haven’t had a need to).

If I’m remembering correctly, Highpoint do provide a driver for them.

 

[joevt]

If I’m remembering correctly, Highpoint do provide a driver for them.

The driver is only needed for Highpoint RAID. I think Highpoint RAID is bootable (depends on what you can see in EFI). Other option is software RAID (DiskUtility or SoftRAID or whatever) which is not bootable. Or use no RAID which should be bootable (just like in the Windows case).
I got the PCIe gen 4 version of the 7104 (it's called the 7505 but it has a fan which makes it too think for single slot).

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

The driver is only needed for Highpoint RAID. I think Highpoint RAID is bootable (depends on what you can see in EFI). Other option is software RAID (DiskUtility or SoftRAID or whatever) which is not bootable. Or use no RAID which should be bootable (just like in the Windows case).
I got the PCIe gen 4 version of the 7104 (it's called the 7505 but it has a fan which makes it too think for single slot).

Oh that's great. So you can make a boot drive, install the driver on there to set up the RAID on hardware and then not have to install it on your main system if you dont want?

If so, that's great.

 

[joevt]

Oh that's great. So you can make a boot drive, install the driver on there to set up the RAID on hardware and then not have to install it on your main system if you dont want?

I'm not 100% sure since I haven't tried it. For it to be bootable, there needs to be a method that allows EFI to see the drive. If that method is compatible with macOS then it can work without a macOS driver. If the method is not compatible with macOS, then macOS needs a driver - that might not bode well for installing an OS, but I guess if you install to another drive, then restore to the RAID, and install the driver to the OS on the RAID then it could work. All these questions should be answered by documentation. From what I could find, it doesn't look like it is currently possible for macOS:
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/For_mac_nvme.htm

Specs for 7104 says it's not RAID bootable.
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7104-specification.htm
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7140-specification.htm

Specs for 7103 and 7505 say they are RAID bootable but not for macOS.
https://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7103-specification.htm
https://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7500-specification.htm

FAQ:
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/support-index-faq-nvme.htm

Even if it says it's not RAID bootable, I would still check what is visible in EFI. If it can be discovered how the HighPoint RAID works, then an EFI driver could be created. The EFI driver could be loaded from a different disk. Then the RAID could be bootable if the HighPoint kext loads. That's all just theoretical though.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I'm not 100% sure since I haven't tried it. For it to be bootable, there needs to be a method that allows EFI to see the drive. If that method is compatible with macOS then it can work without a macOS driver. If the method is not compatible with macOS, then macOS needs a driver - that might not bode well for installing an OS, but I guess if you install to another drive, then restore to the RAID, and install the driver to the OS on the RAID then it could work. All these questions should be answered by documentation. From what I could find, it doesn't look like it is currently possible for macOS:
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/For_mac_nvme.htm

Specs for 7104 says it's not RAID bootable.
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7104-specification.htm
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7140-specification.htm

Specs for 7103 and 7505 say they are RAID bootable but not for macOS.
https://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7103-specification.htm
https://highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/series-ssd7500-specification.htm

FAQ:
https://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA_new/support-index-faq-nvme.htm

Even if it says it's not RAID bootable, I would still check what is visible in EFI. If it can be discovered how the HighPoint RAID works, then an EFI driver could be created. The EFI driver could be loaded from a different disk. Then the RAID could be bootable if the HighPoint kext loads. That's all just theoretical though.

Yea, I dont buy anything for the Mac that requires an OS level driver. It, for me, ALWAYS results in massive problems. Thats why I was curious if it could be configured on a system with the driver, but after that would just work and look like a single big drive to the system. I have such a card in an old system and it works amazingly well, so I was hoping this was another more modern version of this:

Bootable 4TB SSD on classic Mac Pro

I just set up the Addonics Quad mSATA PCIe SSD card with 4 Samsung 840 EVO mSATA SSDs. It works great and is bootable. http://www.addonics.com/products/ad4mspx2.php http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-mSATA-0-85-Inch-MZ-MTE500BW/dp/B00HWHVOQS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics By default it works...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Black Ninja Original]

Hi guys!

Why do not have the OWC Accelsior 1M2 in the "Recommended PCIe adaptors for Mac Pro 5,1 & 7,1" list?
Is it a good option for Mac Pro 5.1?

 

[tsialex]

Hi guys!

Why do not have the OWC Accelsior 1M2 in the "Recommended PCIe adaptors for Mac Pro 5,1 & 7,1" list?
Is it a good option for Mac Pro 5.1?

For around the same price, you can get the far superior Aqua Computer kryoM.2 and for some more $, the kryoM.2 EVO.

 

[Black Ninja Original]

Thanks tsialex!

I've tried to buy the KyroM.2 EVO, but it's almost impossible for delivery to my country (Brazil)...
So, The OWC Accelsior 1M2 is a wrong option? Why?

 

[tsialex]

So, The OWC Accelsior 1M2 is a wrong option? Why?

Because the three letters, O W C.

Look, most people here have been burned by OWC multiple times - takes sometime but we usually learn the lesson. If another manufacturer in Germany (Aqua Computer) or Austria (Angelbird) is the only alternative to OWC for a product, I'll gladly pay the shipping/custom charges and wait. I bet that a lot of people here thinks exactly the same.

AliExpress have lot's of decent cost-benefit M.2 M-key adapters, like JEYE. I bet that MercadoLivre have it.

 

[Black Ninja Original]

LOL! Thanks!!!
I will try to buy Kryom.2 again

Because the three letters, O W C.

Look, most people here have been burned by OWC multiple times - takes sometime but we usually learn the lesson. If another manufacturer in Germany (Aqua Computer) or Austria (Angelbird) is the only alternative to OWC for a product, I'll gladly pay the shipping/custom charges and wait. I bet that a lot of people here thinks exactly the same.

AliExpress have lot's of decent cost-benefit M.2 M-key adapters, like JEYE. I bet that MercadoLivre have

 

[Bluedragon436]

Because the three letters, O W C.

Look, most people here have been burned by OWC multiple times - takes sometime but we usually learn the lesson. If another manufacturer in Germany (Aqua Computer) or Austria (Angelbird) is the only alternative to OWC for a product, I'll gladly pay the shipping/custom charges and wait. I bet that a lot of people here thinks exactly the same.

AliExpress have lot's of decent cost-benefit M.2 M-key adapters, like JEYE. I bet that MercadoLivre have it.

So, I've only had very limited dealings with OWC (at least the newer variations of them)... and they, thankfully went well. I was looking at the PCI card for mounting my SSD that I'm currently running in a standard bay on my 5,1, to get more out of it (not that I have any real issue with how it's setup now)... but why not get the best I can out of it... Anyways... I've been looking at the OWC adapter card on Amazon... and was wondering if the "issues" with OWC everyone seems to have is related to quality of items, or overall customer service?? I'm just wondering if I order it through Amazon (even though I'm pretty sure it is sold through OWC)... I'm curious if it'll be shipped via Amazon, like already in their warehouse somewhere... or if it would come from OWC... if this is the issue with OWC most seem to have?? But, as I'm in the US, I will look into the alternatives you mentioned and see what they might have for the adapter card.

 

[MarkC426]

I have 2 Sonnet Tempo cards, and they work very well.

Sonnet Technologies Tempo Card for Solid State Drive

Simple SSD Upgrade Solutions If you’ve been thinking about storage, you’ve read the stories and seen the reviews; SSDs are hot right now. Not only do they offer tremendous performance and easily outperform hard disk drives, they are more reliable, their prices are dropping and you can get more ca...

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[MisterAndrew]

A couple months ago SK hynix released a firmware update that makes the P31 SSD compatible with macOS. Someone in this thread reported it working in the MacBook Pro. SK hynix also released a 2 TB version of the drive last week. I'm tempted to try one in my 6,1 because the Samsung 970 EVO Plus runs pretty hot. It idles at 60 degrees C.

 

[zzzippp]

Another report on my mid-2010 MacPro 5,1 + Startech PEX8M2E2 with 1TB ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro & 256GB Sabrent Rocket blades setup:

My Mojave boot install on the SX8200 Pro continues to work great with zero issues, and it's responsive enough to feel comfortable doing my print production work with large / complex layouts and art in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

I migrated an old Windows 7 VM install to one of my HDDs, upgraded it to a BIOS-boot Windows 10 (for free - thanks Microsoft!), and plan to see if I can move that over to the Sabrent Rocket blade after I do an NVMe Secure Erase in GParted. If I can ever get rEFIndPlus to display on my GTX 760, that is.

It's been a while, but I am happy to report that the Startech PEX8M2E2 allows for a bootable Windows 10 EUFI install on a compatible NVMe blade (in my case, it's installed on a 256GB Sabrent Rocket). I managed to get RefindPlus' boot selection screen to display, and I am using that to switch between MacOS Mojave and Windows 10.

I am using RefindPlus' "Protect NVRAM" feature, which prevents UEFI Windows Secure Boot from writing to my cMP's NVRAM. Despite secure boot certificate entries somehow getting added while I was trying to find the best way to convert my BIOS-boot Windows 10 install over to to EUFI on the Sabrent blade, after wiping the NVRAM clean by flashing with my Mac Pro's reconstructed boot ROM (courtesy @tsialex), I have not seen the certificates return since.

I am still very happy with the Startech PEX8M2E2 card!

 

[Inspector42]

I have used the WD SN550 1TB (Label on the SSD states SanDisk Ultra 3D) in my MacPro 3,1 for a while without any issues and just tried it in the MacPro 5,1 and observed the issues described in post #1.
The only difference between the two machines is that the firmware of the 5,1 includes a NVMe driver while the 3,1 does not. I run both macs with OCLP 0.2.4 and Catalina.
Not sure if that helps anyone.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I installed the SK hynix P31 Gold 2TB drive in my 6,1. It's working good. It came with the latest firmware. I booted off a Linux live USB to put it into 4Kn mode and then I installed macOS on it. The temps seem a little lower than the 970 EVO Plus so far, but I haven't reapplied my fan rules in iStat Menus yet. Also, I've just thought that adapter I'm using has a backing, so maybe that is causing it to stay warmer since it's sandwiched between that and the heatsink. I could try the more simple adapter without the backing.

Also, I tried booting off my Carbon Copy Cloner Big Sur backup and it booted up, but I couldn't get it to restore to the new disk. It asked to install the helper in the privacy pane for full disk access and it kept asking that without going forward. So I gave up and made a Big Sur USB installer on another Mac and started from scratch.

 

[trifero]

I installed the SK hynix P31 Gold 2TB drive in my 6,1. It's working good. It came with the latest firmware. I booted off a Linux live USB to put it into 4Kn mode and then I installed macOS on it. The temps seem a little lower than the 970 EVO Plus so far, but I haven't reapplied my fan rules in iStat Menus yet. Also, I've just thought that adapter I'm using has a backing, so maybe that is causing it to stay warmer since it's sandwiched between that and the heatsink. I could try the more simple adapter without the backing.

Also, I tried booting off my Carbon Copy Cloner Big Sur backup and it booted up, but I couldn't get it to restore to the new disk. It asked to install the helper in the privacy pane for full disk access and it kept asking that without going forward. So I gave up and made a Big Sur USB installer on another Mac and started from scratch.

I suppose you indicated to CCC to erase the drive before restoring...

 

[Bggale]

Anyone know if HighPoint is planning to support Monterey with new drivers for their RAID cards? I can't find any indication on their website, and Monterey is due out in September or October.

 

[trifero]

Anyone know if HighPoint is planning to support Monterey with new drivers for their RAID cards? I can't find any indication on their website, and Monterey is due out in September or October.

You think they will not be the same as Big Sur?

 

[Bggale]

I don't know, but I've searched the web for reports of anyone using a HighPoint RAID with a beta of Monterey, and found nothing. Someone out there must have tried it by now. I would think HighPoint has tried it, but if so, they aren't talking. I'm not even sure how much effort they plan to devote to supporting Macs in the future, since they have apparently given up on making their RAIDs bootable for us. I keep checking their web site expecting their Mac section to disappear outright. Since I am banned forever from HighPoint Support, I can't ask them directly.

 

[mrkapqa]

on Aliexpress there are some AHCI Model available as replacement for a SM951 or XP941, atleast the seller claims it is AHCI. Good for those still wanting to use older Mac OS Systems.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I suppose you indicated to CCC to erase the drive before restoring...

Yes. I noticed there’s a CCC version 6. Perhaps that one provides better functionality with Big Sur. I’m still using version 5. I did a clean install and now transferring with Migration Assistant.

 

[MisterAndrew]

on Aliexpress there are some AHCI Model available as replacement for a SM951 or XP941, atleast the seller claims it is AHCI. Good for those still wanting to use older Mac OS Systems.

A lot of people are still using El Capitan or older?

 

[tsialex]

A lot of people are still using El Capitan or older?

There are lot's of holdouts of earlier macOS releases, for example the Creative Suite 6 and the Pro Tools 8 users.

 

[MisterAndrew]

There are lot's of holdouts of earlier macOS releases, for example the Creative Suite 6 and the Pro Tools 8 users.

Oh my. I had some perpetual license Adobe products, but I eventually got a subscription because they aren't updated anymore. It looks like the last update for CS6 was in 2012.