MP All Models PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

[Melbourne Park]

I already wrote that ONLY blades and adapters KNOW to work (or not) in the long run are listed on the first post. It will never list non tested products, it's too difficult to understand that?

While I can understand that, it becomes pointless when the products are no longer for sale by reputable vendors.

Some good news though: the Sabrent Rocket Q 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 Internal SSD High Performance Solid State Drive R/W 3200/2000MB/s (SB-RKTQ-1TB) looks great value, and it seems to tick most of the boxes. Not sure about their warranty though, which is complicated by my doubting good prices in Australia.

​

 

[Melbourne Park]

While looking for Sabrient blades, I found they sell a heat sink and also a PCIe card for blades with a heat sink. Cost $Au50, or $US 35.

 

[GlynH]

While looking for Sabrient blades, I found they sell a heat sink and also a PCIe card for blades with a heat sink. Cost $Au50, or $US 35.

The Sabrent looks good. I have one here bought from Amazon for the princely sum of £14.99 delivered with another one on the way for the 970 Pro although that might become surplus to requirements - see below.

It's a well made, compact adaptor and is held in by the locking bar at the back end of the card and doesn't need removal of a backplate to fit it which could mean it puts a little more strain hanging on the PCIe slot vs one secured by the usual backplate fixing.

Mine is fitted in Slot 3 and has a brand new 1TB 970 EVO Plus in it (Revision 3B2QEXM7) currently running a freshly installed High Sierra showing 37°c vs a 1TB 970 Pro (1B2QEXP7) idling in a Supageek adaptor fitted in Slot 4 above it with no heatsink currently showing only 2°c higher at 39°c

I haven't run any stress tests to see how they compare under load but the company who supplied the Mac Pro supplied the 970 Pro mounted on the non-heatsink card so one could assume they have not seen many issues with it or I am sure they would use a heatsink to prevent potential warranty claims.

I'm not saying it is 100% safe as I see many knowledgable people here saying you have to use a heatsink but I can only speak as I find and a 2°c difference is nothing for me to be worried about at this time although I am looking to upgrade to a Highpoint/Sonnet/OWC multi-blade setup to optimise performance and give me a slot back.

Currently the machine is working copying all of my iCloud data to the EVO Plus and you can see the various temperatures on the attached screenshot.



Something to be aware of - the Sabrent instructions are not great and do not refer to the fitting of any of the 3 thermal pads supplied and when I first looked I thought there was a screw missing to secure the blade. On closer inspection however the brass post has a recess cut round it so I removed it by undoing the securing screw underneath and pushing the notch in the end of the blade into the corresponding notch in the brass post and then fitting the screw back underneath to secure the post holding it neatly in place. If the blade was perched on top of the post it would be sitting at an angle but as it is now it is level to the card.

The instructions do not mention this instead misleadingly stating the package contains 'All necessary screws' and referring to 'Screw in retainer screw to hold you (sic) SSD in place' which left me looking for something that doesn't exist despite the hole in the top of the brass post looking like it has a thread in it!

Nice card for the price IMHO.

Comparison of the Sabrent vs KryoM.2 EVO boxes although there is a lot of empty space in the Kryo box!



Hope that helps?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[0134168]

Did you tested? This is not granted since the PCIe Lane Partitioning can be implemented in a way totally incompatible with MacPro5,1 and from the AliExpress page screenshot of the PC BIOS/UEFI I have a hunch that will not work for one blade, but I may be completely wrong.

Anyway, added to the Do Not Buy List of the first post.

You are right. Not tested that one, but about 3-4 similar ones. All of them worked with one Nvme. In fact, tested with two, but just one of them is recognized.

 

[Melbourne Park]

The Sabrent looks good. I have one here bought from Amazon for the princely sum of £14.99 delivered with another one on the way for the 970 Pro although that might become surplus to requirements - see below.

....

Hope that helps?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

Thanks Glyn. That is another low cost, heat sink blade holder that is readily available, and it would be great if it could be added to the "approved" list on page one!!

I've ordered - I think - a Highpoint SSD7101A-1 car, from Amazon Prime in Australia. For $US 7 dollars they'd have delivered it today, but I am mean, so it should come tomorrow. It's cost was including tax and delivery, $US305. I guess that means it cost about $US 275. Amazon Prime in Australia had several in stock - it is coming directly from Amazon. If I don't open the packaging, I can return it, in 30 days. If its not clearly labelled as being an SSD7101A-1, I'll contact them to get permission to open the brown box! They still have I think 5 in stock.

 

[Melbourne Park]

A big issue for me has been finding a card that will work for an NVME blade. Page one lists some choices, but IMO the list was not very helpful, because I could only find the expensive options, or the Aqua branded ones. The list is as follows:

Standard PCIe x4 cards (tops at 1500 MB/s with MP5,1, double with MP7,1)(no switch):

Low cost:

Be warned, don't use AHCI and NVMe blades without having a heatsink installed, you will have thermal throttling frequently and may cook your blade. (Note: Not as important for Apple proprietary blades which have better thermal management under macOS, but still recommended.)

• RIITOP M.2 NVMe to PCIe Adapter [M2TPCE16X] with HEAT SINK - operates at PCIe x4 but keyed to fit 4x/8x/16x slot - good for low cost NVMe M.2 upgrade where PCIe x4 speed is sufficient, low profile does not impede GPU air cooling if used in slot 2
• Lycom DT-120
• For proprietary Apple SSD: generic adapter from eBay (e.g. "2013-2014 Macbook Air SSD PCIe adapter 4X") (no brand)

Medium cost:

All adapters have heatsinks.

• Angelbirds Wings PX1 (officially discontinued in February 2019, prices from 3rd party resellers are starting to soar).
• Aqua Computer kryoM.2 - original model, without the heatsink for the underside of the blade that EVO model has. This model supports both single and doubled sided blades.
• Aqua Computer kryoM.2 evo thread Aqua Computer kryoM.2 evo PCIe 3.0 x 4, adapter. This model supports only single sided blades. If you don't install the second heatsink, at the back of the PCB, you can use double sided blades.
• Wolftech pulsecard - made by Angelbird for Wolftech, it's exactly the same as Wings PX1, but without the LED illumination.

My problem was that the only card I was able to find available from this low to medium cost list, were the Aqua products, bought via Aqua themselves. The problem with purchasing those was their high cost of delivery - about $US 70 to myself in Australia. The shipping cost for them was double the price of the item itself.

However, there are other well priced options, and it would be useful IMO to list these two:
The Sabrient - at $US 35 or for the UK via Amazon 15 pounds, and the OWC options, could be in the low cost with heat sink adapters, as well as the Aqua brand single card option?. For me and I looked over and over, the other low cost brands are just not readily available.

 

[GlynH]

I've ordered - I think - a Highpoint SSD7101A-1 car, from Amazon Prime in Australia. For $US 7 dollars they'd have delivered it today, but I am mean, so it should come tomorrow. It's cost was including tax and delivery, $US305. I guess that means it cost about $US 275. Amazon Prime in Australia had several in stock - it is coming directly from Amazon. If I don't open the packaging, I can return it, in 30 days. If its not clearly labelled as being an SSD7101A-1, I'll contact them to get permission to open the brown box! They still have I think 5 in stock.

If I saw the Highpoint SSD7101A for $300 US I would buy one today but I just looked on Amazon Australia and I only see two 7101's for $618 & $751.10?

I do see a Highpoint Rocket 1101 for $508 but that's a different card altogether.

Cheapest SSD7101A that I can see here in the UK is currently £399 or $540 US but they usually go for a little more than that. Amazon has one for £411 / $554

-=Glyn=-

 

[tsialex]

Now tsialex, we all love you, especially me, and I really, really appreciate the huge amount of work you do. I've even had your direct assistance previously! So thank you.

But I just want to say that you when you said the following, and please take this in a positive way because some things we read don't go away:

the thread does say about the peculiar Apple SSDs cards:


A big issue for me has been finding a card that will work for an NVME blade. Page one lists some choices, but IMO the list was not very helpful, because I could only find the expensive options, or the Aqua branded ones. The list is as follows:


My problem was that the only card I was able to find available from this low to medium cost list, were the Aqua products, bought via Aqua themselves. The problem with purchasing those was their high cost of delivery - about $US 70 to myself in Australia. The shipping cost for them was double the price of the item itself.

However, there are other well priced options, and it would be useful IMO to list these two:
The Sabrient - at $US 35 or for the UK via Amazon 15 pounds, and the OWC options, could be in the low cost with heat sink adapters, as well as the Aqua brand single card option?. For me and I looked over and over, the other low cost brands are just not readily available.

If the first post of the thread is not very helpful to you, you can improve it yourself testing products not yet listed or if you don't know how to do that, donate to someone that can test it.

Posting here 5x a day about anything on your mind, and frequently with wrong info, is not helpful in anyway.

 

[TECK]

I saw the Highpoint SSD7101A for $300 US

I use the Syba SI-PEX40129 with two Samsung 970 EVO Plus (Monterey/Windows), is $183 on Amazon.

 

[GlynH]

I use the Syba SI-PEX40129 with two Samsung 970 EVO Plus, is $183 on Amazon.

Thanks for the link TECK...just looked on Amazon UK and its £200 on there so @ $270 - I'll add it to the list! ?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[Melbourne Park]

If I saw the Highpoint SSD7101A for $300 US I would buy one today but I just looked on Amazon Australia and I only see two 7101's for $618 & $751.10?

I do see a Highpoint Rocket 1101 for $508 but that's a different card altogether.

Cheapest SSD7101A that I can see here in the UK is currently £399 or $540 US but they usually go for a little more than that. Amazon has one for £411 / $554

-=Glyn=-

Edit - I forgot you're in the UK! Amazon discounts these cards regularly, but you have to search very day I think.

It's listed as a High Point - two words. Also it doesn't mention the actual name of the card! But its pictures and references all refer to the SSD7101A-1.

I'll email you the link. Let us know what you think! My card should arrive tomorrow.

Edit: I just did a search, and it's not there. I also clicked on my "order again" button, and this came up:

High PointHigh Point
$626.51 $626.51
FREE Delivery Thursday, January 6
Only 4 left in stock.

However - I think they are listing it every second day. Today is Tuesday. I had put one in my trolley / basket on Saturday or Friday - and on Sunday, it was not there. I did various searches, and it was just gone. But on Monday, it was there again, and I ordered and this time paid for it. When I was about to pay for it, there were two of them in my basket. Yet the previous day, my basket was empty. Very weird!! They seem to be offering it every few days, IMO. I looked for a long time on Sunday and it was gone ... same as today. I'm hopefull it will come back!!

The total delivered price was $434.39:

Order Summary​

Item(s) Subtotal:
$394.90
Delivery:$0.00 Total Before GST: $394.90 GST: $39.49 Total:$434.39 Grand Total: $434.39

If I find it I'll let you know here and also I'll contact you directly via this site. It's also Amazon prime - I presume I paid a subscription for that ... I don't remember!!

PS I have contacted you via this site, including screen capture downloads of my purchase ordering page, showing the price I paid. And that the purchase did not directly call the card by its name.

 

[TECK]

Thanks for the link TECK

BTW, to make the Syba SI-PEX40129 virtually silent, I used a 2pin to 2pin M/F Noise Speed RPM Reduction GPU VGA PC Cooling Fan Resistor power cable, this makes the Syba fan spin at 50%. It keeps the temperature on both nVMEs at 45 degrees.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Incidentally, in the first page, perhaps its worth listing along with all the other cards, the HighPoint SSD7104. https://www.highpoint-tech.com/ssd/ssd7104-overview. The description here says I think that its the latest generation and that it's a 16 channel card, holds four blades and it is noiseless due to not having a fan. For some this card might appeal. I am not sure how it would fit in a Classic Mac Pro though.

The description says:

Key Features

• 4x M.2 Ports (2242/2260/2280/22110)
• SSD7104:Fanless, Zero-Noise Cooling Solution ;
• SSD7104F:Fan-Control Cooling Solution
• Dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 bus bandwidth
• Works with any PC & Mac Platform with a dedicated PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 x16 slot
• Cross-Sync Technology:double capacity & performance up to 28,000MB/s! RAID 0, 1, 10
• Integrated TRIM & S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring with TBW Tracking
• For Windows, macOS & Linux

 

[Melbourne Park]

Glyn,

Sending you a message ...

 

[nnaco]

Hello all, it is a great forum. I've learned a lot..
I am trying to built a Nvme raid set up on my cMP(12core, Mid2012, 144.0 Boot) with Sonnet M.2 4x4 PCIe Card (Silent) Model for 4K video/film Production on FCPX.
I've been checking the forums but I couldn't find any info about using 4TB m2 ssd's on this system.
Can you share your insights please?

-Sonnet PCIe card (silent)
-Sapphire RX580 8GB GPU
-Mojave

Boot - PNY XLR8 CS3040 2TB
Raid 0 - 3X4TB Corsair MP510 M.2 SSD

The first page of this forum doesn't include MP510 drives, but on the sonnet compatible list gives OK.
Any other suggestions? is it logical to use 4TB raid system on this combination?

Thank you in advance

Hi all, so I gave a shot for the combination below.
-Sonnet M.2 4x4 PCIe Card (Silent)
-Boot - PNY XLR8 CS3040 2TB
-Raid 0 - 3X4TB Corsair MP510 M.2 SSD Total 12TB
-cMP 5.1 (12core, Mid2012, 144.0 Boot)
-Mojave and Big Sur

Works good so far,
PNY 2TB - Write 2600 Read 2400
Corsair MP510 4TB Single - Write 2500 Read 1800
Raid0 3XCorsair MP510 (12TB) - Write 4100 Read 4200 Blackmagic

 

[sam80]

Just wanted to share my cheap setup on a 7,1:

3 x Aquacomputer KryoM.2, currently I don't mind it takes 3 slots
Each with different type of Samsung NVMe: 980, 970 PRO, 970 EVO

Set up as RAID 0. It's been working really nicely for more than a year.

 

[MacNB2]

Thanks for the link TECK...just looked on Amazon UK and its £200 on there so @ $270 - I'll add it to the list! ?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

There's the Lycom DT-130 Dual PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Carrier Adapter on Amazon UK for £125 -10% discount which I believe is the same as the Startech PEX8M2E2 & Ableconn PEXM2-130 cards.

One reviewer stated "Works perfectly in Slot 2 (x16 directly via Sapphire Radeon Rx580) in my Mac Pro 5.1.
Important- be sure to use both nvme slots!! I voted for 2x Samsung970 EVO nvme M.2 - this combination is super fast and staby- read speed 2562MB/s and write speed 2865MB/s... also used as an osx mojave boot drive (MP 5.1 firmware must be 144.0.0.0.0)
Just Top!!!"

 

[GlynH]

BTW, to make the Syba SI-PEX40129 virtually silent, I used a 2pin to 2pin M/F Noise Speed RPM Reduction GPU VGA PC Cooling Fan Resistor power cable, this makes the Syba fan spin at 50%. It keeps the temperature on both nVMEs at 45 degrees.

View attachment 1938506

Thanks again TECK...thing is I would prefer Plug & Play or Fit & Forget. The last thing I want to do is start hacking things around although it seems more and more these days I find something that almost fits the bill but needs a bit of fettling to make it perfect.

It's still on the list although I seem to be leaning towards the Sonnet fanless at £432

I'm just waiting on one little thing...money! ?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[GlynH]

There's the Lycom DT-130 Dual PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Carrier Adapter on Amazon UK for £125 -10% discount which I believe is the same as the Startech PEX8M2E2 & Ableconn PEXM2-130 cards.

One reviewer stated "Works perfectly in Slot 2 (x16 directly via Sapphire Radeon Rx580) in my Mac Pro 5.1.
Important- be sure to use both nvme slots!! I voted for 2x Samsung970 EVO nvme M.2 - this combination is super fast and staby- read speed 2562MB/s and write speed 2865MB/s... also used as an osx mojave boot drive (MP 5.1 firmware must be 144.0.0.0.0)
Just Top!!!"

Thanks MacNB2...I did see that along with many more unbranded, no-name cards but did see somewhere on here I think of issues with a Lycom card of some type.

Having said that what works well for someone might not work well for somebody else or vice cress so its as much the luck of the draw sometimes.

I always tend to go for brands that I recognise vs those with odd sounding names some of which I can't pronounce especially from the likes of Amazon!

I'll keep an open mind on the Lycom though...cheers!

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[MacNB2]

Thanks MacNB2...I did see that along with many more unbranded, no-name cards but did see somewhere on here I think of issues with a Lycom card of some type.

Having said that what works well for someone might not work well for somebody else or vice cress so its as much the luck of the draw sometimes.

I always tend to go for brands that I recognise vs those with odd sounding names some of which I can't pronounce especially from the likes of Amazon!

I'll keep an open mind on the Lycom though...cheers!

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

When you're keep your mind open, make sure you understand that many cards come from the same OEM Design Manufacturer/designer and are then "branded" by a "brand" such as Startech, Syba, Albaconn, Lycom, etc.
E.g. look at this and then this.

Many chip manufacturers create reference designs that many "brand" card manufactures use as they are ready-tested designs thus cuts their R&D costs and gets them quicker to market. I.e. no point in reinventing the wheel.


Good luck.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Just wanted to share my cheap setup on a 7,1:

3 x Aquacomputer KryoM.2, currently I don't mind it takes 3 slots
Each with different type of Samsung NVMe: 980, 970 PRO, 970 EVO

Set up as RAID 0. It's been working really nicely for more than a year.

Just wondering, is the 980 the Pro version or the "low cost" plain named 980?

 

[Fastsavage]

When you're keep your mind open, make sure you understand that many cards come from the same OEM Design Manufacturer/designer and are then "branded" by a "brand" such as Startech, Syba, Albaconn, Lycom, etc.
E.g. look at this and then this.

Many chip manufacturers create reference designs that many "brand" card manufactures use as they are ready-tested designs thus cuts their R&D costs and gets them quicker to market. I.e. no point in reinventing the wheel.


Good luck.

Pretty much happens in all industries with the same manufacturer making the same products branded differently.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Pretty much happens in all industries with the same manufacturer making the same products branded differently.

Having been an agent for production lines and machinery made in Taiwan, Switzerland and Germany, the problem is that some producers claimed their equipment was OEM from the manufacturer I represented in Taiwan. But it was a false claim ... and also, support for OEM equipped doesn't compare to the actual maker. Different for cheap computer hardware though ...

 

[Melbourne Park]

Sonnet - dated 10 December 2021 describing m.2 NVME blades characteristics for Macs.

https://sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/M2_compatibility.pdf

 

[Fastsavage]

Tanks


Thanks! I'm now wondering how much mail from NZ to Oz is!!! Buying a few might lower the shipping mail price.

I checked both places too, and from Germany to Australia was a hundred Aussie bucks. And Melbourne is 2,000 km closer to Frankfurt than is Auckland.

FYI - Ordered my AquaComputing Kryo M2 card on 21/12/21 arrived 07/01/22 from Germany (even though I ordered it from the Australian website) to Christchurch New Zealand, I thought the freight was expensive, about NZD80 it came in a taxi from the UPS depot to my home which would have cost them around NZD100 - go figure.....

Just waiting on my 970EVO Plus to put in it now