Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MP All Models PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Just wanted to post and update about a MVNE M.2 SSD that the list says does not work properly.

Let me preface this by saying that I am running these cards in a IO Crest SI-PEX40157 that uses a ASM2824 pcie 3.0 switch and that is most likely why I am not having any issues.

It seems similar to the samsung 980 series that wont work without a pcie 3.0 swith card.

Anyways, I have been using the WD Black SN770 1TB for well over a month now and have had 0 kernel panics or any other issues with the drives. Speeds are great and the maximum to be expected with the setup.

Hope this helps anyone considering using these ssd's. I got them simply because walmart carried them and I could pick them up locally right away for 55$ a piece and didn't want to wait.
Screen Shot 2023-11-07 at 7.16.50 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-11-07 at 7.24.37 PM.png
 
polanskiman said:
Anyone?

Another option would be using a card like this:
www.amazon.com

NFHK PCI Express PCI-E 4X M.2 NGFF M-Key to 2013 2014 2015 Apple MacBook SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466

IEC Male C14 to Right Angled 90 Degree IEC Female C13 Power Extension Adapter A down right angled power connector. You'll want to check your device to see which way the cable would exit when plugged in.
www.amazon.com
View attachment 2308535

which would then be connected to the Ableconn but I don't know if this will work.
Click to expand...

Tried that with my SSD7101A-1 and didn't work, you can't mix AHCI and NVMe blades. One or the other.

Btw, this type of adapters are made for data recovery, it's a kludge.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: polanskiman
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
tsialex said:
I have three 12+16 to PCIe cards, all three the green with white silkscreen (2013 Air or something) - works fine, but it's not easy to find a heatsink that fits correctly.
Click to expand...
Are the drives seen internally or externaly by macOS?
 
tsialex said:
All PCIe drives are external. Only SATA/SAS connected to the SATA/SAS backplane ports are internal.
Click to expand...
Not sure why I was under the impression that adding the Ableconn with NVMe drives would be seens as internal drives. 🧐 - Learned somehting today. Thank you.

I'll probably get that standalone adaptor for the 256GB SSD (SSUBX) I have. It's a waste having the drive sitting in a drawer doing nothing.
 
polanskiman said:
Not sure why I was under the impression that adding the Ableconn with NVMe drives would be seens as internal drives. 🧐 - Learned somehting today. Thank you.
Click to expand...

What are internal storage for the Mac Pro firmware:
​

Mac Pro year model:Model Identifier:What Mac Pro firmware recognize as internal drives:
Mac Pro (2006)MacPro1,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
8-Core Mac Pro (2007)MacPro2,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2008 Mac ProMacPro3,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2009 Mac ProMacPro4,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2010 Mac ProMacPro5,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2012 Mac ProMacPro5,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
late-2013 Mac ProMacPro6,1Only the 12+16 AppleOEM PCIe SSD is an internal drive.
2019 Mac ProMacPro7,1Only the T2 Storage is an internal drive for T2 Security.

While the two SATA ports of the logic board are internal for macOS, T2 Security definitions override macOS and you can only boot from SATA native ports with relaxed T2 Security, with external boot enabled with Startup Security Utility.

Any PCIe connected storage are external for the firmware and T2 Security.
​
 
tsialex said:
What are internal storage for the Mac Pro firmware:
​

Mac Pro year model:Model Identifier:What Mac Pro firmware recognise as internal drives:
Mac Pro (2006)MacPro1,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
8-Core Mac Pro (2007)MacPro2,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2008 Mac ProMacPro3,1SATA drives connected to the 6 southbridge SATA ports plus the two PATA drives connected to the PATA cable inside the ODD bay.
early-2009 Mac ProMacPro4,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2010 Mac ProMacPro5,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
mid-2012 Mac ProMacPro5,1SATA/SAS drives connected to the 4 southbridge SATA ports plus the two SATA drives connected to the SATA cable inside the ODD bay.
late-2013 Mac ProMacPro6,1Only the PCIe SSD is an internal drive.
2019 Mac ProMacPro7,1Only the T2 Storage is an internal drive for T2 Security.

While the two SATA ports of the logic board are internal for macOS, T2 Security definitions override macOS and you can only boot from SATA native ports with relaxed T2 Security, with external boot enabled with Startup Security Utility.

Any PCIe connected storage are external for the firmware and T2 Security.
​
Click to expand...
I have read the OP several times over. For some reason, this didn't print in my head, I guess, since PCIe is not mentioned explicitly as being seen externally for 4,1 and 5,1. According to the table, they are external by exclusion of not being SATA. Makes sense.

What speeds are you getting with those 12+16 to PCIe x1 cards and your proprietary Apple drives?
 
tsialex said:
Tried that with my SSD7101A-1 and didn't work, you can't mix AHCI and NVMe blades. One or the other.

Btw, this type of adapters are made for data recovery, it's a kludge.
Click to expand...
So I have NVMe running OS. I also have a OWC spare Accelsior 2.

So both won't jive together Alex ?
 
polanskiman said:
I have read the OP several times over. For some reason this didn't print in my head, I guess, since PCIe is not mentionned explicitly as beeing seen externally for 4,1 and 5,1. According to the table they are external by exclusion of not being SATA. Makes sense.

What speeds are you getting with those 12+16 to PCIe x1 cards and your proprietary Apple drives?
Click to expand...

Some old 12+16 drives are x2, but most are x4, like the SSUBX, and can read about ~1450MB/s

basslik said:
So I have NVMe running OS. I also have a OWC spare Accelsior 2.

So both won't jive together Alex ?
Click to expand...

Like I've wrote, you can't mix one AHCI and one NVMe with the same PCIe switched card - at least not with the cards I have here or tested.
 
  • Like
Reactions: polanskiman
polanskiman said:
Is this the type of heatsink you are referring to?
Click to expand...

No, this is 12+16 blade from a 2013 Mac Pro, the only one with a heatsink - all other 12+16 blades are bare.

MacPro5,1 doesn't have the same firmware power/thermal management that other Macs have for the 12+16 blades, so, it's easier to overheat the blades that do not have factory heatsink.

I've overheated one 12+16 blade more than once doing clean installs on a hot day. People in temperate climates probably won't have any issue, but for anyone on a tropical country it's better to find a heatsink that fits to avoid having problems.
 
tsialex said:
No, this is 12+16 blade from a 2013 Mac Pro, the only one with a heatsink - all other 12+16 blades are bare.

MacPro5,1 doesn't have the same firmware power/thermal management that other Macs have for the 12+16 blades, so, it's easier to overheat the blades that do not have factory heatsink.

I've overheated one 12+16 blade more than once doing clean installs on a hot day. People in temperate climates probably won't have any issue, but for anyone on a tropical country it's better to find a heatsink that fits to avoid having problems.
Click to expand...
Yes I meant the heatsink on top of that blade.
Do you have an image of the heatsink you used on your blades?
I will definitely need one. Here, temps can go pretty high.
 
tsialex said:
Some old 12+16 drives are x2, but most are x4, like the SSUBX, and can read about ~1450MB/s



Like I've wrote, you can't mix one AHCI and one NVMe with the same PCIe switched card - at least not with the cards I have here or tested.
Click to expand...
Oh I understand. Just not in the same slot. I get it, thanks.
 
polanskiman said:
Do you have an image of the heatsink you used on your blades?
I will definitely need one. Here, temps can go pretty high.
Click to expand...

Depends which slot you gonna install, when the Mac Pro have no space constrains I like to use this one below:

www.aliexpress.us

SNOWMAN Heat Pipe SSD M2 Heatsink Copper M.2 heat sink 2280 Solid State Hard Disk Cooler M2 Radiator NVME NGFF PCIE M2 Cooling - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.us www.aliexpress.us

If it's a tight fit between big PCIe cards, it's usually a copper bar type.
 
tsialex said:
Depends which slot you gonna install, when the Mac Pro have no space constrains I like to use this one below:

www.aliexpress.us

SNOWMAN Heat Pipe SSD M2 Heatsink Copper M.2 heat sink 2280 Solid State Hard Disk Cooler M2 Radiator NVME NGFF PCIE M2 Cooling - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.us www.aliexpress.us

If it's a tight fit between big PCIe cards, it's usually a copper bar type.
Click to expand...
Just to be 100% sure. Since this product is meant for NVMe M.2 2280 blades, it will fit no problems with 12+16 blades, right?

And since we are at it, would 2 of these heatsinks fit on the Ableconn? I have read some people have issues fitting certain brand of heatsinks on the Ableconn due to little clearance between the 2 blades.
 
polanskiman said:
Just to be 100% sure. Since this product is meant for NVMe M.2 2280 blades, it will fit no problems with 12+16 blades, right?
Click to expand...

Fits 128/256/512, won't fit 1TB/2TB blades that are wider.

polanskiman said:
And since we are at it, would 2 of these heatsinks fit on the Ableconn? I have read some people have issues fitting certain brand of heatsinks on the Ableconn due to little clearance between the 2 blades.
Click to expand...

Can't say, I don't own or have tested an Abeconn one. I've initially found the Snowman when trying to find a heatsink for a MacPro6,1, where the height have a serious limitation and the 12+16 adapter also interfere. It's an excellent heatsink and I've bought 4 locally already. I'll buy a 10-pack in the next AliExpress promo, 11/11.

Check the dimensions before you buy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: polanskiman
JedNZ said:
I’ve got the same Ableconn dual M.2 carrier and similar looking M.2 heatsinks, but with Samsung 970 EVO Plus blades, and it’s been a terrific experience. Hope yours is too.
Click to expand...
polanskiman said:
Which heatsink do you have exactly? I am mostly concerned about the clearance between the two blades since it's possible that the heatsink might be slightly too big to fit two.
Click to expand...
Sorry to insist. Could you share the link of the exact heatsink you have? Can you fit two of them in that card?
 
Double the price, but also get Dual M.2 NVMe SSD Slots, 10Gb Ethernet, and Two 10Gbps USB-C Ports

I liking it.
1699731738227.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: h9826790
CurtisBilly said:
That’s the new Sonnet McFiver:
Click to expand...
PCIe gen 2 x8 is limited to < 4000 MB/s and her tests didn't exceed that so they're plausible.
But what happens with a third AJA System Test benchmark with a second USB SSD or Ethernet File Share?

Only ATTO Disk Benchmark.app accurately tests multiple disks at the same time.

It would be nice to know what PCIE switch is used, and Ethernet controller, and USB controller, plus lane width for each controller.
Is the Ethernet controller USB or PCIe? Are the USB ports from a hub or from the USB controller?

Tech spaces say USB is ASMedia ASM3142 which is limited to < 15.75 Gbps.
Ethernet is Marvell AQC113S which is PCIe and may be limited to 31.5 Gbps (since the PCIe switch is not gen 4) which is plenty and so is 15.75 Gbps if they limited it to two lanes.
 
Last edited:
basslik said:
Double the price, but also get Dual M.2 NVMe SSD Slots, 10Gb Ethernet, and Two 10Gbps USB-C Ports

I liking it.
View attachment 2310955
Click to expand...
If I am not mistakent the 10Gbe Ethernet port needs OpenCore to work. I think this is not an issue now an has been integrated to OpenCore. But good to keep in mind.

The other issue is you can't boot Windows/Linux with this card. Only macOS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back