Does it say 2 lanes in the PCI tab of System Information.app? If so, then I don't think you can fix that without a PCIe switch.
Thanks for your reply.
Is this for a single disk or a Raid 0 of two?
Yes its RAID 0, but I have not done that for the speed benefit. I have done it because it gives me more space.
Hmmm, if it's RAID 0 and the card is sitting in one of the x16 slots, it should be way faster!
Yes! This is exactly what i do. I have my boot device on one of the other sockets on the card. Boots without any problems. And for all i know, my card is very similar to the HighPoint.
I'm not sure I understand?
Yes and no!!
Yes, the slower performance is probably due to my CPUs, which are the original ones ie 2.4 Mhz. I have had two 4 core 3.7xs, and two 6 core 3.33s sitting in the cupboard for years. And a long handled screw driver devices which can remove the heat sinks.
Don't think of it as an app. Think of it as a set of instructions.
Yeh, well I do
... but your link says: (my bolds)| Boot Manager | Piece of software that manages bootloaders – we have many of these: Clover, systemd-boot, OpenCore, rEFInd, rEFIt... These are generally seen as prepping the system for the actual boot loader. |
Ah, but you neglected to bold type "Piece". The app itself is the container or syringe with the tools necessary to implement or inject the "piece" of software (set of instructions) into memory.Yeh, well I do
Boot Manager Piece of software that manages bootloaders – we have many of these: Clover, systemd-boot, OpenCore, rEFInd, rEFIt... These are generally seen as prepping the system for the actual boot loader.
I'm afraid, in this case some confusion arises from two different definitions of "memory". For @Melbourne Parks understanding "memory" means RAM, whose contents, sure, i lost with every reboot. With your definition, "memory" is more like storage, the EFI-partition of the boot drive in this case. This is, where the OpenCore installation really sits. Sure outlasting any reboot.
Ok so I need to replace my current Crucial P1 1TB 3D Nand VNMe PCIe M.2 with a 2TB M.2 Blade and do not see a clear choice. Any recommendation for a 5,1 running Mojave? Performance is already great for what I do. I am looking at the Samsung 970 Evo Plus which is listed with support in the sticky. Did anything change?
Been running 970 Evo Plus for years, not a single hiccup. All 5 blades on PCIe slots.
Any compatible SSD is bootable. I also have a 970, I boot Monterey from it. I believe the 970 Plus is the most popular among the cMP crowd.
Yes, I have Monterey & Sonoma on a single blade, on separate containers of course. Fixing to add a third container to install Sequoia.
Can add a recommendation for the SK Hynix Gold P31. I ordered the 2 TB variant to replace a 980 PRO, which had (of course) the annoying boot-delay issue. Up to now i can say only the best for the Hynix.
Great answer! I wonder if you'll follow up with any additional information on Acer Predator Storage that would help me make a better decision between WD and Acer.This is a general info thread for blade SSDs that can be used in the Mac Pro. This is a WikiPost so anyone with the proper credentials may edit it.
NVMe SSDs can be used as a boot drive in the MP5,1 and MP6,1 with the latest firmware installed (beginning with version 140.0.0.0.0 for MP5,1 and MP61.0120.B00 for MP6,1). The new MP7,1 support booting from an NVMe SSD when external booting is enabled with Startup Security Utility.
Note that PCIe SSDs installed in a Mac Pro 5,1 (MP6,1 have exactly the same PCIe 2.0 limits too) are limited to ~1,500 MB/s unless installed on a PCIe switch card in slot 1 or 2 such as a HighPoint SSD7101A-1 or Amfeltec Squid that converts the Mac Pro PCIe 2.0 x16 to the PCIe 3.0 x4 needed for full throughput.
Also note that 3rd party SSDs have varying compatibility with the Mac Pro and not all listed below may be fully compatible.
macOS NVMe Support:
- Genuine Apple NVMe drives are supported beginning with macOS Yosemite 10.10.2 with the correct firmware installed. 3rd party NVMe drives with 4096 bytes/sector are supported beginning with macOS Sierra with expanded support beginning with macOS High Sierra.
- macOS High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina supports both 4KiB and 512 bytes / sector NVMe drives.
- macOS Sierra supports 4KiB / sector drives like Apple OEM and some uncommon Toshiba/OCZ/Intel/WD blades. This post on InsanelyMac lists the blades that work with Sierra and hackintoshes, please note that most of those blades don't work with a Mac Pro at all or work with 750MB/s throughput only. Don't use this list to buy blades for a Mac Pro, it's linked here for information purposes only.
- For Sierra compatibility choose an NVMe blade that supports the 4Kn disk sector format. See 4Kn section below.
- Apple supports the 1.3 NVMe standard. Any blade that need a special NVMe module/driver won't be supported; seems that's the case with Samsung 970 EVO Plus without the firmware 2B2QEXM7 and some of the Plextor blades.
- To boot from a NVMe drive, for Mac Pro 5,1 you need to upgrade BootROM to at least 140.0.0.0.0, supplied with MAS Mojave full installers since 10.14.1. 10.14.4 has 141.0.0.0.0 and 10.14.5/10.14.6 have 144.0.0.0.0. For Mac Pro 6,1 you need to upgrade BootRom to at least MP61.0120.B00 included with macOS High Sierra 10.13.0.
- High Sierra boots/works perfectly both 4KiB and 512 bytes drives if you have MP5,1 BootROM 140/141/144.0.0.0.0.
- If you install MP5,1 BootROM 140/141/144.0.0.0.0, Sierra can boot from a 4KiB / sector NVMe M.2 blade.
- You can read about it on the first posts of these two threads:
NVMe boot support and Mac Pro year models:
* 10.12 only supports 4Kib / sector M.2 blades and U.2 drives while 10.13 and newer macOS releases supports both 4Kib /sector and 512 bytes / sector M.2 blades and U.2 drives.
Mac Pro year model: Model Identifier: NVMe boot support: 2006 Mac Pro / Original Mac Pro MacPro1,1 not possible, can't run Sierra/High Sierra. Native support for PCIe AHCI blades. 2007 Mac Pro / Mac Pro (8-Core) MacPro2,1 not possible, can't run Sierra/High Sierra. Native support for PCIe AHCI blades. Early 2008 Mac Pro MacPro3,1 possible by loading NvmExpress driver via third party loaders such as OpenCore, RefindPlus/rEFInd etc (or after risky injection of NVMe EFI modules into the BootROM) and run 10.12/Newer*. Native support for PCIe AHCI blades. Early 2009 Mac Pro MacPro4,1 possible after replacing firmware with cross-flashed MacPro5,1 firmware (use or update to 144.0.0.0.0) or by loading NvmExpress driver via third party loaders such as OpenCore, RefindPlus/rEFInd etc and run 10.12/Newer*. Native support for PCIe AHCI blades. Mid 2010 Mac Pro MacPro5,1 upgrade to BootROM 140.0.0.0.0 or newer, current one is 144.0.0.0.0, and install 10.12/Newer* to have full native NVMe support. Mid 2012 Mac Pro MacPro5,1 upgrade to BootROM 140.0.0.0.0 or newer, current one is 144.0.0.0.0, and install 10.12/Newer* to have full native NVMe support. Late 2013 Mac Pro MacPro6,1 upgrade to BootROM MP61.0120.B00 or newer, current one from Monterey is 481.0.0.0.0, and install 10.12/Newer* to have full native NVMe support. Needs a 12+16 adapter to use standard M.2 blades. 2019 Mac Pro MacPro7,1 native support, can boot from AHCI or NVMe blades/drives when external booting is enabled with Startup Security Utility.
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) MacPro1,1 SATA 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) MacPro2,1 SATA 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 Pro MacPro3,1 SATA 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 Pro MacPro4,1 SATA/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 Pro MacPro5,1 SATA/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 Pro MacPro5,1 SATA/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 Pro MacPro6,1 Only the 12+16 AppleOEM PCIe SSD is an internal drive. 2019 Mac Pro MacPro7,1 Only 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.Apple SSDs: Proprietary Apple 12+16 pin to PCIe adapter needed for Mac Pro 5,1 & older and also 7,1. No adapter needed for Mac Pro 6,1. All Apple SSDs use 4KB sector size and have good compatibility.
NVMe and AHCI Blades:
Name Interface Tech Sizes Link Speeds Sector Compatibility Notes SSUAX & SRIUP AHCI 2D MLC 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 2.0 x2 (128GB, 256GB, 512GB)
PCIe 2.0 x4 (1TB)~1,000 MB/s read
~800 MB/s write4 KB Good Based on Samsung XP941 with UAX controller (S4LN053X01) and Toshiba with Marvell 88SS9183 controller SSUBX AHCI 2D MLC 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~1,500 MB/s read
~1,425 MB/s write4 KB Good Based on Samsung SM951 with UBX controller (S4LN058A01) SSPOLARIS NVMe 2D & 3D MLC or TLC 24GB, 32GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~2,700 MB/s read
~2,350 MB/s write4 KB Good Based on Samsung SM961 or PM961 with Polaris controller (S4LP077X01) SSPHOTON NVMe 48-layer MLC 32GB and ? (LPDDR4 DRAM) PCIe 3.0 x2 ? 1,500 MB/s read, 900 MB/s write ? 4 KB Good Based on Samsung PM971 with Photon controller
Good article on Apple blade SSDs: The Ultimate Guide to Apple’s Proprietary SSDs
M.2 SSDs: M.2 PCIe adapter needed for Mac Pro 5,1 & 7,1. M.2 to proprietary Apple adapter needed for Mac Pro 6,1 or external Thunderbolt adapter.
Brand Name Interface Tech Sizes Link Speeds Sector 4Kn Compatibility Notes Samsung XP941 AHCI 2D MLC 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB PCIe 2.0 x2 ~1,000 MB/s read
~800 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good UAX controller (S4LN053X01) Samsung SM951 AHCI & NVMe 2D MLC 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~2,150 MB/s read
~1,500 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good UBX controller (S4LN058A01)
Datasheet (AHCI), Datasheet (NVMe)Samsung 950 PRO NVMe 3D MLC 256GB and 512GB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~2,500 MB/s read
~1,500 MB/s write512 B Unknown Issues/not compatible UBX controller (S4LN058A01)
DatasheetSamsung PM961 NVMe 3D TLC 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,000 MB/s read
~1,500 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good Polaris controller (S4LP077X01)
DatasheetSamsung SM961 NVMe 2D & 3D MLC 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,200 MB/s read
~1,800 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good Polaris controller (S4LP077X01)
DatasheetSamsung 960 EVO NVMe 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,200 MB/s read
~1,900 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good Polaris controller (S4LP077X01)
DatasheetSamsung 960 PRO NVMe 2D & 3D MLC 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~2,100 MB/s write512 B Unknown Good Polaris controller (S4LP077X01)
DatasheetSamsung PM981 NVMe 64-layer 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~2,400 MB/s write512 B Unknown Issues/not compatible Phoenix controller (S4LR020)
DatasheetSamsung PM981a NVMe 64-layer 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~2,400 MB/s write512 B Unknown Issues/not compatible Phoenix controller (S4LR020)
DatasheetSamsung 970 EVO NVMe 96-layer 3D TLC 500GB and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~2,500 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Unknown Good Phoenix controller (S4LR020)
DatasheetSamsung 970 EVO+ NVMe 96-layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~3,300 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical No Requires at least firmware 2B2QEXM7 to work with macOS, all blades manufactured since September/October 2019 have the Mac Pro compatible firmware Phoenix controller (S4LR020)
Datasheet
Not recommended for use in the Mac Pro 6,1 because it operates at a higher temperature than other NVMe blades. About 10-15 degrees C warmer than SK Hynix and Toshiba/KIOXIA NVMe blades.Samsung 970 PRO NVMe 64-layer 3D MLC 512GB and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~3,000 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Unknown Good Phoenix controller (S4LR020)
DatasheetSamsung 980 NVMe Issues/not compatible Firmware problems, incompatibility with PCIe v2.0, but works with PCIe v3.0 switched adapter Samsung 980 PRO NVMe Issues/not compatible Firmware problems, endurance problems, incompatibility with PCIe v2.0, but works with PCIe v3.0 switched adapter Samsung 990 PRO NVMe Issues/not compatible Firmware problems, endurance problems, incompatibility with PCIe v2.0, but works with PCIe v3.0 switched adapter Intel 660p NVMe 3D QLC 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 Unknown Good SM2263EN controller Intel Optane 900p NVMe 3D XPoint 280GB and 480GB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~1,500 MB/s Unknown Good Half Height Half Length (HHHL) Add-in-Card
DatasheetHP EX920 NVMe 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,200 MB/s read
~1,800 MB/s writeUnknown Good SM2262 controller
DatasheetHP EX950 NVMe 3D TLC 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,500 MB/s read
~2,900 MB/s writeUnknown Unknown (may have issues: see post #1,733) Datasheet Toshiba/KIOXIA XG5 NVMe 64 layer BiCS3 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,000 MB/s read
~2,100 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good TC58NCP090GSD controller
DatasheetToshiba/KIOXIA XG5-P NVMe 64 layer BiCS3 3D TLC 1TB and 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,000 MB/s read
~2,200 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good TC58NCP090GSD controller
DatasheetToshiba/KIOXIA XG6 NVMe 96 layer BiCS4 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,180 MB/s read
~2,960 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good TC58NCP090GSD controller
Datasheet
@zhpenn is using one with a MP7,1Toshiba/KIOXIA XG6-P NVMe 96 layer BiCS4 3D TLC 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,180 MB/s read
~2,920 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good TC58NCP090GSD controller
DatasheetSanDisk Ultra 3D NVMe 96 layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~2400 MB/s read
~1950 MB/s writeUnknown Issues/not compatible (don't work from cold boot/sleep issues/KPs) rebadge of WD SN550 with same controller and firmware
Sandisk / Controller DRAM less
DatasheetWestern Digital WD Black NVMe 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~ MB/s read
~ MB/s writeUnknown Unknown Datasheet Western Digial WD Blue SN550 NVMe 96 layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~2400 MB/s read
~1950 MB/s writeUnknown Issues/not compatible (don't work from cold boot/sleep issues/KPs) Controller DRAM less
DatasheetWestern Digial WD Blue SN570 NVMe 96 layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3500 MB/s read
~1950 MB/s writeUnknown Issues/not compatible (don't work from cold boot/sleep issues/KPs), not detected with MacPro6,1 Controller DRAM less
DatasheetWestern Digital WD Black SN750 NVMe 64-layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3400 MB/s read
~2900 MB/s writeUnknown Good Datasheet Western Digital WD Black SN770 NVMe 1.4 112-layer 3D TLC 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 ~5150 MB/s read
~4850 MB/s writeUnknown Issues/not compatible (multiple reports of KPs when in high load, only works at 2,5GT/s with slots 3 and 4) Working OK in MP 6.1 report Do not buy it for a MacPro5,1 without a PCIe switched adapter. DRAM-less Sabrent Rocket NVMe Toshiba 3D TLC 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,450 MB/s read
~3,000 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good Phison E12 or E16 controller
DatasheetSabrent Rocket Q NVMe Micron 96L 3D QLC 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB PCIe 3.0 x4 ~3,400 MB/s read
~3,000 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good Phison E12S controller
DatasheetSK Hynix PC401 NVMe 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB ~2,700 MB/s read
~1,450 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Unknown SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB ~3,400 MB/s read
~2,500 MB/s writeUnknown (most likely 512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical) Unknown (most likely yes) Unknown SK Hynix Gold P31 NVMe 128 layer 4D NAND 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB ~3,200 MB/s read
~3,200 MB/s write512 B (emulated), 4 KB physical Yes Good (requires latest firmware) SK Hynix controller ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro NVMe 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB ~3,500 MB/s read
~3,000 MB/s write4 KB - Good Datasheet Crucial P5 NVMe 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB ~3,400 MB/s read
~3,000 MB/s writeUnknown Unknown Caution (This user reports it working well in a MacBook Pro, while this user reports it is not.) Datasheet Crucial P3 NVME 2TB Unknown Unknown Good Works in MP5.1 Mushkin Helix-L NVMe 120GB, 250GB, 500GB, 960GB, 1TB ~2,100 MB/s read
~1,700 MB/s writeUnknown Unknown Good SMI SM2263XT controller Corsair MP400 NVMe Micron 96 layer QLC 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB PCIe 3.0 ~3480 Mbps read
~3000 Mbps writeUnknown Unknown Good Phison E125 controller
depending on blade size, from random 190 000 read to random 710 000 writeKingston FURY Renegade NVMe 3D TLC (Micron TLC 167) 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB PCIe 4.0 ~1,407 MB/s read*
~1,327 MB/s write*Good (MP6,1) (*)speeds limited by MP6,1;
Phison E18 controller (PS5018-E18);
operates at ~40°C with additional cooler in MP6,1
Recommended PCIe adaptors for Mac Pro 5,1 & 7,1:
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.
- 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
- Micro Connectors M.2 NVMe + M.2 SATA 80mm SSD PCIe x4 Adapter with Heat Sink - Model PCIE-M20802HS (only the M.2 NVMe slot has been tested)
- For proprietary 12+16 Apple SSDs (usually Apple blades used on Macs from 2013~2015): 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.
PCIe x8 & x16 switch cards (up to ~6200MB/s with MP5,1, double with MP7,1):
Better performance / higher cost (up to 3,000 MB/s with MP5,1, double with MP7,1), tested in the thread:
- IO Crest IO-PCE2824-TM2 (aka Syba SI-PEX40129): Supports 2 blade SSDs. Uses ASMedia x8 ASM2824 switch. Heatsink with a fan over the blades and PCIe switch. Up to 2900MB/s with MP5,1 and a little less than 6000MB/s total throughput with MP7,1. Warning: several recent posts ( #2,146 , #2,204 ) that recently I/O Crest cards are freezing with MP5,1. Seems newer cards are now incompatible.
- OWC ACCELSIOR 4M2 Supports four (seems to require single side M.2 blades, to be confirmed) 80mm M.2 blades. Uses x8 ASMedia ASM2824 switch. Heatsink over the blades and PCIe switch. It's a PCIe 3.0 x8 card, ~2900MB/s with MP5,1 PCIe 2.0 slot1 and slot2 and double that with MP7,1 PCIe 3.0 slots. Several reports that the original version have problems with 2019 Mac Pro and only the revised version works with MP7,1.
- Ableconn PEXM2-130: dual-blade ASM2824 switch. Runs without a fan, needs discrete heatsinks for each blade. Boots MacOS and Windows, up to 3000 MB/s with MP5,1.
Top performance / high cost [tops at 3200 MB/s with one blade, 6200 MB/s (10000~120000 MB/s for MP7,1) with two to four], all tested in the thread:
- Amfeltec Squid: Amfeltec x16 PCIe with 4 SSDs: 5900+ MB/s. Supports four double side M.2 blades, up to 110mm. The PCI Express Gen 3 version uses PLX PEX8732 switch. Just a heatsink and fan for the PCIe switch, no heatsink for the blades. The Gen 2 version doesn't have a fan and doesn't allow full speed from individual Gen 3 SSDs.
- Amfeltec Squid PCI Express Gen 3 Carrier Board for 6 M.2 or NGFSS (NF1) SKU-086-36 Supports six double side M.2 blades, up to 110mm, 32mm wide. Uses x16 PLX PEX87xx switch? Just a heatsink for the PCIe switch, two fans for the blades. Link for the manual: Squid PCIe Gen 3 Carrier BoardTM for six M.2 / NGSFF(NF1) SSD modules (SKU-086-36). Works with MP5,1 and MP7,1.
- HighPoint SSD7101A-1: Highpoint 7101A - PCIe 3.0 SSD performance for the cMP. Supports four double side M.2 blades, up to 110mm. Uses PLX PEX8747 switch. Heatsink with a fan over the blades and PCIe switch. This card can boot Windows when using NVMe blades and UEFI install.
- Sonnet M.2 4x4 PCIe Card FUS-SSD-4X4-E3: Supports four single sided 80mm M.2 blades. Uses x16 PLX PEX8747 switch. Heatsink with a fan over the blades and PCIe switch. Needs a GPU with pre-boot configuration support. Almost too big to fit MP5,1 length wise. Do not buy it if you need to boot Windows from the blades or will upgrade to a PC later; this card can't boot Windows. Sonnet has a support document about what major blades are single and double sided:
https://sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/M2_compatibility.pdf
Product Unique PCIe Lanes Chipset Boot M.2 Sockets Speed MB/s Amfeltec Squid
SKU-086-34Has offset PCI
Slot 2 cMP5,1Gen 3 x4/x8
PCIe 2.132 PLX PEX8732 ✅
4x NVME
M2 1.0
2210
2280
2260
2242
22305900+ Amfeltec Squid
SKU-086-36Has offset PCI
Slot 2 cMP5,1
aux PowerGen 3 x16 x4/x8Optional Gen 3 x8
PCIe 2.1unknown unknown 6x 110mm NVME M2 1.1
2210
2280HighPoint SSD7101A-1 48 PLX PEX8747
W ✅4x NVME
M2Sonnet
FUS-SSD-4X4-E3Long PLX PEX8747
W ⛔
Untested in the thread yet, but should work:
- Amfeltec Squid PCI Express Gen 3 Carrier Board for 2 M.2 or NGFSS (NF1) SKU-086-32: Supports two double side M.2 blades, up to 110mm, 32mm wide. Uses a x8 PLX PEX87xx switch? Just a heatsink for the PCIe switch, one fan for the blades. Very cost effective. Link for the manual Squid PCI Express Gen3 Carrier BoardTM for 2 M.2 SSD modules. Untested in the Mac Pro.
- HighPoint SSD7140: Supports eight PCIe Gen 3 M.2 blades.
- HighPoint SSD7180: Supports eight PCIe Gen 3 U.2 devices.
- HighPoint SSD7184: Supports eight PCIe Gen 3 x4 devices (four U.2 and four external PCIe).
- HighPoint SSD7505: Supports four PCIe Gen 4 M.2 blades.
- HighPoint SSD7540: Supports eight PCIe Gen 4 M.2 blades.
- HighPoint SSD7580: Supports eight PCIe Gen 4 U.2 devices.
- Liqid Element LQD4500: Supports eight PCIe Gen 4 M.2 blades. Requires 6-pin PCIe power. Although Macs don't have PCIe Gen 4 yet, the card has a PCIe Gen 4 switch that should allow max performance from two or three Gen 4 NVMe devices. I don't think you can get a LQD4500 without M.2 devices already installed?
Recommended M.2 to Apple 12+16 pin adapters for Mac Pro 6,1:
Any multiple M.2 blades card from ASRock/Asus/Gigabyte/MSI that don't have a PCIe 3.0 switch and requires a motherboard with PCI Express Lane Partitioning support, also known as bifurcation support, like the cards listed on the table below.
It's confirmed that off MP7,1 PCIe slots, just the two MPX ones are connected to the CPU and the rest are behind a 96-lane PEX8796 PCIe switch, so no PCI Express Lane Partitioning support for 2019 Mac Pro, and the same requirements for PCIe M.2/U.2 adapters as MP5,1 are valid, the only difference is that 2019 Mac Pro slots are PCIe 3.0.
Being crystal clear, 2019 Mac Pro doesn't support the cheap multiple M.2 adapters that require motherboard bifurcation support and only the first blade of the four is recognized. While MP7,1 has a chipset compatible with lane bifurcation, no Mac has the firmware or the configuration options necessary for it to work.
No blade works when the cards that require PCI Express Lane Partitioning support of the table below are installed on a MP5,1, the chipset is too old and don't support it at all.
Adapter: Impediment for not working: Issues: ADWITS Quad M.2 bad design, requires MOLEX or SATA power even with 1 blade. @combatphotog bought one and tested, card keeps shutting down his MP5,1. Power via Molex Aplicata Quad M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe x16 Adapter requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation ASRock Ultra Quad requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation Asus Hyper M.2 x16
Asus Hyper M.2 x16 v2
Asus Hyper M.2 x16 Gen 4requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation). Confirmed working for one blade, not working for more than one. PCIe Bifurcation
ASUS Support NoteCEACENT ANM22PE08 NVMe Controller PCIe 3.0 x8 to M.2 Dualport with heatsink requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation Dell Ultra-Speed Drive Quad NVMe M.2 PCIe x16 Card requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation GIGABYTE AORUS PCIE x16 M.2
GIGABYTE AORUS Gen4 AIC Adaptor GC-4XM2G4requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation GIGABYTE CMT2014, CMT4032 and CMT4034 requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation HP Z Turbo Drive Quad Pro requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation MSI Xpander-Aero requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation Squid PCIe Gen 3 Carrier Board for 4 M.2 SSD modules (M-key ) (full or half-height bracket) SKU-086-B4 requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 requires motherboard PCI Express Lane Partitioning support (aka bifurcation) PCIe Bifurcation Supermicro AOC-SLG3-8E2P fried @handheldgames Mac Pro ⛔ Synology M2D18 it's a ~$200 PCIe 2.0 switch card with SATA + M2 that tops at 1500MB/s
