MP All Models PCIe SSDs - NVMe & AHCI

[s.m.t.]

I am thinking of replacing the MX500 I am using as a boot drive for a 2TB NVMe now... Question is what is the cheapest PCIe card I can get that can hold two NVMe blades (non RAID)? I don't need faster than the 1500MB/sec cap...

Most of the ones I see that are sub $100 only support 1 NVMe and 1 SATA blade...

 

[tsialex]

I am thinking of replacing the MX500 I am using as a boot drive for a 2TB NVMe now... Question is what is the cheapest PCIe card I can get that can hold two NVMe blades (non RAID)? I don't need faster than the 1500MB/sec cap...

Most of the ones I see that are sub $100 only support 1 NVMe and 1 SATA blade...

Dual PCIe blades requires a PCIe switch when using in a MP5,1 (no bifurcation support by the Mac Pro chipset).

The cheapest seems to be the IO Crest IO-PCE2824-TM2 (aka Syba SI-PEX40129), sometimes other models using the same ASMedia ASM2824 PCIe switch are a little cheaper, but the IO-Crest is the one that has been proved to work reliably with MP5,1 and has the most users.

 

[s.m.t.]

Dual PCIe blades requires a PCIe switch when using in a MP5,1 (no bifurcation support by the Mac Pro chipset).

The cheapest seems to be the IO Crest IO-PCE2824-TM2 (aka Syba SI-PEX40129), sometimes other models using the same ASMedia ASM2824 PCIe switch are a little cheaper, but the IO-Crest is the one that has been proved to work reliably with MP5,1 and has the most users.

Okay, thanks tsialex! I will look for a good deal on that card.

 

[zedex]

a lower cost card from qnap multi m.2 adapter may meet your needs. they are based on lower cost x8 broadcom chipsets compared to the x8 asmedia used in syba cards.

I'm glad someone finally brought up the QNAP option(s). It looks like a perfect 2nd tier solution - better than cards with no switch. ALSO - priced at a fair discount to the majors (HPT SSD7101/ Squid/ IOCREST/ Sonnet).

So the big question is this.. would they work in a Mac Pro..? or ARE they locked to QNAP NAS systems somehow..

My understanding is that almost all of these cards function based on the switch (broadcom/asmedia) and - like many PCIe expansion enclosures - they are operating system agnostic. I don't know for sure. I want someone to confirm the QNAP card works in a cMP 5,1 before I go out and buy one........

 

[s.m.t.]

I'm glad someone finally brought up the QNAP option(s). It looks like a perfect 2nd tier solution - better than cards with no switch. ALSO - priced at a fair discount to the majors (HPT SSD7101/ Squid/ IOCREST/ Sonnet).

So the big question is this.. would they work in a Mac Pro..? or ARE they locked to QNAP NAS systems somehow..

My understanding is that almost all of these cards function based on the switch (broadcom/asmedia) and - like many PCIe expansion enclosures - they are operating system agnostic. I don't know for sure. I want someone to confirm the QNAP card works in a cMP 5,1 before I go out and buy one........

This what you referring to?
https://www.amazon.com/QNAP-QM2-2P-384-Expansion-Low-Profile-pre-Loaded/dp/B07CVLTH22?th=1

 

[sailmac]

It looks like a perfect 2nd tier solution - better than cards with no switch. ALSO - priced at a fair discount to the majors (HPT SSD7101/ Squid/ IOCREST/ Sonnet).

QM2-2P-344 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x4) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x4 host interface
$183 Amazon prime

QM2-2P-384 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x4) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x8 host interface
$212 Amazon prime

IO-PCE2824-TM2 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x8) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x16 host interface
$190 Amazon prime

Thought this was interesting. Even if the QNAP cards can function in cMP 5,1 it looks like their bandwidth will be restricted in slot 2 (or 1) compared to IO Crest. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[macboy2000]

Will the Samsung PM983 F1 work internally with an adapter with 2013 Mac Pro 6,1? If not, are there any other 4TB internal options? Thanks.

 

[tsialex]

Will the Samsung PM983 F1 work internally with an adapter with 2013 Mac Pro 6,1? If not, are there any other 4TB internal options? Thanks.

AFAIK, PM981 and PM983 have issues with MP5,1 and PM981 definitively is not compatible - at least the firmware that I tested.

BTW, compatibility of MP6,1 with NVMe blades is a lot more strict than MP5,1.

 

[zedex]

QM2-2P-344 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x4) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x4 host interface
$183 Amazon prime

QM2-2P-384 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x4) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x8 host interface
$212 Amazon prime

IO-PCE2824-TM2 = M.2 PCIe (Gen3 x8) SSDs; PCIe Gen3 x16 host interface
$190 Amazon prime

Thought this was interesting. Even if the QNAP cards can function in cMP 5,1 it looks like their bandwidth will be restricted in slot 2 (or 1) compared to IO Crest. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

I think you may be right on the QNAP.
It's a very unusual config - or is the (QNAP384) basically the same arrangement as the iocrest pcie 3.0 (x8)
I really like the look of the QNAPs but it's hard to imagine that we'll get confirmation on cMP compatibility with a price tag above USD 200 :/

 

[greg97]

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue...when I recently upgraded to Mojave from HS, I did a clean install on a brand new NVMe blade inside a kryoM.2 adapter in PCIe slot 4. Everything's been running well so far, with all other HDD/SSD being in enclosures up until this point. When I tried to move my HDD (data disk) back into my mac into drive bay 1, it wouldn't allow me to boot up into the blade anymore, I just get a black screen? I previously had the HDD inside my computer when my SSD was the boot disk, with absolutely no issues, and would like to keep it inside due to the fact it seems to power down when not in use when in the enclosure, and I find this annoying. Any thoughts on why this may be happening now? Thanks!

 

[Socket]

I am thinking of replacing the MX500 I am using as a boot drive for a 2TB NVMe now... Question is what is the cheapest PCIe card I can get that can hold two NVMe blades (non RAID)? I don't need faster than the 1500MB/sec cap...

Most of the ones I see that are sub $100 only support 1 NVMe and 1 SATA blade...

I'm searching the same thing as you and I founded this: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07KG253NQ...083264f54079abe9087fc32bd8c5f0&language=it_IT
It has 4x SSD's and chipset ASM2824...but the description says: "support PCIe bifurcation", so I don't understand if it's good or bad for MP5,1?

 

[whofarted]

Hi! Just installed Samsung EVO Plus 2TB on my iMac late 2013 with Sintech adapter. Installed Mojave. Everything works, but writing speed is about 670-690 Mb/s. Latest firmware from Samsung website is installed (2B2QEXM7).
Could you please help with a problem?

 

[MarkC426]

If this is not an nvme drive, speed seems about right.
Edit:
Apologies, just realised this is the nvme thread (but it is macpro not imac)......

 

[whofarted]

If this is not an nvme drive, speed seems about right.

Every installation on iMac, that I saw, with any NVMe memory gives more than 1500 Mb/s. Why this one should work slower than others?

 

[MarkC426]

I know there are issues with the evo plus drives on macpro, not sure about the imac.
This should really be in the imac section.

 

[s.m.t.]

I'm searching the same thing as you and I founded this: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07KG253NQ...083264f54079abe9087fc32bd8c5f0&language=it_IT
It has 4x SSD's and chipset ASM2824...but the description says: "support PCIe bifurcation", so I don't understand if it's good or bad for MP5,1?

4 SSDs is a bit overkill for my needs. I ordered the IO Crest from Amazon (used up some rewards points), should be here Friday...

 

[zedex]

@whofarted - you should check your "System Information" to see if your SS 2TB EVO PLUS is connected at PCIe 3.0 (x4). If not slotted perfectly - System Information will show a 'lanes negotiated' PCIe connection of (x2) or (x1).

There's one other possibility that is a bit more speculative on my part.. performance of NVMe drives seems to vary wildly based on the model purchased (and in turn - the controller type and ssd cache). I've been buying Sabrent Rocket NVMe SSDs and I've experienced generally poor transfer speeds (circa 750Mbps) after the first 20GB. I've decided to buy a Samsung 970 Pro (in spite of the huge price premium) because many members confirm that performance consistently matches the 'specifications data sheet'.

I'll update post again after I've tested a SS970PRO for comparison.

 

[whofarted]

@whofarted - you should check your "System Information" to see if your SS 2TB EVO PLUS is connected at PCIe 3.0 (x4). If not slotted perfectly - System Information will show a 'lanes negotiated' PCIe connection of (x2) or (x1).

There's one other possibility that is a bit more speculative on my part.. performance of NVMe drives seems to vary wildly based on the model purchased (and in turn - the controller type and ssd cache). I've been buying Sabrent Rocket NVMe SSDs and I've experienced generally poor transfer speeds (circa 750Mbps) after the first 20GB. I've decided to buy a Samsung 970 Pro (in spite of the huge price premium) because many members confirm that performance consistently matches the 'specifications data sheet'.

I'll update post again after I've tested a SS970PRO for comparison.

Where to check it?

 

[s.m.t.]

There's one other possibility that is a bit more speculative on my part.. performance of NVMe drives seems to vary wildly based on the model purchased (and in turn - the controller type and ssd cache). I've been buying Sabrent Rocket NVMe SSDs and I've experienced generally poor transfer speeds (circa 750Mbps) after the first 20GB. I've decided to buy a Samsung 970 Pro (in spite of the huge price premium) because many members confirm that performance consistently matches the 'specifications data sheet'.

I'll update post again after I've tested a SS970PRO for comparison.

How do your Sabrent drives show up in system information or disk utility? The 1TB stick I bought just lists "Sabrent"... Wondering if the 2TB stick does the same thing. I like how the Samsungs identify themselves so clearly. I might pick a different brand when getting a 2TB stick...

 

[zedex]

Where to check it? View attachment 857586 View attachment 857587

PROBLEM LOCATED - YAY (sort of..)!!

See 'LINK WIDTH' in your first image. You want that to read 'x4' not 'x2'

It'll be a nuisance repairing it (going back in) but the good news is that you'll get most of that speed bump you were expecting.

 

[zedex]

How do your Sabrent drives show up in system information or disk utility? The 1TB stick I bought just lists "Sabrent"... Wondering if the 2TB stick does the same thing. I like how the Samsungs identify themselves so clearly. I might pick a different brand when getting a 2TB stick...

Turns out your question has me puzzled.. I've uploaded a few images for inspection - here's the thing:

I have 1x Sabrent 1TB and 2x Sabrent 512GB.. as you can see they show up in some diagnostics and not others. The best answer to your question in probably found in the 'iStat Menus' screenshot where no distinction is made between the 3 Sabrent drives - not super helpful.

Also - I think they were faster when they shipped in a default 4Kn (4096 bytes per sector) config. Looks like it's changed to 512 bytes per sector. More speculation on my part..

 

[s.m.t.]

Turns out your question has me puzzled.. I've uploaded a few images for inspection - here's the thing:

I have 1x Sabrent 1TB and 2x Sabrent 512GB.. as you can see they show up in some diagnostics and not others. The best answer to your question in probably found in the 'iStat Menus' screenshot where no distinction is made between the 3 Sabrent drives - not super helpful.

Also - I think they were faster when they shipped in a default 4Kn (4096 bytes per sector) config. Looks like it's changed to 512 bytes per sector. More speculation on my part..

View attachment 857608

That's what I was afraid of... you can't tell which one is which...

 

[whofarted]

And how to fix it (going back in)?
[doublepost=1568308872][/doublepost]

PROBLEM LOCATED - YAY (sort of..)!!

See 'LINK WIDTH' in your first image. You want that to read 'x4' not 'x2'

It'll be a nuisance repairing it (going back in) but the good news is that you'll get most of that speed bump you were expecting.

And how to fix it (going back in)?

 

[yukdave]

Can you have two PCIe Cards with NVME in the same system? I already have a great setup with a single card and my NVME. I am looking at adding the Lycom 120 with another NVME into this system and want to know if anyone else has done this and if yes what cards did they use?

I currently run the Kingshare adaptor card and the Crucial P1 and am adding a Lycom 120 with a Crucial P1 to the same system

Great work TSIALEX on this thread.

 

[tsialex]

Can you have two PCIe Cards with NVME in the same system? I already have a great setup with a single card and my NVME. I am looking at adding the Lycom 120 with another NVME into this system and want to know if anyone else has done this and if yes what cards did they use?

I currently run the Kingshare adaptor card and the Crucial P1 and am adding a Lycom 120 with a Crucial P1 to the same system

Great work TSIALEX on this thread.

Yes, you can. Just remember that PCIe slot 3 and 4 share the same 4 PCIe lines via a PCIe 2.0 switch.

Btw, don't forget to install heatsinks on the blade or you will kill it a lot sooner than you expect.