SATA Express meets the '09 Mac Pro - Bootable NGFF PCIE SSD

[pierre1610]

Got a SSUBX 1TB and installed it today on a sintech board. It negotiated a 5GT/s from slot 3.

The top speed i got from blackmagic speed tester set to 5GB was 1300MB/s write and 1500MB/s read. It took maybe 40secs to a minute to get this score though, it was sometimes down as low as 20MB/s.

Is that normal?

 

[Synchro3]

Got a SSUBX 1TB and installed it today on a sintech board. It negotiated a 5GT/s from slot 3.

The top speed i got from blackmagic speed tester set to 5GB was 1300MB/s write and 1500MB/s read. It took maybe 40secs to a minute to get this score though, it was sometimes down as low as 20MB/s.

Is that normal?

Did you set the file size to 5 GB?

 

[Loa]

blackmagic speed tester set to 5GB

Did you set the file size to 5 GB?

...

 

[Synchro3]

Sorry.

 

[Demigod Mac]

Predator M.2 SSD went sale today.
Not quite as fast as the Samsung but easier to get ahold of.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/kingston-unveils-high-speed-hyperx-predator-pcie-ssd/

 

[MacVidCards]

Predator M.2 SSD went sale today.
Not quite as fast as the Samsung but easier to get ahold of.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/kingston-unveils-high-speed-hyperx-predator-pcie-ssd/

Hmm...

"The HyperX Predator PCIe is offered in 240GB (approximately $230) and 480GB (approximately $460) for the drive-only configuration, and comes with a three-year warranty."

"bringing read speeds up to 1400MB/s and write speeds topping out at 1000MB/s to desktop and notebook systems."

So, MUCH better warranty but not as fast as newer SSUBX and more $$$ per GB. But is faster than the SSUAX that shipped in all Apple products up to this recent SM951 switch.

 

[handheldgames]

Predator M.2 SSD went sale today.
Not quite as fast as the Samsung but easier to get ahold of.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/kingston-unveils-high-speed-hyperx-predator-pcie-ssd/

A review with a bit more byte over at theSSDReview.com

The drive's 4K and 512K performance looks good:

For good insight on Apple's new SSD's - the review over at TweakTown provides the greatest insight. I look forward their upcoming comparison of the SM951 and the Predator.


Some more benchmarks on the 512S SSUBX:

 

[AndreeOnline]

Full of unthrottled enthusiasm, I bought the $10 PCI adaptor as soon as I learned about it and I am now looking for the SSD blade, but…

…checking up on the shipping status I only now saw some of the fine print say that this adaptor can't be used as a start up drive? Is that correct?

I thought I had read about people here using it as a system drive (my need). If I bought the wrong one, can anyone link to an adaptor in this price class that works as a boot drive with these new blades?

 

[Keter]

Full of unthrottled enthusiasm, I bought the $10 PCI adaptor as soon as I learned about it and I am now looking for the SSD blade, but…

…checking up on the shipping status I only now saw some of the fine print say that this adaptor can't be used as a start up drive? Is that correct?

I thought I had read about people here using it as a system drive (my need). If I bought the wrong one, can anyone link to an adaptor in this price class that works as a boot drive with these new blades?

I boot from mine just fine!, lots of us do.

If you want a SSUAX I have one listed on ebay but I am happy to sell it for a bit less to a MacRumors forum member.

 

[AndreeOnline]

I boot from mine just fine!, lots of us do.

If you want a SSUAX I have one listed on ebay but I am happy to sell it for a bit less to a MacRumors forum member.

OK, so that's good news. I thought I had read it somewhere else too, but got uncertain. Anyway...

Thanks for the offer regarding SSUAX. As you understand I currently look for a SSUBX (like many others too). And on that topic: readers of this thread might take note that WE decide, to some small extent, how much we want to pay for those.

I read about some lucky early adaptors getting theirs for $600-700. Well, as the word spreads, auctions for the SSUBX now start at $850. I made an offer for $750 and it was declined.

Only by not buying at the much higher price of $850 can we maybe get a few auctions going starting at a lower price. That said, I do understand the concept of availability, demand and pricing.

 

[Keter]

OK, so that's good news. I thought I had read it somewhere else too, but got uncertain. Anyway...

Thanks for the offer regarding SSUAX. As you understand I currently look for a SSUBX (like many others too). And on that topic: readers of this thread might take note that WE decide, to some small extent, how much we want to pay for those.

I read about some lucky early adaptors getting theirs for $600-700. Well, as the word spreads, auctions for the SSUBX now start at $850. I made an offer for $750 and it was declined.

Only by not buying at the much higher price of $850 can we maybe get a few auctions going starting at a lower price. That said, I do understand the concept of availability, demand and pricing.

I have a SSUBX, I am willing to part ways with for $750. I can get more of them pretty easily, I can't tell the difference between the two in real world performance, other than when they are benchmarked.

My SSUBX gets a consistent 1,430 MB/s write and 1,475 MB/s read
My SSUAX gets a consistent 1,000 MB/s write and 880 MB/s read

 

[Pressure]

I have a SSUBX, I am willing to part ways with for $750. I can get more of them pretty easily, I can't tell the difference between the two in real world performance, other than when they are benchmarked.

My SSUBX gets a consistent 1,430 MB/s write and 1,475 MB/s read
My SSUAX gets a consistent 1,000 MB/s write and 880 MB/s read

Can you just as easily source the 256GB and 512GB version of the SSUBX?

 

[Keter]

Can you just as easily source the 256GB and 512GB version of the SSUBX?

I am working on it.

 

[kgapp]

Sintech v2 SSD adapter heatsink

I just recently ordered the Sintech SSD adapter (v2) for the Apple SSD. I ordered the v2 one over the cheaper v1 as I had read a number of reports with a mis-alinged bracket in the first version and was hoping to avoid that issue (although there is nothing 100% definitive on whether or not it has been fixed in the v2).

Link to the item below:

http://eshop.sintech.cn/mobile/ui/product.php?id=1026&s=2822462719216

My question is relating to the heat sink provided. If I am installing this in a cMP with a SSBUX SSD should I plan on using the provided heat sink or just leave it off? My assumption is that the heat sink is not really required as it seems a number of people are using the SSBUX SSD with the v1 of the card that has no heat sink.

If there is a need and/or significant benefit to installing the heat sink should it be used with thermal paste (like a cpu or gpu) or should it just be installed over the top of the ssd without any paste?

Any advice is welcome.

 

[MacVidCards]

In my experience the heatsink doesn't actually align right either. Even using one with Apple heatsink from nMP it doesn't make correct contact.

 

[kgapp]

In my experience the heatsink doesn't actually align right either. Even using one with Apple heatsink from nMP it doesn't make correct contact.

Thanks for the quick reply. If its not even going to make physical contact then I guess that answers the question - there is no point in installing the heat sink.

Any theories on why the nMP SSD has a heat sink on it and the laptop SSD does not? Obviously the machines have different thermal characteristics but I would think airflow would be a lot better in the nMP than in the laptops so it makes me wonder why one design got a part with a heat sink and the other did not.

 

[Pressure]

Thanks for the quick reply. If its not even going to make physical contact then I guess that answers the question - there is no point in installing the heat sink.

Any theories on why the nMP SSD has a heat sink on it and the laptop SSD does not? Obviously the machines have different thermal characteristics but I would think airflow would be a lot better in the nMP than in the laptops so it makes me wonder why one design got a part with a heat sink and the other did not.

The SSD in the Mac Pro is located just in front of one of the graphic cards outputting 130 Watt.

 

[box185]

I just recently ordered the Sintech SSD adapter (v2) for the Apple SSD. I ordered the v2 one over the cheaper v1 as I had read a number of reports with a mis-alinged bracket in the first version and was hoping to avoid that issue (although there is nothing 100% definitive on whether or not it has been fixed in the v2).

Link to the item below:

http://eshop.sintech.cn/mobile/ui/product.php?id=1026&s=2822462719216

My question is relating to the heat sink provided. If I am installing this in a cMP with a SSBUX SSD should I plan on using the provided heat sink or just leave it off? My assumption is that the heat sink is not really required as it seems a number of people are using the SSBUX SSD with the v1 of the card that has no heat sink.

If there is a need and/or significant benefit to installing the heat sink should it be used with thermal paste (like a cpu or gpu) or should it just be installed over the top of the ssd without any paste?

Any advice is welcome.

Based on my experience with the Sintech cards, I would only recommend V2. I have multiple copies of both versions, and V1 is clearly inferior.

The problem I experienced was with the bracket - with the bracket attached to the card, it was impossible to install the card in the cMP backplane connector due to the PCIe key not be aligned properly.

To verify this, I removed the screws and installed the V1 bracket in the Mac Pro chassis. I then plugged the V1 adapter into the PCIe slot and looked at the relative location of the screw holes. As expected, they did not line up.

When I compared a V2 card with a V1 card, I noticed that the distance between the key slot in the circuit board and the bracket is different.

The V2 card does fit nicely into the PCIe slot - without interference.

As for the heat sink on the V2 card - the SSUAX and SSUBX cards both prevent installation of the heat sink because they are too wide to fit between one end of the heat sink stand-offs. This was also indicated elsewhere in this thread.

Another reason not to consider the heat sink - they do not make contact with any component on these blades . . . limited usefulness.

I saw that the V2 version is currently selling for $19 on eBay - 27 March 15.

 

[crjackson2134]

Box, just to be clear... You are saying that with the v1 card the bracket itself pulls the card out of alignment with the PCIe slot on the logic board?

So, if the bracket were not attached it would plug-in without issues?

I have a v1 card but haven't even taken it out of the box yet and have no PCIe SSD to test with as of yet.

Could you not adjust or alter the bracket in some way to make it work? It took 6 weeks for this card to arrive, I'd hate to not be able to use it at all. I guess I just need to go ahead and order the v2 and get over it.

 

[kgapp]

It took 6 weeks for this card to arrive,

Six weeks for it to arrive? I guess that is what you would call a 'slow boat from China.' I sure hope mine does not take quite that long to get here.

Is anyone aware of any US sellers of the Sinetch adapter? I could only find it for sale via eBay or the Sintech site directly (both come directly from China).

 

[box185]

Box, just to be clear... You are saying that with the v1 card the bracket itself pulls the card out of alignment with the PCIe slot on the logic board?

So, if the bracket were not attached it would plug-in without issues?

I have a v1 card but haven't even taken it out of the box yet and have no PCIe SSD to test with as of yet.

Could you not adjust or alter the bracket in some way to make it work? It took 6 weeks for this card to arrive, I'd hate to not be able to use it at all. I guess I just need to go ahead and order the v2 and get over it.

Yes, that is exactly the problem I experienced - the bracket itself pulls the card out of alignment with the PCIe slot on the logic board. Without the bracket attached ( removed two screws ), I was able to ( precariously ) plug it in. In that configuration, the adapter card rested on the metal bracket and seemed work alright.

With that experience behind me, I ordered a pair of the V2 brackets. They were delivered in less than two weeks - ordered on 11 March and delivered on 23 March. They sat in Chicago for five days before going to Kentucky and then back to Iowa.

After a second pair of V2 brackets were ordered, I found them listed for $19 so look for that listing rather than the $28-29 listing, same vendor.

 

[crjackson2134]

Yes, that is exactly the problem I experienced - the bracket itself pulls the card out of alignment with the PCIe slot on the logic board. Without the bracket attached ( removed two screws ), I was able to ( precariously ) plug it in. In that configuration, the adapter card rested on the metal bracket and seemed work alright.

With that experience behind me, I ordered a pair of the V2 brackets. They were delivered in less than two weeks - ordered on 11 March and delivered on 23 March. They sat in Chicago for five days before going to Kentucky and then back to Iowa.

After a second pair of V2 brackets were ordered, I found them listed for $19 so look for that listing rather than the $28-29 listing, same vendor.

Okay, thanks for the tip. I'll get a v2 on order...

 

[AndreeOnline]

I have a V1 on order (in transit) because it was recommended on page one in this thread.

I'm not too worried about the bracket: if I remove it, shouldn't the whole adaptor with the blade installed be installed just like a RAM module?

With such light components I'm guessing the PCIe slot keeps it nicely in place? Am I in error?

 

[Pressure]

I have a V1 on order (in transit) because it was recommended on page one in this thread.

I'm not too worried about the bracket: if I remove it, shouldn't the whole adaptor with the blade installed be installed just like a RAM module?

With such light components I'm guessing the PCIe slot keeps it nicely in place? Am I in error?

The one I got fits perfectly, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[box185]

The one I got fits perfectly, so I wouldn't worry.

If anyone wants a free V1 card, PM me - none available - domestic US delivery - pay shipping.

Thank you to everyone who took these - more room for more stuff.