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

SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
The prerelease one that someone here has. I thought it was you?
Click to expand...

No, not me. Mine gives 4X @ 5GT/s in slots 3/4 but it suffers from exhaustingly slow boot and disappears from the Option-Key boot picker if using an NVRAM reset. Also seems to produce or facilitate other strange anomalies regarding BT connections and other strange things.

In Slot 2 it gives me 4X @ 2.5GT/s but ALL other problems melt away. Boots crazy fast, BT has never worked better, and other small issues are gone. So, it stays in slot 2 for all around performance and ease of use, with the loss of 1/2 transfer speed (which is only noticed with benchmark utilities).

If someone has 4X @ 5.0GT/s in an SSUBX 512GB blade installed into Slot 2, it surly isn't me. That's exactly what I would like to have, but I'm happy with the current performance. It would be nice to get the full potential out of this thing though.
 
crjackson2134 said:
No, not me. Mine gives 4X @ 5GT/s in slots 3/4 but it suffers from exhaustingly slow boot and disappears from the Option-Key boot picker if using an NVRAM reset. Also seems to produce or facilitate other strange anomalies regarding BT connections and other strange things.

In Slot 2 it gives me 4X @ 2.5GT/s but ALL other problems melt away. Boots crazy fast, BT has never worked better, and other small issues are gone. So, it stays in slot 2 for all around performance and ease of use, with the loss of 1/2 transfer speed (which is only noticed with benchmark utilities).

If someone has 4X @ 5.0GT/s in an SSUBX 512GB blade installed into Slot 2, it surly isn't me. That's exactly what I would like to have, but I'm happy with the current performance. It would be nice to get the full potential out of this thing though.
Click to expand...
It'd be Synchro3?
 
xlr8yourmac: New firmware for SM256G, SM512G, and SM1024G.
Unfortunately a MacBook Pro (mid 2015) is needed to apply it:
validBoardIDs = oc(["Mac-06F11FD93F0323C5","Mac-06F11F11946D27C5"]) in the "Distribution" script.

Update:
Just saw that the new FW is only for revision "BXW1PA0Q".
Mine has revision "BXW1JA0Q".
The script also checks a part of the serial number to be in the range "G4" - "G7".
 
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smalm said:
xlr8yourmac: New firmware for SM256G, SM512G, and SM1024G.
Unfortunately a MacBook Pro (mid 2015) is needed to apply it:
validBoardIDs = oc(["Mac-06F11FD93F0323C5","Mac-06F11F11946D27C5"]) in the "Distribution" script.

Update:
Just saw that the new FW is only for revision "BXW1PA0Q".
Mine has revision "BXW1JA0Q".
The script also checks a part of the serial number to be in the range "G4" - "G7".
Click to expand...

So I'll check the firmware the next chance I get, but you're saying I have to find someone with a mid 2015 MacBook Pro to do the flash (if I have that Model)? I wonder if the local Apple Store could do that.
 
Going back to my earlier enquiries:
1) it is normal then for the drive to show up as an ejectable drive? Will that disappear if I make it the boot drive?
2) I haven't loaded the system on it but have tested the speed and they stick around 730-760 R/W in the slot (slot2?) just about my Radeon graphics card 5870 (slot 1, the lowest?). So I should swap the drive for the next slot up which should be slot 3?
3) If I do make it my bootable drive, how can I instal a clean drive with Yosemite since this only comes as an update (and I'm still working off Mountain Lion)?
4) If it's my boot drive, should I be much more cautious in making back ups every day?
 
AfterglowMP said:
Going back to my earlier enquiries:
1) it is normal then for the drive to show up as an ejectable drive? Will that disappear if I make it the boot drive?
2) I haven't loaded the system on it but have tested the speed and they stick around 730-760 R/W in the slot (slot2?) just about my Radeon graphics card 5870 (slot 1, the lowest?). So I should swap the drive for the next slot up which should be slot 3?
3) If I do make it my bootable drive, how can I instal a clean drive with Yosemite since this only comes as an update (and I'm still working off Mountain Lion)?
4) If it's my boot drive, should I be much more cautious in making back ups every day?
Click to expand...

1) It's external to the SATA Buss, so it will show up as ejectable unless/until you make it the boot drive.

2) It works best for me in Slot 2, you should test it in the differrent slots and use what works best.

3) Go to the MAS and download Yosemite but don't install. It is the full OS and you shoiuld make an install media from it using a USB stick.

4) It's no more or less important to make backups. You should make them on a daily basis regardless of HDD or SSD.
 
Thanks for your reply. Re installing Yosemite, I went to the Apple store and clicked on Download which is happening in bg in Launchpad. Where does Launchpad save it to? Is it possible this will only work as an upgrade, not a separate dmg? If so, where would I get the download? I searched now but found nothing.
 
AfterglowMP said:
Thanks for your reply. Re installing Yosemite, I went to the Apple store and clicked on Download which is happening in bg in Launchpad. Where does Launchpad save it to? Is it possible this will only work as an upgrade, not a separate dmg? If so, where would I get the download? I searched now but found nothing.
Click to expand...
Apps
 
crjackson2134 said:
1) It's external to the SATA Buss, so it will show up as ejectable unless/until you make it the boot drive.

2) It works best for me in Slot 2, you should test it in the differrent slots and use what works best.

3) Go to the MAS and download Yosemite but don't install. It is the full OS and you shoiuld make an install media from it using a USB stick.

Thanks, I will test PCIe SSD in other slots. Is there any explanation why the speed changes from one computer to another as reported here?

I've downloaded Yosemite and stored it on another internal drive. I'm sorry, I rarely update my OS because of the excellent stability I've had, therefore I'm not familiar with the process of installation you're suggesting. So, I copy to external media drive like USB stick (or any other drive, esata perhaps?), then launch the instal from there and direct it to the PCIe SSD? Is there anything I can or should leave out of the installation? Once that's done, I'm going to try migrating my apps over to it from 10.8.5 to see if they work, especially FCP7. Thanks for all your advice.
Click to expand...
 
Quick question: which of the SSDs talked about here are compatible with a 2015 Macbook Pro?

Thanks.
 
AfterglowMP said:
Thanks for your reply. Re installing Yosemite, I went to the Apple store and clicked on Download which is happening in bg in Launchpad. Where does Launchpad save it to? Is it possible this will only work as an upgrade, not a separate dmg? If so, where would I get the download? I searched now but found nothing.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply. It's downloaded to the applications folder.
 
Thanks again. I've shifted the PCIe SSD to the next slot up, slot 3, and it's topping out at 1213 write and 1360 read. Boot up's the same - 17 seconds - as my existing OWC SSD drive. Now I'll try installing Yosemite and then migrating apps over to it. So, install this from exterior media?
 
nisse32 said:
There seems to be firmware issue with the new 2015 (superfast) PCIE SSDs. Apple have released an official upgrade for this, but you can only use the updater on eligible computers (some series of Retina 2015 models).

The question now is: Which memory sticks are affected and how can you upgrade the firmware without putting the memory in a 2015 Retina?

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/07/22/macbook-pro-flash-storage-firmware-update/
Click to expand...

You can't upgrade SSD or HDD firmware without an official flashing utility from the manufacturer. The only person I have seen do that had to hardware hack - use a chip piggybacked on to the controller chip and then use a probe to sniff the I/O data
 
smalm said:
xlr8yourmac: New firmware for SM256G, SM512G, and SM1024G.
Unfortunately a MacBook Pro (mid 2015) is needed to apply it:
validBoardIDs = oc(["Mac-06F11FD93F0323C5","Mac-06F11F11946D27C5"]) in the "Distribution" script.

Update:
Just saw that the new FW is only for revision "BXW1PA0Q".
Mine has revision "BXW1JA0Q".
The script also checks a part of the serial number to be in the range "G4" - "G7".
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I had starting worrying because I have BXW1PA0Q in my mac pro and wasn't sure how I would update. Luckily I am a G1 so the update does not apply. Good luck to those that need to update but don't have a valid board ID. I'd be interested to see if someone figures out a way to apply the update in that scenario, is there a way you can fake the board ID?
 
crjackson2134 said:
Okay, I must be having a senior moment. Where is this script of which you speak?
Click to expand...

Mount the .dmg from Apple's website, take the .pkg installer and copy that to a local drive. Then extract the .pkg (ie, BetterZip, etc). Inside the extracted folder you will see 'Distribution' which is the script that runs as part of the installer to determine whether your computer/drive meets the requirements. The information smalm posted is from that script's contents.
 
Attached the distribution file.

The firmware update is for:
APPLE_SSD_SM0256G BXW1PA0Q
APPLE_SSD_SM0512G BXW1PA0Q
APPLE_SSD_SM1024G BXW1PA0Q

If the check is positive:
Your MacBook Pro requires this update.

Before installing this update, back up the data on your MacBook Pro to an external drive or Time Capsule. To initiate the update, the power cord must be connected to your MacBook Pro and plugged into a working power source. If you've already backed up your data and connected to power, click Continue to begin the update.

Do not reset, shut down, or turn off the power to your MacBook Pro while updating your flash storage. If there is a problem during the update, your flash storage may become unusable and all the data on it could be lost.

When the update is complete, your MacBook Pro will restart.
 

Attachments

  • Distribution.txt
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I do apologize if this has been answered in one of the previous 48 pages. I tried to wade through it, but it's a lot of ground to cover, and some of it rather oblique.

edited:
Would this Samsung SM951 work with the Sintech adapter? Alternatively, would this adapter work as well? Also, would you need the AHCI or NVMe version for a 2009 MacPro (10.8.5)?

Thanks.
 
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zephonic said:
I do apologize if this has been answered in one of the previous 48 pages. I tried to wade through it, but it's a lot of ground to cover, and some of it rather oblique.

edited:
Would this Samsung SM951 work with the Sintech adapter? Alternatively, would this adapter work as well? Also, would you need the AHCI or NVMe version for a 2009 MacPro (10.8.5)?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

SM951 does not work with Sintech. The other adapter IS the correct one for the SM951 (Lycom). You need the AHCI version of the SM951.
 
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I just ordered a lycom DT-120 for my new (to me) 2009 Mac Pro.

Instead of using the Samsung SM951, can I use the Kingston HyperX Predator 240GB M.2 SSD? The model is SHPM2280P2/240G.

Reason I ask is because I can source it locally for a pretty good deal.


edit: Nevermind. I just searched this thread and found several people report that it does work. Cool.
 
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