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

Hello all,

Quick question, I am testing a Bplus M2P4S with a single XP941 512, and I have the pcie extension cable to connect to another pcie slot for a dual M.2 configuration.
Has anyone try to connect 2 x XP941 on a single Bplus card? Can you raid them?

Thx
 
okay, today I received the PCIe adapter card from sintech. here are the results (ran QuickBench on the SAMSUNG XP941 256GB and the Apple/SAMSUNG 1.0 TB). the SSD uses all 4 PCIe lanes, TRIM is supported OOTB as expected.

14940158357_564e63c68d_c.jpg


QuickBench(TM) 4.0 Test Results
�2000-2007 Intech Software Corp.
Test file created on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 9:39:01 AM
Test Volume Name: Macintosh HD
Test Volume Type: MacOS Extended
Test Volume Size: 237.674 Gigabytes
Test Volume Free Space: 142.366 Gigabytes
Allow Disk Cache Effects: Disabled
All reads and writes performed sychronously

Standard Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Sequential Read Sequential Write Random Read Random Write

4 KBytes 102.662 MB/Sec 75.173 MB/Sec 27.193 MB/Sec 67.139 MB/Sec
8 KBytes 169.180 MB/Sec 129.746 MB/Sec 52.225 MB/Sec 115.101 MB/Sec
16 KBytes 260.638 MB/Sec 205.755 MB/Sec 78.978 MB/Sec 178.281 MB/Sec
32 KBytes 390.568 MB/Sec 360.442 MB/Sec 111.860 MB/Sec 285.369 MB/Sec
64 KBytes 550.649 MB/Sec 449.834 MB/Sec 149.783 MB/Sec 402.497 MB/Sec
128 KBytes 717.126 MB/Sec 610.409 MB/Sec 219.040 MB/Sec 572.109 MB/Sec
256 KBytes 874.379 MB/Sec 651.365 MB/Sec 357.820 MB/Sec 667.735 MB/Sec
512 KBytes 892.278 MB/Sec 734.551 MB/Sec 545.174 MB/Sec 648.598 MB/Sec
1024 KBytes 948.670 MB/Sec 707.570 MB/Sec 710.445 MB/Sec 714.670 MB/Sec

Standard Ave 545.128 MB/Sec 436.094 MB/Sec 250.280 MB/Sec 405.722 MB/Sec


Large Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Large Read Large Write

2 MBytes 1104.710 MB/Sec 984.630 MB/Sec
3 MBytes 1156.026 MB/Sec 1026.950 MB/Sec
4 MBytes 1185.498 MB/Sec 1044.289 MB/Sec
5 MBytes 1204.471 MB/Sec 1063.610 MB/Sec
6 MBytes 1217.590 MB/Sec 1063.151 MB/Sec
7 MBytes 1225.601 MB/Sec 1083.344 MB/Sec
8 MBytes 1228.703 MB/Sec 1059.369 MB/Sec
9 MBytes 1232.806 MB/Sec 978.491 MB/Sec
10 MBytes 1255.088 MB/Sec 862.879 MB/Sec

Large Ave 1201.166 MB/Sec 1018.524 MB/Sec


Extended Tests Not Run


Custom Tests Not Run







QuickBench(TM) 4.0 Test Results
�2000-2007 Intech Software Corp.
Test file created on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 9:39:11 AM
Test Volume Name: Macintosh HD
Test Volume Type: MacOS Extended
Test Volume Size: 931.039 Gigabytes
Test Volume Free Space: 913.270 Gigabytes
Allow Disk Cache Effects: Disabled
All reads and writes performed sychronously

Standard Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Sequential Read Sequential Write Random Read Random Write

4 KBytes 102.889 MB/Sec 79.000 MB/Sec 26.400 MB/Sec 71.980 MB/Sec
8 KBytes 184.208 MB/Sec 137.704 MB/Sec 51.123 MB/Sec 121.703 MB/Sec
16 KBytes 276.995 MB/Sec 220.420 MB/Sec 79.390 MB/Sec 191.695 MB/Sec
32 KBytes 388.028 MB/Sec 365.687 MB/Sec 104.075 MB/Sec 317.440 MB/Sec
64 KBytes 539.504 MB/Sec 506.743 MB/Sec 141.658 MB/Sec 430.348 MB/Sec
128 KBytes 732.514 MB/Sec 635.005 MB/Sec 209.449 MB/Sec 619.795 MB/Sec
256 KBytes 893.535 MB/Sec 701.486 MB/Sec 351.897 MB/Sec 693.009 MB/Sec
512 KBytes 944.906 MB/Sec 812.032 MB/Sec 534.417 MB/Sec 775.500 MB/Sec
1024 KBytes 1001.447 MB/Sec 851.617 MB/Sec 682.841 MB/Sec 791.252 MB/Sec

Standard Ave 562.669 MB/Sec 478.855 MB/Sec 242.361 MB/Sec 445.858 MB/Sec


Large Tests Not Run


Extended Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Extended Read Extended Write

20 MBytes 1203.608 MB/Sec 1114.353 MB/Sec
30 MBytes 1220.356 MB/Sec 1106.026 MB/Sec
40 MBytes 1212.092 MB/Sec 1118.212 MB/Sec
50 MBytes 1216.989 MB/Sec 1015.726 MB/Sec
60 MBytes 1214.810 MB/Sec 1020.886 MB/Sec
70 MBytes 1217.079 MB/Sec 1070.444 MB/Sec
80 MBytes 1214.153 MB/Sec 1104.073 MB/Sec
90 MBytes 1231.649 MB/Sec 974.658 MB/Sec
100 MBytes 1259.847 MB/Sec 1026.620 MB/Sec

Extended Ave 1221.176 MB/Sec 1061.222 MB/Sec


Custom Tests Not Run
 
Last edited:
kennyman said:
Hello all,

Quick question, I am testing a Bplus M2P4S with a single XP941 512, and I have the pcie extension cable to connect to another pcie slot for a dual M.2 configuration.
Has anyone try to connect 2 x XP941 on a single Bplus card? Can you raid them?

Thx
Click to expand...

I think this should work. even though, I would prefer to have two LYCOM DT-120. this cable looks a bit flimsy to me...
 
Good news then.

mikeboss said:
okay, today I received the PCIe adapter card from sintech. here are the results (ran QuickBench on the SAMSUNG XP941 256GB and the Apple/SAMSUNG 1.0 TB). the SSD uses all 4 PCIe lanes, TRIM is supported OOTB as expected.

Image

QuickBench(TM) 4.0 Test Results
�2000-2007 Intech Software Corp.
Test file created on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 9:39:01 AM
Test Volume Name: Macintosh HD
Test Volume Type: MacOS Extended
Test Volume Size: 237.674 Gigabytes
Test Volume Free Space: 142.366 Gigabytes
Allow Disk Cache Effects: Disabled
All reads and writes performed sychronously

Standard Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Sequential Read Sequential Write Random Read Random Write

4 KBytes 102.662 MB/Sec 75.173 MB/Sec 27.193 MB/Sec 67.139 MB/Sec
8 KBytes 169.180 MB/Sec 129.746 MB/Sec 52.225 MB/Sec 115.101 MB/Sec
16 KBytes 260.638 MB/Sec 205.755 MB/Sec 78.978 MB/Sec 178.281 MB/Sec
32 KBytes 390.568 MB/Sec 360.442 MB/Sec 111.860 MB/Sec 285.369 MB/Sec
64 KBytes 550.649 MB/Sec 449.834 MB/Sec 149.783 MB/Sec 402.497 MB/Sec
128 KBytes 717.126 MB/Sec 610.409 MB/Sec 219.040 MB/Sec 572.109 MB/Sec
256 KBytes 874.379 MB/Sec 651.365 MB/Sec 357.820 MB/Sec 667.735 MB/Sec
512 KBytes 892.278 MB/Sec 734.551 MB/Sec 545.174 MB/Sec 648.598 MB/Sec
1024 KBytes 948.670 MB/Sec 707.570 MB/Sec 710.445 MB/Sec 714.670 MB/Sec

Standard Ave 545.128 MB/Sec 436.094 MB/Sec 250.280 MB/Sec 405.722 MB/Sec


Large Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Large Read Large Write

2 MBytes 1104.710 MB/Sec 984.630 MB/Sec
3 MBytes 1156.026 MB/Sec 1026.950 MB/Sec
4 MBytes 1185.498 MB/Sec 1044.289 MB/Sec
5 MBytes 1204.471 MB/Sec 1063.610 MB/Sec
6 MBytes 1217.590 MB/Sec 1063.151 MB/Sec
7 MBytes 1225.601 MB/Sec 1083.344 MB/Sec
8 MBytes 1228.703 MB/Sec 1059.369 MB/Sec
9 MBytes 1232.806 MB/Sec 978.491 MB/Sec
10 MBytes 1255.088 MB/Sec 862.879 MB/Sec

Large Ave 1201.166 MB/Sec 1018.524 MB/Sec


Extended Tests Not Run


Custom Tests Not Run







QuickBench(TM) 4.0 Test Results
�2000-2007 Intech Software Corp.
Test file created on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 9:39:11 AM
Test Volume Name: Macintosh HD
Test Volume Type: MacOS Extended
Test Volume Size: 931.039 Gigabytes
Test Volume Free Space: 913.270 Gigabytes
Allow Disk Cache Effects: Disabled
All reads and writes performed sychronously

Standard Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Sequential Read Sequential Write Random Read Random Write

4 KBytes 102.889 MB/Sec 79.000 MB/Sec 26.400 MB/Sec 71.980 MB/Sec
8 KBytes 184.208 MB/Sec 137.704 MB/Sec 51.123 MB/Sec 121.703 MB/Sec
16 KBytes 276.995 MB/Sec 220.420 MB/Sec 79.390 MB/Sec 191.695 MB/Sec
32 KBytes 388.028 MB/Sec 365.687 MB/Sec 104.075 MB/Sec 317.440 MB/Sec
64 KBytes 539.504 MB/Sec 506.743 MB/Sec 141.658 MB/Sec 430.348 MB/Sec
128 KBytes 732.514 MB/Sec 635.005 MB/Sec 209.449 MB/Sec 619.795 MB/Sec
256 KBytes 893.535 MB/Sec 701.486 MB/Sec 351.897 MB/Sec 693.009 MB/Sec
512 KBytes 944.906 MB/Sec 812.032 MB/Sec 534.417 MB/Sec 775.500 MB/Sec
1024 KBytes 1001.447 MB/Sec 851.617 MB/Sec 682.841 MB/Sec 791.252 MB/Sec

Standard Ave 562.669 MB/Sec 478.855 MB/Sec 242.361 MB/Sec 445.858 MB/Sec


Large Tests Not Run


Extended Test Results:
Test Cycles: 5

Transfer Size Extended Read Extended Write

20 MBytes 1203.608 MB/Sec 1114.353 MB/Sec
30 MBytes 1220.356 MB/Sec 1106.026 MB/Sec
40 MBytes 1212.092 MB/Sec 1118.212 MB/Sec
50 MBytes 1216.989 MB/Sec 1015.726 MB/Sec
60 MBytes 1214.810 MB/Sec 1020.886 MB/Sec
70 MBytes 1217.079 MB/Sec 1070.444 MB/Sec
80 MBytes 1214.153 MB/Sec 1104.073 MB/Sec
90 MBytes 1231.649 MB/Sec 974.658 MB/Sec
100 MBytes 1259.847 MB/Sec 1026.620 MB/Sec

Extended Ave 1221.176 MB/Sec 1061.222 MB/Sec


Custom Tests Not Run
Click to expand...





Exciting times then,:D it seems like a bargain compared to the XP941 deals out there. I bought a 1TB card of the bay for $660 including shipping from S.Korea. I have ordered my adapter and I am going to try to use this as a dual boot drive OSX & Bootcamp for games.

With the above numbers I think I am going to be very happy, especially as I am going from a conventional HD on the back plane to this. There is more life in the old dog yet.

2.66 quad to 3.46 hex, Gt120 to Gtx680OC, now HD to super SSD.:cool:
 
mikeboss said:
okay, today I received the PCIe adapter card from sintech. here are the results (ran QuickBench on the SAMSUNG XP941 256GB and the Apple/SAMSUNG 1.0 TB). the SSD uses all 4 PCIe lanes, TRIM is supported OOTB as expected.

Image

*snip*
Click to expand...

That doesn't look like an Apple SSD from a 2013 Mac Pro to me..?
 
Ok, I have, and every mention of it says it's for a MacBook Pro or iMac?

The Mac Pro drives are thinner.
 
Are there lane/speed differences between the disk sizes? I have a 512g in my rMBP, would this be slower than the 1TB in my 2009 MP pcie slot adapter and put the 1TB in my rMBP?

Or should I put the 1TB in the MP for fastest read/write speeds?
 
CASLondon said:
Are there lane/speed differences between the disk sizes? I have a 512g in my rMBP, would this be slower than the 1TB in my 2009 MP pcie slot adapter and put the 1TB in my rMBP?

Or should I put the 1TB in the MP for fastest read/write speeds?
Click to expand...

check in the system profiler if the 512GB version of your rMBP runs with 4 lanes connected. if yes, there shouldn't be a big difference between these two SSDs.
 
Vendor: Apple
Product: SSD Controller
Physical Interconnect: PCI
Link Width: x2
Link Speed: 5.0 GT/s
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported

Is the Link Width item the number of lanes as I suspect?
 
CASLondon said:
Is the Link Width item the number of lanes as I suspect?
Click to expand...

yes, it's running with 2 lanes connected. but this doesn't mean necessarily that the SSD isn't capable of running with 4 lanes. maybe it's just the slot in the rMBP that only connects 2 lanes. I don't know which is the case...
 
From the sticky SSD thread in the Macbook Pro forum.....

I bought a 512GB 2013 Mac Pro SSDoff eBay and stuck it in my late 2013 13" rMBP and woah!

1020 MB/s read and write on BackMagic. That's 3-4x faster than the old 128 GB.

The 4x PCIe support in the 2013 rMBP is confirmed. So aftermarket drives could be very fast indeed when they finally come out.

It must be the drive, but I'd like to get to the bottom of this before I take the plunge. I was going to go 512g but I'd hate to limit myself
 
CASLondon said:
Are there lane/speed differences between the disk sizes? I have a 512g in my rMBP, would this be slower than the 1TB in my 2009 MP pcie slot adapter and put the 1TB in my rMBP?

Or should I put the 1TB in the MP for fastest read/write speeds?
Click to expand...

Which rMBP? 2013 or newer? All current apple SSD's should be x4.
 
Great numbers as expected! Good to see that the XP941 has been dethroned with a 1tb Apple solution. I also have the adapter but still need to pull the trigger on the Apple SSD. My mp sits idle most of the time so dropping in a 1tb solution may need to wait.

Congrats!!




mikeboss said:
okay, today I received the PCIe adapter card from sintech. here are the results (ran QuickBench on the SAMSUNG XP941 256GB and the Apple/SAMSUNG 1.0 TB). the SSD uses all 4 PCIe lanes, TRIM is supported OOTB as expected.

Image
Click to expand...
 
handheldgames said:
Which rMBP? 2013 or newer? All current apple SSD's should be x4.
Click to expand...

I have the late 13 rMBP, 2.3ghz, 16g, 512g Samsung hd. It shows up in system profiler connected at 2 lanes, and that is what I was hearing on the MBP forums.

The 512 in the nMP is 4 lanes, so either the drive is different or the connector is.
 
So, just to clarify, I can use one of the Lycom PCIe adaptors and an Apple OEM M.2 SSD in a 2008 MacPro and have a fully bootable system with TRIM, or the same using an XP941 but without TRIM? (Assuming I'm using Yosemite)

This sounds like a fantastic solution, I'm booting off a regular SSD currently, so it's pretty snappy already, but these performance increases are fairly impressive and would free up a 3.5" drive bay for other purposes!
 
mikeboss said:
my MacBook Air's (early 2014) SSD (SanDisk) is connected using only 2 lanes.
Click to expand...

Yes... You are very correct. FWIW. Anyone considering this solution, only buy Apple/Samsung PCIE SSD's. Unless you want less than lack-luster performance.

stevenz said:
So, just to clarify, I can use one of the Lycom PCIe adaptors and an Apple OEM M.2 SSD in a 2008 MacPro and have a fully bootable system with TRIM, or the same using an XP941 but without TRIM? (Assuming I'm using Yosemite)

This sounds like a fantastic solution, I'm booting off a regular SSD currently, so it's pretty snappy already, but these performance increases are fairly impressive and would free up a 3.5" drive bay for other purposes!
Click to expand...

Yes, that's correct. The Apple SSD will run with Trim in Yosemite while the XP941 by default will not. I'm sure Cindori will figure out an easy patch though.

One note: The Apple SSD uses an "apple custom connector" that is a couple pins different from M.2/NGFF. The XP941 is M.2/NGFF
 
Last edited:
stevenz said:
So, just to clarify, I can use one of the Lycom PCIe adaptors and an Apple OEM M.2 SSD in a 2008 MacPro and have a fully bootable system with TRIM, or the same using an XP941 but without TRIM? (Assuming I'm using Yosemite)

This sounds like a fantastic solution, I'm booting off a regular SSD currently, so it's pretty snappy already, but these performance increases are fairly impressive and would free up a 3.5" drive bay for other purposes!
Click to expand...

since the XP941 uses an industy standard M.2/NGFF connector, you can use the LYCOM DT-120 adapter card. for the Apple/SAMSUNG SSD you'll have to get the SINTECH ST-A2013SA adapter card.
 
stevenz said:
So, just to clarify, I can use one of the Lycom PCIe adaptors and an Apple OEM M.2 SSD in a 2008 MacPro and have a fully bootable system with TRIM, or the same using an XP941 but without TRIM? !
Click to expand...

I know I am beating a dead horse by asking this again. But, will a 2008 MP 3,1 boot to the Sintech solution?? I have an upgraded GT video card in there, so I don't get the white apple screen anymore. Using "Option" to boot is not an option (pardon the pun).

I appreciate your patience in dealing with my paranoia.
 
jeffreymabq said:
I know I am beating a dead horse by asking this again. But, will a 2008 MP 3,1 boot to the Sintech solution?? I have an upgraded GT video card in there, so I don't get the white apple screen anymore. Using "Option" to boot is not an option (pardon the pun).

I appreciate your patience in dealing with my paranoia.
Click to expand...

Hey Jeffreymabq.. Yes, it should boot in your 08 cMP without issue. The Samsung drive delivers the same performance users have seen with the XP941.


Jack40 said:
Does it work on Hackintosh?
Click to expand...


Hey Jack490,

You need a motherboard with UEIF bios that natively supports booting from M.2 SSD as an option. This includes Z97 and X99 chipsets and solutions from Asus, Asrock, Gigabyte, etc. PCIe Speed implementation is board specific with a mix of 2x and 4x solutions. With that in mind if the chipset supports booting from a built in M.2 device, there is no reason it should not support booting from a PCIE Card. Some vendors are placing the M.2 socket on the bottom of the motherboard PCB.

So, If you have a motherboard that is prior to z97, you are limited to the 2 channel solution from Plextor. (about 800MB/s). If you have a z97 or newer, an add-on NGFF/M.2 or Apple Flash could work.


cMac Pro Market Update
Newegg had a huge sale a week ago on the 256GB XP941 for $255 and has caused many vendors to adjust pricing. Prices will continue to drop as the channel continues to open up!! Ramcity has adjusted their pricing and has product available on Ebay or their site.

For the Sintech Adapter using the Apple/Samsung 256GB and 512GB part supply has temporarily dried up. 1TB solutions are still readily available, although at a price. What supplies are available are over prices.. Wait for a vendor to get inventory to reset pricing.
 
Thanks for the market update, I noticed the lack of supply of Apple Samsung drives.

A couple of 1TBs went for near 500, but mostly 1TBs are going above $700 right now. You expect that price to drift back down? And more smaller 4 lane options?
 
CASLondon said:
Thanks for the market update, I noticed the lack of supply of Apple Samsung drives.

A couple of 1TBs went for near 500, but mostly 1TBs are going above $700 right now. You expect that price to drift back down? And more smaller 4 lane options?
Click to expand...

Prices have been around the $420 - $450 mark since march for the 512GB part. Unless something happened in the channel, this is hopefully minor hiccup. Today, the Apple solution has it's best value when going for 1TB drives.
 
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