The specs don't really say, but is the Predator an AHCI interface or NVMe? I thought no one made AHCI any longer, and that NVMe was not bootable in a Mac Pro?
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SATA Express meets the '09 Mac Pro - Bootable NGFF PCIE SSD
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The specs don't really say, but is the Predator an AHCI interface or NVMe? I thought no one made AHCI any longer, and that NVMe was not bootable in a Mac Pro?
^^^^This article, over a year old says it's AHCI:
https://hothardware.com/reviews/kingston-predator-pcie-ssd-review
Lou
https://hothardware.com/reviews/kingston-predator-pcie-ssd-review
Lou
And here I thought the SM951 was the only current candidate for AHCI! Nice to know. Thanks.
It is the only Samsung, Kingston has no intention to discontinue the HyperX AHCI though the tech (controller and NAND) are a bit older (PCIe 2.0 also , but in a Pro no issue anyway).
Does anyone have benchmark for the Kingston Hyper X in a mac pro?
Does it use the same M2 adapter as the SM951? (i think there are two different connectors on the M2)
Thanks!
//GF
There is only one, which is type M (PCIe x4).
The adapters are passive and have no relevant electronics.
The adapters are passive and have no relevant electronics.
I doubt. Kingston never said that they will continue provide the AHCI PCIe SSD. In fact, they just announce the KC1000 NVMe PCIe SSD.
The HyperX may follow the SM951 AHCI route. Slowly disappear on the market, and getting more expensive once the supply reduce.
If anyone really want a new PCIe AHCI SSD for their cMP. I personally believe better buy the HyperX now. They may be cheaper later, but can't be much lower. However, they may also suddenly become very hard to find, or the price even go up (like the SM951 AHCI).
By considering there is not much benefit to wait, but potential big trouble later. Why not just buy it now and enjoy the speed?
You forget a major point - the SM951 was never any end-user product, only OEM.
For now vast quantities of HyperX 480/960 are still produced and sold; new ones have production dates of 03 and 04 2017.
The controller is likely earlier discontinued than the SSD and as these have warranty (unlike Samsung OEM) there is stock for replacements for EOL+5 years.
For now vast quantities of HyperX 480/960 are still produced and sold; new ones have production dates of 03 and 04 2017.
The controller is likely earlier discontinued than the SSD and as these have warranty (unlike Samsung OEM) there is stock for replacements for EOL+5 years.
It's very normal that when a new product coming out, the old similar product line stop. And I still can't see from anywhere that Kingston said they will keep providing the AHCI SSD.
However, I totally agree that the HyperX and SM951 are in different market. One is consumer product, the other is OEM product.
It's relatively easy to buy the HyperX now, but it's definitely not flood on the market, who knows when the supply suddenly drop?
In fact, the new one have production date of Mar / Apr 2017 means there is not much in stock. If there still lots waiting for sell, the manufacture date should be back in 2016 (they should sell the oldest product first for a normal logistic line) . If you can get one with production date on Apr 2017, which means their stock can only last for 1-2 months. Once they stop making it, the HyperX supply will greatly drop on the market in short future.
Generally yes, though here the other side is the case - it sells very well which is why the production cycles are fairly short at this time.
There is also a replacement/2nd edition in design stage based on PCIe 3.0 x4 which should rival the SM951 in speed/NAND quality (as there is a purchase option booked with a large controller manufacturer for an AHCI only chip along with a currently executed order for the same chip as NVMe in 5-10x this qty), no release date but along with a 2,5" NVMe edition for servers (Q3 17, SMB market as target, we'll see how that sells) is the most likely point.
Source is a manufacturer in Taiwan, take with grain of salt but in the past the infos were right (eg. Corsair NVMe release date, FW updates etc.)
Not much worried yet by that and by them having to honor EU warranty and granting extensions still on large bulk purchases - which means either tons stocked or parts available in qty.
After all, unlike Samsung, these are 95% just 3rd party components sold as package under the Kingston brand and manufactured external.
Agree though, if you can afford it buy now and stock one or two, can't hurt much by price drop later as insurance.
There is also a replacement/2nd edition in design stage based on PCIe 3.0 x4 which should rival the SM951 in speed/NAND quality (as there is a purchase option booked with a large controller manufacturer for an AHCI only chip along with a currently executed order for the same chip as NVMe in 5-10x this qty), no release date but along with a 2,5" NVMe edition for servers (Q3 17, SMB market as target, we'll see how that sells) is the most likely point.
Source is a manufacturer in Taiwan, take with grain of salt but in the past the infos were right (eg. Corsair NVMe release date, FW updates etc.)
Not much worried yet by that and by them having to honor EU warranty and granting extensions still on large bulk purchases - which means either tons stocked or parts available in qty.
After all, unlike Samsung, these are 95% just 3rd party components sold as package under the Kingston brand and manufactured external.
Agree though, if you can afford it buy now and stock one or two, can't hurt much by price drop later as insurance.
This might help the argument that the Kingston might be nearing end of life in light of the newer model:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=HyperX Predator PCIe M.2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
(Just in case the linked page ever disappears, it shows both the 480GB and 960GB devices as "DISCONTINUED".)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=HyperX Predator PCIe M.2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
(Just in case the linked page ever disappears, it shows both the 480GB and 960GB devices as "DISCONTINUED".)
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Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town... But anyway, as others have said, yes, it's bootable.
For who are interesting with Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe SSD for their Mac Pros, I would like to share my experience. After the advice from the kind Squuiid that the Kingston is bootable on Mac Pro, I had waited no time to order one, why not.. The price is relatively reasonable though and easy to buy from the market and in one package.
Yesterday, I've got the Kingston Predator M.2 SSD which comes with its PCIe adaptor, unplugged all the wires, harddrives etc and put the Kingston straight in and started to installed Mac OS.
The moment came, I can confirm here by my own experience, the Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe SSD is bootable in my Mac Pro 5.1.
Thank you Squuiid again for your advice and I agree with the statement "buy it now and enjoy the speed" rather wait.
[doublepost=1495983866][/doublepost]
Thank you pastrychef.
Yesterday, I've got the Kingston Predator M.2 SSD which comes with its PCIe adaptor, unplugged all the wires, harddrives etc and put the Kingston straight in and started to installed Mac OS.
The moment came, I can confirm here by my own experience, the Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe SSD is bootable in my Mac Pro 5.1.
Thank you Squuiid again for your advice and I agree with the statement "buy it now and enjoy the speed" rather wait.
[doublepost=1495983866][/doublepost]
Thank you pastrychef.
A batch of 256GB AHCI SM951's popped up on Amazon for reasonable price of $115. I've loaded up my Gen2 Squid with 256x4 for a fresh batch of testing in 10.12.6 and High Sierra. Early numbers are showing a PCIE raid 0 performance hit in 10.13 MacOs Journaled and AFPS Partitions.
With caution, I'm currently running the SSD's without active or passive cooling. Considering the thermals of the SM951 and the consequences of crappy performance from thermal throttling or in the worst case, burning out a module, I've ordered a set of PCIe SSD oriented coolers.
I'm looking forward to booting from AFPS on a PCIE SSD on High Sierra on the cMP. IMO.. The Jury is still out as to whether it will require an update to the MacPro efi ROM.
With caution, I'm currently running the SSD's without active or passive cooling. Considering the thermals of the SM951 and the consequences of crappy performance from thermal throttling or in the worst case, burning out a module, I've ordered a set of PCIe SSD oriented coolers.
I'm looking forward to booting from AFPS on a PCIE SSD on High Sierra on the cMP. IMO.. The Jury is still out as to whether it will require an update to the MacPro efi ROM.
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Finally!! I'm happy to see the Lycom Engineers were able to come up with a Cost Effective approach to a Multi-PCIE SSD expansion card to take on Amfeltec's Squid M2. Take a jump over to the the SSD Review for a first look at Lycom's upcoming 4x M.2 PCIe SSD Adapter.
Multi ssd Benchmarks, like those above, should become much more common in the coming months.
Amazon still has stock on 256GB SM951's @ $119ea. A great price...
Multi ssd Benchmarks, like those above, should become much more common in the coming months.
Amazon still has stock on 256GB SM951's @ $119ea. A great price...
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Interesting card...
Sadly, the price for those SM951 on amazon Canada is equivalent to 225US$ :-(
Sadly, the price for those SM951 on amazon Canada is equivalent to 225US$ :-(
Wait for few more months, if we have native NVMe support from High Sierra, then this will be a very good card. Since there is no huge benefit to boot from NVMe SSD anyway. And it's so easy to install another SATA SSD in the cMP for booting. I will say all we need (at least) is just native NVMe SSD support after booting (like the USB 3.0 card). Once we have this support, this card will allow us easily to expend our storage with 4x NVMe SSD for working. Or may be we can install one AHCI SSD on that card for OS, and another three NVMe SSD for other stuff. That will still greatly lower our cost / difficulties to acquire 4 suitable PCIe SSD for the cMP.
First many thanks to handheldgames (and others) for all the great info. You inspired me ($$$).
Here’s my current cMP configuration.
I’m currently running an Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 card with (2) Samsung 512GB 840 SSDs.
One 512GB drive is dedicated to macOS Sierra 10.12.5 and one 512GB drive is dedicated to Windows 10 Creative 1703.
Blackmagic Results: Read: 239 MB/s Write: 255 MB/s ( Yea, pretty sad )
It’s time to upgrade this old friend of mine and squeeze 2-3 more years from her.
The upgrade. Just purchased these items.
(1) Amfeltec SQUID PCI Express Gen 3 Carrier Board for (2) M.2 SSD modules (SKU-086-32) ( ~ $260.00 )
(2) Samsung SM951 MZHPV512HDGL-00000 512GB AHCI M.2 80mm PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD ( ~ $325.00 each )
So for a little over $900.00 (yes I know, expensive) I’ll be up in the 1,300 MB/s - 1,500 MB/s R/W range. My old workhorse will be good for a few more years. Hopefully Apple will have something better to offer us by then.
Don't buy the Amfeltec card just because it has a fan. The fan was so noisy I had to disable it. I put heat sinks on the blades and unplugged the fan.
Here’s my current cMP configuration.
I’m currently running an Apricorn Velocity Duo x2 card with (2) Samsung 512GB 840 SSDs.
One 512GB drive is dedicated to macOS Sierra 10.12.5 and one 512GB drive is dedicated to Windows 10 Creative 1703.
Blackmagic Results: Read: 239 MB/s Write: 255 MB/s ( Yea, pretty sad )
It’s time to upgrade this old friend of mine and squeeze 2-3 more years from her.
The upgrade. Just purchased these items.
(1) Amfeltec SQUID PCI Express Gen 3 Carrier Board for (2) M.2 SSD modules (SKU-086-32) ( ~ $260.00 )
(2) Samsung SM951 MZHPV512HDGL-00000 512GB AHCI M.2 80mm PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD ( ~ $325.00 each )
So for a little over $900.00 (yes I know, expensive) I’ll be up in the 1,300 MB/s - 1,500 MB/s R/W range. My old workhorse will be good for a few more years. Hopefully Apple will have something better to offer us by then.
Don't buy the Amfeltec card just because it has a fan. The fan was so noisy I had to disable it. I put heat sinks on the blades and unplugged the fan.
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Is there any chance to do Raid 0 with two SM951 AHCI SSDs in two separate PCI slots? Mac Pro 5.1
Of course you can, if fact you can RAID 0 a SM951 with a USB drive if you want to.