MP 7,1 Separate the two SSDs in 7.1?

[TrevorR90]

I just snagged a 2tb ssd upgrade kit off Amazon Warehouse for $670 over the traditional $1000 price. I usually get lucky with Amazon warehouse deals so hopefully this ones good when it gets to me in a few days

Anyways, I just now took a look at my current 1tb SSD in my Mac Pro and I was surprised to see that there are two modules, one 768gb module and the other a 232 gb module. I legitimately thought it would be a single 1tb module. Upon further research, turns out the 2tb modules I just purchased are two 1tb modules.

My question is, is there a way to have them both read as two separate SSD drives instead? I would like to perhaps use one drive for bootcamp and the other macOS.

 

[SecuritySteve]

I just snagged a 2tb ssd upgrade kit off Amazon Warehouse for $670 over the traditional $1000 price. I usually get lucky with Amazon warehouse deals so hopefully this ones good when it gets to me in a few days

Anyways, I just now took a look at my current 1tb SSD in my Mac Pro and I was surprised to see that there are two modules, one 768gb module and the other a 232 gb module. I legitimately thought it would be a single 1tb module. Upon further research, turns out the 2tb modules I just purchased are two 1tb modules.

My question is, is there a way to have them both read as two separate SSD drives instead? I would like to perhaps use one drive for bootcamp and the other macOS.

As far as I know, no. But that's a good thing. You could easily partition the "logical" SSD drive to be 1 TB macOS 1 TB Windows 10, and the partitions would be split on both. The drives are arranged in a hardware-RAID 0 configuration, so you get double the read/write speed you would otherwise.

Keep in mind these are not "SSDs" like you would normally think of in the traditional sense. You essentially bought NVMe flash blades, with no controller. Your T2 coprocessor on your logic board actually has the storage controller in it, so to alter the RAID settings for the drives you would have to start there. I don't believe there is an interface for doing so, nor the option.

 

[flowrider]

Removed

 

[flowrider]

To the OP. All NcMP 7,1 models utilize two modules to make up the total capacity, except the 256GB model. I was under the impression that they were both the same size. AFAIK there is no way to to utilize them as separate drives.

Concerning your new SSDs - What make, model & form factor are they?

Lou

 

[TrevorR90]

To the OP. All NcMP 7,1 models utilize two modules to make up the total capacity, except the 256GB model. I was under the impression that they were both the same size. AFAIK there is no way to to utilize them as separate drives.

Concerning your new SSDs - What make, model & form factor are they?

Lou

The exact ones I bought, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B7ZWJ44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[flowrider]

Removed

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Hmm, Ya, that's what I thought. Those will replace your stock SSDDs and require following a special procedure and another Macintosh.

Install or replace SSD modules in your Mac Pro (2019) - Apple Support

Learn how to install SSD modules in your Mac Pro and how to use Apple Configurator to set them up for your Mac.

support.apple.com

Surprised you didn't go with an NVMe SSD along with a PCIe card.

BTW, I have ten SSDs installed internally in my NcMP.

Lou

 

[TrevorR90]

^^^^Hmm, Ya, that's what I thought. Those will replace your stock SSDDs and require following a special procedure and another Macintosh.

Install or replace SSD modules in your Mac Pro (2019) - Apple Support

Learn how to install SSD modules in your Mac Pro and how to use Apple Configurator to set them up for your Mac.

support.apple.com

Surprised you didn't go with an NVMe SSD along with a PCIe card.

BTW, I have ten SSDs installed internally in my NcMP.

Lou

It's definitely cheaper to go with an NVMe SSD but I like to stick with OEM components and cost isn't an issue for me. Yep, well aware of needing another Mac, I'll be using my wife's MacBook but thank you for the link, I'm gonna bookmark it as I didn't have the instructions.

Additionally, this will be especially useful since its such a PITA trying to get bootcamp installed on another NVMe and even when I did get bootcamp on a separate NVMe, I would still get weird errors/glitches and the T2 chip is the likely culprit.

BTW, I recognize you from clublexus as I have a 2020 GSF, I always look for your posts when I search for an issue, so thank you!

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Another Lexus F guy over here? My OEM SSD has been left as shipped from Apple and has been used only once. I had trouble installing some software and used the Mac SSD for installation then transferred the program onto my working disks. For me, the OEM SSD is used only for emergencies.

But why are you reluctant to use you PCIe slots? You have six or seven of 'em sitting MT.

Lou

 

[Petri Krohn]

I would like to perhaps use one drive for bootcamp and the other macOS.

To install Windows, get the following:

• A $2 PCIe x4 to M.2 adapter from AliExpress. (Or use the $20 Lycom card if you prefer.)
• Some cheap NVMe drive like the Samsung 970 EVO Plus.
• You will also need to enable booting from "external" drives.

There is no point in using your overpriced, T2 protected storage space for securing you Windows files.

But why are you reluctant to use you PCIe slots? You have six or seven of 'em sitting MT.

Exactly!

 

[TrevorR90]

To install Windows, get the following:

• A $2 PCIe x4 to M.2 adapter from AliExpress. (Or use the $20 Lycom card if you prefer.)
• Some cheap NVMe drive like the Samsung 970 EVO Plus.
• You will also need to enable booting from "external" drives.

There is no point in using your overpriced, T2 protected storage space for securing you Windows files.


Exactly!

I have an adapter and have used Windows on my Mac Pro on a separate NVMe drive. I can say with certainty that the steps you outlined are not enough to install windows on a separate NVMe. The preferred method right now is to install Windows via a VM.

 

[DrEGPU]

I have an adapter and have used Windows on my Mac Pro on a separate NVMe drive. I can say with certainty that the steps you outlined are not enough to install windows on a separate NVMe. The preferred method right now is to install Windows via a VM.

Came here to say this. It's not a simple one or two step procedure like boot camp. I posted as such here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ith-bootcamp-externally.2278364/post-29532426