SSD Slow on Mac Pro

[giodelgado]

Hi, just received my Mac Pro 3.33

I installed the Apricorn Velocity Solo x2 and I get speeds of around 490mb, when I had my Mac Mini 2012 i7 I used to get 540mb+.

It's installed on the second pci slot, is there something else I need to enable or something or is this because the components are old?

Thanks

 

[flehman]

You could try a different slot - some folks have reported better/worse performance of PCIE-based SSDs in PCIE slots 2, 3, and 4 depending on their own configurations.

 

[giodelgado]

You could try a different slot - some folks have reported better/worse performance of PCIE-based SSDs in PCIE slots 2, 3, and 4 depending on their own configurations.

Ok I'll try that, thanks

 

[IowaLynn]

Different computer, different controller, even different SSD device.

Do the small difference show up in real world? Is it 'really' slow? I have a hard time telling the real difference between Samsung 840 on SATA II and III and 4x XP941 128GB (400MB/write and 800MB/sec reads).

Random vs sequential vs read or writes, and how long the SSD has been used, how much free space, TRIM enabled or not though makes the most difference in all my use of SSDs over last 5-6 years, and SSDs have improved and changed each year as well.

Might opt for Velocity Duo and different make SSD but PCIe is the future and equal to about what two SSDs in RAID come close to but do not match (with added overhead and issues of both RAID along with controller vs just using an adapter)

2010/2012 have better PCIe slots than 2009, what graphic card is in #1 might have some bearing. 2009 slots 3&4 use a shared bus controller too.

 

[giodelgado]

Different computer, different controller, even different SSD device.

Do the small difference show up in real world? Is it 'really' slow? I have a hard time telling the real difference between Samsung 840 on SATA II and III and 4x XP941 128GB (400MB/write and 800MB/sec reads).

Random vs sequential vs read or writes, and how long the SSD has been used, how much free space, TRIM enabled or not though makes the most difference in all my use of SSDs over last 5-6 years, and SSDs have improved and changed each year as well.

Might opt for Velocity Duo and different make SSD but PCIe is the future and equal to about what two SSDs in RAID come close to but do not match (with added overhead and issues of both RAID along with controller vs just using an adapter)

2010/2012 have better PCIe slots than 2009, what graphic card is in #1 might have some bearing. 2009 slots 3&4 use a shared bus controller too.

you're right, I don't even notice it it's just the benchmark numbers that I'm looking at!

It's the same SSD I'm still monitoring the MP since I just got it...

Offtopic:

The HD5770 GPU that came with the MP was displaying errors, yellow pixels and blue lines, how can I test if it's faulty or it's obvious?

For now I have a HD6850 in my MP, I want to contact the seller so I might get a replacement.

 

[flowrider]

Might opt for Velocity Duo and different make SSD but PCIe is the future and equal to about what two SSDs in RAID come close to but do not match (with added overhead and issues of both RAID along with controller vs just using an adapter)

2010/2012 have better PCIe slots than 2009, what graphic card is in #1 might have some bearing. 2009 slots 3&4 use a shared bus controller too.

I've had both the Solo x2 and the Duo x2 and the performance is similar.

2009 (4,1 Mac Pro) PCIe slots are the same specs as the 5,1 Mac Pro. both models share the bandwidth in slots 3 and 4.

The OP never stated the make, model and size of his SSD drive. That can make a huge difference.

Lou

 

[giodelgado]

I've had both the Solo x2 and the Duo x2 and the performance is similar.

2009 (4,1 Mac Pro) PCIe slots are the same specs as the 5,1 Mac Pro. both models share the bandwidth in slots 3 and 4.

The OP never stated the make, model and size of his SSD drive. That can make a huge difference.

Lou

Sorry, it's a 1TB Samsung evo 850, using the same SSD as my previous mac mini.

 

[flowrider]

I'm running a 840 500GB, 2 840 EVO 500GB, and 1 840 Pro 512GB SSD on two Duos. My speed with my EVOs is attached.

It's really no faster with my 840 Pro.

Lou

 

[MacMutsch]

I always had similar results, I'm currently using a 840 EVO / 750 GB (almost full and I haven't used the "Performance Restoration Software" yet) with my Apricon X2 Solo.

BUT - to my experience it's not that important if your SSD is connected via SATA2, SATA 3, ThunderBolt or fast PCIe, the fast access times are what it makes you feel a lot faster than old hard drives.

If something like read/2150MB/s, write/1500MB/s is needed something like the Samsung SM951 might be the right thing (http://www.anandtech.com/show/8979/samsung-sm951-512-gb-review).

 

[scottsjack]

Hi, just received my Mac Pro 3.33

I installed the Apricorn Velocity Solo x2 and I get speeds of around 490mb, when I had my Mac Mini 2012 i7 I used to get 540mb+.

It's installed on the second pci slot, is there something else I need to enable or something or is this because the components are old?

Thanks

The Crucial 960GB M500 that is in my 2012 Mac Pro was originally in a 2010 Mac Pro and in between was in a 2012 2.3 quad mini and then a 2012 2.6 quad mini. Yes it gets around.

The 2010 had a Sonnet Tempo installed. The 2012 has a far superior Velocity Duo x2. The SSD always ran just a little faster in the minis than in either Mac Pro according to Blackmagic's test. Not that I can feel the difference but it always makes me appreciate the mini for being just a little bit "more modern".

 

[IowaLynn]

My PC with its native SATA III does better than adding on PCIe, so maybe the extra steps and hoops that using PCIe controller while nice is not the same as where motherboard and more direct connection.

 

[H2SO4]

I always had similar results, I'm currently using a 840 EVO / 750 GB (almost full and I haven't used the "Performance Restoration Software" yet) with my Apricon X2 Solo.

BUT - to my experience it's not that important if your SSD is connected via SATA2, SATA 3, ThunderBolt or fast PCIe, the fast access times are what it makes you feel a lot faster than old hard drives.

If something like read/2150MB/s, write/1500MB/s is needed something like the Samsung SM951 might be the right thing (http://www.anandtech.com/show/8979/samsung-sm951-512-gb-review).

Hullo, can I ask what slot you’re in also what your link width is reported as please. I’m in slot 2, (from the top going down as I didn’t want to block the GPU fan), and my link width is reported as x1 by System Profiler.