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MP 7,1 SSD upgrade kits
- Thread starter flowrider
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News article:
techcrunch.com
Store listing: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXNQ2AM/A/4tb-ssd-kit-for-mac-pro
Support document: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac...all-ssd-modules-apd587f502f6/2019/mac/10.15.1
Apple adds new MacBook Pro graphics option and Mac Pro SSD upgrade kit – TechCrunch
A week before kicking off WWDC, Apple introduced a pair of upgrades to its pro-level hardware lines. Both the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the Mac Pro desktop are getting select internal upgrades, starting today. On the notebook front, the 16-inch model gets an additional graphics configuration. The add…
techcrunch.com
Store listing: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXNQ2AM/A/4tb-ssd-kit-for-mac-pro
Support document: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac...all-ssd-modules-apd587f502f6/2019/mac/10.15.1
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Not particularly suggestive going to see 3rd party options later.
"Important: The modules are marked “1” and “2”. The module marked “1” must be installed in the socket marked “1” and the module marked “2” must be installed in the socket marked “2”. ..."
Not SSDs themselves. These are subcomponents of a SSD design/implementation.
And yes , you need two Macs to pull it off.
Support document don't explain several questions, like if you can buy a previously used NAND module, the scenario where you have multiple Macs and combine modules from two Macs or if iMac Pro modules work?
Anyway, it's very good news that the pairing is now possible outside Apple.
Anyway, it's very good news that the pairing is now possible outside Apple.
It's possible OWC will do it if it's technically feasible, but yeah, it's never gonna' be more than them given the base price on these things.
Still, it's nice to have the aftermarket option, even if it's from Apple.
Ouch the pricing... over $500-600 per TB until get up into the 4TB range and out at least $1600 anyway. (and then back to Apple's $400/TB range )
Mo' money , mo' money , mo' money.
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Since there is an Apple custom buffer chip that handles the non PCI-e standard connection and data buffer... while technically feasible it isn't very practically technical feasible. A mild change to a standard connector is far easier to work around ( just pin location of custom boards ordering) is far different than having to implement some silicon (even if small amount silicon) that nobody else has (i.e., can't buy off the "OEM vendors" shelf.) .
Probably nice for Apple too where if order the 'wrong' SSD capacity had to ship back the whole box during the "free return" period and ship out another one. That was pretty wasteful.
Mo' money , mo' money , mo' money.
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Since there is an Apple custom buffer chip that handles the non PCI-e standard connection and data buffer... while technically feasible it isn't very practically technical feasible. A mild change to a standard connector is far easier to work around ( just pin location of custom boards ordering) is far different than having to implement some silicon (even if small amount silicon) that nobody else has (i.e., can't buy off the "OEM vendors" shelf.) .
Probably nice for Apple too where if order the 'wrong' SSD capacity had to ship back the whole box during the "free return" period and ship out another one. That was pretty wasteful.
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I would guess that you would not be able to mix and match. The NAND chips on both cards would probably have to be the same vendor with same tech. If Apple varies who the vendor on the pairs over time ( Apple likes multiple suppliers to get better pricing) that wouldn't necessarily be true with random card pairings from different eras.
Mixing and matching SSD internals is something nobody does internally. Vendors will shift between production runs but no going to throw a Samsung NAND on same logic board as a Toshiba one.
Serial number that differs by odd/even to denote "Thing 1 " and "Thing 2" pairing wouldn't be surprising if that was checked at the initialization. Wrong card in wrong slot wouldn't work. And wrong pair also wouldn't work.
P,S. As for used reuse That is a bit more than bit more than dubious if this firmware reset also wipes out all of the SSD metadata. So have no long term wear data at all and presume that these are brand new cells. That would probably lead to problems over time.
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It’s really nice that Apple have us a way to upgrade our SSDs (that’s only half sarcasm, there were genuine concerns about a Mac Pro becoming a very large brick if the OEM SSD died and could only be replaced by Apple).
I think the Apple support doc is misleading. It says you need:
“any Mac that supports macOS 10.14.6 or later”
And
“A supported USB-C to USB-C charge cable”
That doesn’t sound too bad.
Just one more thing (actually 17 steps later):
“Plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port farthest away from the power button. Plug the other end of the cable into the Mac that you will use to restore Mac Pro.”
So when the beginning of the article says any Mac with 10.14.6, they really mean any Mac with USB-C ports running 10.14.6.
I guess this is good news. Not great. But not bad.
I think the Apple support doc is misleading. It says you need:
“any Mac that supports macOS 10.14.6 or later”
And
“A supported USB-C to USB-C charge cable”
That doesn’t sound too bad.
Just one more thing (actually 17 steps later):
“Plug the USB-C cable into the Thunderbolt port farthest away from the power button. Plug the other end of the cable into the Mac that you will use to restore Mac Pro.”
So when the beginning of the article says any Mac with 10.14.6, they really mean any Mac with USB-C ports running 10.14.6.
I guess this is good news. Not great. But not bad.
Seems the most common upgrade scenario, a 2019 Mac Pro owner buying an used 256GB NAND module to have 512GB will not be possible after all. If you have just one NAND module, it will be number 1 and you can't use two number 1 NAND modules.
Sorry I missed a 'not' in there. After the first sentence the rest is about why can't. (not why can).
I'm intrigued as to why these were announced 1 week before WWDC and have a 1-2 week shipping time. Coincidence or are Apple announcing something at WWDC?
According to this post in another thread:
Mac Pro 2019 Internal SSD Upgrade, DONE!!!
00 and 01 1592332217 The only problem is that it required you have another Mac to run Configurator.
forums.macrumors.com
They are labeled 00 and 01.
I'm guessing it's just part of the rolling launch. COVID stuff probably slowed them down, but they were also so late with the Mac Pro in the first place launching piecemeal was a much better strategy.
Guys I am confused. I currently have 4TB Stock. I want 8. So I replace my current 1 and 2 with the new 1 & 2.
Is data copied to the attached Mac and copied back when new 1 & 2 installed.
I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm the actual process so we are a bit more confident when buying.
Is data copied to the attached Mac and copied back when new 1 & 2 installed.
I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm the actual process so we are a bit more confident when buying.
You have to back up your data before anything, no data is saved at all and the data inside the old NAND modules won't be readable once you remove the original T2 pairing to it.
The pairing process that Apple Configurator do links the NAND modules to the T2 processor and installs the Mac Pro firmware to the new NAND modules. No user data is restored, not even macOS is installed.
You will need run Internet Recovery to install macOS to the new 8TB drive.
Edit: Internet Recovery, not Internet Restore.
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Thank you. SO I have to have macOS installed on the new 8TB drive first and then clone the backup back? Or can I just clone back once the firmware is installed to the new NAND?
You have to install macOS from Internet Recovery to the new installed but totally blank 8TB T2 volume, then after your Mac is already working, you restore just the data.
The process is the same for all Macs that have T2 Security processors since the iMac Pro.
I assume that after upgrading to the "new 8TB" the "old 4TB stock" could sold and re-installed and reconfigured in another Mac Pro, right? This may help @davidec to fund the expensive upgrade...
It's not even SSDs, but just NAND modules with a proprietary connector. It's more similar with a DIMM than with a M.2 blade. iMac Pro uses the same system.
The SSD controller is inside T2.
Once the modules get to 16TB will be of interest. The procedure for upgrading is insane. The T2 chip, I just hate that thing. It serves no purpose on a machine like the Mac Pro that houses no biometrics. It just complicates and causes compatibility issues. It's more of a dud than the butterfly keyboard, just too technical for most people to vomit on it like it deserves to be.
id like peoples opinions on this. Anyone know of any cases of these being sold second hand?