Using a Standard M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD in the 2014 Mini

[absolut_zero]

I just want to share here that I have successfully installed an Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB with my 2014 Mac Mini using another type of adapter, https://www.xt-xinte.com/XT-XINTE-P...-Mini-A1347-MEGEN2-MEGEM2-MEGEQ2-p556999.html

I got mine from a chinese seller from another online store for pretty much the same as the above link. Works perfectly and eliminates the need of a separate flex cable and adapter.

 

[Max_12]

I just want to share here that I have successfully installed an Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB with my 2014 Mac Mini using another type of adapter, https://www.xt-xinte.com/XT-XINTE-P...-Mini-A1347-MEGEN2-MEGEM2-MEGEQ2-p556999.html

I got mine from a chinese seller from another online store for pretty much the same as the above link. Works perfectly and eliminates the need of a separate flex cable and adapter.

Thanks for the post. You can upload photo of adapter installed on Mac mini? Only for curiosity. Thank you.

 

[absolut_zero]

Thanks for the post. You can upload photo of adapter installed on Mac mini? Only for curiosity. Thank you.

Here are the sample pics.

 

[treekram]

I just want to share here that I have successfully installed an Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB with my 2014 Mac Mini using another type of adapter, https://www.xt-xinte.com/XT-XINTE-P...-Mini-A1347-MEGEN2-MEGEM2-MEGEQ2-p556999.html

I got mine from a chinese seller from another online store for pretty much the same as the above link. Works perfectly and eliminates the need of a separate flex cable and adapter.

Interesting. Thanks for posting. I presume this comes with the screw to hold down the assembly to the logic board. One good thing about this is that you don't have to go looking for the screw for the SSD. I'll update my original post with the link you provided.

 

[absolut_zero]

Interesting. Thanks for posting. I presume this comes with the screw to hold down the assembly to the logic board. One good thing about this is that you don't have to go looking for the screw for the SSD. I'll update my original post with the link you provided.

The adapter I bought came with 2 screws and a spare stand off.

 

[Max_12]

Interesting. Thanks for posting. I presume this comes with the screw to hold down the assembly to the logic board. One good thing about this is that you don't have to go looking for the screw for the SSD. I'll update my original post with the link you provided.

I have bought this for test on my Mac Mini. When I receive item I post the result.

 

[Max_12]

Hi guys, I have successfully installed my Kingston A1000 SSD NVME! The adapter and PCIE cable change have worked well!
I also purchased an XT-Xinte adapter for peace of mind.

 

[AdamJohnG]

I just want to share here that I have successfully installed an Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB with my 2014 Mac Mini using another type of adapter, https://www.xt-xinte.com/XT-XINTE-P...-Mini-A1347-MEGEN2-MEGEM2-MEGEQ2-p556999.html

I got mine from a chinese seller from another online store for pretty much the same as the above link. Works perfectly and eliminates the need of a separate flex cable and adapter.

Thanks for that info.

I have also ordered an XT-XINTE for my Mac Mini Late 2014 i5 2.6 8GB and am now wondering which could be the best value-for-money m.2 SSD NVME. Have you run any speed test with Black Magic with your Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB? At present my first choice is the Sabrent Rocket 500GB

 

[absolut_zero]

Thanks for that info.

I have also ordered an XT-XINTE for my Mac Mini Late 2014 i5 2.6 8GB and am now wondering which could be the best value-for-money m.2 SSD NVME. Have you run any speed test with Black Magic with your Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB? At present my first choice is the Sabrent Rocket 500GB

The reason I went with the Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB was I got it on sale.

Attached is the screenshot of the speed test I did with BlackMagic Speed test.

 

[AdamJohnG]

The reason I went with the Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB was I got it on sale.

Attached is the screenshot of the speed test I did with BlackMagic Speed test.

Thank you. Write speeds are not much different to a the SATA SSD I have already installed, but the more critical read speeds are about 50% faster.

Are you using it as the boot drive?



Adam

 

[absolut_zero]

Thank you. Write speeds are not much different to a the SATA SSD I have already installed, but the more critical read speeds are about 50% faster.

Are you using it as the boot drive?
Adam

Yes, I am using it as a boot drive.

PS: I updated the BlackMagick speed test screenshot above.

 

[AdamJohnG]

Thanks again

Small speed changes there.

 

[PhyreMe]

Just installed a 860Evo SATA to a 2014 Mac Mini.

First tried externally with a USB cable. Limited by USB of course.

Then installed the drive in place of the system drive (still booted from the old hard drive connected to USB to ensure the same system configuration)

Of course that’s because of the mixed results on M.2 drives and lack of eBay availability of the cables. Now there aren’t as many reports of problems and it seems the clone cables exist for $10 per the few posts ago.

Probably leave things as is, as I’m chasing a number I’ll never realize IRL, but still interesting to follow. Wanted to contribute my results.

For comparison, the old 5400rpm:

 

[virk]

I just received the adapter card from XT-XINTE. Now my questions:

1) Will a Samsung MZ-V7S500BW SSD 970 EVO Plus 500 GB M.2 Interne NVMe SSD work in the macmini late 2014?
2) Currently this macmini is running Sierra-server off a USB3-SSD. What way to follow to boot off the new SSD; how to install operating system? Will Sierra recognize the new SSD?

 

[treekram]

I just received the adapter card from XT-XINTE. Now my questions:

1) Will a Samsung MZ-V7S500BW SSD 970 EVO Plus 500 GB M.2 Interne NVMe SSD work in the macmini late 2014?
2) Currently this macmini is running Sierra-server off a USB3-SSD. What way to follow to boot off the new SSD; how to install operating system? Will Sierra recognize the new SSD?

There seems to be a firmware issue with the 970 Evo Plus and Macs (or macOS) so it should be avoided. Nobody here has tested it in the 2014 Mini, but it doesn't work in the MBP.

Only SSD's which can be formatted for a 4K block size will work with Sierra unless there is a software modification. The first post of this thread has more information in the "Selecting the Right SSD" section. A Toshiba/OCZ SSD should be able to be formatted to 4K (but you would need to check it out or post which one you're interested in). Kingston SSD's may be able to be formatted to 4K but you would need access to a Windows PC which has a PCIe NVMe SSD connection (maybe Bootcamp will work). If you want to try the software modification, it would involve trying what's done on Hackintosh computers. If you have experience in this area and are willing to do some (or a lot) of experimenting, you might try this, otherwise I wouldn't suggest this.

Once you have the right SSD formatted for a 4K block size and have installed it properly, the SSD will appear as another disk to Sierra. You can clone the contents of an existing disk to the SSD (using something like Carbon Copy Cloner) and select it as the boot disk and it should work.

 

[virk]

treekram, thank you so far.

Will the following procedure work:
- Install a Crucial P1 CT500P1SSD8 in the macmini
- Boot with Command-R to get into recovery-mode.
- Install Mojave on this SSD
- Copy data......

 

[treekram]

treekram, thank you so far.

Will the following procedure work:
- Install a Crucial P1 CT500P1SSD8 in the macmini
- Boot with Command-R to get into recovery-mode.
- Install Mojave on this SSD
- Copy data......

The Crucial P1 hasn't be used by anybody in this thread, but it works in the MBP so it shouldn't have a problem in the 2014 Mini. The P1 endurance isn't as high as SSD's such as the Samsung Evo 970. As long as you're not writing a lot (multiple 10's of GB of data) every single day, it should be OK. Or you can write a lot of data - just be prepared to replace it more often than something like the Evo 970. Also, writing a lot of data to the P1 at once can pose an issue (slows down). But this would likely be a factor if you're in a hurry trying to copy a 20GB movie from a SSD to the P1. I have the 500GB P1 in one of my other computers and it's worked fine thus far. I think in your situation where it is used in a server, it should be OK with the limitations I've noted above.

The other steps you noted will work once the SSD is installed properly. You are going to have to use Internet Recovery as the Recovery on the Sierra SSD won't recognize the P1. If Internet Recovery doesn't recognize the P1, you'd have to download the Mojave installer and create a bootable USB drive and install it from there. Make sure you follow the instructions about the adapter as noted in the first post of this thread - the P1 won't fit in the 2014 Mini without some sort of adapter.

 

[virk]

I just ordered the 500 GB Crucial P1... The adapter arrived already yesterday. I have chosen for the integrated one suggested by absolute_zero above in this thread. Now trying to get the appropriate T6 Torx screwdriver...

 

[treekram]

One thing more to mention - in order to run High Sierra or Mojave, the EFI version needs to be at a certain level. If you have kept Sierra updated, this would have happened as part of the Security Updates after 10.12.6. If you open the "System Information" app, on the right on the first window that opens should be something that says "Hardware Overview" and there should be an entry that says "Boot ROM Version". I have 238.0.0.0 on my 2014 Mini, which should be the latest version. If you have any version that is all numbers, it should be OK even if it isn't the latest. If you have a Boot ROM version which starts with "MM", it may work - but you would have to post which version you have and I would have to look it up.

 

[virk]

I just checked it. My version is 236.0.0.0.0. This machine is running 10.2.6 but the latest update (safety update 2019-002) is not applied yet. I did not find the time yet to switch down the server.

 

[treekram]

I just checked it. My version is 236.0.0.0.0. This machine is running 10.2.6 but the latest update (safety update 2019-002) is not applied yet. I did not find the time yet to switch down the server.

I think that's one version behind the latest - I didn't have a 237.0.0.0 on my Mini. 236.0.0.0 should be fine - it probably will do an update when you install Mojave.

 

[Tardegard]

anyone tried an adata 8200 on any Mac mini?
[doublepost=1560173786][/doublepost]

I just want to share here that I have successfully installed an Adata SX6000 Pro 256GB with my 2014 Mac Mini using another type of adapter, https://www.xt-xinte.com/XT-XINTE-P...-Mini-A1347-MEGEN2-MEGEM2-MEGEQ2-p556999.html

I got mine from a chinese seller from another online store for pretty much the same as the above link. Works perfectly and eliminates the need of a separate flex cable and adapter.

Hi, I am willing to do the same, aData 8200 though,
are you experiencing any issues maybe?

 

[treekram]

anyone tried an adata 8200 on any Mac mini?
[doublepost=1560173786][/doublepost]

Hi, I am willing to do the same, aData 8200 though,
are you experiencing any issues maybe?

Hopefully, somebody that has used the Adata SX8200 will respond. However, if nobody does, there is a big thread in the MacBook Pro forum about using PCIe NVMe SSD's in the 2013-2015 MBP and they have a list of compatible SSD's. Usually if it works in these MBP's, it'll work in the 2014 Mini. The SX8200 is listed as compatible.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-2013-2014-macbook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/

There is one person having an issue with the SX8200 in a MBP. Because others have used the SX8200 without a problem, it's probably something specific to this poster's configuration.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvme-kernel-panics-with-new-drive.2185031/

The Adata SX6000 Pro uses a different controller (Realtek) than the SX8200 (Silicon Motion SM2262). So they're considerably different SSD's. If the SX8200 works in the 2013-2015 MBP, that's a better indicator of success than the SX6000 Pro working in a 2014 Mini. That's how important the controller is to compatibility.

 

[Tardegard]

Hopefully, somebody that has used the Adata SX8200 will respond. However, if nobody does, there is a big thread in the MacBook Pro forum about using PCIe NVMe SSD's in the 2013-2015 MBP and they have a list of compatible SSD's. Usually if it works in these MBP's, it'll work in the 2014 Mini. The SX8200 is listed as compatible.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-2013-2014-macbook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/

There is one person having an issue with the SX8200 in a MBP. Because others have used the SX8200 without a problem, it's probably something specific to this poster's configuration.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvme-kernel-panics-with-new-drive.2185031/

The Adata SX6000 Pro uses a different controller (Realtek) than the SX8200 (Silicon Motion SM2262). So they're considerably different SSD's. If the SX8200 works in the 2013-2015 MBP, that's a better indicator of success than the SX6000 Pro working in a 2014 Mini. That's how important the controller is to compatibility.

thank you very much. I installed that drive successfully on my MacBook Air 11 but battery draining is an annoying so I would rather try it on a desktop machine, such as the Mac mini if I find a pretty cheap one.

 

[azreal1983]

Hello
I am looking to install an SSD using the combined adaptor and cable. Once installed I was planning on formatting them with my 1TB HDD as a mac fusion drive. has anyone done this?
I was leaning toward the Kingston A1000 or KC1000. Does anyone know if in real world terms I will get any extra performance from the KC1000?