PCIe-SSD for New Mac Pro 2013

Question

Level 1

7 points

PCIe-SSD for New Mac Pro 2013

Hello guys:

Qucik Quesion, I have this 2013 New Mac Pro, and I am wondering, is the SSD inside are same in the MBP or MBA?

I have this quesion because I want to buy SAMSUNG MZ-JPU512T/0A2 SSD, some page on eBay says it's available for New Mac Pro, and it did looks like the same type of SSD in my Mac Pro

So I just want to ask that if it is ok for me to buy SAMSUNG MZ-JPU512T/0A2 SSD and install to my New Mac Pro

Thank you for your time!

Mac Pro (Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 1, 2014 10:18 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 1, 2014 10:29 AM in response to aa33002

The "blade" form factor SSDs used in the absolute latest Macs have a PCIe-direct interface. [Previous models had a special compact SATA interface.]

PCIe direct have never been available before.

If you have one you think matches, it is likely to be the first one on the market. Please provide a direct link to the item so that we are not guessing.

Reply

Answer 2

aa33002 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 1, 2014 10:50 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

OK, here's the link from eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Samsung-512GB-SSD-for-MacBook-Pro-Air-NEW-Mac-Pro- Late-2013-Models-only-/281275214760?pt=US_Solid_State_Drives&hash=item417d4f2ba8

It says this SSD can use on 2013 MBP, MBA and Mac Pro. I am wondering too, I never seen anything eles like this in the market, not even in OWC website, so I was wondering about this.

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 1, 2014 11:50 AM in response to aa33002

Well I guess we know now why Mac Pro late 2103 shipments are delayed.

Seller in exactly the same town as the new Mac Pro factory has a handful of these small (pocketabe) components for sale. The first ones ever available on the market.

Reply

Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Mar 1, 2014 1:02 PM in response to aa33002

Samsung promises to have the PCIe SSD that was first used in the MacBook Air and Pro available for retail purchase. I woudl expect OWC to take longer, do their own inhouse.

The 6,1 there are DIY instructions on how to remove and install the SSD device so that part we know, but I would not be buying from ebay yet.

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 1, 2014 2:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Actually, we know that the SSDs are NOT the reason for the 2013 Mac Pro delay since the current MBP and MBA are delivering immediately or within a few days (for CTO) and they use the same PCIe format SSDs.

Reply

Answer 6

turbostar

Level 4

2,941 points

Mar 1, 2014 4:22 PM in response to Martin Pace

I think he was being sarcastic

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 1, 2014 5:59 PM in response to Martin Pace

The SSD modules for the MacBook Air are in China.

Reply

Answer 8

aa33002 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 20, 2014 12:32 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Alright, let's finish this discussions.

In the end, I bought one of those SAMSUNG MZ-JPU512T/0A2.

And I found that, the write and read speed is slower than the Original Mac Pro SSD.

The Original Mac Pro 256G SSD is up to 700/900 MB/s Write and Read Speed.

and SAMSUNG MZ-JPU512T/0A2 is 600/700 MB/s Write and Read Speed.

Looks like the PCIe SSD in MBPR or MBA is slower than Mac Pro, even they all comes out from Samsung.

So, I keep looking for the PCIe SSD for Mac, then I found it!

It's called Samsung XP941 512GB M.2.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MZHPU512HCGL-00000-Samsung-XP941-512GB-M-2-NGFF-PCIe-SSD -2280-1170-MB-sec-9-/261427572646

The Write and Read speed is incredibly Fast to 1000/1000 MB/s Write and Read Speed.

So, Problem solve! We can go buy one of those PCIe SSD to upgrade our lovely Mac Pro.

But I got ot say...It's really pricy...

Reply

Answer 9

turbostar

Level 4

2,941 points

Mar 20, 2014 5:09 AM in response to aa33002

it may be too late for your MP but so far MUCH cheaper to buy the upgrade through Apple, $800 for 512 in that auction vs the same extra $800 gets you 1TB from Apple.

yes, but with the auction you have both SSDs, true, but i don't think there's a lot of demand for the stock 256gb

Reply

Answer 10

aa33002 Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 26, 2014 11:48 AM in response to turbostar

well, I know it's cheaper, but where can I buy the PCIe SSD through Apple ?

Reply

Answer 11

Mar 26, 2014 11:59 AM in response to aa33002

You can't buy those SSDs through Apple. Apple is not selling them yet (if they ever will).

The intention of the built-in SSD was to provide a fast Boot Drive. It was expected that you would put your User Directories and production files on other drives. The setup is like the one mentioned in this tip:

User Tip: Creating a lean, fast Boot Drive

Reply

Answer 12

Mar 26, 2014 2:55 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

The intention of the built-in SSD was to provide a fast Boot Drive.

Incorrct. Apple inteds it to be the primary drive, thats why it can work at more than 1GB/second, so it can handle 4K video. Thunderbolt is great, but its primary mass storage that happens to be "fast".

Reply

Answer 13

Mar 26, 2014 3:03 PM in response to DieselFuelForLife

That's an interesting theory, but many Video editors have 4GB or more they need to keep near at hand. There is no way to do that with the drives provided.

Reply

Answer 14

Mar 26, 2014 3:12 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Really, a 256GB SSD with 12GB occupied by the OS and apps....244GB of free space is not enough to edit video? Um, no, thats 4 Blu-Ray discs of raw data or two 4K feature length movies. Need more space? Apple sells 512GB, 768GB and 1TB SSDs in the Mac Pro.

So, Grant, please tell me...When did Apple start installing 16GB SSDs in Macs?

Reply

Answer 15

Mar 27, 2014 12:05 PM in response to DieselFuelForLife

DieselFuelForLife wrote:

Really, a 256GB SSD with 12GB occupied by the OS and apps....244GB of free space is not enough to edit video? Um, no, thats 4 Blu-Ray discs of raw data or two 4K feature length movies. Need more space? Apple sells 512GB, 768GB and 1TB SSDs in the Mac Pro.

That's highly compressed video you're talking about. My "lightly compressed" video (Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)) uses about 100 GB/hour for 720P video. 244 GB would barely hold one "feature length" video let alone all the cutting room floor footage. Even a 1 TB drive isn't really big enough for any serious work.

Reply