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I am trying to install a PCIe-based SSD in a 5,1 2010-2013 Mac Pro with all the drive bays filled. I found out too late that the OS can't yet handle NVMe drives, so I'd like to try a different type. Can El Capitan work with SATA-III or any SATA flash-SSD? Or any PCIe-based SSD?
Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), null
have you asked the manufacturer of the device?
Well, no. I guess I assumed that PCIe is PCIe and, since Apple creates the drivers for its internal equipment, Apple would have accounted for-and upgraded-its OS in advance upon seeing the latest hardware coming. Windows requires separate drivers for everything, and these devices are marketed as "not requiring a driver". If that's the case for Windows, why would Apple be more complicated? Can you answer my original question?
It will work with any sata ssd. As for PCIe that does depend on the manufacturer. The mac pro may not work with pcie sad's. What is the brand that you wish to use? Do they state on their website that it will work with the mac?
See as examples the following two sites
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/mac-pro/2009-2012
http://www.apricorn.com/products/desktop-ssd-hdd-upgrade-kits.html
There is also this one - http://www.angelbird.com/en/prod/ssd-wrk-for-mac-pro-937/ which claims to be compatible with Apple's own TRIM function.
What I did myself was buy a genuine Apple SSD module as removed from a MacBook Pro Retina 2015 and than fit it to an adapter like this PCIe one.
It is bootable including El Capitan, fully supported by Apple's own TRIM function and very fast. I have not tried Boot Camp on it, I use a standard internal drive for that. You want an Apple SSUBX type SSD as these are faster than the previous SSUAX model. Since Apple do not sell SSD drives separately there is no 'official' route to get one.
The fastest possible solution is this http://barefeats.com/hard210.html
Dear ACM001: Thanks for the reply. Your note confirms my suspicions. I stupidly thought anything would work, so I got an NVMe flash drive and a generic host controller board. Oscar Wilde referred to English fox hunting as "The unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible", and that sort of describes what I have here. Neither component makes any sense to my Mac Pro. Dumb(me, not the computer). Since finding that out, I've done more digging, and the most accessible source for the host board is OWC, but they do not yet offer anything that will match flash-SSDs to a Mac Pro. MacBook Pro, yes-but not a Mac Pro. So your note about the PCIe slot handling any SATA-SSD is helpful. I have an OWC Accelsior board ordered and should be able to get something running by next week. Obviously, I should have asked my question about compatibility BEFORE I made a purchase. A fool and his money.
Dear Mr. Lockwood:
Thank you very much for the links you provided. Those should enable me to make use of the chips I have now. Stacking adapters upon adapters looks inelegant, but if it works, who cares what it looks like? If it will salvage the two chips I bought and make them usable, I can live with the stupid mistakes I made. And thanks for pointing out the other Mac specialty houses besides OWC. They have saved my bacon so far, but it's good to have some other sources. Between your links and acm001's observations on Mac storage systems, I'm better off now than I was yesterday.
The PCIe adapter I listed is only for Apple SSD cards as used in MacBook Pro Retina, iMac, and new Mac Pro models and I believe also the latest Mac mini. A standard Samsung SSD will not fit the PCIe card I listed as Apple use their own slightly different connector.
Yes, I understand that, but the links you provided have put me on the right trail to match the blade SSDs to the Mac Pro. Regarding one option, one of the host boards I bought is specifically listed as adapting an NVMe flash SSD to OSX 10.X. Not so far. It won't work in the Mac Pro, far as I can tell. I've contacted the mfr. No reply so far, but at least I can return it if I have to-"item not as described".
Can El Capitan handle PCIe-based SATA Flash SSDs?
