970 evo mac pro

I don't think the original High Sierra 10.13.6 firmware update support NVMe but it is possible a subsequent Security update added this and/or a Mojave firmware update. I would guess Apple silently added support at the same time they did so for the round Mac Pro.

This is an unexpected present from Apple, shame they did not publicise it. :)

Good idea John, I have bought an EK Water Blocks heatsink but haven't fitted it as I would have to remove the sticker and would void the warranty. As I'm using the drive with the Sintech adaptor I'm not too sure how I would attach it either, I will at some point do another backup and see if it is possible though.

Heatsink link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073RHHYCM/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

Worked like a charm. And it boots faster than the original.

Thanks to all!

970 EVO Plus keeps crashing the system. Going to replace with the 970 EVO instead.

https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/do-the-samsung-970-evo-plus-drives-work-spoiler-alert-no-they-dont.270757/page-3

John Lockwood stated: "What Smokerz has shown is that the Mac Pro 2013 supports booting from an NVMe type SSD, the older classic Mac Pro models do not support booting from NVMe drives and can only boot from older AHCI SSD drives"

Not true now. I have 2009 MP flashed to 5.1 with Mojave installed. It boots from a NVMs SSD (WD Black) in a PCIe adapter that holds the NVMe SSD. System Reported reports the SSD as NVMe

I think there may now be a firmware update for MacPro silver towers, possible the one added in 10.13.6, that adds NVMe support.

The method for transitioning to Mojave for these Mac Pro silver tower models now REQUIRES you to have run 10.13.6.

There seem to be two types of heatsink. There is one that comes as part of the PCIe adapter and seems to be bigger, and one that is a clip on accessory for any M2 SSD including those directly mounted on logic boards like the Mac Pro 2013.

See this one - https://www.solidstatedriveshop.com/sintech-m-2ngff-m-key-pci-e-ssd-to-pcie-x4-adapter-card-for-samsung-xp941-mzhpu/

and this one - https://www.scan.co.uk/products/ekwb-ek-m2-nvme-heatsink-black-ribbed-aluminium-design-provides-passive-cooling-to-m2-2280-pcie-sata

Note: I would expect in both cases you need to use either heatsink compound or some kind of double-sided thermal tape to ensure a good thermal bond between the chips and the heatsink.

Obviously if the SSD is already hot it will take a little while to cool down but if it was that hot you probably would not have been able to touch it to fit a heatsink.

Such heat build up usually only occurs whilst the SSD is being actively and presumably heavily used, one would expect that when idling it does not produce as much heat. If used as a boot drive then of course it is likely to be used all the time to some degree.

https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-Adapter-Upgrade-2013-2016-2013-2015/dp/B07FYY3H5F/ref=pd_bxgy_147_3/261-5856238-7470418?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07FYY3H5F&pd_rd_r=573cdc6c-2803-11e9-afa8-81715460dc49&pd_rd_w=ANIZh&pd_rd_wg=kgCZG&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=G7MM1CC990NR0YB8SFT6&psc=1&refRID=G7MM1CC990NR0YB8SFT6

First check ASP after the install procedure. Trim on NVMe SSD should show YES. Therefore no trim force required. Anyway if you are running High Sierra and especially Mojave I would not enable trim force.

macguru9999-

TRIMforce for non-Apple SSD drives is a MacOS system-wide setting. When you enable TRIM with TRIMforce, You enable it for the entire MacOS. It is not on a per-drive basis, and not just for the Boot SSD. So, for example, you have three non-Apple SSD drives, enabling TRIMforce would enable TRIM for all of them, PROVIDED they were attached in a way that supports TRIM, such as a Mac Pro Silver Tower internal bay.

Unfortunately, the setting of TRIMforce is NOT respected in any Recovery Mode, so when running First Aid in Recovery, it does not do a large-scale TRIM for you.

However, the setting of TRIMforce IS respected in Safe Mode, and the First Aid that is run automatically on the Boot Drive as Safe Mode starts up DOES a large-scale TRIM on the Boot Drive.

The intel 660 or 760 is not going to give you what you are looking for, the Samsung does a better job concerning heat.

I tried that without success. Also tried reinstalling High Sierra, with no luck either.

I''ve being using this set up for about two weeks on my late 2013 Mac Pro: my initiation to get it done properly is as follows:

1- Save you data to start because you'll be removing the default Apple internal SSD.

2- just make sure BEFORE swapping the SSD that with High Sierra with all Security updaters or Mojave was installed on that computer before pulling the default SSD. You are trying to get the latest firmware update into that computer.

3- I used the Simtech with the Samsung 970 NVMe placed into it. Seat it properly then only install either High Sierra or Mojave onto that Samsung. Anything earlier is not going to work. Don't even use Disk Utility to try and make it an HFS disk. Not going to do the job.

4- the 2013 Mac Pro boots, sleeps and wakes properly.

5- ASP shows as TRIM = YES. amazing

6- ASP shows link width as 4 another amazing

7- HEAT I used Intel power gadget to measure and the heat difference between the Apple default and this Samsung was one degree, This was placing stress using Handbrake on one full encode. I have not used a heat sink on the Samsung. If you read the Samsung readme found online they spout off about their superior product to control heat. I'm pretty sure heat will not be a big issue especially not using a program such a Handbrake. But if over time it does then I'll just swap in my Apple default. Keep that default around in case you need to make any other firmware update.

Good luck for me so far so good.

ps I did try this on my late 2013 rMBPRO , it took my install but remained screen black but turned on and would not boot. So I pulled it and replaced the Apple default and got it back to normal. I'm thinking that I did not pull the battery connector and that might have caused an SMC problem which I could not clear. I'm going to try it again but I'm not hung up on this one.

It would be worth setting DriveDX to show the same screen as per https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8643139?answerId=250160661022#250160661022

However I get the impression your report might also be indicating a similar heat related concern. Does your SSD have a heatsink? As per the bottom entry in your photo.

Hello, Smokerz,

How about your setup of the 970 evo Mac Pro 2013?

I recently got a "No SSD" Mac Pro 2013, I insert an Intel 760p (500GB) with adaptor, and run High Sierra USB installer.

It detected the Intel SSD. But by mistake, I chose "Journelized" format, and proceed installaton. OSX quit the progress after short while of reboot.

I have erased the volume and re-formatted with AFPS, but the formatted volume cannot be chosed on beginning.

I noted some guy have said "new" MAC PRO only accept Apple SSD arround the time:

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/521612/Mac+Pro+(Late+2013)+Won%27t+Boot+but+Appears+in+Disk+Utility

Is it really the case.

Your comment is welcome.

Regards,

Ben (from Hong Kong SAR - NOT MAINLAND CHINA)