Recommend PCIe/SSD HD

[apanacci]

Hey guys, any recommendations. I would like to get one for my 2009 Mac. Can you just add any SSD to one of these? Whats the best way to go about adding to my computer with the card, thanks !

[HCMarkus]

Let me refer you here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/pc ... ci.2146725

I'm running an ADATA 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD in my 5,1 under Mojave with the final Mac Pro 5,1 firmware. Pretty sure it is called the XPG SX8200 Pro. I'm running it on a simple 4x PCIe adaptor card, not one that unleashes the full speed of the drive. It works!

[mikehalloran]

You can add a SATA III SSD — you'll need an adapter tray or bracket. It will run a bit slower at SATA II but still a lot faster than any HDD. Up to 8TB is available. Plenty fast for a System drive unless…

You can do better. Get a PCIe card and install a slow NVMe x4 blade like the Crucial P1 ($234 for 2TB). Because you have a 2 lane bus limit, the fast NVMe x4 blades such as the 970 EVO are a waste of money. The P1 is as fast as you can get—don't worry, you'll like it as a System drive — max capacity is 2TB.
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2TB-NAND ... ref=sr_1_3

I don't know which PCIe card to recommend but they're not expensive.

An NVMe blade requires High Sierra or later, a SATA SSD does not.

Lots of users running a P1 System drive with their apps and work files + a large SATA SSD for VIs, iTunes, archive etc.

Fill a remaining drive spot with a huge HDD for Time Machine—up to 18TB.

[HCMarkus]

Anyone checked the price of HDs lately? OMG.

As MIke says, a SATA3 SSD will be great, no worries about compatibility. Unless you've already used it for something, you have a spare SATA/Power port in your Optical Drive Bay so no adaptor required... just rest the drive in the bay and it will be happy. PCIe SSD is faster, but the perceived difference between HD and SATA SSD for normal operations is far greater than the difference between SATA SSD and PCIe SSD.

[mikehalloran]

Anyone checked the price of HDs lately? OMG.
…

Yikes!

I paid $155 less each for a pair of the 14TB versions of the Red Plus, my favorite xtra HD hard drive for Time Machine just a few months ago — glad I bought when I did.

https://www.amazon.com/Red-4TB-NAS-Hard ... ref=sr_1_7

This Seagate used to be a bargain compared to the above and it's now priced higher.

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-IronWolf ... ref=sr_1_3


Both are NAS rated (heavier bearings; longer life) and CMR — which is very important to many users. The other type is SMS which many don't like.
https://www.buffalotech.com/blog/cmr-vs ... torage-nas

In addition, they're 5600–5900 platter speeds which make them quieter and more energy efficient—two plusses when it comes to Time Machine drives where speed is not an issue.

"Everybody was Crypto Mining…."

[HCMarkus]

"Everybody was Crypto Mining…."

I know kung fu.

[artfarm1]

I've had great luck using this 'Sonnet PCI Express 2.0 Card with 4 USB 3.2 ports'

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet% ... /USB34PME/

Bought some USB 3 SSD drives to plug into it and haven't had any problems. I put some libraries on them, like Omnisphere STEAM files, VI orchestra files, and some project work. Can also plug in different drives for different purposes, like backing things up.

Works nicely on my 2009 5.1 MacPro w/High Sierra.