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sim667

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 7, 2010
1,447
2,933
I've done this install on my mac pro before, but now my freind wants one for his, and I can't remember what PCIe adapter I used. Plus it was a while ago, so there's probably newer and better ones now.

Has anyone got any suggestions?
 

Zeke D

macrumors 65816
Nov 18, 2011
1,024
168
Arizona
I've used both these adapters in my 3,1 and 5,1 with inexpensive ADATA SSDs:

Velocity Solo X2 [Link is for the x1, since the x2 is no longer available.]
OWC Accelsior S

The Solo is 1x, and maxes out in the 300mbps range, and the Accelsior is 8x, and maxes out in the 500mbps range. Both are available for $50.
 

bsbeamer

macrumors 601
Sep 19, 2012
4,313
2,713
It might be worth finding a Velocity Solo X2 (over the Velocity Solo X1) for the firmware update that was made. There was a compatibility conflict that was addressed with the X2 firmware update several years ago. It was something Apricorn offered for free if mailing the card back to them, but all newer cards shipped with the update. Does not look like the cards are being manufactured, so doubt they'd still offer the update.

There is a random seller with an X2 on Amazon, but for the markup would look elsewhere.
 

XNorth

macrumors 6502
Feb 23, 2018
300
464
United States
It will probably be a samsung 850 evo 2.5"

For 2.5" EVO SSDs, you can connect them directly to the HDD bays with a 3.5" cheap cMP sled adapter from OWC. Or if you want greater performance, use one of the PCIe controller cards recommended by others like the Tempo SSD Pro.

If using AHCI/NVMe blades, there's also a lot of choices for higher performance than SATA SSDs, from inexpensive single blade PCIe adapters to quad-blade $500 adapters.
 
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