Apple isn't stopping OEMs like Samsung from selling PCIe SSDS in the aftermarket at all. After all, Samsung sells SATA SSDs to Mac users. And Samsung already SELLS PCIe SSDs.
The problem is that Apple's Mac Pro uses FOUR PCIe 2.0 lanes, not TWO lanes as on existing PCIe SSDs. This gives the Mac Pro a maximum of 2GB/s bandwidth, twice what existing PCIe SSDs have. Since Apple is the only one doing this, and since the Mac Pro is a low volume seller, Samsung is simply not interested in creating a low volume product. If other PC Makers also would use FOUR PCIE 2.0 lanes for their SSDS, then Samsung may be interested. Otherwise, not.
OWC is great in supporting Apple's customers. And they are able to do low volume custom products.
x4 SSDs aren't unheard of. Most of OCZ's PCIe lineup seems to be x4. Kingston demoed an x4 board at CES. The M.2 products we've seen so far seem to be of both varieties, but M.2 isn't even fully adopted yet. The SF3700 (what these upgrades are going to be using) allows four lanes.
What I would love is a DUAL DRIVE PCIe SSD for the new Mac Pro that you can arrange as a RAID-0. The reason is that despite the speed of the existing single-drive 4-lane PCIe SSDs from Apple, it wastes the even faster 2GBs bandwidth of the Mac Pro's SSD slot.
This might be a stupid question, but is it even possible to use multiple SSD's in the new Mac Pro and set them up in a RAID set up? Or would you have to use an external solution via Thunderbolt/USB?
More importantly, there aren't any more PCIe lanes left over for a second SSD, even if there's physically room for one. It would need another PLX chip.
Apple problably made an agreement to be the only one aloud to sell the product so they can be first. Also Apple could ohf just said will buy every pci sdd in this form factor that you produce so no one else can have it. They get it for cheap, even if premium price till makes Apple look good.
OWN Trivia factoid: They're based out of this little shit town in Illinois called Woodstock. There's really no reason anyone should ever go there unless you own a farm. The building is almost entirely powered by a wind mill they set up on their property.
I kind of need it now, lol. I went with 256GB because I didn't plan on dual booting Windows apps/games when I bought my Macbook Air 3 months ago. Now that I am, I need a lot more storage space.
Note to self, next time you buy a Macbook, max out storage.
I am now VERY skeptical of the OWC SSD's. I got an MBA w/ 126 GB SSD in 2010. I replaced the drive w/ OWC's 240GB one. Since then two SSD's went bad and I am now on the third one. Is this usual or acceptable? I would like to know... On top of that, the OWC has a policy that requires you to send the bad unit to them first before getting a warranty replacement! What kind of logic is that? So, am I supposed to stop what I am doing, get the drive out, send it to them, wait until they verify that the drive is indeed bad, and wait more until they ship the replacement? Do they think I use a Mac for a hobby? I want to know the others' experience with the OWC drives' reliability. What's AnadTech's opinion on this?
Good question. I've been considering buying and the upgrading a rMBP with an OWC drive to get the extra external but this and the power use are both pretty key. I'd check OWC forums or elsewhere for the reliability of their drives. I know that with a first gen SF Corsair drive, I had to send it back before they sent me a new one. Rediculous.
@Gehard: Try the 'new' Transcend Jetdrive upgrade kits, I was about to order one until I finally realised that my Macbook is a 2013 one and not compatible.
I did go through the whole thread on macrumors.com, Transcend offers a good package at fair price.
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MScrip - Friday, January 10, 2014 - link
"All Haswell Macs..."Finally an upgrade for the 2013 Macbook Air!
SirKnobsworth - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
Which of the new macs actually support x4 SSDs? The only one I know ships with one is the Mac Pro.migs647 - Wednesday, January 15, 2014 - link
The new MacBook pros do as well. Mine came with 512, but 1tb would be nice.tKizzy - Saturday, November 28, 2015 - link
The new 13" Macbook Air does as well.Pneumothorax - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
Sandforce, no thanks! Too bad greedy Apple won't let their OEM's like Samsung sell these PCIe SSD's in the aftermarket.jameskatt - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
Apple isn't stopping OEMs like Samsung from selling PCIe SSDS in the aftermarket at all. After all, Samsung sells SATA SSDs to Mac users. And Samsung already SELLS PCIe SSDs.The problem is that Apple's Mac Pro uses FOUR PCIe 2.0 lanes, not TWO lanes as on existing PCIe SSDs. This gives the Mac Pro a maximum of 2GB/s bandwidth, twice what existing PCIe SSDs have. Since Apple is the only one doing this, and since the Mac Pro is a low volume seller, Samsung is simply not interested in creating a low volume product. If other PC Makers also would use FOUR PCIE 2.0 lanes for their SSDS, then Samsung may be interested. Otherwise, not.
OWC is great in supporting Apple's customers. And they are able to do low volume custom products.
SirKnobsworth - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
x4 SSDs aren't unheard of. Most of OCZ's PCIe lineup seems to be x4. Kingston demoed an x4 board at CES. The M.2 products we've seen so far seem to be of both varieties, but M.2 isn't even fully adopted yet. The SF3700 (what these upgrades are going to be using) allows four lanes.Kristian Vättö - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
Samsung's XP941 based PCIe SSD used by Apple and several other PC OEMs (such as Sony) is x4 but many have chosen to run it at x2.jameskatt - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
What I would love is a DUAL DRIVE PCIe SSD for the new Mac Pro that you can arrange as a RAID-0. The reason is that despite the speed of the existing single-drive 4-lane PCIe SSDs from Apple, it wastes the even faster 2GBs bandwidth of the Mac Pro's SSD slot.jerrylzy - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
I am interested in the new SF controller performance.swat671 - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
This might be a stupid question, but is it even possible to use multiple SSD's in the new Mac Pro and set them up in a RAID set up? Or would you have to use an external solution via Thunderbolt/USB?Ryan Smith - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
There's only one SSD interface on the Mac Pro. A second SSD (or any other kind of storage) has to be external.SirKnobsworth - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
More importantly, there aren't any more PCIe lanes left over for a second SSD, even if there's physically room for one. It would need another PLX chip.jameskatt - Sunday, January 12, 2014 - link
A RAID-0 SSD needs the chips to all be on the same card - or be in a daughter card like OWC's Accelsior PCIe SSD card.dreamer77dd - Saturday, January 11, 2014 - link
Apple problably made an agreement to be the only one aloud to sell the product so they can be first. Also Apple could ohf just said will buy every pci sdd in this form factor that you produce so no one else can have it. They get it for cheap, even if premium price till makes Apple look good.jameskatt - Sunday, January 12, 2014 - link
Nah. You're so funny. It is April Fool's yet?lesbedouins - Monday, January 13, 2014 - link
are every size (128, 256, 512 & 1024 Go) 4x aware ?Hrel - Monday, January 13, 2014 - link
OWN Trivia factoid: They're based out of this little shit town in Illinois called Woodstock. There's really no reason anyone should ever go there unless you own a farm. The building is almost entirely powered by a wind mill they set up on their property.Hrel - Monday, January 13, 2014 - link
OWC*Fucking hell I hate anandtech's comment section. Editing needs to be enabled and email alerts, AT LEAST ALERTS, need to be enabled.
pullman - Monday, January 20, 2014 - link
Great news.Btw, when will you review the 13" retina MBP?
TheeGooch - Thursday, February 20, 2014 - link
I kind of need it now, lol. I went with 256GB because I didn't plan on dual booting Windows apps/games when I bought my Macbook Air 3 months ago. Now that I am, I need a lot more storage space.Note to self, next time you buy a Macbook, max out storage.
Gehard - Sunday, March 2, 2014 - link
I am now VERY skeptical of the OWC SSD's. I got an MBA w/ 126 GB SSD in 2010. I replaced the drive w/ OWC's 240GB one. Since then two SSD's went bad and I am now on the third one. Is this usual or acceptable? I would like to know... On top of that, the OWC has a policy that requires you to send the bad unit to them first before getting a warranty replacement! What kind of logic is that? So, am I supposed to stop what I am doing, get the drive out, send it to them, wait until they verify that the drive is indeed bad, and wait more until they ship the replacement? Do they think I use a Mac for a hobby? I want to know the others' experience with the OWC drives' reliability. What's AnadTech's opinion on this?phillyry - Thursday, August 7, 2014 - link
Good question. I've been considering buying and the upgrading a rMBP with an OWC drive to get the extra external but this and the power use are both pretty key. I'd check OWC forums or elsewhere for the reliability of their drives. I know that with a first gen SF Corsair drive, I had to send it back before they sent me a new one. Rediculous.Maryinuz - Friday, August 22, 2014 - link
@Gehard: Try the 'new' Transcend Jetdrive upgrade kits, I was about to order one until I finally realised that my Macbook is a 2013 one and not compatible.I did go through the whole thread on macrumors.com, Transcend offers a good package at fair price.