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The Mac Pro First Generation is an Intel Xeon-based workstation computer manufactured by Apple Inc. The first generation model includes the machines from 2006 through 2008.

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PCI Express SSD not Found

PCI SSD not found

Hello,

I'm trying to make my SSD run but my MacPro 3.1, OS-X Yosemite doesn't see it.

I already heard that OS-X 10.10 could be the problem, do you agree?

I'm using a Delock PCI Express Card, M.2 NGFF, plus a Samsung V-Nand SSD 850 EVO M.2!

Can my Mac maybe not work with it?

I also know that Apple is blocking 3rd part SSD`s from it systems, is that correct, what can I do?

Greetz Markus

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Your systems specs: MacPro3,1

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You have a few different issues here:

  • First the PCI adapter you are using Delock PCI Express Card > 1 x internal NVMe M.2 PCIe / 1 x internal SFF-8643 NVMe – Low Profile Form Factor or one of the other in this series requires a PCI bus driver for the system to see it. In reviewing their documentation they don't offer the needed driver for running under Mac OS-X online (to use the Mac PCI configurator). But, you could download onto a MS Windows system the drivers and with some editing create what your Mac Pro requires. I've heard people doing it I my self have not done it @mayer might have (any ideas Mayer).
  • You do have a second issue as even though the PCI bus driver maybe fixable, I'm not sure if you can access the PCI card's M.2 SSD here (need a kext file). This is where you'll need an OS level driver to enable access to the device. Again, you might be able to create your own using another as a template and Apple's hardware development guide for Mac Pro they offered many moons ago to hardware developers.

As to the version of Mac OS you are using yes, Apple tightened up the system level security under Yosemite called 'System Integrity Protection' or just driver signing. Here's how you can over-ride it if you need to. Keep in mind you now have a backdoor open for malware to hit you: How to Disable System Integrity Protection (rootless) in Mac OS X

So can you use M.2 SSD's at all here?

Well, yes kind of... There are a few SATA to M.2 frames like this one: M.2 NGFF SSD to 2.5" SATA Adapter Converter which would allow you to treat the SSD as if it were a SATA drive. Sadly, you won't get more throughput than what your systems SATA ports offer SATA II (3.0 Gb/s) here.

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Do I need an NVME driver?

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Only if you use the SSD within the Delock PCI express card. Thats the kext file I was speaking about.

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Thank you a lot, ... I will leave a comment when the system is running!

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Had some time to see what I could find in the Apple developer site. Here's what you'll need to do to create a kext file: Creating a Generic Kernel Extension with Xcode and these two get into the hardware side of things:

- The anatomy of a PCI/PCI Express kernel driver

- Down to the TLP: How PCI express devices talk (Part I)

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Markus Achelpohl will be eternally grateful.
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