Cancel
Rep: 97
3
2
Is it possible to update 2017 iMac 27" 5k with NMVe m.2 SSD using m.2 to Apple PCIe adapter?
I used to use SM951 AHCI in Mac Pro 5.1, 6.1, all Retina and Air 2013-2015 but what about NVMe once? Have anyone tried?
Is this a good question?
Rep: 296.5k
34
174
750
First you may want to look at this Vid: 2017 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display Unboxing and Teardown jump to the 10:00 time point which shows the PCIe SSD Apple is using. It's very different from the M.2 SSD's.
Apple's PCIe NVMe SSD's use a custom device driver so while you might be able to get the adapter and NVMe SSD to physically fit it won't be recognized by the OS.
While I haven't tried anything in this new iMac I can tell you I've tried the newer MacBook Pro retina series which has a 2 lane NVMe SSD and it didn't work.
Was this answer helpful?
Which MacBook you tried? AHCI m.2 SSDs with adapter works fine with all late 2013-2015 MacBooks Pro/Air. Confirmed many times.
Don't get confused here! AHCI is not the same as NVMe! What worked in the older systems does not work in the newer systems.
Review this: SATA Express (SATAe) Your older system uses the Red path with the AHCI (SATA) the newer systems use the Yellow path with Apples PCIe (NVMe) drive.
so lets say i install the OS on the ssd sata. and i use the nvme m.2 with adapter for storage. its working right? and do i get full speed with the m.2 adapter to 12+16pin adapter?
@blacksinner - What are we trying to do here? This makes no sense. Forget the adapter and the M.2 drive aspect. Which is the faster I/O? SATA or PCIe. So why would you put the software which ideally needs the highest I/O speed on the slowest device between the two I/O's?
As to using a M.2 NVMe/PCIe drive in a iMac I would recommend you don't.
First no one has qualified one and the adapters we tested out a few years ago when we looked at it with MacBook Pro's where just junk (AHCI/PCIe)!
The newer NVMe drives Apple uses use a custom driver so I don't know if it would even work.
Rep: 19
1
I believe that Samsung 960 EVO or PRO with the adapter like this one:
https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/M-key-M-2...
WILL work fine in the iMacs 2017.
All the opinions that are different - come from people who aim to earn money on you.
Was this answer helpful?
Sorry this is a PCIe/AHCI SSD adapter not a PCIe/NVMe which is what you would need and a PCIe/NVMe SSD. So far I know of no one trying either adapter in the iMac's (as needed for the given model). Review the diagram here: SATA Express (SATAe)
I strongly recommend buying the system with the largest blade SSD Apple supplies. And if you need to upgrade stick with a real Apple SSD.
It IS an NVMe adapter also, I use it with Samsung 960 EVO 500GB and it works just fine except hibernatemode 3 (I use hibernatemode 25) on my MacBook air 2017
Rep: 7
1
I already bought 512 GB Samsung Pro 960 M.2 SSD. After I disassembled my iMac 2017 27". I'm shock realizing the interface is different! I feel stupid.
I'm ordering the adapter which is about 1 month to arrive. =( I'll buy the adapter to SATA for now and use it as storage. Later on I'll buy the correct SSD and install the OS on it.
Was this answer helpful?
Hi buddy, I am interested to know how you solved this..
I have iMac 5 k 2017 with 1 TB FD and I want to change the drive PCIe ssd
thanks in advance
I've had to pull two adapted drives out of a iMac & MacBook Pro. While they may appear to work there's long term issues. With the MacBook Pro its at least an easy job, not so for an iMac!
I strongly recommend you put in the correct drive and call it a day. I'm sure you can return it or find a better home for it
Past 24 Hours: 26
Past 7 Days: 176
Past 30 Days: 888
All Time: 13,298
Upgrading an 2017 iMac 27" with an off the shelf NMVe m.2 SSD + M.2 Apple PCIe adapter is definitely possible.
I am amazed how much confusion information is on the internet about this topic. Even from OWC, which only wants to sell a SATA upgrade kit for the 2017 iMac.
So I thought, try and find it out.
I did my 2017 iMac with a EVO 970 NVMe SSD + Sintech M.2 NVMe to Apple PCEe adapter.
I only recommend the Sintech adapters, others are known to have issues.
I used:
https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-M-2-PCIe-...
I have some images on instagram where I did my upgrade.:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0loRDga6c/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs06bPLAz1p/
I am happy I did it and got rid of the FusionDrive setup.
As a note, if you plan to replace the SATA drive with an SSD, which I also did then "No" you do not need the overpriced and useless thermal Sensor from OWC either.
by Jason S.