I used Apple OEM SSD SATA-3 (512GB) for my modification on 1 mini, and Crucial MX200 (500GB - TRIM enabled) for the second Mini - both purchased/modified at 2015, and both are still working great. However, just read your post about the new Mini PCI-e SSD cable/part - it did open a possibility.
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My both 2014 Mac Mini DID NOT have the slot (I did open it).
(I was told once, only the Fusion Drive and SSD MacMini have the PCIe slot) - You might want to check it out. Starting 10.10.4, Apple did support third party SSD TRIM, by simple using terminal command. Someone has to try that and post it on the internet whether it works or not. I could not confirm if its really just get an M.2 drive + this flex cable to make it a fusion drive or a second drive as I could not find any information from the internet. Have you try this one? It looks promising as it has an adhesive on it that could just stick on the surface. Ill check out your links on the Aura products and see what i can find. not sure if this is true either or even what the **** TRIM is □. but i have been reading that Apple seems to be shutting out SSDs that aren't supplied from them by disabling TRIM. So looks like I'm leaning towards option 3 until i can find the correct blade. i just can't seem to find a good "new" source for the blade or the correct part number for the original mac parts.
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So far i can only find a 256gb Blade SSD for Mac mini, other forums suggest to avoid the sandisk brand and stick with the apple samsung blades for performance. is this what your suggesting towards the end of your comment?
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unless i can find out if there is a compatible Blade from another Mac range? Latest MBA or Pro maybe? i would like to get the 512gb version if possible. which means my plan 1 and 2 are finished. So i guess that means that the 950 pro is completely out the question. I have looked at some 2nd hand Blade SSD's on Ebay and i can see now that there is a clear difference in connectors of the apple Blade vs the 950Pro. but even then it means that the blade will be loose in the Chassis and thats not ideal. I can't find a part number for just the flex cable and all research points that the cable comes with the Carrier above unless you find someone breaking up mac minis and selling parts.
if you purchase a Fusion mac mini then you will have everything you need and your should just change the Blade style SSD (if you want to). the only diff is if you purchase a HDD setup then you won't have this cable spare in the machine nor the HDD carrier with the fixing hole. įrom what i understand all 2014 mac mini's have the PCIe connection on the logic board. Therefore this means either a genuine Apple SSD or possibly an Aura SSD. all of which use Apple's special connector. You basically need an SSD that is able to fit in either a recent iMac, recent MacBook Pro Retina, new Mac Pro, etc. Other than a genuine Apple SSD which is often bought by Apple from Samsung but with Apple's special connector which is hard to get after you have bought a Mac - eBay is about the only option, the only new third-party option I have seen that is likely to work is an Aura SSD from OWC. different to the standard M2 the standard Samsung drive will not fit in an Apple slot. The Samsung 950 Pro is a standard PCIe type of SSD and is of a connector type generically called an M2 and a type of card called a NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor) but as Apple use a slightly different proprietary connector i.e. Note: It sounds like the PCIe carrier you are saying you have ordered is a full-size one and as such it would only fit and work in a classic Mac Pro. Various models have had mini PCIe slots intended for use with WiFi cards which they came with as standard, and the latest Mac mini 2014 model has a special non-standard PCIe slot solely intended for Apple's own SSD. The Mac mini (any version) has never had a standard PCIe slot.