NVMe with ST-NGFF2013-C; Vega Internal GPU; Mac Pro 2013 (6,1)

Update: Beginning of thread is mostly NVME related. Work for replacing internal GPU with a 3rd-party GPU starts later in the thread (in progress). The thread is still active. Questions and comments for both NVME and GPU are welcome.

Update: On Mac Pro (late 2013) don't mix APFS and NTFS on same NVMe drive. This will cause frequent and random kernel panics if also using Apple's first-party NTFS driver! Third-party NTFS driver such as by Microsoft/Paragon will still cause kernel panic but only during sleep and shutdown. At least a couple people have seen this (thanks to Kris Kelvin for help narrowing down the issue and for a solid repro). Bug already filed but since NVMe on Mac Pro (late 2013) is third-party hardware only, there is no guarantee the issue will be fixed, unless it can be reproduced on first-party NVMe hardware (iMac Pro or Macbook Pro 2018).

Update: Unedited feedback from Kris Kelvin

• Not all NVMe drives are compatible. Unfortunately, there's no definitive list. Samsung's 960 series seems to work for everyone. Here is a report of someone using a Toshiba XG3.
• The speed will be limited to how many PCIe lanes your Mac supports. Here's an overview over different Models.
• High Sierra must previously have been installed on this Mac (on an AHCI drive). Installing High Sierra upgrades the Mac's EFI Firmware / Boot ROM, allowing for NVMe drives to work. The latest Boot ROM for MacPro6,1 is MP61.0120.B00.
• Your adapter looks to be the Chenyang/CableCC one. Several people reported problems with it. The ones from Sintech and PC PARTS 239 seem to be working properly (including sleep, reboot etc.).
• Make sure the adapter is properly seated and aligned. If it isn't, it might work with fever PCIe lanes (= slower) or not at all.
• Taping the adapter with EM shielding (e.g. Kapton tape) is recommended to prevent EM leaks / shorts.
• High Sierra (or later) is required when using a NVMe SSD. If you're using Internet Recovery, make sure you boot with Option-Command-R (and not just Command-R), so the latest compatible version of macOS is loaded. Bootable installers on USB also work.
• A heat sink for the SSD is not required, but might help sustain performance when stressing it over a long time. This one fits: EK-M.2
• High Sierra's Disk Utility may not show uninitialized devices. If your SSD isn't shown, try this:
  1. Open Disk Utility
  2. Click the top left button in the toolbar ("View") and select "Show All Devices"
  3. Relaunch Disk Utility

Update: Unedited uncut video proof
https://www.dropbox.com/s/emb558u38whfdmm/20171202_000342.mp4?dl=0

I have two questions. I see no thread about NVMe on the trash can Mac Pro, so I made a new thread.

1 - Does Mac Pro 6, 1 (2013) support NVMe drive type and if not is there a firmware hack? I know iMac Pro coming in December is supporting NVMe, but that support may not trickle down to the trash can Mac Pro. Update; it does work. Internal drive in the Mac Pro 2013. Booting even!

2 - Apple's proprietary connector for M.2 is double height with an extra row that is two solid pads on one side. Does anyone know where to get an M.2 adapter dongle that supports this double-height connector format? Update; the two solid pads are connected to ground.

I have Mac Pro 2013 and want to upgrade my M.2 from 1 TB to 2 TB. The only 2 TB M.2 stick on the market besides the OWC custom solution is Samsung MZ-V6P2T0BW. So I got this stick and a dongle to convert from standard M.2 NVMe connector type to Apple's proprietary M.2 connector type. But the dongle connector does not have the second row of pins like my Mac Pro's built-in SSD connector. I've tested it, and it currently does not work in the slot, I'm not sure if the problem is a missing driver or because of the connector difference. Update; it does work. But don't forget to sand down jagged edges using a metal file or sandpaper. And don't forget the tape!

SSD:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147598

http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/product/consumer/960pro.html

Adapter (USA-only):
Update - PC Parts 239 is discontinued
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXUH921

http://www.pcparts239.com

Adapter (inside or outside the USA):
ST-NGFF2013-C (after extensive corroboration it must be the 'C' version; do not get the non-C version)
http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1229.html

Heat Sink (optional):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073RHHYCM

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-m-2-nvme-heatsink-black

http://www.samsung.com/semiconducto...document/SAMSUNG_Memory_NVMe_Brochure_web.pdf

Original 1 TB Drive: New Drive: Adapter: Adapter with Tape: Adapter Sanded Down: (previously titled "NVMe is working; 3rd-Party Internal GPU; Mac Pro 2013 (6,1)", "NVMe is working; Mac Pro 2013 (6,1)", "2 TB NVMe M.2 SSD in Trash Can Mac Pro")