by 353 reviews.
OWC 1.0TB Aura Pro X2 (GEN 4) SSD Review: A Worthy Upgrade for Mac Pro (Late 2013)
If you're a proud owner of a Mac Pro Late 2013 (trash can version) and are running out of storage space, the OWC 1.0TB Aura Pro X2 (GEN 4) SSD might just be the upgrade you need. Designed specifically for the Mac Pro 6,1, this NVMe flash storage solution promises blazing-fast speeds, enhanced performance, and easy installation. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Product Overview
The OWC Aura Pro X2 is a high-performance SSD upgrade kit tailored for the Mac Pro Late 2013. With read speeds of up to 1481MB/s and write speeds of up to 1407MB/s, it significantly outperforms the factory-installed SSD. The kit includes everything you need for a seamless installation: the SSD itself, installation tools, a heat sink, and a heat sink installation guide. It’s also backed by a 5-year limited warranty, ensuring peace of mind for users.
This SSD is optimized for macOS 10.13 and later, leveraging the advanced features of APFS (Apple File System). Whether you're editing videos, running resource-intensive applications, or simply multitasking, the OWC Aura Pro X2 is designed to handle it all while keeping your Mac Pro cool and energy-efficient.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Performance: Speed That Impresses
One of the standout features of the OWC Aura Pro X2 is its impressive speed. Customers have reported significant improvements in performance compared to their factory-installed SSDs. For example, one user shared that their old SSD had read and write speeds of 732MB/s and 674MB/s, respectively. After upgrading to the OWC Aura Pro X2, those numbers jumped to 1375MB/s (read) and 1228MB/s (write). That’s nearly double the performance!
Another user mentioned that their Mac Pro now boots up faster, and applications load more quickly. If you’re looking to breathe new life into your aging Mac Pro, this SSD delivers on its promise of speed and efficiency.
2. Installation: Straightforward but Requires Attention
The installation process is generally straightforward, but it’s not without its challenges. Many users appreciated the included installation tools and heat sink, which make the process easier. However, some customers noted that the instructions could be clearer, especially for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
One user emphasized the importance of pressing Ctrl+Option+R during boot-up to ensure the SSD is detected. Without this step, the drive may not be recognized, leading to frustration. Another user highlighted the need to watch the provided installation videos and print out the instructions to avoid mistakes.
Overall, while the installation isn’t overly complicated, it does require careful attention to detail. If you’re not confident in your technical skills, you might want to seek professional help.
3. Compatibility and Reliability: Mostly Solid, but Some Issues
The OWC Aura Pro X2 is designed exclusively for the Mac Pro Late 2013, and most users reported no compatibility issues. However, there were a few exceptions. One customer experienced inconsistent performance and eventual failure of the SSD after just two months of use. They also mentioned that the drive enclosure included in the kit didn’t work with their original Samsung SSD, which was disappointing.
On the flip side, many users praised the SSD’s reliability, with some stating that they’ve been using it for months without any issues. The 5-year warranty also adds a layer of reassurance, as OWC is known for its excellent customer service.
4. Price: A Bit Steep
One common complaint among customers is the price. While the OWC Aura Pro X2 delivers excellent performance, some users felt that it’s overpriced compared to other M.2 SSDs on the market. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to explore other options. However, if you value compatibility and peace of mind, the OWC Aura Pro X2 is still a solid choice.
Final Verdict: Is the OWC Aura Pro X2 Worth It?
The OWC 1.0TB Aura Pro X2 (GEN 4) SSD is a high-quality upgrade for Mac Pro Late 2013 users who need more storage and faster performance. Its blazing-fast speeds, easy installation process, and 5-year warranty make it a compelling option for those looking to extend the life of their Mac Pro.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The price is on the higher side, and the installation process, while manageable, requires careful attention to detail. Additionally, a small number of users reported compatibility issues and inconsistent performance, though these cases seem to be the exception rather than the rule.
If you’re willing to invest in a reliable and high-performance SSD for your Mac Pro, the OWC Aura Pro X2 is a worthy upgrade. Just make sure to follow the installation instructions carefully and back up your data before making the switch.
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
- Blazing-fast read/write speeds
- Easy installation with included tools and heat sink
- 5-year limited warranty
- Optimized for macOS and APFS
Cons:
- Slightly overpriced
- Installation instructions could be clearer
- Occasional compatibility issues
Specification OWC 1.0TB Aura Pro X2 (GEN 4) SSD Upgrade Compatible with Mac Pro (Late 2013), High Performance NVMe Flash Upgrade, Including Tools & heatsink:
Comments from Amazon:
This is a great SSD. That being said to install it on the trash can you need to know a few things. First you need to back up your Mac Pro with Time Machine. Next install the drive. The next step is the most important. After installing the drive you need to enter recovery mode to reinstall the OS. If you press command(Apple Symbol) R to enter recovery it will not recognize your drive nor will it give you the option to install the latest operating system (Monterey). If you press command option R it will recognize your drive and give you the option to install the latest OS. After installing the OS you can recover your image from Time Machine. Speed is impressive. Old drive Read was 732 and Write was 674. New SSD Read is 1375 and Write is 1228. Much faster performance. Highly recommend.
If you need more storage for for mac pro this is a worthy upgrade to get. OWC (Other world Computing) is well know in the mac world for mac hardware. If you need more then 1TB of storage and want to know that it will work with your Mac I would buy this product. Install: The install of the product is stright-forward, However, you will need to read the instruction card and be sure to have the heat-sink on and in the right spot on the storage card. If you read and follow the instructions you shod not have an issue. Overall, I am happy with the product, I have had this upgrade in mac mac for a while and have had no issue. My one major complaint is, This product is overpriced for what it is. That is my only negative. If you look around you can find M.2 storage for cheaper then what OWC charges for their modules.
Here is my Amazon Review regarding the Aura Pro X2 1TB SSD hard drive. It works exactly as advertised! The critical thing that I did was: a.) Watch the provided videos, b.) printed out the installation instructions, c.) I performed a Time Machine backup, d.) downloaded Mac OS Mojave (Mojave is my chosen OS because the latest version created a train wreck). and e.) I made a boot USB drive using a 16GB stick. After installing the new drive, I put everything back together per instruction. I plugged in the USB holding the Mojave software and booted up. Long story short, after restoring all of my files with the Time Machine backup, I was all smiles! There is no additional/noticeable heat, nor any weird operational stops or failures. Before the installation I read through all of the customer comments and was a little skeptical/apprehensive. After the drive installation, everything worked perfectly and I now I have over 700GB of free space after the Time Machine restoration finished. Special thanks to Josh J. for your additional support with the tools. Sincerely pleased, Rodney L. Jones
Never had a problem with my late 2013 Mac Pro. The issue was drive space - they came standard with only a 250 GB SSD drive. I decided to upgrade and found this drive with the enclosure, and thinking "that's a great way to repurpose my old SSD," bought it. First, my Mac Pro did NOT recognize the new internal SSD drive. It literally took four tries with a boot-up thumb drive before it recognized the drive. Once it did I formatted it and brought software over. My boot-up time doubled - and sometimes not at all - once the drive was in. "Inconsistent" doesn't begin to describe its performance. This morning I tried to power on my machine and got the dreaded "flashing file folder with question mark." When I used the boot-up thumb drive, my system - again - did not see the drive. So, now I have to take it in for repair. Keep in mind I've had this drive for two months - and it's failed, and I haven't even used a full 25% of its capacity. Meanwhile, the enclosure didn't work with the old 250 GB original drive! I reached out to OWC and - to their credit - they admitted it wouldn't work with Samsung drives and refunded that part (the drive enclosure) of my purchase. I can't say anything terrible about the customer service, but I can say they leave a lot out of the product description and - again - NO drive should outright fail after two months.
It comes with two Torx screwdrivers, an L shaped one (packaged with the heat sink) to work on the SDD in the Mac and a long one to reattach the SDD to the external case. I was installing in a Mac Pro 6.1 running Mojave. The install went as described using my time machine backup. I did have 1 a T byte backup, so this took 5 hours. After the Mac was running under Mojave I upgraded to Big Sur successfully. I now have a 2 T internal drive. The OWC install videos are accurate and helpful as well as the written guides about file structure and firmware.
Good SSD but installation is a bit confusing, installation instructions is important to make the SSD detected. I spent one night looking for why the SSD not detected and found that you must press Ctrl+Option+R while booting the computer, otherwise the SSD will not be detected
Hi, I have mac pro 2013 (trash can version) with 500G SSD. Ran into space issue and I gave it a go with this 2T SSD and now I am satisfied. I was worried about whole process due to all of existing apps but it looks all work ok after upgrade. Here's what I did. 1. I purchased "cleanmymac" app to clean up and claim some space to apply latest OS update. I am on Mojave and had to apply the update. I was able to reclaim 20G+ in space. 2. I downloaded mojave install from apple to make bootable USB - you can skip this if you'd install OS from network 3. Performed full backup using timemachine using external drive 4. Replace SSD with this kit 5. Install new OS on booting with USB 6. Restore backup using timemachine It's quite straightforward process and there was no pain but waiting. That's it. If you want to go with latest OS (Big Sur), you may download Big Sur installation to create USB or choose Big Sur network install. In my case, my current apps are not compatible with Big Sur. Or you can upgrade to Big Sur after whole process complete.