• Overview
  • Tech Specs
  • Performance

Professional SSD Upgrade Solutions

If you’ve been thinking about fast, bootable storage, you’ve read the stories and seen the reviews; SSDs are hot right now. Not only do they offer tremendous performance and easily outperform hard disk drives, they're more reliable, their prices are dropping and you can get more capacity than ever. If you’ve got an older Mac Pro® or Windows® desktop computer, you could just get a couple of 2.5" SSDs (plus necessary adapters) and install them in some empty drive bays (if there are any) and be done with it—but the 3Gb/s SATA interface in your computer won’t support fast 6Gb/s SSDs at full speed. Sonnet engineered a great alternative—Tempo™ SSD Pro Plus. It's a fast 6Gb/s SATA PCI Express adapter card that enables you to attach readily available 2.5" SSDs and install the assembly neatly into a single PCIe slot, no cables or drivers necessary.

Mount 1 or 2 2.5" SATA SSDsUnlike other PCI Express SSD cards that rely on proprietary, premium-priced SSD modules, Tempo SSD Pro Plus uses standard 2.5" SATA drives that you choose. You get to select from the widest variety of competitively priced SSDs, and buy the ones that best suit your capacity and performance needs while working within your budget. Because 2.5" SSDs are readily available, you’re not tied to one retailer or SSD manufacturer should you decide to upgrade to higher capacity, faster SSDs.

It's About the Performance

Tempo SSD Pro Plus is a full-length, full-height card to which you can install two SSDs; if you’ve got the space and need great performance, this is the card for you. This Sonnet solution also supports OS X® and Windows RAID features. The card uses a fast 6Gb/s SATA controller chipset and PCIe 2.0 x4 interface to deliver read speeds up to 960 MB/s from a pair of SSDs configured as a RAID 0 set. AHCI compliance ensures installation of the card is simple—attach your SSDs with provided screws, mount the card in an available PCIe slot, and turn on your computer—the necessary drivers are installed automatically.

Thunderbolt™ Port? Instant SSD Solution

Got a Thunderbolt connection, but no PCIe slot? Tempo SSD Pro Plus is ideal for use in Sonnet's Echo™ Express III-D desktop or Echo Express III-R rackmount Thunderbolt 2-to-PCI Express® card expansion systems, the xMac Pro Server PCIe 2.0 expansion system/4U rackmount enclosure for new Mac Pro with Thunderbolt 2 ports, or the xMac™ mini Server PCIe 2.0 expansion system/1U rackmount enclosure for Mac mini with Thunderbolt port. Adding this card to any of these Thunderbolt expansion systems is a great way to add high-speed SSDs plus eSATA connectivity to your Mac® with Thunderbolt ports!

MacBook Pro with Echo Express III-D Chassis

Add High-Speed SSD Drives to Your Thunderbolt Equipped Mac—Install SSD drives onto a Tempo SSD Pro Plus and install the card into a Sonnet Echo Express III-D chassis for super fast access to all your data.

Extra Features

The Tempo SATA Pro Plus supports hot-swapping of external drives under OS X, and supports booting from attached drives under OS X(1), and Windows(2) 8, 7, and Server 2012, 2008. It supports media readers with eSATA interfaces, such as the RED STATION REDMAG 1.8" and 2.5". Drive health monitoring is supported through S.M.A.R.T. data reporting. And, for a secure external connection, this card supports Sonnet's exclusive locking eSATA cables. 

Tempo SSD Pro Plus Key Features

Adds Fast SSDs to Your System—Mounts two high-performance 6 Gb/s SSDs (sold separately) in your Mac Pro's, desktop PC's, or Thunderbolt expansion chassis' PCIe slot

Adds eSATA Connectivity to Your System—Cost-effective solution for adding high-performance 6 Gb/s eSATA ports to your Mac Pro or desktop PC with PCIe slots, or Thunderbolt expansion chassis with PCI Express slots

High-Performance PCIe Interface—PCI Express 2.0 x4 host bus interface for high-performance applications

Superior Performance—Data transfers speeds up to 960 MB/sec(1)

Optimized for Maximum Performance Over Thunderbolt—Perfect for use in Sonnet's Echo™ Express III-D, Echo Express III-R, xMac Pro Server, and xMac™ mini Server Thunderbolt expansion systems

RAID Support—Supports OS X and Windows RAID features

Boot Support—Supports booting from attached drives under OS X or Windows 7 and 8 (see Tech Specs for details).

AHCI Compliant—No drivers required

S.M.A.R.T. Support—Supports S.M.A.R.T. data reporting

eSATA Locking Cables Support —Supports Sonnet-exclusive locking eSATA data cables (as used on Sonnet's Fusion QR and Fusion F3)

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Plus Your Outside Connection

Tempo SSD Pro Plus eSATA PortsFeaturing two 6Gb/s eSATA ports, the Tempo SSD Pro Plus enables you to connect two external storage systems with eSATA interfaces for fast transfers between them or to improve performance by creating a RAID set. Single-drive enclosures let you easily back up data, move files from one computer to another, or take advantage of a fast SSD. Many multi-drive storage systems include swappable drive trays, which are perfect for managing daily backups and multiple projects. Some systems, such as Sonnet’s Fusion QR, feature integrated hardware RAID controllers that manage up to four drives and enable you to create large, protected RAID volumes. Whether you connect single- or multi-drive systems, or a combination of both, Tempo SSD Pro Plus supports them at maximum performance levels.

iMac with Echo Express III-D and Fusion QR

Your Outside Connection—Tempo SSD Pro Plus features two eSATA ports that enable you to connect external storage systems with eSATA interfaces, like Sonnet’s Fusion QR. This card supports Sonnet’s exclusive eSATA data cables with locking connectors (included with the Fusion QR) that provide secure connections at both ends.

 

See Tech Specs Tab for footnotes

SSDs and computer hardware shown in photos for illustration purposes; items sold separately.
Part No.  
TSATA6-SSDPS-E2 Discontinued
Hardware  
Warranty 5-year
Internal Connectors Two SATA for 2.5" SSD or HD
External Connectors Two eSATA (unpowered)
Drives Supported  
  • SATA 6 Gb/s
  • SATA 3 Gb/s
  • SATA 1.5 Gb/s
Drives Supported (External) Up to 10 (5 per port)
Data Transfer Rate Up to 960 MB/s(1) (1700 MB/s with two cards)
Firmware Flash-ROM upgradeable to latest firmware version
Boot Support

macOS single SSD or up to six SSDs in a
RAID 0 (macOS 10.13+ does not support RAID boot):

  • Mac Pro [early 2008 (3,1) through mid 2012 (5,1)]
  • Any Thunderbolt Mac(2)

Single SSD only:

  • Windows 10, 8, 7, or Server 2016, 2012 PCs(3)
AHCI Support
System OS X Windows
10, 8, 7
Windows
Server 2012, 2016
Boot Support
Port Multiplier Aware (5)    
Hot Plug Drive    
Advanced Features
  • Supports S.M.A.R.T. status data reporting
  • Supports Spread Spectrum Clocking for compatibility with all SATA drives and for lower EMI emissions
RoHS Compliant Yes
Package Contents (Tempo SSD Pro)
  • Tempo SSD Pro 6Gb/s SATA Dual 2.5" SSD PCIe 2.0 Card with eSATA Ports
  • SSD mounting screws
  • Documentation

    Note: SSDs sold separately

 

Specifications subject to change without notice.

 

 

 

 

Mac Compatibility

Mac Pro® (with card slots)

OS X® 10.6.8+

macOS Mojave compatible

PC Compatibility

PC (with PCIe slots)(6)

Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7

Windows Server 2016, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008

Thunderbolt Compatibility

Mac or PC via a Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system

macOS 10.8.5+

Windows 10 Build 1703 or newer (64-bit)


Technical Notes

  1. Pair of SSDs configured as a RAID 0 set. See performance tab for details.
  2. Does not currently boot a Mac with Thunderbolt 2. Sonnet is working to identify the issue.
  3. Windows BIOS does not support booting from a RAID 0 of multiple SSDs.
    Will not boot Windows on a Mac under Boot Camp.
  4. SSDs sold separately.
  5. OS X port multiplier support requires Version 10.8.5+. Some dual drive units do not function correctly with the macOS SATA driver in JBOD mode.
  6. Marvell driver required for HPZ820.




Mac Logo Windows LogoPCI Express LogoroHS Logo

 

 

Tempo SSD Pro Plus & Tempo SSD Performance Comparison

One SSD Configuration

Number 1
One SSD
(PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 slot)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 500 MB/s 460 MB/s
Tempo SSD 500 MB/s 460 MB/s
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One SSD with Mac Pro Performance Chart
 
One SSD
(PCIe 1.1 slot)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 500 MB/s 460 MB/s
Tempo SSD 350 MB/s 280 MB/s
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One SSD with Mac Pro Performance Chart
 
One SSD
(Thunderbolt)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 450 MB/s 330 MB/s
Tempo SSD 450 MB/s 330 MB/s
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One SSD with Thunderbolt Performance Chart
Two SSD Configuration

Number 1

Two SSDs
(PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 slot)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 960 MB/s 850 MB/s
Tempo SSD 700 MB/s 610 MB/s
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Two SSDs with Mac Pro Performance Chart
 

Two SSDs Mac Pro
(PCIe 1.1 slot)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 730 MB/s 600 MB/s
Tempo SSD 370 MB/s 300 MB/s
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Two SSDs with Mac Pro Performance Chart
 
Two SSDs
( Thunderbolt 2)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 940 MB/sec 730 MB/sec
Tempo SSD 700 MB/sec 540 MB/sec
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Two SSDs with Thunderbolt Performance Chart
   
Two SSDs
( Thunderbolt)
Read Write
Tempo SSD Pro Plus 700 MB/sec 560 MB/sec
Tempo SSD 600 MB/sec 380 MB/sec
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Two SSDs with Thunderbolt Performance Chart
Four SSD Configuration

Number 1







Four SSDs
(PCIe 2.0 or 3.0 slot)
Read Write
2 x Tempo SSD Pro Plus 1710 MB/sec 1320 MB/sec
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Two SSDs with Thunderbolt Performance Chart
 







Four SSDs
(Thunderbolt 2)
Read Write
2 x Tempo SSD Pro Plus 1270 MB/sec 1230 MB/sec
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Two SSDs with Thunderbolt Performance Chart