970 Evo SSD in MacBook Pro mid-2012

[jodomonk]

I have been trying to find an adapter to install a Samsung 970 Evo in my A1398 mid-2012 15" MacBook Pro Retina display and I'm at a bit of a loss. All the adapters I've been looking at such as these....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAIBIVE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=A3TJA36NYNJMMS&psc=1
http://eshop.sintech.cn/m2ngff-ssd-to-macbook-pro-retina-a1398-a1425-adapter-p-1002.html

.... say that they only work with the SATA B+M key interface. I'm seeing nothing that works with NVME M key interface.

I'm not a pro at this stuff. I swapped my SSD out years ago for an OWC Aura, but I'd rather spend less money this time around for a better drive since I'm springing for 1TB. Any guidance??

While I'm here, this is the enclosure I was going to buy. I was planning on cloning the drive over externally before swapping it in. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F5XPNVW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A36DOQ8QSJXCYP&psc=1

 

[treekram]

The Samsung 970 Evo won't work in the mid-2012 Retina MBP. If you look at the sintech link you have, there's a box with "M.2 (NGFF) SSD PCI-E" which has an "X" over it (meaning it won't work). The 970 Evo is this type of SSD.

If the enclosure you linked works as intended, you could use the 970 Evo in it but there would be no point as it look like your intention is to use the SSD in your MBP.

 

[Audit13]

The 970 Evo is an nvme drive and the MacBook needs an mSATA drive: https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/125765/replace+SSD+15"+in+retina+MBP+with+Samsung+840+Pro+Series+MZ-7PD512

 

[jodomonk]

Thanks guys. Looks like my best option would be the Aura Pro then?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...zLno3AIVDspkCh2HDwubEAQYAiABEgIUdfD_BwE&smp=y

Thanks for the feedback! Super helpful.

 

[JTToft]

Since the MacBook Pro has a SATA interface itself, you wouldn't get any benefit from a PCIe NVMe SSD even if it could be done.

Your best option is a Transcend SSD designed for your model of MacBook Pro. OWC's offerings have been known to be more problematic.

https://www.transcend-info.com/apple/jetdrive/

 

[jodomonk]

Since the MacBook Pro has a SATA interface itself, you wouldn't get any benefit from a PCIe NVMe SSD even if it could be done.

Your best option is a Transcend SSD designed for your model of MacBook Pro. OWC's offerings have been known to be more problematic.

https://www.transcend-info.com/apple/jetdrive/

Cool, thanks! Worth the $200 price difference? Only reason I ask is I have an older OWC 500Gb drive in there now and it’s done fine for years. I just need more space.

 

[JTToft]

Cool, thanks! Worth the $200 price difference? Only reason I ask is I have an older OWC 500Gb drive in there now and it’s done fine for years. I just need more space.

- If your experience with the same OWC drive in that machine has been good, and if it's cheaper, then certainly go for that again.

 

[Audit13]

Personally, given the age of the machine, I would install a 256 or 512 GB mSATA drive (Samsung, crucial) and place a mechanical drive in the optical slot.

 

[jerryk]

Personally, given the age of the machine, I would install a 256 or 512 GB mSATA drive (Samsung, crucial) and place a mechanical drive in the optical slot.

Good idea, but does that model have an optical drive?

 

[Audit13]

Good idea, but does that model have an optical drive?

My bad I was thinking of the non-retina mid 2012 15".

 

[jerryk]

My bad I was thinking of the non-retina mid 2012 15".

That one gets me every time, and I always have to look up the model #.