I highly recommend the Runcore 128 GB SSD for the MBA – 3X speed and performance!

[rkv]

In part because of the recommendations here and elsewhere, I purchased a 128 GB RunCore SSD from one of Runcore's distributors. To my surprise the drive is not visible at all when installed in my MacBook Air Rev A. And yes it is the correct RunCore part number for my MBA.

This is a problem which was reported back in August and for which Runcore claims in the same posting that they have fixed the problem.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f78/mac...pata-zif-drive-zif-problems-33933/#post316044

I guess I now have to figure out if I'm the victim of an unscrupulous Runcore distributor selling a known defective drive or if the purported fix is not true. I suspect the former given various forum posts of success. I'll post back to update once I get some resolution. Needless to say this is disappointing and at least for now buyer beware.


************ final update *****************

A replacement drive was shipped from RunCore within a week of my first having the problem. The replacement worked just fine. I have been using it for a while and I am quite happy with the performance improvement.

 

[Scottsdale]

Just won a bid on a used MBA 2.13GHz Rev.C (6 month old). Also ordered Runcore 128GB from Rapid-Disk for 439.99 (or 449.99). They should both arrive late next week. Can't wait to build my own "ultimate" MBA!

I will post some updates once I get to play with them. Hope everything works out like Scottsdale sir recommended!!

Congrats. Please do let us know how it all works out for you. Cheers.

 

[LinMac]

In part because of the recommendations here and elsewhere, I purchased a 128 GB RunCore SSD from one of Runcore's distributors. To my surprise the drive is not visible at all when installed in my MacBook Air Rev A.

Try to contact RunCore via http://twitter.com/RunCore or http://www.runcore.com/content/support/ and let us know what happens.

I'm considering upgrading two more computers which won't be cheap so I'm curious about how responsive their support is.

 

[Iphone3gs]

uk price of runcore

Can someone let me know what is the Uk price of Runcore and which retailers i can buy it from?

What is the cheapest and best option to decide which version of Macbook Air to get if i will add a runcore ssd drive to the MBA.

 

[w00tini]

for those of you that have sold your old drives after doing the Runcore upgade, where did you sell them online and what kind of price did they fetch?

thanks

 

[Jaap]

Let me know if everything works correctly. I know there have been some issues in the past with the Rev. A and the Runcore.

Works flawless for me. No sleep/wake problems.
Fantastic speed.
MacBook Air rev. A OSX 10.5.8 / Runcore Pro IV for MBA-A 64GB ZIF PATA

 

[Runcore]

In part because of the recommendations here and elsewhere, I purchased a 128 GB RunCore SSD from one of Runcore's distributors. To my surprise the drive is not visible at all when installed in my MacBook Air Rev A. And yes it is the correct RunCore part number for my MBA.

This is a problem which was reported back in August and for which Runcore claims in the same posting that they have fixed the problem.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f78/mac...pata-zif-drive-zif-problems-33933/#post316044

I guess I now have to figure out if I'm the victim of an unscrupulous Runcore distributor selling a known defective drive or if the purported fix is not true. I suspect the former given various forum posts of success. I'll post back to update once I get some resolution. Needless to say this is disappointing and at least for now buyer beware.

It is highly unlikely that you got one of the old drives that had the SATA to PATA bridge issue but you never know. If you are from http://www.nifty.com/ I see Brett from Conics.net has already started a support case with us and we are looking into it. Nifty Domain name BTW

You should have some answers soon so please be patent Brett will take care of you via email.

Matt

 

[Scottsdale]

Can someone let me know what is the Uk price of Runcore and which retailers i can buy it from?

What is the cheapest and best option to decide which version of Macbook Air to get if i will add a runcore ssd drive to the MBA.

If you can get a rev B 1.86 with 128 GB SSD for $1349 USD, then plan to sell the stock SSD and install a Runcore SSD. That would be your best total net cost, as Apple charges $100 USD more refurbished for SSD. You can sell the stock SSD for far more than $100 USD.

Good luck.

 

[Scottsdale]

for those of you that have sold your old drives after doing the Runcore upgade, where did you sell them online and what kind of price did they fetch?

thanks

I have been offered over $400 right here at MacRumors.com via PMs. I would suggest you post something in the marketplace here. Or could try CL or eBay.

 

[rkv]

update on problem with RunCore 128GB SSD upgrade for MBA

A quick update. Both RunCore and the Distributor have been extremely responsive regarding the problem. I heard from the distributor at their start of day on Monday and within hours of China coming online on Monday, the distributor had heard back from RunCore with some suggested tests. They also confirmed that given the serial number it should work in my MacBook Air Rev A and was not one of the drives with which there had been problems.

For the moment it's looking like it may just be a faulty drive. I'm hoping to get it back to the distributor today.

I have noticed one item where at least for my particular SSD, the drive cable retaining flap on the RunCore SSD does not appear to lock down the drive cable as securely as the original Samsung drive. This is both with the internal Apple cable as well with the ribbon cable in the RunCore supplied USB housing. I don't think this is the cause of my problem. However, it is a mechanical difference between the Apple supplied drive and at least my particular variant of the RunCore SSD. I noticed this in part because the distributor had suggested that I make sure the cable was fully inserted. I believe it is. But I am hesitant to push or pull too hard on these cables for fear of damaging them. However, the Samsung connector feels much more secure. Has anyone else noticed this with their install?

 

[peterho]

I placed an order on a 128GB RunCore SSD on Rocket-Disk website last Friday, and got no response since then. This morning I finally sent them an email regarding the order status, and this is what I got in return:

Comments from RocketDisk: "RocketDisk is no longer distributing RunCore SSD products. Please accept our sincere apologies & please find your 100% refund attached."

So Rocket Disk is no longer selling RunCore SSDs. I think RunCore website is now the only place to get it though more expensive.

Rumor says 320GB SSD is coming out. Will the price of 128GB and 256GB drop then? Should I wait for a bit or should I get it form RunCore directly?

 

[Glen Quagmire]

Can someone let me know what is the Uk price of Runcore and which retailers i can buy it from?

What is the cheapest and best option to decide which version of Macbook Air to get if i will add a runcore ssd drive to the MBA.

This place was linked from Runcore's web site. Based in Ireland, but they will bill in £s.

http://www.memoryc.com/products/manufacturers/RunCore.html

 

[Runcore]

I placed an order on a 128GB RunCore SSD on Rocket-Disk website last Friday, and got no response since then. This morning I finally sent them an email regarding the order status, and this is what I got in return:

Comments from RocketDisk: "RocketDisk is no longer distributing RunCore SSD products. Please accept our sincere apologies & please find your 100% refund attached."

So Rocket Disk is no longer selling RunCore SSDs. I think RunCore website is now the only place to get it though more expensive.

Rumor says 320GB SSD is coming out. Will the price of 128GB and 256GB drop then? Should I wait for a bit or should I get it form RunCore directly?

I was not aware that Rocket Disk was ever selling our SSD. In the U.S. http://www.MyDigitalDiscount.com is the place to go for our SSD. But everyone is now out of the 128GB Lif drives and we are building more now.

MDD has an order in our system for many more so I would not hesitate to order one now. Also, I highly doubt anyone else will come out with a Lif drive and if they did it would not effect the pricing as the prices are already rock bottom due to the ridiculous cost of flash thanks to Apple products gobbling it all up.

Matt

 

[Scottsdale]

I placed an order on a 128GB RunCore SSD on Rocket-Disk website last Friday, and got no response since then. This morning I finally sent them an email regarding the order status, and this is what I got in return:

Comments from RocketDisk: "RocketDisk is no longer distributing RunCore SSD products. Please accept our sincere apologies & please find your 100% refund attached."

So Rocket Disk is no longer selling RunCore SSDs. I think RunCore website is now the only place to get it though more expensive.

Rumor says 320GB SSD is coming out. Will the price of 128GB and 256GB drop then? Should I wait for a bit or should I get it form RunCore directly?

I doubt there is a 320 GB SSD that will fit in an MBA. Yes, there is the capability for a 2.5" to be 320 GB and even 500 GB, but not in a 1.8." Also, Matt from Runcore said that 256 GB will not fit in a 1.8" Runcore.

I also know that I am not going to update to a v 3,1 MBA with a 256 GB SSD over a Runcore 128 GB SSD. The speed and performance is so much greater with the Runcore that I couldn't go backwards in speed just to get double the space. I can make due with 128 until Runcore makes a 256 GB drive for the MBA.

 

[mobilevisual]

Great thread.

From Scottsdale's experience, I'm sold. Here are my questions,

1) How do you get the rebate from Microsoft for the purchase of Runcore?
I'm signed up with Paypal, but I think Bing/MSF rebate requires more than that. Please be specific. Thank you.

2) An important question on Post #118 went unanswered. The question was:
"Hey guys, just noticed that my MBA got an update from Apple for some hard drive stalls issue, do you know how this would effect the Rencore SSD?"

I'm sure there will be a ton of future updates from Apple for HDD/SSD. How will this affect my Runcore modded MBA. We all know how "generous" apple is with third party and after-market vendors.
If apple decide to screw all mods/upgrade, Runcore users will take a huge financial hit. Any thoughts?

 

[LinMac]

Great thread.

1) How do you get the rebate from Microsoft for the purchase of Runcore?
I'm signed up with Paypal, but I think Bing/MSF rebate requires more than that. Please be specific. Thank you.

Check here for more information on Bing Cashback for eBay. You'll need to use MyDigitalDiscount.com's eBay store to get the cashback.

2) An important question on Post #118 went unanswered. The question was:
"Hey guys, just noticed that my MBA got an update from Apple for some hard drive stalls issue, do you know how this would effect the Rencore SSD?"

I think this was just an update for a rare issue. I've seen benchmarks before and after the update, but there was no difference so I doubt it would have any effect on the RunCore SSD. Mine runs as expected.

 

[PsyD4Me]

i placed my order today, can't wait to get mine soon.

 

[Scottsdale]

Great thread.

From Scottsdale's experience, I'm sold. Here are my questions,

1) How do you get the rebate from Microsoft for the purchase of Runcore?
I'm signed up with Paypal, but I think Bing/MSF rebate requires more than that. Please be specific. Thank you.

2) An important question on Post #118 went unanswered. The question was:
"Hey guys, just noticed that my MBA got an update from Apple for some hard drive stalls issue, do you know how this would effect the Rencore SSD?"

I'm sure there will be a ton of future updates from Apple for HDD/SSD. How will this affect my Runcore modded MBA. We all know how "generous" apple is with third party and after-market vendors.
If apple decide to screw all mods/upgrade, Runcore users will take a huge financial hit. Any thoughts?

I don't think the update would negatively affect the Runcore. I thought those updates affected the dual sensing of a dropped drive... meaning HDD. I could be wrong. I think there was also an update within Snow Leopard that speeded up SSDs.

 

[Scottsdale]

i placed my order today, can't wait to get mine soon.

Congrats. Please do let us know how you like it.

 

[Runcore]

Great news on two fronts everyone.

#1 Due to a bridge chip issue the PCB in the USB case for the Lif Rev B/C drives was not working with the Stock SSD or HDD out of the Rev B/C.

The Runcore design team worked through he night to hand make enough new Lif to USB PCB's to cover everyone who has already ordered the Lif drive. We have already shipped them out to the resellers. They will be shipping them to you hopefully by Friday or next Monday.

Also, FYI the shipments of Lif drives out to resellers now have these PCB's in them.

#2 The pitch and quality of the included screw driver did not meet the pitch of the Airs screws making it a bit harder to open the case for some users.

From this point on and included in the newest batch hitting retail stores on Friday a brand new high carbon precision screw driver is now included. It its perfectly flush inside Airs screws. You could put it in one and hold the Air sideways and the screw driver would not come out.

Matt Dawson
Runcore

 

[Manix]

Great news on two fronts everyone.

#1 Due to a bridge chip issue the PCB in the USB case for the Lif Rev B/C drives was not working with the Stock SSD or HDD out of the Rev B/C.

The Runcore design team worked through he night to hand make enough new Lif to USB PCB's to cover everyone who has already ordered the Lif drive. We have already shipped them out to the resellers. They will be shipping them to you hopefully by Friday or next Monday.

Also, FYI the shipments of Lif drives out to resellers now have these PCB's in them.

#2 The pitch and quality of the included screw driver did not meet the pitch of the Airs screws making it a bit harder to open the case for some users.

From this point on and included in the newest batch hitting retail stores on Friday a brand new high carbon precision screw driver is now included. It its perfectly flush inside Airs screws. You could put it in one and hold the Air sideways and the screw driver would not come out.

Matt Dawson
Runcore

Yesterday I got my Runcore SSD SN 280911.... does it already include the new FW? Will you or have you also deliver the foreign resellers for me it's Germany!? I got the Rev B late 2008 hopefully I'll get the Lif drves to first plug the ssd via USB

 

[peterho]

Got my Runcore 128GB SSD for my Macbook Air Rev.C 2.13GHz today. First I plugged in the LIF cable to SSD, attached the other end to IC board, then plugged in USB cable. My MBA recognized the Runcore SSD right away. I used included Carbon Clone software to clone my stock In 15 minutes, everything was ready to go.

I removed the back cover of my MBA, with both hands sweating. Excited and nervous the same time I guess. Located the stock SSD, removed a couple more screws, then the stock SSD was removed and replaced with Runcore. Put everything back as gentle as possible, then the most thrilling moment came: to boot up! I reattached the back cover without putting back all 10 screws in case I need to troubleshoot. Press on the power button and waited. Screen was blue for more than 10 seconds before the apple logo appeared. That was a really long 10-15 second wait cause I had no idea if this was going to work. Finally, in less than 30 seconds the system is ready to go.

I opened native applications like Mail and iCal and they were ready to use instantly. By testing Microsoft Word side by side with my 2.53GHz 4GB Macbook Pro, Word opened up in 18 seconds on pro while 5.5 sec on Air. If open Word second time (after totally exit Word), guess because of the cache in memory, both opened up in 3.5 seconds. Tested on VMware Fusion with previously suspended Win7 session (clean installation), and I was so amazed again the system was ready to use in 15 seconds.

I have been playing with the stock SSD for about 3 weeks, but it's definitely no comparison to Runcore. Runcore is not cheap, but worths every penny!

Thanks, Scottsdale! My experience, thrilling......

 

[Gadgetman99]

You guys are KILLING me with all this "Runcore SSD is so awesome" talk. If my interview tomorrow goes well and I get the job, I will be treating myself to a new Runcore very soon!

 

[MajorTCS]

peterho: I am so glad you had such a great transition! Your description was detailed and really told the story. Thanks. What are you going to do with the Samsung? Sell or use as a back -up? Best of luck.

 

[Scottsdale]

Got my Runcore 128GB SSD for my Macbook Air Rev.C 2.13GHz today. First I plugged in the LIF cable to SSD, attached the other end to IC board, then plugged in USB cable. My MBA recognized the Runcore SSD right away. I used included Carbon Clone software to clone my stock In 15 minutes, everything was ready to go.

I removed the back cover of my MBA, with both hands sweating. Excited and nervous the same time I guess. Located the stock SSD, removed a couple more screws, then the stock SSD was removed and replaced with Runcore. Put everything back as gentle as possible, then the most thrilling moment came: to boot up! I reattached the back cover without putting back all 10 screws in case I need to troubleshoot. Press on the power button and waited. Screen was blue for more than 10 seconds before the apple logo appeared. That was a really long 10-15 second wait cause I had no idea if this was going to work. Finally, in less than 30 seconds the system is ready to go.

I opened native applications like Mail and iCal and they were ready to use instantly. By testing Microsoft Word side by side with my 2.53GHz 4GB Macbook Pro, Word opened up in 18 seconds on pro while 5.5 sec on Air. If open Word second time (after totally exit Word), guess because of the cache in memory, both opened up in 3.5 seconds. Tested on VMware Fusion with previously suspended Win7 session (clean installation), and I was so amazed again the system was ready to use in 15 seconds.

I have been playing with the stock SSD for about 3 weeks, but it's definitely no comparison to Runcore. Runcore is not cheap, but worths every penny!

Thanks, Scottsdale! My experience, thrilling......

I am really happy for you!!! I hope your experience is as great as mine has been. Cheers.