SSD Buying Guide [part 2]

[kokhoong0624]

Hi all,

Found the thread really interesting.

I have a dead hard drive and could really use some help choosing an SSD to replace it (this is all completely new to me). I have a mid-2010 13" MacBook Pro, 4GB RAM, 250GB HD, 2.4GHz processor (I think) still running Snow Leopard.

My first consideration is storage - I can't even boot up my MBP to check at the moment but I think I'm only using a little over 100GB of the HD, having moved some of my media to an external HD. It seems to me like 250GB is still enough for me, but I've read a couple of articles which suggest that it's generally better to get a 500GB SSD/the biggest you can afford? What do you think about this?

As for brand, I've mainly been reading about and considering the Samsung EVO 850 or the Crucial BX200 (the BX100 seems to have been phased out in the 250 and 500GB). I'm just a general user, not doing anything complicated on MBP. I don't want to spend the earth - I've found a Samsung EVO 850 250GB retailing nearby for 90 euros (however if the 500GB is a better idea then I could spend more). What do you think about the Samsung vs. Crucial? Am I likely to have any compatibility issues with the Samsung?

Lastly, I don't know how to format the SSD and get Snow Leopard onto it once it's installed. As I said my HD is dead and I can't get past startup at the moment. I don't have a copy of the OSX, only a Time Machine back up of everything on an external HD. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Well... I would recommend you to get the Samsung Evo 850 with 250GB.. I think you should get the storage you need.. and if you only use a little over 100GB, 250GB is more than sufficient already. If you have extra bucks to spend... buy two 4Gb RAM sticks and upgrade your macbook pro, the difference is significant.
Do you not want to upgrade to el capitan?
http://blog.macsales.com/33160-how-...el-capitan-usb-install-drive-with-diskmaker-x
If you want to upgrade to el capitan, make a bootable USB of el capitan (google online), and swap the SSD right away, boot using the elcappitan USB and then format your SSD using disk utility. Then you can use elcapitan time machine to transfer your data already and good to go.

 

[RK80]

Samsung EVO 850
This is a kind of strange drive. Notice that samsung no longer seems to be marketing their EVO as drives meant for Macs.

120gb version
Works great on any mac including power pc.
500gb version
Have not tried on Power Pc. Unusable on iMac 2008. Unusable on Macbook / pro 2009, 2010, with marvel chipset. Notice however , that it runs great on Macbook pro 15" 2010 with intel chipset. Seems to run great on any 2011+ Mac. Also runs great on PC with intel chipset.
If you google, you will notice many people have problems with the 500gb version and older chipsets, including AMD. Very sad but true. So if you order this one, be sure to check return policies. .​

Does anybody have experience using this 500GB EVO 850 on early 2008 Macbook Pro (A1260) 15"?
I know it will be slower read/write, but I just want to know if it will actually work considering the comment I quoted above.

 

[Bars_12]

Get the Sandisk Ultra II 960gb SSD 2.5" from Amazon.com its cheap(dunno if they still have their offer of 149.99 GBP).

 

[warthog3]

Thanks.
I chose the Samsung 850 EVO for my MacBook Pro mid 2009 (with the NVidia MCP79 chipset). It was a close call vs. the Crucial MX200. But the Samsung 850 EVO is supposedly faster and more energy efficient according to reviews.

I can also confirm that I am getting a "negotiated link speed" of 3Gbps (SATA II).
Blackmagic speed test:
210MB/s - write
267MB/s - read

The machine is performing much better. Faster boot-up and apps launch. Lower CPU usage. Happy with it so far.

Did you have to use any mounting kit or different cable arrangement (i.e. did you use the provided Samsung SATA cable or the one in the mid-2009 Macbook Pro)? I have the same laptop and am planning on replacing the stock HD with the Samsung 850 EVO and am wondering if there's anything tricky or different about the installation.

Thanks for your info by the way.. it's definitely helped me decide how to upgrade!

 

[IDMah]

Did you have to use any mounting kit or different cable arrangement (i.e. did you use the provided Samsung SATA cable or the one in the mid-2009 Macbook Pro)? I have the same laptop and am planning on replacing the stock HD with the Samsung 850 EVO and am wondering if there's anything tricky or different about the installation.

Thanks for your info by the way.. it's definitely helped me decide how to upgrade!

Also just wondering how this went. I tried to install the 850 EVO (500 gig) in my Macbook 9,2 mid 2012 and
it keeps giving me extraction errors Every time. I think it might be the Sata HD Cable..
So replacing that too. $10 on eBay.

I saw somewhere that people said the internal was too fast for the SSD and it messes up because of that?
which seems wacky bananas! but I'd wave a half-dead chicken over it, if it would help!

Any Thoughts?

I have the install error log if anyone is interested..

 

[bigbucksnowhammies]

Question: I am inheriting a MacBook (model: A1502 - 2.4ghz, 4gb ram, 128gb ssd). I want to upgrade the ssd to 512gb. I have found a seller on eBay that is selling the item. The the part number is: MZ-JPU512T/0A6. He is listing it as a compatible replacement for the MacBook.

Is that correct? Will I be able to swap out the 128gb for the 512gb ssd drive with out much issue?

Thanks.

 

[Weaselboy]

Question: I am inheriting a MacBook (model: A1502 - 2.4ghz, 4gb ram, 128gb ssd). I want to upgrade the ssd to 512gb. I have found a seller on eBay that is selling the item. The the part number is: MZ-JPU512T/0A6. He is listing it as a compatible replacement for the MacBook.

Is that correct? Will I be able to swap out the 128gb for the 512gb ssd drive with out much issue?

Thanks.

So you have a 2013 Retina MacBook Pro? Just from searching around, that does appear to be the correct part and it is pretty easy to just swap it out.

 

[bigbucksnowhammies]

So you have a 2013 Retina MacBook Pro? Just from searching around, that does appear to be the correct part and it is pretty easy to just swap it out.

Looked up serial and said it was a late 2013. So I assume that will still be okay?

Thanks @Weaselboy for the reply and information.

 

[Weaselboy]

Looked up serial and said it was a late 2013. So I assume that will still be okay?

Thanks @Weaselboy for the reply and information.

Yup...

 

[guychicago]

Looked up serial and said it was a late 2013. So I assume that will still be okay?

Thanks @Weaselboy for the reply and information.

I'm looking to upgrade my 128gb as well on my Mid2014 rMBP. Let us know how your upgrade went.

 

[Zigg]

Well... I would recommend you to get the Samsung Evo 850 with 250GB.. I think you should get the storage you need.. and if you only use a little over 100GB, 250GB is more than sufficient already. If you have extra bucks to spend... buy two 4Gb RAM sticks and upgrade your macbook pro, the difference is significant.
Do you not want to upgrade to el capitan?
http://blog.macsales.com/33160-how-...el-capitan-usb-install-drive-with-diskmaker-x
If you want to upgrade to el capitan, make a bootable USB of el capitan (google online), and swap the SSD right away, boot using the elcappitan USB and then format your SSD using disk utility. Then you can use elcapitan time machine to transfer your data already and good to go.

Thanks for your advice! Successfully installed the Samsung EVO 850, made bootable USB of El Capitan, installed it and restored data from Time Machine back up. MBP is running really well.

 

[BeastMode335i]

First post here but long time lurker who's thinking about upgrading my SSD on my late 2012 rMBP as well from 128gb to at least 256gb.. Found one on eBay for $150 and thinking about jumping on it.. I haven't searched just yet but I imagine I can swap data from my current to the new one fairly easily, right..??

 

[JTToft]

First post here but long time lurker who's thinking about upgrading my SSD on my late 2012 rMBP as well from 128gb to at least 256gb.. Found one on eBay for $150 and thinking about jumping on it.. I haven't searched just yet but I imagine I can swap data from my current to the new one fairly easily, right..??

- Yes. You can restore from your backup or use the USB enclosure that the new SSD may come with to clone directly between the two.

 

[BeastMode335i]

- Yes. You can restore from your backup or use the USB enclosure that the new SSD may come with to clone directly between the two.

Thanks for the quick reply!

The one I'm looking at on eBay is just pulled from a previous rMBP so it doesn't have any included enclosures but I did see sata USB enclosures as well, I assume I could use one of those.. Would the same go for installing OSX on it prior to swapping it out with my old one..?? My old one works perfect but I'm constantly only at around 5-10gb free which is far too low so I need more space..

 

[guychicago]

First post here but long time lurker who's thinking about upgrading my SSD on my late 2012 rMBP as well from 128gb to at least 256gb.. Found one on eBay for $150 and thinking about jumping on it.. I haven't searched just yet but I imagine I can swap data from my current to the new one fairly easily, right..??

If you have 2012 rMBP, there are much cheaper options available. No need to buy from eBay.

 

[BeastMode335i]

If you have 2012 rMBP, there are much cheaper options available. No need to buy from eBay.

Yes I have a late 2012 rMBP, and if you could PM me or post here if it's aloud, some cheaper alternates that'd be awesome! I remember OWC was making a name for themselves a while ago but I just decided it was time to upgrade and my first route was eBay lol..

 

[bigbucksnowhammies]

I'm looking to upgrade my 128gb as well on my Mid2014 rMBP. Let us know how your upgrade went.

Will do @guychicago.

 

[BeastMode335i]

Wow, I just checked OWC's website for the first time in about 2-3 years, prices have dropped tremendously..!! I remember the 240gb SSD used to be around $400-500 bucks, now it's half!

 

[Quicklite]

Need to upgrade my 840 Pro 256GB soon - would there be any noticeable ... different upgrading to 850 Pro / next fastest alternative?

 

[JTToft]

Need to upgrade my 840 Pro 256GB soon - would there be any noticeable ... different upgrading to 850 Pro / next fastest alternative?

- Outside of benchmarks, probably not. Why do you need to upgrade?

 

[iKaushal]

Just got Samsung 850 EVO SSD - 500 GB for my late 2011 MBP. It already had 16 gigs of ram which I had upgraded 2 yrs back.

Installing el captain currently....which is getting installed super fast

 

[iKaushal]

Update:

Samsung SSD 850 EVO is working amazingly fast. It's as if I've bought a new machine.

Machine is dual booted to El Capitan and Windows 10. Both run very nicely.

 

[applesith]

Update:

Samsung SSD 850 EVO is working amazingly fast. It's as if I've bought a new machine.

Machine is dual booted to El Capitan and Windows 10. Both run very nicely.

It's amazing what SSD does! I upgraded my Early 2011 15" MBP to the EVO 1TB last spring instead of getting a new computer and it's still amazingly fast as it was back then! Even with 8GB of RAM.

 

[calvincty]

I'm having a 120GB ssd From OWC, mercury Electra 6G which has around 100MB read/write speed and I think it's far below of most reviews. Been using it for 3 years and now thinking to upgrade to Samsung 250GB Evo 850, would it be a good upgrade in terms of Performance?

 

[JTToft]

I'm having a 120GB ssd From OWC, mercury Electra 6G which has around 100MB read/write speed and I think it's far below of most reviews. Been using it for 3 years and now thinking to upgrade to Samsung 250GB Evo 850, would it be a good upgrade in terms of Performance?

- It's worth mentioning which machine you have in order for us to be able to give suitable advice.
(Additionally, the amount of free space you have on the drive will impact performance. Less free space equals lower performance.)