SSD Buying Guide [part 2]

[Weaselboy]

Can anyone recommend the best way to transfer data over to a new SSD for a late 2013 rMBP?

I want to use CCC but I don't have an enclosure for the replacement SSD so I am thinking the process should be something along the lines of:
1) CCC to USB HDD
2) boot from HDD to check it works
3) replace the SSDs
4) CCC from USB HDD to new SSD

Does anyone have a better way?

That will work just fine, or if you do not want to install and mess with CCC, you can use the Disk Utility restore function to do the same thing. Click the destination volume then click the restore button in the toolbar, then pick a source from the dropdown then click restore on the lower right and that's it. That will clone the entire disk including the hidden recovery volume.

In my screenshot this would clone Macintosh HD to the Backup volume.

 

[newnew777]

I was about to upgrade to a new fully loaded 15” Macbook Pro….but decided to wait till they give us a 32GIG RAM option in the future (I do Logic Pro X with lots of Vis and plug-ins). I currently have a 15” Macbook Pro (Late 2013) with:
- 2.6 GHz i7
- 16GB (1600 MHz DDR3 Ram)
- NVIDA GeForce GT 750M 2048MB
- 1TB SSD (the one Apple put in…)

I wanted to upgrade to at least an internal 2TB SDD...but is there one...What would be the best/fastest/largest internal SSD that would be compatible with my MBP model?

Thanks so much
Mike

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

I was about to upgrade to a new fully loaded 15” Macbook Pro….but decided to wait till they give us a 32GIG RAM option in the future (I do Logic Pro X with lots of Vis and plug-ins). I currently have a 15” Macbook Pro (Late 2013) with:
- 2.6 GHz i7
- 16GB (1600 MHz DDR3 Ram)
- NVIDA GeForce GT 750M 2048MB
- 1TB SSD (the one Apple put in…)

I wanted to upgrade to at least an internal 2TB SDD...but is there one...What would be the best/fastest/largest internal SSD that would be compatible with my MBP model?

Thanks so much
Mike

There is the Aura by OWC meant for the Mac Pro. It's compatible but not as fast as new ones. The faster you can get are 1TB SSUBX drives from eBay.

 

[MRxROBOT]

There is the Aura by OWC meant for the Mac Pro. It's compatible but not as fast as new ones. The faster you can get are 1TB SSUBX drives from eBay.

Yea.....No.

The Mac Pro Aura SSD by OWC is not compatible with the MacBook Pro. OWC uses a much larger drive (physically) than ships with the Mac Pro, which works with the Mac Pro but will not work with the MacBook Pro. See the image linked below. Please refrain from recommending products you're not familiar with.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Yea.....No.

The Mac Pro Aura SSD by OWC is not compatible with the MacBook Pro. OWC uses a much larger drive (physically) than ships with the Mac Pro, which works with the Mac Pro but will not work with the MacBook Pro. See the image linked below. Please refrain from recommending products you're not familiar with.

Ah yes you are right the extra chips make it too fat

 

[MBPro17]

Hello,

I have posted my specs below. I have the optional SSD that Apple sold in 2011. I am interested in replacing it with 1 or 2 TB, more for speed than space.

Will I see an improvement in read/write speeds with this machine, or does my current architecture limit the speeds of a newer SSD.

If a speed increase is possible what would be the fastest internal 1 or 2 TB SSD I could buy right now for this machine?

Thank you

 

[The Barron]

Trying to decide between 256GB and 512GB for new MbP. About how much can I expect to be left over after system and "everything else"?

 

[Weaselboy]

Trying to decide between 256GB and 512GB for new MbP. About how much can I expect to be left over after system and "everything else"?

A new Mac out of the box with the OS and the iWorks and iLife apps installed uses about 20 GB of storage space.

 

[The Barron]

A new Mac out of the box with the OS and the iWorks and iLife apps installed uses about 20 GB of storage space.

Thanks, lower than I anticipated.

 

[TazmoStarkana]

Are there SSD benchmark comparisons of the 250/500/1000 SSDs of thew new MBPs?

 

[duffycola]

Did anyone try or heard of anyone trying to place a 2015 MBP 1TB SSD into a 2014 MBP?

It seems to have been tried by OWC, but it was never confirmed or thermally tested.

My understanding is that these days Samsung is shipping 3D V-NAND flash storage, which is significantly faster and cheaper and the type of SSD used in the 2015-2016 MBP, as well as newer Air and Mac Pro models.

Trying to find the model numbers of the SSDs that go into the 2015 MBP model, I found these: MZ-KPU1T0T/0A6, MZ-KPV1T00/0A3 and MZ-KPV1T00/0A4. It's unclear which of those go into the MBP or the Mac Pro. Apparently some say the MBP model has no heatsink, whereas the Mac Pro model has a heatsink (why it wouldn't be the other way round, I find confusing, but maybe there was no space left for a separate heatsink).

This source and this source hint that the KPU1T0T/0A6 is the SSD that is being shipped in the Mac Pro, whereas the MZ-KPV1T00/0A3 is shipped with Macbook Pro models.
However, I also found someone saying on ebay that he pulled a KPU1T0T out from a Macbook Pro...

I can also not find photos that look similar:

Here, the top of the real macbook pro 2015 from: ifixit
Similarly, this source shows a 1x4 grid layout of the chips: commandmacparts
Interestingly, they mention the manufacturer numbers at the bottom of the page..
However, when googling MZ-KPV1T00 models, I can only find 2x2 grid layouts: http://thumbs3.picclick.com/d/w1600...1TB-Flash-SSD-Samsung-Macbook-Retina-iMac.jpg

Really confusing.. I'm really keen on finding out whether anyone knows more about these models as I'm trying to achieve 1200mbps speeds in a 2014 model. Currently tending towards buying some MZ-KPV1T00 model.

 

[Cisto1983]

So, black friday is coming and i'm thinking about replacing the hdd on my 24-inch, early 2009 iMac (iMac 9,1).
Sadly, it features the infamous MCP79 controller, widely known to have major compatibility issues with tons of SSDs.

Which SSD should I buy (500gb) to negotiate a 3.0 gbps connection with it? I know the Intel 320 series is compatible, but it's almost impossible to find them now

thank you!

 

[TazmoStarkana]

So, black friday is coming and i'm thinking about replacing the hdd on my 24-inch, early 2009 iMac (iMac 9,1).
Sadly, it features the infamous MCP79 controller, widely known to have major compatibility issues with tons of SSDs.

Which SSD should I buy (500gb) to negotiate a 3.0 gbps connection with it? I know the Intel 320 series is compatible, but it's almost impossible to find them now

thank you!
View attachment 674549

Samsung

 

[infinity69]

Samsung

You will be downlinked to SATA I speed with Samsung SSDs in your 9,1 iMac!
Check my post :
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/early-2009-imac-upgrade-recommendations.2016769/#post-23977808

Edit: Evidence showed working SATA II with a samsung 850 EVO (in HDD position)

 

[alex0002]

Hello,

I have posted my specs below. I have the optional SSD that Apple sold in 2011. I am interested in replacing it with 1 or 2 TB, more for speed than space.

Will I see an improvement in read/write speeds with this machine, or does my current architecture limit the speeds of a newer SSD.

If a speed increase is possible what would be the fastest internal 1 or 2 TB SSD I could buy right now for this machine?

Thank you

Those 2011 MBP had a SATA-3 interface and I believe the optional SSD was a Toshiba SATA-2 SSD. There is a good chance that you can get at least double the R/W speed that you have now.

Fastest SATA drive would be the Samsung 850 PRO.

Not far behind in performance would be the Samsung 850 EVO - the EVO uses TLC NAND and almost every other TLC NAND SSD has had poor performance or some other problems. But the 850 EVO using the Samsung 3D TLC NAND seems to have avoided these issues.

I'd also consider the Mushkin Reactor 1TB which uses Micron MLC NAND and a Silicon Motion SM2246EN controller. This is effectively the same combination used in the Crucial BX100 (which Crucial have now replaced with the inferior BX200).

The Mushkin Reactor gets good reviews and the overall performance appears to be excellent. There is also a 2TB version, but I haven't seen the reviews on that one.

One thing I should mention is that sometimes the Macbook Pro SATA cables fail or get damaged and have performance issues leading people to suspect they have a faulty drive. If the performance isn't what you think it should be, consider replacing the cable. But in your case those speeds might be normal for those older SSDs.

 

[SweetLou122]

I've torn through a ton of articles and haven't really found an answer to my question.

So I am planning to install a samsung 850 evo in an Mid 2009 MBP as well as upgrade the ram as a backup machine. However, I would rather clean install the operating system as I don't have a ton of application licenses (just files). I see a lot about creating a bootable installer from a flash drive, but couldn't I just format and copy the installer to the new SSD via a usb to sata cable? (such as this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJZJI84/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)

I also just use the snow leopard os disc I still have, but that would require two steps. I guess the simple question is, can a clean copy of el capitan (at least the installer) be put on the ssd while the old drive is still operational?

 

[MBPro17]

Those 2011 MBP had a SATA-3 interface and I believe the optional SSD was a Toshiba SATA-2 SSD. There is a good chance that you can get at least double the R/W speed that you have now.

Fastest SATA drive would be the Samsung 850 PRO.

One thing I should mention is that sometimes the Macbook Pro SATA cables fail or get damaged and have performance issues leading people to suspect they have a faulty drive. If the performance isn't what you think it should be, consider replacing the cable. But in your case those speeds might be normal for those older SSDs.

Went with the 850 Pro, 1 TB. Numbers are significantly higher than Apple's optional SSD from 2011.

 

[KevinRightWing]

I tried a search and didn't see an answer for this:

I just put a 1TB Samsung 850 in my 17in MacBook pro. Should I enable trim?

 

[Weaselboy]

I tried a search and didn't see an answer for this:

I just put a 1TB Samsung 850 in my 17in MacBook pro. Should I enable trim?

Yes. If you are on Yosemite or up just run the command below in Terminal to enable TRIM.

sudo trimforce enable

 

[KevinRightWing]

Just echoing everyone else's sentiments......can believe how fast this machine is now. Seems faster than the day I bought it! Really digging the 1TB Samsung Evo.

 

[STC1709]

Picked up a mid 2012 mbp for $375, met the guy at a starbucks ran all tests and everything checked out great, outside is mint looks brand new and runs really well, i reformatted the hdd to mavericks. It has 8gb of ram and the 500gm hdd. I want to upgrade the hdd to an ssd. I wont be doing any heavy lifting such as video editing or creative arts, photos all that stuff. I'd be using the mac for thinkorswim, safari, and Microsoft office products. I want it to be really snappy and an a big increase in speed but i dont need something over the top and i dont want to spend a fortune. I also dont need huge space 60gb is fine 120gb is fine if i can get a 250gb for the same price as a 120 ill do that.

I dont know too much about ssd and i dont want to enable to trim and mess with anything.

I read the crucial is one of the best and it also has the built in garbage collector so trim really isnt needed. I dont want to spend more than $70-80.

Here are my options:

Crucial mx300 ($77 on amazon), mx200, bx 100, m4 (old model is cheap)
Samsung 750 evo ($59 at newegg), 850 evo

I was looking at sandisk models but unsure of how good they are? Seem to be a little cheeper, there was a 120gb on amazon for $44 newest model) Does anyone have any input.

Thanks

 

[Weaselboy]

I was looking at sandisk models but unsure of how good they are?

Nothing at all wrong with Sandisk. This model for $44 will do the trick for you.

All new SSDs have garbage collection, so that really is not a concern either way.

If you are on Yosemite or up it is really easy to enable TRIM and a good idea to do so. Just run the command below in Terminal and it will turn on TRIM.

sudo trimforce enable

 

[STC1709]

Nothing at all wrong with Sandisk. This model for $44 will do the trick for you.

All new SSDs have garbage collection, so that really is not a concern either way.

If you are on Yosemite or up it is really easy to enable TRIM and a good idea to do so. Just run the command below in Terminal and it will turn on TRIM.

sudo trimforce enable

thing about sandisk that im concerned about is reliability

regarding the trim, i read it wasnt good to turn it on. I'm using mavericks

 

[Weaselboy]

thing about sandisk that im concerned about is reliability

regarding the trim, i read it wasnt good to turn it on. I'm using mavericks

I've never seen anything that would make me think the Sandisk is any less reliable than any other brand. You really can;t hardly go wrong with any of the major brands any more. The SSD market is fairly mature and stable IMO.

I would just update to Sierra and turn on TRIM. There is no reason not to use it and it is very easy to enable on the newer OS X versions.

 

[STC1709]

I've never seen anything that would make me think the Sandisk is any less reliable than any other brand. You really can;t hardly go wrong with any of the major brands any more. The SSD market is fairly mature and stable IMO.

I would just update to Sierra and turn on TRIM. There is no reason not to use it and it is very easy to enable on the newer OS X versions.

how is fitment with the sandisk, will fit the same way asthe crucial or samsung?