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Zdigital2015

macrumors 601
Jul 14, 2015
4,137
5,611
East Coast, United States
So if the SSD fail (after the warranty), then there's no way to repair the Mac Studio (from some repair service shop) to change its SSD, right? That sucks!
It’s been that way since Apple started soldering storage back in 2015 (MacBook) and ramped it up in 2016 (MacBook Pro).

MaxTech did a teardown and the storage is socketed. It’s proprietary, but not as dire as soldered storage.

 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,355
10,105
Atlanta, GA
It’s been that way since Apple started soldering storage back in 2015 (MacBook) and ramped it up in 2016 (MacBook Pro).

MaxTech did a teardown and the storage is socketed. It’s proprietary, but not as dire as soldered storage.

Very interesting. Too bad they didn't put the SSD from their second Studio in the first to see what happens.
 

Michael.S

macrumors regular
Jul 30, 2014
102
65
And it is remained to be seen if all variant - meaning from the "low cost version" with M1 MAX to the high end has the same layout of the logic board.
Probably yes for now but that could be a case to cut production costs after they figure you how many of each version the market wants.
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,355
10,105
Atlanta, GA
And it is remained to be seen if all variant - meaning from the "low cost version" with M1 MAX to the high end has the same layout of the logic board.
Probably yes for now but that could be a case to cut production costs after they figure you how many of each version the market wants.
Even if the base Studio only has one slot, it's still removable and therefore theoretically upgradable.
 

Zdigital2015

macrumors 601
Jul 14, 2015
4,137
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East Coast, United States
Very interesting. Too bad they didn't put the SSD from their second Studio in the first to see what happens.
I get what they’re trying to do security wise, but not offering an easy way to upgrade even their proprietary storage because they keep changing form factors gets old. I would even be okay with an onboard m.2 slot, as long as people understand here that it wouldn’t be bootable. But the bitching and moaning on these forums would be inescapable.
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,355
10,105
Atlanta, GA
I get what they’re trying to do security wise, but not offering an easy way to upgrade even their proprietary storage because they keep changing form factors gets old. I would even be okay with an onboard m.2 slot, as long as people understand here that it wouldn’t be bootable. But the bitching and moaning on these forums would be inescapable.
Doesn't seem particularly hard to access the slots. I expect there will be 3rd party drives within the year because these will probably be used on the upcoming Mac Pro as well; the MacPro will have a lot more internal space so accessing those SSDs will be pretty easy by comparison. Considering there isn't a separate soldered drive, these will be bootable as well.
 
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Zdigital2015

macrumors 601
Jul 14, 2015
4,137
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East Coast, United States
Doesn't seem particularly hard to access the slots. I expect there will be 3rd party drives within the year because these will probably be used on the upcoming Mac Pro as well. Considering there isn't a separate soldered drive, these will be bootable as well.
But they’re not “drives”, they’re dumb NAND with no controller. The only way we’ll get them is if Apple offers them for sale as they have with the 2019 Mac Pro. There won’t be third party drives for the Mac Studio that fit that slot ever, exactly same as the 2019 Mac Pro. Booting is the Provence of the SSD controller that Apple builds as is located on the logic board of the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro. Apple is t about to open that up to third parties.
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,355
10,105
Atlanta, GA
But they’re not “drives”, they’re dumb NAND with no controller. The only way we’ll get them is if Apple offers them for sale as they have with the 2019 Mac Pro. There won’t be third party drives for the Mac Studio that fit that slot ever, exactly same as the 2019 Mac Pro. Booting is the Provence of the SSD controller that Apple builds as is located on the logic board of the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro. Apple is t about to open that up to third parties.
My 2014 MBP used a proprietary SSD connector, but you could get a 3rd party replacement/upgrade for it.
 
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Mr. Bear

macrumors member
Apr 20, 2021
92
53
Hi jdb8167, leman, et al.,

Have any of you had an Apple internal SSD fail on any of your Macs? ... just curious.
I have. I have a 2015 iMac with a Fusion drive. The SSD failed last summer and I had to remove it. The HDD is still working fine
 
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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,466
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Stargate Command
The difference is that you can pick up a Studio for 2k instead of 6k for the Mac Pro. There will be significantly more people to sell drives to.

I would love to see an option from OWC appear, I could get the 512GB SSD option then upgrade to two 2TB blades (for 4TB total) for the cost of 2TB from Apple...?
 

Zdigital2015

macrumors 601
Jul 14, 2015
4,137
5,611
East Coast, United States
The difference is that you can pick up a Studio for 2k instead of 6k for the Mac Pro. There will be significantly more people to sell drives to.

I would love to see an option from OWC appear, I could get the 512GB SSD option then upgrade to two 2TB blades (for 4TB total) for the cost of 2TB from Apple...?
Let me reiterate this so that everyone understands. These are simply a PCB with NAND chips on them, they are proprietary, only Apple is going to make them and sell them. NO third parties are going to make these for the Mac Pro or the Mac Studio. I cannot be any more succinct about it. End of line.
 

Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,466
3,157
Stargate Command
Let me reiterate this so that everyone understands. These are simply a PCB with NAND chips on them, they are proprietary, only Apple is going to make them and sell them. NO third parties are going to make these for the Mac Pro or the Mac Studio. I cannot be any more succinct about it. End of line.

Time will tell. End of line.
 
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Kpjoslee

macrumors 6502
Sep 11, 2007
417
269
Time will tell. End of line.

Even the Mac pro uses proprietary NAND for its primary drive. Only third party storage soluions for Mac Pro is the ones you attach to the PCIe slots. Even then, you can't use it as the main drive.
Pretty much zero chance Apple will go back to using standard M.2 SSD slots when Apple has gone the opposite way for past 5 years.
 

Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,466
3,157
Stargate Command
Even the Mac pro uses proprietary NAND for its primary drive. Only third party storage soluions for Mac Pro is the ones you attach to the PCIe slots. Even then, you can't use it as the main drive.
Pretty much zero chance Apple will go back to using standard M.2 SSD slots when Apple has gone the opposite way for past 5 years.

Nobody is saying Apple needs to go back to "regular" SSD controller + NAND M.2 offerings...

We are saying we want to see third-party (aka OWC, aka CHEAPER $$$) NAND-only options...!?! ;^p
 

WirelessDude

macrumors newbie
Mar 19, 2022
2
2
I have faith a 3rd-party like OWC will come out with a solution for upgrading proprietary SSDs. They’ve done it before with other Mac models…
 
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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,466
3,157
Stargate Command
I have faith a 3rd-party like OWC will come out with a solution for upgrading proprietary SSDs. They’ve done it before with other Mac models…

But they have NOT done so with the 2019 Intel Mac Pro, which uses the same basic scheme (two separate M.2-esque SSD slots)...?
 

WirelessDude

macrumors newbie
Mar 19, 2022
2
2
I have faith a 3rd-party like OWC will come out with a solution for upgrading proprietary SSD upgrades. They’ve done it before with Mac models…
But they have NOT done so with the 2019 Intel Mac Pro, which uses the same basic scheme (two separate M.2-esque SSD slots)...?
Good point… Time to call them up and ask about the feasibility of producing/manufacturing such an upgrade, including the 2019 Mac Pro. 😉 Has there at least been any resellers of such Apple proprietary SSDs?
 
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ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
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I have faith a 3rd-party like OWC will come out with a solution for upgrading proprietary SSD upgrades. They’ve done it before with Mac models…

Good point… Time to call them up and ask about the feasibility of producing/manufacturing such an upgrade, including the 2019 Mac Pro. 😉 Has there at least been any resellers of such Apple proprietary SSDs?
There doesn't need to be. Apple will sell you an upgrade kit for the Mac Pro and directions on how to pair the new SSDs with the Mac Pro (along with the software of course, you have to provide the other Mac).
 

Lihp8270

macrumors 65816
Dec 31, 2016
1,139
1,601
They did a full wipe and tried to use the ssd both in the second slot and in the first slot.

It wouldn’t work. Apple has locked them down so the storage is paired to a certain machine.

These are there to save apple money on config options, and apple are able to repair and replace SSDs but screw the customer.
 
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