Upgrading 2013-2015 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

[Transfusion]

I've also noticed that my original drive information is shown in the SATA/SATA Express section, not the PCI section. Any chance of the adapters working with SATA m.2's such as 850 evo m.2's?

That's a good question actually, but no, I tried for fun with a B+M-Key SSD for fun (random Chinese brand) and it wasn't detected in diskutil or anywhere, as expected. As others have noted the adapter is a passive one; no ICs or controllers, just direct pin to pin conversion. If you google around there are M.2 B+M SATA to desktop PCIe adapters such as StarTech's PEX2M2, but those rely on a chip that bridges PCIe to SATA e.g. Asmedia ASM1062, which would be quite hard to say the least to cram into an adapter of this size.

In the screenshot the interconnect is still PCI(e) and x2 width. It shows up in the SATA express section because the drive talks over PCIe but with the AHCI driver. AHCI is a legacy interconnect invented in hard drive times when SATA was the fastest available.

 

[DarkMeLo]

That's a good question actually, but no, I tried for fun with a B+M-Key SSD for fun (random Chinese brand) and it wasn't detected in diskutil or anywhere, as expected. As others have noted the adapter is a passive one; no ICs or controllers, just direct pin to pin conversion. If you google around there are M.2 B+M SATA to desktop PCIe adapters such as StarTech's PEX2M2, but those rely on a chip that bridges PCIe to SATA e.g. Asmedia ASM1062, which would be quite hard to say the least to cram into an adapter of this size.

In the screenshot the interconnect is still PCI(e) and x2 width. It shows up in the SATA express section because the drive talks over PCIe but with the AHCI driver. AHCI is a legacy interconnect invented in hard drive times when SATA was the fastest available.

Thanks for clearing it out I was just curious. Anyone noticed the prices of SM951's going up? They cost more than a 960 EVO now :/.

 

[Earl Urley]

Thanks for clearing it out I was just curious. Anyone noticed the prices of SM951's going up? They cost more than a 960 EVO now :/.

Yes, I mentioned this several posts above, it's why I'm waiting for a 500 GB 960 EVO.

Last decent price I saw for an AHCI SM 951 (256 GB only) was here:

https://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/s....0-x4-pcie-gen3-x4-oem-ahci-ssd-mzhpv256hdgl/

Does anyone else have any success stories with Intel/WD/960/Polaris based Samsungs?

 

[Audit13]

Anyone try the pm951 nvme with sintech adapter lately? I have a chance to get the pm951 nvme but am now afraid to get it if there are heat issues. I don't put my MBP to sleep so that is not an issue for me.

 

[iModFrenzy]

Do any Samsung EVO 960 1.0TB M.2 users know if 4k block formatting works? Sorry if this has been mentioned

I plan to purchase this: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsun...ate-drive-for-laptops/5678807.p?skuId=5678807

Thanks

 

[RtyG]

Want to confirm a running High Sierra Intel 600p on a retina 13 late 2013 without any serious issues.
1. The boot time takes longer, there are like 10 sec. gap before the loading bar appears
2. I had the issue that the factory 600p was recognized but initialization failed because no partitions were present. I followed this guide by loading an ubuntu from a USB stick.
https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
Created an ext4 partition and successfully created mac partition later.

 

[pedrosimao]

Want to confirm a running High Sierra Intel 600p on a retina 13 late 2013 without any serious issues.
1. The boot time takes longer, there are like 10 sec. gap before the loading bar appears
2. I had the issue that the factory 600p was recognized but initialization failed because no partitions were present. I followed this guide by loading an ubuntu from a USB stick.
https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
Created an ext4 partition and successfully created mac partition later.

I am also running a NVME (Kingston KC1000) on a Macbook Pro 15 retina (late 2013). The only problem I am facing is that the bootrom won't see the drive. So, I need to boot from a external USB, that will redirect to the system installed on the NVME. Are you able to see the NVME partition during startup? (using hold "option" key, for example?)

 

[RtyG]

I am also running a NVME (Kingston KC1000) on a Macbook Pro 15 retina (late 2013). The only problem I am facing is that the bootrom won't see the drive. So, I need to boot from a external USB, that will redirect to the system installed on the NVME. Are you able to see the NVME partition during startup? (using hold "option" key, for example?)

Yes I can see the NVME partition, I additionally reseted the SCM and the PRAM. Just try to see with cmd+v the details.

 

[DarkMeLo]

Want to confirm a running High Sierra Intel 600p on a retina 13 late 2013 without any serious issues.
1. The boot time takes longer, there are like 10 sec. gap before the loading bar appears
2. I had the issue that the factory 600p was recognized but initialization failed because no partitions were present. I followed this guide by loading an ubuntu from a USB stick.
https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
Created an ext4 partition and successfully created mac partition later.

By no serious issue do you mean that it doesnt have any sleep issues:

1. Sleeping around 30 minutes and;

2. Sleeping overnight (8+ hours)?

 

[Earl Urley]

Want to confirm a running High Sierra Intel 600p on a retina 13 late 2013 without any serious issues.
1. The boot time takes longer, there are like 10 sec. gap before the loading bar appears
2. I had the issue that the factory 600p was recognized but initialization failed because no partitions were present. I followed this guide by loading an ubuntu from a USB stick.
https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
Created an ext4 partition and successfully created mac partition later.

What are the R/W speeds like in BlackMagic Disk Speed Test?

 

[RtyG]

[doublepost=1508196094][/doublepost]

By no serious issue do you mean that it doesnt have any sleep issues:

1. Sleeping around 30 minutes and;

2. Sleeping overnight (8+ hours)?

1. Sleeping around 30 minutes: OK
2. Sleeping overnight (8+ hours) with default settings results in a sleep issue. FAIL

The first wake up fails and the system restarts directly after this CHIME twice. So I have to test further the hibernation settings. But this looks to me like something very general in non-Apple NVME ssd's management by the firmware/os. Please take a look at #197

FAIL Settings look like this currently:

pmset -g

System-wide power settings:
Currently in use:
standbydelay 10800
standby 1
halfdim 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
powernap 0
gpuswitch 2
disksleep 10
sleep 1 (sleep prevented by timed)
autopoweroffdelay 28800
hibernatemode 3
autopoweroff 1
ttyskeepawake 1
displaysleep 2
acwake 0
lidwake 1

Working Settings, (but not sure about the battery consumption in this hibernate mode):

TEST ONE OK

AC:

sudo pmset -c sleep 0
sudo pmset -c standby 0
sudo pmset -c standbydelay 5
sudo pmset -c hibernatemode 3

Battery:

sudo pmset -b sleep 120
sudo pmset -b standby 1
sudo pmset -b standbydelay 5
sudo pmset -b hibernatemode 3

All:

sudo pmset -a acwake 0
sudo pmset -a lidwake 0
sudo pmset -a ttyskeepawake 0
sudo pmset -a darkwakes 0
sudo pmset -a standby 0

pmset -g

System-wide power settings:
Currently in use:
standbydelay 5
standby 0
halfdim 1
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
powernap 0
gpuswitch 2
disksleep 10
sleep 120
autopoweroffdelay 28800
hibernatemode 3
autopoweroff 1
ttyskeepawake 0
displaysleep 2
acwake 0
lidwake 0

 

[pedrosimao]

Yes I can see the NVME partition, additionally reset the SCM and the PRAM. Just try to see with cmd+v the details.

CMD + V (verbose) only works after the boot starts, the bootrom has no verbose mode apparently. Resetting SMC + PRAM gives me a beep sound to me, which means I am still using the old firmware. What is your firmware version? Mine is currently MBP112.0138.B17. I didn't manage to update the new one because when I try to install HighSierra from the original installation it fails in the middle.
I wish there was an alternative way of installing this damn bootrom.

 

[RtyG]

CMD + V (verbose) only works after the boot starts, the bootrom has no verbose mode apparently. Resetting SMC + PRAM gives me a beep sound to me, which means I am still using the old firmware. What is your firmware version? Mine is currently MBP112.0138.B17. I didn't manage to update the new one because when I try to install HighSierra from the original installation it fails in the middle.
I wish there was an alternative way of installing this damn bootrom.

Basically I used Mavericks to install HighSierra on the internal old drive first. The OS crashed with B-Tree issues.
Here are my steps

1. Install 10.9.5 on an USB Stick
2. From here install HighSierra on Apples origin SSD (assume this upgraded the bootrom)
3. After this install HighSierra on the USB Stick
4. Replace the SSD with Intel 600p
5. Use Ubuntu on a USB stick to format the Intel 600p https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
6. Install High Sierra on the Intel 600p from HighSierra USB Stick
7. Change the settings as #236

Now further testing. I would like to know how I can check my bootrom version.

 

[rmjohnso75]

Hi All,,
I am sorry for writing this, I have read all ten pages of this thread, but I am a newbie when it comes to getting under the hood... I have a rMBP early 2015. After reading this thread, and having done the easy upgrade of the HDD-> SSD on iMac mid 2011 with a Samsung 850 evo, I decided to try the Samsung 960 evo on my rMBP early 2015. Reading the success of Gilles, I went ahead, these are the steps I did: 1.) installed High Sierra before swapping out the SSDs to configure the boot rom 2.) Inserted Samsung Evo 960 into CABLECC adapter, which fits fine 3.) used Kapton tape... but my MacBook will not show the Samsung drive. I've tried a PRAM + SMC reset. I am currently running of an external flash drive that I had made into a bootable drive for High Sierra, as it looked like it was a "plug and play" for the rMBP early 2015 from the previous discussion. When I boot up without the flash drive, and hold command + r, the computer accesses internet, but then only option is to install OS Yosemite, and the Samsung evo 960 is not recognized. Right now it says my boot rom version is MBP121.0171.B00. I have read, and re-read all the posts in this thread, and the only conclusion I can come to is the CABLECC connector is not working? Is there anything at all I should/can do to get my MacBook to recognize the Samsung evo 960? Should I take out the flash drive? Since it is running High Sierra and operating the computer from it (I am on the MacBook right now), is it interfering with the Samsung being recognized?

 

[Earl Urley]

That seems to be the right firmware level for an Early 2015 13-inch rMBP.

Does the tape cover the back pins as shown elsewhere in this thread?

Could be a bad connector or a defective SSD..

 

[rmjohnso75]

That seems to be the right firmware level for an Early 2015 13-inch rMBP.

Does the tape cover the back pins as shown elsewhere in this thread?

Could be a bad connector or a defective SSD..

Thank you for the reply Earl!

 

[Earl Urley]

As soon as I get my 960 I'll check it with my Sintech adapter that's currently in my Late 2013 rMBP, I have access to an Early 2015 to test.

 

[pedrosimao]

Basically I used Mavericks to install HighSierra on the internal old drive first. The OS crashed with B-Tree issues.
Here are my steps

1. Install 10.9.5 on an USB Stick
2. From here install HighSierra on Apples origin SSD (assume this upgraded the bootrom)
3. After this install HighSierra on the USB Stick
4. Replace the SSD with Intel 600p
5. Use Ubuntu on a USB stick to format the Intel 600p https://richardstechnotes.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/setting-up-an-nvme-ssd-on-ubuntu-14-04-lts/
6. Install High Sierra on the Intel 600p from HighSierra USB Stick
7. Change the settings as #236

Now further testing. I would like to know how I can check my bootrom version.

Ok, I now realize what is my problem. HighSierra installation only updates firmware if we install in an internal drive. As my old drive is broken (and that's the reason I bought a new dirve) I see no other option but buying a drive in Amazon and making a return after I install the system on it.

To see your firmware version it is very simple. Just click on Apple icon >> About this mac >> System Report. And you will be able to see it on "Boot ROM Version:". Please, let me know what is your version! Thanks

 

[RtyG]

Hi All,,
I am sorry for writing this, I have read all ten pages of this thread, but I am a newbie when it comes to getting under the hood... I have a rMBP early 2015. After reading this thread, and having done the easy upgrade of the HDD-> SSD on iMac mid 2011 with a Samsung 850 evo, I decided to try the Samsung 960 evo on my rMBP early 2015. Reading the success of Gilles, I went ahead, these are the steps I did: 1.) installed High Sierra before swapping out the SSDs to configure the boot rom 2.) Inserted Samsung Evo 960 into CABLECC adapter, which fits fine 3.) used Kapton tape... but my MacBook will not show the Samsung drive. I've tried a PRAM + SMC reset. I am currently running of an external flash drive that I had made into a bootable drive for High Sierra, as it looked like it was a "plug and play" for the rMBP early 2015 from the previous discussion. When I boot up without the flash drive, and hold command + r, the computer accesses internet, but then only option is to install OS Yosemite, and the Samsung evo 960 is not recognized. Right now it says my boot rom version is MBP121.0171.B00. I have read, and re-read all the posts in this thread, and the only conclusion I can come to is the CABLECC connector is not working? Is there anything at all I should/can do to get my MacBook to recognize the Samsung evo 960? Should I take out the flash drive? Since it is running High Sierra and operating the computer from it (I am on the MacBook right now), is it interfering with the Samsung being recognized?

Suggestion:

1. Backup your current drive
2. Install Yosemite and Upgrade to High Sierra on your current SSD
3. Install High Sierra on an USB stick
4. Exchange the SSD's
5. The issue with a plan factory SSD is that it is completely empty without any partition tables, but you should be able to see it under the System Details >NVMExpress when you boot from the USB drive. In this case the drive is just not initialized properly to be recognized. Osx proposed to me on reboot to initialize the drive but failed. In this case you need Ubuntu to format it. (see my previous post.) If this is the case you can use the drive after formatting to something known to osx and change it to Journaled/AFPS. Otherwise it is really an issue with your hardware adapter etc.

 

[pedrosimao]

View attachment 722884

Then I restarted from a internal AHCI disk with 10.12 "Sierra"
I ran the following commands :

sudo /FirmwareUpdatePackageExpanded/FirmwarePackageExpanded/Scripts/preinstall
sudo /FirmwareUpdatePackageExpanded/FirmwarePackageExpanded/Scripts/postinstall_actions/update

It also work on a 10.11 "El Capitan" internal AHCI disk, but you need to copy the FirmwareUpdateLauncher exec from the BaseSystem.dmg disk image :
sudo cp FirmwareUpdateLauncher /usr/libexec

Gilles,
I am trying to update my bootrom without installing the system in an internal drive.
The problem is that I don't actually have an AHCI drive any longer, since mine is broken
When I try to use the post-install scripts I get the following errors:

2017-10-17 22:44:35.285 usbcupdater[956:20898] Error reading plist: No files to support boardID: Mac-2BD1B31983FE1663


Do you think there is a way of doing it without the AHCI drive?
Regards

 

[RtyG]

Gilles,
I am trying to update my bootrom without installing the system in an internal drive.
The problem is that I don't actually have an AHCI drive any longer, since mine is broken
When I try to use the post-install scripts I get the following errors:

2017-10-17 22:44:35.285 usbcupdater[956:20898] Error reading plist: No files to support boardID: Mac-2BD1B31983FE1663


Do you think there is a way of doing it without the AHCI drive?
Regards

Is your old drive really completely broken or just corrupted? You could try to use it just to install High Sierra to trigger the bootrom upgrade.

 

[pedrosimao]

Is your old drive really completely broken or just corrupted? You could try to use it just to install High Sierra to trigger the bootrom upgrade.

It is completely broken. It is not even recognized by my Macbook Pro, nor any other computer I have tried (with adapters).

 

[rmjohnso75]

Suggestion:

1. Backup your current drive
2. Install Yosemite and Upgrade to High Sierra on your current SSD
3. Install High Sierra on an USB stick
4. Exchange the SSD's
5. The issue with a plan factory SSD is that it is completely empty without any partition tables, but you should be able to see it under the System Details >NVMExpress when you boot from the USB drive. In this case the drive is just not initialized properly to be recognized. Osx proposed to me on reboot to initialize the drive but failed. In this case you need Ubuntu to format it. (see my previous post.) If this is the case you can use the drive after formatting to something known to osx and change it to Journaled/AFPS. Otherwise it is really an issue with your hardware adapter etc.

Awesome. Thank you! However, when I had the Samsung Evo 960 installed, and booting High Sierra from the flash drive/working from the flash drive, when I went to system details, under NVMExpress, it said noting was there, even though the Evo 960 was plugged in... Would you still recommend following your instructions above in this case? I was going to try your instructions above, but because the Evo 960 wasn't recognized at all, in system details or on Disk Utility, I was thinking the CABLECC adapter wasn't working, or the Evo 960 wasn't working. I've ordered the ChenYang, and am exchanging through Amazon for another Evo 960... they are on the way... But maybe it is just a case of getting the Evo 960 formatted, and Ubuntu can do this, the hardware might be fine? But again, if its not showing up on disk utility, because its not formatted to something OSX recognizes, it would still show up on system details under NVMExpress, if the hardware is not a problem? Thanks so much to all of you for replying to my posts, its a relief.
[doublepost=1508274774][/doublepost]

Thank you for the reply Earl!

I've got a new/exchanged Evo 960 on the way, and an adapter from ChenYang. The Kapton tape did cover the back of the pins... as I replied to the above post... I never could get any recognition of the Evo 960 in system details NVMExpress - and of course in disk utility... I even went as far as reinstalling Sierra, and downloading NVMe master patch/Kext utility, and following the procedure that has led to some success in getting NVMe recognized in Sierra.. but that didn't work either, even though all the steps checked out correctly according to what I should have seen in Terminal and System/Library/Extensions etc.

 

[@t0mX]

Evening gang!

Well guess what ?!!! Samsung PM961 does WORK on Macbook Pro Retina 15" Mid-2014!!!!

I tried it again with another adapter and another PM961 (Lenovo model MZSLW1T0HMLH-000L1) 1TB SSD drive (not 512mb) and although I had to use terminal + diskutil to format the drive, it then appeared in Disk Utility and I was able to install High Sierra to it.


The first adapter I bought which did not work with my first PM961 (512mb) drive:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Adaptateur-...2015-2016-Remplace-SSD-12-16-pin/292240875657

The 2nd adapter I bought which worked with the second PM961 (1tb) drive:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-16pin-20...SD-Convert-Card-for-A1465-A1466-/152607345850

According to PM961 specs, speeds should be :
- Read Speed: Up to 3000MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 1150MB/s

What I got:
- Read Speed : 1500 MB/s
- Write Speed : 1200 MB/s

Don't know why the read speed is half of what it should be... ?? Any clues?

This is working in 4x Pci-E Lanes instead of 2x like the original Apple AHCI drive (non NVME).

Screenshots attached.

 

[gilles_polysoft]

Gilles,
I am trying to update my bootrom without installing the system in an internal drive.
The problem is that I don't actually have an AHCI drive any longer, since mine is broken
When I try to use the post-install scripts I get the following errors:

2017-10-17 22:44:35.285 usbcupdater[956:20898] Error reading plist: No files to support boardID: Mac-2BD1B31983FE1663


Do you think there is a way of doing it without the AHCI drive?
Regards

Hello,
sorry for my late reply... (had a lot of work last days... worked on a 15" macbook pro 2011 to remove the AMD gpu and the gmx and only work on intel HD... and it works ! but that's another story..)

I'm afraid you can't, at all, update the rom without a working AHCI drive.
All the tries I did to update the Bootrom with either genuine Apple NVMe SSDs or tiers NVMe SSD did failed...

Depends on where you are, but I could give you a 128 GB AHCI drive just for that purpose... I've got some... give me a pm. (gilles at polysoft dot fr).