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

[geoluv]

Another question would be where did he find these firmware updates available for download? I cannot find them anywhere on google. The ones on Apple's website are dated back to 2015.

he's extracting the nvme driver from the 11,4 mpb section of the 10.14 full install package and then re-injecting it back into it in the section that holds the efi bootrom for the 11,2 update. I want to know what tool he is using to do this. after he injects into the 11,2 efi update he forces the update of just the efi bootrom and bingo (according to him).

let me further explain:

the installer package is a multi installer, it works on all macs that can run Mojave. same installer package. within that bundle are all the most up-to-date drivers for all the hardware for all macs that can run Mojave. Although Mojave is natively nvme compatible all the efi bootroms are not. The reason is because Apple didn't put nvme drives in MacBooks stock until 2015. The ssd controller chip is the same from 2013- at least 2015. they updated the driver in 2015 to fully handle wake from hibernation obviously but didnt update the drivers for the 2013-2014 because apple has a vested interest in making their proprietary ssds non-backwards compatible and making the '13-'14 MacBooks non-foward compatible. They don't want you to be able to easily upgrade your Macbook with a non-apple drive. But apparently if you inject the 2015 nvme driver into the bootrom for the '13-'14 then install it it will sign it and work perfectly. You'll probably have to redo this trick every time the bootrom gets updated until they give in and include the proper drivers with the 13-14 bootrom, which will probably be never because we have one OS update left on this generation if that.

 

[jackqueenking]

he's extracting the nvme driver from the 11,4 mpb section of the 10.14 full install package and then re-injecting it back into it in the section that holds the efi bootrom for the 11,2 update. I want to know what tool he is using to do this. after he injects into the 11,2 efi update he forces the update of just the efi bootrom and bingo (according to him).

let me further explain:

the installer package is a multi installer, it works on all macs that can run Mojave. same installer package. within that bundle are all the most up-to-date drivers for all the hardware for all macs that can run Mojave. Although Mojave is natively nvme compatible all the efi bootroms are not. The reason is because Apple didn't put nvme drives in MacBooks stock until 2015. The ssd controller chip is the same from 2013- at least 2015. they updated the driver in 2015 to fully handle wake from hibernation obviously but didnt update the drivers for the 2013-2014 because apple has a vested interest in making their proprietary ssds non-backwards compatible and making the '13-'14 MacBooks non-foward compatible. They don't want you to be able to easily upgrade your Macbook with a non-apple drive. But apparently if you inject the 2015 nvme driver into the bootrom for the '13-'14 then install it it will sign it and work perfectly. You'll probably have to redo this trick every time the bootrom gets updated until they give in and include the proper drivers with the 13-14 bootrom, which will probably be never because we have one OS update left on this generation if that.

Much clearer now thank you.

Do you think maybe just viewing the contents of the installer and moving the efi update manually would do the trick. Have you downloaded the full version of 10.14.1 or 10.14 and checked to see if you can actually view its contents? Cause once you get that part it seems like the rest is easy

 

[rexoserox]

NEW BOOTROM with latest security update
old: MBA61.0107.B00
new: "110.0.0.0.0"

anybody installed the security update on Mojave and tested the new bootrom "110.0.0.0.0" ?
Is NVMe still supported or did Apple change something?

 

[_Kiki_]

Is the new SSDs with QLC chips are supported ?

 

[mbosse]

Is the new SSDs with QLC chips are supported ?

Yes - the Intel 660p works fine. Low temperatures and low power consumption as well.

 

[sibok]

Is there any way to check if my MacBook Air 13'' Early 2014 has been updated to support NVMe? Thanks!

 

[geoluv]

Much clearer now thank you.

Do you think maybe just viewing the contents of the installer and moving the efi update manually would do the trick. Have you downloaded the full version of 10.14.1 or 10.14 and checked to see if you can actually view its contents? Cause once you get that part it seems like the rest is easy

it is entirely possible that he is simply dragging and dropping. i Haven't had the opportunity to mess around with this theory yet.

 

[Audit13]

Is there any way to check if my MacBook Air 13'' Early 2014 has been updated to support NVMe? Thanks!

Your air must be running High Sierra or later.

 

[notgonna]

I just made that choice and went with 920. It reportedly has a new and better controller. Reportedly almost if not identical controller to the Intel 760p.

I will compare it to the 970 Evo, which has given me great hibernation (overnight deep sleep), and OK active battery life. Temps seem 44º - 50º as measured with iStat. On battery life, I don't really have a good measurement as to compared with the Apple 256. It seems not as good, but not much worse.

It'll likely be a week/+ before I can get delivery and install/measure. I'll report back.

If I look at the chart (thank you!), it seems the R & W efficiencies are the same, just the idle of the 970 Evo at 2x. I'm not sure how I should think of "idle" as compared to hibernate or deep sleep (like after an hour, or whichever custom setting). Is idle the few minutes from a browser page to another, as you read or get up to refill your coffee?

Update; raw data points: MacBook Pro 13 early 2015, with High Sierra. Battery with ~ 88% of original battery life. 5.5 hours in the trunk car today, 1% discharge. An hour and half tonight still the same so within ~1%. I believe I put it to sleep both times before simply closing the lid. When opened and browsing, email, etc., it may be going down more than with the original 256 Apple. But that was giving me writes of about 70 (not 700) and reads about 1100. About 90% full. Now I'm getting writes 1350, and reads just shy of 1500. With 970 Evo, menory bank 1 at 38º per iStat.

Update: My "average energy impact" from Safari is almost 33 % under Activity Monitor. I've a ton of open windows and various site right now. Also Outlook is over 6%. So, the Safari drain may be more than normal for me. I'll be better able to tell when I finish a project and have less going on w/ Safari.

Update: Overnight the battery went from 93% (as it was when I stopped using it last night) down to 91% this morning upon wake. This the Samsung 970 Evo 500. Shortly after using it dropped down to 90%.

 

[adbono]

Hello,
i've upgraded my MacbookPro 13" Mid2014, with the Intel 760p 1To (aja w/r test : 1200/1450)
Os : Movaje 10.14.1
Bootrom : 149.0.0.0.0
Adapter : https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0788CKXJZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Until now i didn't encounter any problem :
No Heat
No battery drain
No wake up from idle problem

 

[Audit13]

Hello,
i've upgraded my MacbookPro 13" Mid2014, with the Intel 760p 1To (aja w/r test : 1200/1450)
Os : Movaje 10.14.1
Bootrom : 149.0.0.0.0
Adapter : https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0788CKXJZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Until now i didn't encounter any problem :
No Heat
No battery drain
No wake up from idle problem

What about wake from hibernation?

 

[foliage]

Has anyone tried the new Adata SX8200 Pro?

It has promising increased performance (3.5/3GB/s sequential Read/Write and 390/380K IOPS) over the previous SX8200, but I hope it hasn’t become much more power hungry and retains its predecessor’s energy efficiency.

 

[Audit13]

Has anyone tried the new Adata SX8200 Pro?

It has promising increased performance (3.5/3GB/s sequential Read/Write and 390/380K IOPS) over the previous SX8200, but I hope it hasn’t become much more power hungry and retains its predecessor’s energy efficiency.

I’m interested too since Black Friday is very close.

 

[keiji11]

just installed intel 760p 1t ssd on 13macbook pro 2015 with the short sintech adapter. Actually i bought 1 long and 1 short adapter from sintech but i found if i install the long one, it's a bit tight to close the back cover. The short one is better. Anyone having this problem?

 

[mad cow disease]

just installed intel 760p 1t ssd on 13macbook pro 2015 with the short sintech adapter. Actually i bought 1 long and 1 short adapter from sintech but i found if i install the long one, it's a bit tight to close the back cover. The short one is better. Anyone having this problem?

Yup. Just push down and put in the screws. I installed SX8200 with the long black adapter a month ago and it is working fine with the exception of one kernel panic. Latest uptime is 13 days.

 

[sibok]

Your air must be running High Sierra or later.

Yes, my Air is running Mojave but i would like to know, if possible, if is there any way to check the bootroom or whathever through any command or set of instructions in order to make 100% sure my Air have been updated with NVMe support and not just the stock AHCI. I've read that nnot all 2013-2014 mac's got the NVMe support update.

Thanks!

 

[keiji11]

Yup. Just push down and put in the screws. I installed SX8200 with the long black adapter a month ago and it is working fine with the exception of one kernel panic. Latest uptime is 13 days.

thanks for your reply. I tried to test battery drain in sleep mode( clover closed) and around 7hours it drops 15% battery. Is there anything i can do to improve battery drain?

 

[geoluv]

Yes, my Air is running Mojave but i would like to know, if possible, if is there any way to check the bootroom or whathever through any command or set of instructions in order to make 100% sure my Air have been updated with NVMe support and not just the stock AHCI. I've read that nnot all 2013-2014 mac's got the NVMe support update.

Thanks!

about this mac>overview>system report it will say what bottom you are on, but unless you're on 10.14.1 you'll still be on the bootrom from last year.

Nobody has clearly confirmed or denied that the 110.0.0.0.0 bootrom contains the full nvme driver that is required for the '15< models.

I just installed 10.14.1 on my mid '13 air last night but I have no PCIe ssd or adapter to try it. I'm waiting to buy a 1 tb on sale this weekend. Anyone have a line on any good sales?

 

[neer201]

Hello guys!
I am confused a little bit. I have MBP 15 mid-2015 with stock 256Gb SSD. I look through this thread and understand that I need low power consumption SSD with 1Tb capacity. Like ADATA SX8200 or Intel 760p/660p.
1) But Is it the difference between this SX8200/760p and stock SSD in battery time in working mode? As I got right sleep-mode for 2015 MBP should work fine.
2) If, answer on question 1 is yes. Will I lose some battery time? How much? Maybe I can log current on stock SSD? Is it a good idea?
3) I read, that many people use Sintech ST-NGFF2013-C (long PCB) and B version (short PCB). Which is the best fit for MBP 15 2015 and SX8200/760p?
4) Is a big difference for us between 660p / 760p in power consumption in practice?

 

[turbineseaplane]

So many pages here..

Anyone using the 2TB 970 EVO in their Mid 2015 Macbook Pro 15"?

Been a good choice?
I love all I've heard except these heat concerns..

Love to hear some real world up to date thoughts there.

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating

 

[keiji11]

So many pages here..

Anyone using the 2TB 970 EVO in their Mid 2015 Macbook Pro 15"?

Been a good choice?
I love all I've heard except these heat concerns..

Love to hear some real world up to date thoughts there.

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating

i am using intel 760p 1t on 13macbook pro 2015. so far so good. I have been reading this thread and most people are recommending 760p n sx8200

 

[weckart]

i am using intel 760p 1t on 13macbook pro 2015. so far so good. I have been reading this thread and most people are recommending 760p n sx8200

The 13" MBP 2015 has only PCIe 2.0. The 15" MBPs have PCIe 3.0. Big difference as to what to recommend.

 

[Zkryvix]

Hi everyone, I have an Samsung 960 Pro SSD (on early 2015 13"), I also get these random kernel panics, (and most of the time after getting out from sleep) the same nvme report.. BUT I also have MacOS who is VERY slow, it's not usable... Does anyone also have a slow macos ? Even after fresh installs.. can't use anymore planning switching to windows because windows on the same mac working fine without blue screen or any other issues. I think that apple is doing something that we buy new macs because it was working fine on lower versions, after every macos update it's getting worst

 

[keiji11]

Hi everyone, I have an Samsung 960 Pro SSD (on early 2015 13"), I also get these random kernel panics, (and most of the time after getting out from sleep) the same nvme report.. BUT I also have MacOS who is VERY slow, it's not usable... Does anyone also have a slow macos ? Even after fresh installs.. can't use anymore planning switching to windows because windows on the same mac working fine without blue screen or any other issues. I think that apple is doing something that we buy new macs because it was working fine on lower versions, after every macos update it's getting worst

I installed intel 760p 1t on 13 macbook pro 2015 2days ago. Been testing everything and seems fine didnt get any problems you come across. Did you try reseting SMC after ssd installation?

 

[Audit13]

Hi everyone, I have an Samsung 960 Pro SSD (on early 2015 13"), I also get these random kernel panics, (and most of the time after getting out from sleep) the same nvme report.. BUT I also have MacOS who is VERY slow, it's not usable... Does anyone also have a slow macos ? Even after fresh installs.. can't use anymore planning switching to windows because windows on the same mac working fine without blue screen or any other issues. I think that apple is doing something that we buy new macs because it was working fine on lower versions, after every macos update it's getting worst

Which adapter are you using? Has it always behaved this way with the nvme? MacBook is running the latest bootrom?