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

[Audit13]

Clarifying question, I read several pages of comments. I have a 2014 15" mbp, I would need an nvme with 512 sector size, and an ahci to m.2 adaptor. Are there some drives and adapters that don't have sleep issues with the 2014 15"? It seems like some people have the right combination to work fine??

The m.2 adapter is not specific in that it will work with ahci and nvme drives.

Some nvme drives can be formatted in 4k, 512, or both. Either is fine with High Sierra and Mojave but Sierra needs 4k.

There is no drive and adapter combination that doesn't have sleep issues with a stock Apple bootrom. To prevent sleep panics, 2013 and 2014 MacBooks must be flashed with a modified bootrom.

 

[theandrewgordon]

Ok gotcha. So is there a suggested post for looking into bootrom flashes? Thanks so much for the feedback

 

[09872738]

Fyi: it cannot be done solely in software. There are some options, each of which requires specialist hardware to do it.

This post sums it up, you might want read it: #2932

 

[foliage]

To clarify, is hibernate mode 3 OK or should we change this to hibernate mode 0?

I set "sudo pmset standby 0" in terminal and it changed to hibernate mode 3 on l2013 15”.

 

[macgeek01]

It should be fine. I used the same one in my 2017 Air.

What version of the adapter is this out of curiosity?

 

[Audit13]

What version of the adapter is this out of curiosity?

I assume it's the latest revision since it works with no problem for myself and others. Apparently, the earlier version had some issues.

 

[x34]

To clarify, is hibernate mode 3 OK or should we change this to hibernate mode 0?

I set "sudo pmset standby 0" in terminal and it changed to hibernate mode 3 on l2013 15”.

a MBP 2013 hibernate to 0

 

[deanorthk]

my choices have grown, i can access to Sandisk Extreme Pro M2 too, but I have yet to see someone reporting this one working.
Those are supposed to be identical to WD black so I guess they should work.

 

[tomcek]

Hello at all!

I have read in the Wiki that a Smasung Evo 970 PLUS ist not supported. Can anyone tell me why? Doesn't there exists a suitable adapter or why is it so?

 

[Audit13]

Hello at all!

I have read in the Wiki that a Smasung Evo 970 PLUS ist not supported. Can anyone tell me why? Doesn't there exists a suitable adapter or why is it so?

I'm not 100% sure but it must have something to do with the drive itself (firmware, controller, and/or memory chips) if other nvme drives work with the same adapter.

There are cheaper alternatives to the 970 Evo Plus that are known to be compatible.

 

[tomcek]

I'm not 100% sure but it must have something to do with the drive itself (firmware, controller, and/or memory chips) if other nvme drives work with the same adapter.

There are cheaper alternatives to the 970 Evo Plus that are known to be compatible.

Thank you so much for your information.

Do you know is it worth to buy a EVO 970 Pro or is a EVO 970 enough (without Pro)?

 

[Audit13]

Thank you so much for your information.

Do you know is it worth to buy a EVO 970 Pro or is a EVO 970 enough (without Pro)?

I think it really depends on what you needs would be and the MacBook model #. If you are using a 2013 or 2014, you may not see a difference between using an Adata sx8200pro, Samsung 970 Pro, and Samsung 970 Evo. I would personally go for the cheapest $/GB.

The Samsung drives may have higher benchmark speeds but it's unlikely you will see the benefit on a daily basis unless you constantly need high read/write speeds. Samsung drives also tend to run hotter and use more battery that other drives.

 

[x34]

there's a nice way to speed up the boot process (it may be already mentioned in this thread): when booting the mac up hold the "alt" key and then when selecting the HD hold the "control" key. from there on: faster boot!

 

[monofase]

Hi all,

I have a problem with Windows 10 on a MB AIR 13" 2014.
I also changed the bootROM with the EFI driver of MBA 2015.

Tried with: Samsung 970 EVO, Intel 660p but can't install Windows 10.
After the first reboot windows says that it can't install and crashes!!
On the same machine, Windows 10 is working good with the original SSD. Any solution? I can't even boot in safe mode!!

Also tried installing ONLY Windows 10 WITHOUT BootCamp. Same issue :/

 

[lkchelios]

Correct...

Correct, there is no need to alter the sleep settings after installing the OS.

I have two Airs (2015, 2017) with nvme drives and I did not have to change the sleep settings in either Air after installing Mojave.

thank you for your answers! really helps

So I have this last question-- the website where i'm planning to buy the SSD also recommends me to buy a "heatsink cooling" or a "heat sink nickel cooling" together with the ADATA SX8200 pro. i have no idea what this is, but my guess is that it helps with keeping the SSD cool. Now my question is: is this really necessary? (for a macbook pro 13 inch, early 2015)

Thanks everyone!

 

[Audit13]

thank you for your answers! really helps

So I have this last question-- the website where i'm planning to buy the SSD also recommends me to buy a "heatsink cooling" or a "heat sink nickel cooling" together with the ADATA SX8200 pro. i have no idea what this is, but my guess is that it helps with keeping the SSD cool. Now my question is: is this really necessary? (for a macbook pro 13 inch, early 2015)

Thanks everyone!

The heatsink is really nothing more than a thin strip of aluminum that is attached to the SSD using heatsink adhesive. I doubt it would make much of a difference since the interior of the Pro is pretty cramped without great airflow over the SSD. Depending on the thickness of the SSD, adding a heatsink may prevent the bottom casing from fully closing.

 

[stantheman2013]

there's a nice way to speed up the boot process (it may be already mentioned in this thread): when booting the mac up hold the "alt" key and then when selecting the HD hold the "control" key. from there on: faster boot!

This has to be the WORST aspect of putting an NVMe drive into my 2014 MBP. I recently installed an SX8200 Pro and the boot time is long as hell in comparison to the stock SSD - it's just terrible. Granted, everything else is fine once it finally boots up, but it does take a very long time to boot up.

@x34: I tried your method of booting up into the Startup Manager (holding Option/Alt key on startup) and then holding the Control key as I selected my boot drive, but that did not increase my bootup speed.

Is anyone else having this problem? If so, how can we get faster bootup times?

Quick point of note: It must be an NVMe issue, as I have upgraded my old 2011 MB Air to an M.2 SATA drive and I have unbelievably fast boot up times.

 

[hwojtek]

when booting the mac up hold the "alt" key and then when selecting the HD hold the "control" key. from there on: faster boot!

This combination sets the default boot volume (exactly what the "Startup Disk" preference pane does or what Mac OS does during install when blessing the volume OS is installed to), how does it make the computer boot faster?

 

[owbp]

The only thing that comes to a mind is that using that method someone can speed up "searching for boot device"...?
But, yes, it's no different that startup disk in sys pref.

 

[x34]

This combination sets the default boot volume (exactly what the "Startup Disk" preference pane does or what Mac OS does during install when blessing the volume OS is installed to), how does it make the computer boot faster?

i have no idea!

i did read this, tried it out and then... well it boots indeed faster!

 

[Inge83]

This has to be the WORST aspect of putting an NVMe drive into my 2014 MBP. I recently installed an SX8200 Pro and the boot time is long as hell in comparison to the stock SSD - it's just terrible. Granted, everything else is fine once it finally boots up, but it does take a very long time to boot up.

@x34: I tried your method of booting up into the Startup Manager (holding Option/Alt key on startup) and then holding the Control key as I selected my boot drive, but that did not increase my bootup speed.

Is anyone else having this problem? If so, how can we get faster bootup times?

Quick point of note: It must be an NVMe issue, as I have upgraded my old 2011 MB Air to an M.2 SATA drive and I have unbelievably fast boot up times.

I think the slow boot speed is linked to the limited NVMe support in the stock bootrom of 2013/2014 macs. If I understand correctly, it does not instantly recognise the ssd as the boot drive. Therefore, so it scans for available boot options and only then "realises" that it might be able to boot from the NVMs ssd - this process takes something like 10 seconds or so. Afterwards, the boot process continues normally.

On a 2015+ mac or with a modified bootrom, these issues should not occur.

 

[x34]

I think the slow boot speed is linked to the limited NVMe support in the stock bootrom of 2013/2014 macs. If I understand correctly, it does not instantly recognise the ssd as the boot drive. Therefore, so it scans for available boot options and only then "realises" that it might be able to boot from the NVMs ssd - this process takes something like 10 seconds or so. Afterwards, the boot process continues normally.

On a 2015+ mac or with a modified bootrom, these issues should not occur.

my guess: this scanning is skipped with the trick mentioned above, it boots way under that time now.

 

[dickybow]

Can anyone please advise if all of the Sintech adapters are ok now ?

For me, only the long black 'ST-NGFF2013-C' version below worked properly. Do the shorter / cheaper ones work ok now ?

 

[Audit13]

Can anyone please advise if all of the Sintech adapters are ok now ?

For me, only the long black 'ST-NGFF2013-C' version below worked properly. Do the shorter / cheaper ones work ok now ?

I received the short black adapter about 2 weeks ago and it works perfectly in a 2017 Air with an HP ex900.

I also have one of the earlier short green adapters in an early 2015 Air with an intel 600p with no issues.

 

[sandrvoxon]

Guys, any idea why the battery draining so fast? Just updated today with 500gb crucial ssd with small black adapter and now like 2 min - 1% (Macbook Pro 13 2015)
Any advice ?