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

[Audit13]

It see


So it’s confirmed that the firmware was updated on your MacBook Air even without the OEM drive installed. I wonder if this will only occur with certain Mac models or 3rd party drives?

It certainly seems that way but I would like to hear from another person running 10.14.4 on a MacBook Air before coming to a conclusion.

I have a 2017 Air with an HP ex900 that I upgraded from 10.14.3 to 10.14.4 and it also has the same bootrom and EFI version after the upgraded even though I did not use an original Apple SSD to perform the upgrade.

I wonder if going from high Sierra to 10.4.4 or a clean install of 10.14.4 with an apple SSD would change things.

 

[BTopbas]

Hi friends;
Today i buyed Sabrent 512GB SSD on amazon for my Macbook Air Mid 2013. I know sintech adapters is best adapters and recommended on thread. But i wanna know anyone here using clone ones?
Like this on Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/H11...-PCIE-Adapter-SSD-M2-Adapter/32873039055.html

I readed product feedbacks and looked images. is look like sintech rev B. and everyone is happy with adapter. Anyone here confirm this adapter?

I don't wanna buy sintech because paypal is closed in my country so i can't buy on sintech website. On amazon sintech 15$ and adds Shipping & Import Fees . So sintech adaptor prices goes 22$ and up. But on aliexpress 2-3$ with free shipping.

 

[codetrick]

The air is running the latest OS and bootrom? If not, it may be a good idea to update both and then use the air to see if the panics continue.
[doublepost=1553683915][/doublepost]
Both the short green and short black are fine. I'm running the short green in a 2015 13" Air and the short black in a 2017 Air 13".

I am running 10.14.4, Boot ROM Version: 110.0.0.0.0, and EFI version is MBA61.88Z.0108.B00.1809171520. I'll try to upgrade to the latest bootrom and see if it changes anything.

 

[Audit13]

I am running 10.14.4, Boot ROM Version: 110.0.0.0.0, and EFI version is MBA61.88Z.0108.B00.1809171520. I'll try to upgrade to the latest bootrom and see if it changes anything.

With 10.14.4, I would expect the air too be running 112.0.0.0.0.

 

[macgeek01]

I need to run Sierra. Does anyone know to get the Sierra installer to recognize the Sabrent drive? I have the latest BootROM and it shouldn’t be a issue because it’s formatted with 4K sectors. Newer installers see it but not a a 10.12.6 installer. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Audit13]

It see


So it’s confirmed that the firmware was updated on your MacBook Air even without the OEM drive installed. I wonder if this will only occur with certain Mac models or 3rd party drives?

This member's Air has the same EFI version as my Air: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...version-in-2015-air-13.2175337/#post-27232827 and updated to 10.14.4 using a nvme drive inside the Air.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...version-in-2015-air-13.2175337/#post-27232861

 

[taimor]

I got MacBookPro11,2 with latest Mojave 10.14.4 & Boot ROM Version: 151.0.0.0.0 , patching the Boot ROM is the same as previous versions ?
(I have the CH341A Mini Programmer and SPI to J6100 adapter) just want to make sure that the patching process didn't changed.

 

[fishandbread]

Hi all, i upgraded my retina MBP 2015 13” from apple ssd to adata sx8200 pro using sintech adaptor around 2 weeks ago.

I noticed there is more battery draining than usual. I closed my lid at around 11pm (fully charged) and when i opened the lid at around 9am, the battery dropped to 80-84%.

With my previous apple ssd, it would only drop to 96-97%.

I have set my standby mode to 0 already, it helped a bit, but the problem persists.
I understand that upgrading to other ssd will cause more battery drain, i am wondering if there is any other setting/command that i can do?

Thanks

 

[Audit13]

I had my friend, who has a 2015 13" Air running 10.14.3 with an Apple SSD and has never run with a nvme drive, run the software update to install 10.14.4. I attached a screen shot of his EFI version before and after the Mojave update. Based on his screen shots, my friend's EFI version with an Apple SSD appears no different that my 2015 Air's EFI version.
[doublepost=1553827389][/doublepost]

Hi all, i upgraded my retina MBP 2015 13” from apple ssd to adata sx8200 pro using sintech adaptor around 2 weeks ago.

I noticed there is more battery draining than usual. I closed my lid at around 11pm (fully charged) and when i opened the lid at around 9am, the battery dropped to 80-84%.

With my previous apple ssd, it would only drop to 96-97%.

I have set my standby mode to 0 already, it helped a bit, but the problem persists.
I understand that upgrading to other ssd will cause more battery drain, i am wondering if there is any other setting/command that i can do?

Thanks

You may need to alter the MacBook's sleep, standby, or hibernate settings: https://www.lifewire.com/change-mac-sleep-settings-2260804

 

[fishandbread]

I had my friend, who has a 2015 13" Air running 10.14.3 with an Apple SSD and has never run with a nvme drive, run the software update to install 10.14.4. I attached a screen shot of his EFI version before and after the Mojave update. Based on his screen shots, my friend's EFI version with an Apple SSD appears no different that my 2015 Air's EFI version.
[doublepost=1553827389][/doublepost]
You may need to alter the MacBook's sleep, standby, or hibernate settings: https://www.lifewire.com/change-mac-sleep-settings-2260804

Thanks for your reply and i have read the article.

But it didnt specify which setting would be the best for a macbook pro with upgraded ssd.

What setting/command would you recommend me to use for sleep, standby, hibernate mode?

 

[Daruma Sun]

Hi friends;
Today i buyed Sabrent 512GB SSD on amazon for my Macbook Air Mid 2013. I know sintech adapters is best adapters and recommended on thread. But i wanna know anyone here using clone ones?
Like this on Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/H11...-PCIE-Adapter-SSD-M2-Adapter/32873039055.html

I readed product feedbacks and looked images. is look like sintech rev B. and everyone is happy with adapter. Anyone here confirm this adapter?

I don't wanna buy sintech because paypal is closed in my country so i can't buy on sintech website. On amazon sintech 15$ and adds Shipping & Import Fees . So sintech adaptor prices goes 22$ and up. But on aliexpress 2-3$ with free shipping.

Yes, it's OK. I've installed 5 pieces from this shop on MBP 2014-2015. All works.

 

[Audit13]

Thanks for your reply and i have read the article.

But it didnt specify which setting would be the best for a macbook pro with upgraded ssd.

What setting/command would you recommend me to use for sleep, standby, hibernate mode?

I set hibernate mode to 25. This will write the ram contents to the SSD and power off the machine.

There are several sleep settings involved with many options. To see the system-wide settings, open terminal and type pmset -g.

There are several websites that indicate the power management function handled by each setting including this site: https://eclecticlight.co/2017/01/20/power-management-in-detail-using-pmset/

 

[macgeek01]

I had my friend, who has a 2015 13" Air running 10.14.3 with an Apple SSD and has never run with a nvme drive, run the software update to install 10.14.4. I attached a screen shot of his EFI version before and after the Mojave update. Based on his screen shots, my friend's EFI version with an Apple SSD appears no different that my 2015 Air's EFI version.
[doublepost=1553827389][/doublepost]
You may need to alter the MacBook's sleep, standby, or hibernate settings: https://www.lifewire.com/change-mac-sleep-settings-2260804

I read a report on another thread of a 2015 iMac with 3rd party NVME SSD that received the firmware update.

Maybe 2015 and newer models will get the updates. Not sure if this was true for the firmware update released before the most current one?
[doublepost=1553874926][/doublepost]

I need to run Sierra. Does anyone know to get the Sierra installer to recognize the Sabrent drive? I have the latest BootROM and it shouldn’t be a issue because it’s formatted with 4K sectors. Newer installers see it but not a a 10.12.6 installer. Any ideas? Thanks.

It ended up my 2TB Sabrent came formatted 512e unlike others that shipped 4kn. Perhaps all the 2TB models come shipped 512e for some reason. I was able to format to 4kn using NVME cli when booted from Linux from USB then was able to install Sierra.

 

[Audit13]

I read a report on another thread of a 2015 iMac with 3rd party NVME SSD that received the firmware update.

Maybe 2015 and newer models will get the updates. Not sure if this was true for the firmware update released before the most current one?

When I updated from 10.14 to 10.14.1 with my 2015 Air and Intel 600p, the bootrom was also updated. Firmware updates may be limited to Mojave and 2015 MacBooks, iMacs, and Mac Pros?

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-108#post-26893260

 

[DJDO]

Hi all, i upgraded my retina MBP 2015 13” from apple ssd to adata sx8200 pro using sintech adaptor around 2 weeks ago.

I noticed there is more battery draining than usual. I closed my lid at around 11pm (fully charged) and when i opened the lid at around 9am, the battery dropped to 80-84%.

With my previous apple ssd, it would only drop to 96-97%.

I have set my standby mode to 0 already, it helped a bit, but the problem persists.
I understand that upgrading to other ssd will cause more battery drain, i am wondering if there is any other setting/command that i can do?

Thanks

Hey, I'm also planning on upgrading my 2015 MBP 13'' SSD. Which adapter did you use, the black or the green? Thanks

 

[fishandbread]

Hey, I'm also planning on upgrading my 2015 MBP 13'' SSD. Which adapter did you use, the black or the green? Thanks

Mine was this one on the sintech website

http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1143.html

 

[macgeek01]

When I updated from 10.14 to 10.14.1 with my 2015 Air and Intel 600p, the bootrom was also updated. Firmware updates may be limited to Mojave and 2015 MacBooks, iMacs, and Mac Pros?

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-108#post-26893260

Perhaps models that have the NVME DXE driver in the firmware from Apple will update OK with 3rd party NVME. Having said that iMacs can have another type of sleep issue even with 2015 and later models.

 

[Audit13]

Perhaps models that have the NVME DXE driver in the firmware from Apple will update OK with 3rd party NVME. Having said that iMacs can have another type of sleep issue even with 2015 and later models.

I didn't know that about the 2015 iMacs. I don't have any experience with iMacs and will keep that in mind if I am asked about nvme upgrades.

I never received any bootrom updates on High Sierra with the 2015 Air and Intel 600p.

 

[macgeek01]

Thanks for the info, so this is new behavior with Mojave firmware updates.

 

[Audit13]

Thanks for your reply and i have read the article.

But it didnt specify which setting would be the best for a macbook pro with upgraded ssd.

What setting/command would you recommend me to use for sleep, standby, hibernate mode?

I attached a screenshot of my settings. I closed the lid on my 2015 Air with an Intel 600p at 100% battery and opened the lid about 6 hours later and still have 100% battery.

 

[macgeek01]

If you flash your ROM with a programmer to include the MVME DXE driver then what occurs if you during an new firmware update with the stock drive installed? Does it totally overwrite the custom firmware of not update at all?

 

[jackqueenking]

A while back someone on this thread posted a stack exchange thread about a guy named y-h-wong who apparently flashed his EFI without external hardware programmers. I found the thread below and maybe it could be a lead. It seems UEFI Tool create CAP files which are not signed hence the S in SCAP. Apparently if you manage to somehow sign the CAP file, the commands to flash the bootrom directly from terminal will work :O

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/343452/flash-firmware-without-ch341a-programmer

 

[macgeek01]

A while back someone on this thread posted a stack exchange thread about a guy named y-h-wong who apparently flashed his EFI without external hardware programmers. I found the thread below and maybe it could be a lead. It seems UEFI Tool create CAP files which are not signed hence the S in SCAP. Apparently if you manage to somehow sign the CAP file, the commands to flash the bootrom directly from terminal will work :O

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/343452/flash-firmware-without-ch341a-programmer

I believe the firmware updates are protected with a RSA signature which means no way to bypass unless someone gets hold of Apple’s private keys.

 

[Earl Urley]

I mentioned this before with an earlier Mojave install, on my MacBook Pro 11,1, I performed a combo update from 10.14.2 on a Samsung SM951 AHCI SSD to 10.14.4, and my BootROM was duly updated to 151.0.0.0, up from 149.0.0.0.

Samsung 951s appear to work just like Apple OEMs for this purpose.

 

[jryee]

Hello, I just installed the Sabrent Rocket on my early 2014 Macbook Air. The install went without a hiccup and I was able to clean install Mojave with no problems. However, I am not too impressed with the speed. I thought it would be a night and day difference but honestly, it seems the same as my old stock AHCI SSD. I did a bench mark and attached the results. Getting 1000MB/s read and 1300MB/s write. On Amazon, I see people benchingmarking at 3000MB/s read and 1000MB/s write. Is my drive running correctly? Thanks!