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

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Audit13 said:
Late 2013 Pro 13" stock SSD bootrom updated from 151 to 153 with 10.14.5.

Mid-2014 Air 13" stock SSD bootrom updated from 112 to 115 with 10.14.5.

Early 2015 Air 13" Intel 660p bootrom updated from 184 to 186 with 10.14.5.

2017 Air HP ex900 bootrom updated from 184 to 186 with 10.14.5.

I encountered no problems when updating all four MacBooks from 10.14.4 to 10.14.5.
Click to expand...
And nothing changed in terms of hibernate support right?
 
Thanks to everyone for their knowledge sharing in this thread:

Thought I'd share specs for future readers, particularly Canadian shoppers

* Model: Mid-2014 13" Macbook Pro Retina - 256GB (Running Mojave 10.14.4)
* Adapter: "Rivo" on amazon.ca - might be an OK alternative for Canadians. Shipping is a pain from Sintech/ebay, this seems to be the cheapet option with Prime shipping for us for now. It looks quite similar to one of the X'ed out models on the first post...but we'll see. I will update if this fails at a later time but another poster had success with this seller.
* SSD: 1TB HP SSD EX950 M.2 (on sale on newegg for about $220 CAD, ~$160USD)

Steps:
* Back up TimeMachine...Don't forget to include your Applications in your TimeMachine back up (I had forgotten that was in my exclusion list..wasted a couple hours)
* Set up a USB Mojave installer
* Swap out the SSD with new SSD + adapter
* Erase/format new SSD using USB installer (Option on reboot) and install OS X onto the newly installed SSD
* Restore from TimeMachine

* Side note: Got kernel panic errors when I tried to restore from TimeMachine back up, but USB installer worked fine
* Encouraging read/write speed upgrade
* Fans went crazy initially before calming down - monitoring temps with istat
* Ran terminal to set up hibernatemode 25 "sudo pmset -a standby 0 hibernate mode 25" (not sure if anything else needs to change?)
* Boot ROM is 151 - unchanged with update today to 10.14.5.

Disk Speed Test (Blackmagic)
Write - OEM 256GB: ~350MB/s ---> HP EX950 1TB: 1302MB/s
Read - OEM 256GB: ~657MB/s ---> HP EX950 1TB: 1461MB/s
 
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lucaros said:
Apple recommends using diagnostic tool "D" for 2013+ models, that's why I am afraid that error would not be a bug.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731
I wonder if @gilles_polysoft have faced this error during his tests
Click to expand...


In the past there have been several instances where Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics has displayed incorrect results, and if an error occurs, we have been instructed to launch a test with option + D. Apple would not recommend Option + D from the beginning because it will be increased network traffic. Apparently option + D is a newer version, you can check using "System Information / Hardware / Diagnostics / Apple Diagnostics" from Apple menu.

But, I Can not assert that is bug.

MacBook Pro 13 2015 / macOS 10.14.5 / EFI firm 184.0.0.0.0 / SMC 2.28f7
D 1.0.36r2 PPN001
option+D 1.1.25r2 ADP000
 
x34 said:
i dont believe in updated boot roms with NVME non apple ssds.
Click to expand...

Certainly, EFI firm was not updated when it was equipped with a non-Apple SSD until recently. However, now the EFI firm will be updated even if it is not an Apple SSD, as long as it has been updated at least once in High Sierra with Apple SSD.

It's hard to know if EFI firm has been updated normally or not, so I can understand having such feedback.
 
wawon said:
In the past there have been several instances where Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics has displayed incorrect results, and if an error occurs, we have been instructed to launch a test with option + D. Apple would not recommend Option + D from the beginning because it will be increased network traffic. Apparently option + D is a newer version, you can check using "System Information / Hardware / Diagnostics / Apple Diagnostics" from Apple menu.

But, I Can not assert that is bug.

MacBook Pro 13 2015 / macOS 10.14.5 / EFI firm 184.0.0.0.0 / SMC 2.28f7
D 1.0.36r2 PPN001
option+D 1.1.25r2 ADP000
Click to expand...
Yes, it's plausible.
I'm starting to belive that could be a ssd controller issue.
Would try to test Phison e12 ssd
Have you already try it?
 
lucaros said:
Yes, it's plausible.
I'm starting to belive that could be a ssd controller issue.
Would try to test Phison e12 ssd
Have you already try it?
Click to expand...

No, I have not tried. MacBook Air has not these issue, So I do not think ssd controller issue.
I want to know how is MacBook Pro 15.
 
Looking for users owners of mbp 2015 that wanna help find out a possible bug.
So we need mbp 2015 (13 or 15) using nvme ssd.
It would take 1 minute or so.
While the mac is turned off keep press power on +D to launch apple apple diagnostic and please post the result.
 
Question about a chip could it be different from the guided (CMD+Q guide) i have exactly the same mbp13' mid 2014
"MX25L6406E/MX25L6408E"
but my chip if different as i understand right it is "K03P04E461RL" and it is possible to flash it with ch341a and SOP8 clip?
 

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wawon said:
Certainly, EFI firm was not updated when it was equipped with a non-Apple SSD until recently. However, now the EFI firm will be updated even if it is not an Apple SSD, as long as it has been updated at least once in High Sierra with Apple SSD.

It's hard to know if EFI firm has been updated normally or not, so I can understand having such feedback.
Click to expand...

boot rom updates may happen on 2015 mbp but not on 2013/14 mbp, at least not on mine
 
My Late 2013 13" rMBP has an Inland Premium 1 TB SSD, it didn't update the BootROM with 10.13.6 Security Update 2019-003. Inland Premium is Phison E12 based running latest 12.2 firmware.

I switched to a Samsung SM951 with 10.14.4 installed and ran the 10.14.5 update from Software Update; it took a while but successfully updated the OS, and the BootROM was updated to 153.0.0.0.

Although the SM951 is only AHCI and 256 GB, I still keep it for emergencies and for BootROM updates as macOS seems to consider it to be basically the same as an Apple OEM drive.

If you don't want to shell out big bucks for an Apple SSUBX you may still be able to find 256 GB SM951 AHCIs for sale and just use those to update firmware.

I switched my Inland back in after updating the firmware and everything works great booted into 10.13.6 with the new 153 firmware.
 
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lucaros said:
Looking for users owners of mbp 2015 that wanna help find out a possible bug.
So we need mbp 2015 (13 or 15) using nvme ssd.
It would take 1 minute or so.
While the mac is turned off keep press power on +D to launch apple apple diagnostic and please post the result.
Click to expand...

Hi - have 2 A1502 here, so early 2015 13". One with original Apple SSd, one with 3rd party NVMe SSD. Both diagnostics went fine, no errors.

Another thing, installed 10.14.5 today on both systems, with original Apple SSD also EFI FW was updated to 184.0.0.0.0. The other one with 3rd party SSD stayed at 182.0.0.0.0

I have tried what was suggested in this thread /(usr/libexec/efiupdater), also mounted EFI partition and checked, the FW file is correct. Still it is not doing any update.

Any ideas how I can force the update?
 
kalledausb said:
Hi - have 2 A1502 here, so early 2015 13". One with original Apple SSd, one with 3rd party NVMe SSD. Both diagnostics went fine, no errors.

Another thing, installed 10.14.5 today on both systems, with original Apple SSD also EFI FW was updated to 184.0.0.0.0. The other one with 3rd party SSD stayed at 182.0.0.0.0

I have tried what was suggested in this thread /(usr/libexec/efiupdater), also mounted EFI partition and checked, the FW file is correct. Still it is not doing any update.

Any ideas how I can force the update?
Click to expand...

If EFI firmware is not updated with 3rd party NVMe SSD, it maybe Apple policy, You have to use original Apple SSD and do macOS update again. After that you can exchange SDDs again.
[doublepost=1557837472][/doublepost]
x34 said:
boot rom updates may happen on 2015 mbp but not on 2013/14 mbp, at least not on mine
Click to expand...

Sorry, I forget about 2013-2014 macbook Pro/Air.
Apple dose not show their policy about EFI firmware update. So We have to assume it.
Even the latest version, the EFI firmware of 2013-2014 MacBooks Pro/Air dose not support NVMe SSD, even Apple original NVMe SSD (I heard). Then 2013/14 MacBook Pro may not update EFI firm with non-Apple NVMe SSD.

The EFI firm has been updated even once with a non-Apple NVMe SSD, but once I look at the post today, the situation seems to have changed again.
 
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wawon said:
If EFI firmware did not updated with 3rd party NVMe SSD, it maybe Apple policy, You have to use original Apple SSD and do macOS update again. After that you can exchange SDDs again.
Click to expand...

Yes I am aware of that. Anyway, it seems according to https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-79#post-26432353 the manual update seems to be possible in general.

Since the EFI firmware file is updated successfully in the EFI partition there seem to be only one step missing and I wonder if someone got it working or has any idea how we can do that.

For some time I have both MBPs (1x with original, 1x with 3rd party SDD) here so good to compare and test in case of any ideas :)

Thanks
 
kalledausb said:
Yes I am aware of that. Anyway, it seems according to https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-79#post-26432353 the manual update seems to be possible in general.

Since the EFI firmware file is updated successfully in the EFI partition there seem to be only one step missing and I wonder if someone got it working or has any idea how we can do that.

For some time I have both MBPs (1x with original, 1x with 3rd party SDD) here so good to compare and test in case of any ideas :)

Thanks
Click to expand...
Im curious as to why you would need to update the bootrom on a Macbook 2015 if the nvme drive already work? Just curious as to what the benefit may be. Thanks!
 
Well as with any updates I guess.. fixed security bugs and potential enhencements. Looking back, older bootrom was not APFS compatible and who knows what will be missing next which is needed for 10.15 or 10.16 or so.

Basically I would prefer to sell the Apple SSD if I can find a way to update bootrom otherwise.
 
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kalledausb said:
Well as with any updates I guess.. fixed security bugs and potential enhencements. Looking back, older bootrom was not APFS compatible and who knows what will be missing next which is needed for 10.15 or 10.16 or so.

Basically I would prefer to sell the Apple SSD if I can find a way to update bootrom otherwise.
Click to expand...

I'm glad that I've saved my Apple SSD and not sold it, now you've said that! Would be very interested to hear about how a manual BootROM update can be done. Don't want to be doing this too often and wearing out those delicate connectors.

For the time being, can we simply swap the drives, run Apple update and swap back? My Apple SSD has an older version of Mojave installed, since I'm no longer using the drive for anything anymore. I presume as long as the update is run, that's fine?
 
Hi,

What is difference between this two adapters

http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1139.html


http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1139.html

I need it for MacBook pro Retina late 2013 13inch.

Also what do you think about
1tb 970 evo
Vs
1tb intel 660p

I know Intel is slower then Samsung but is it fast enough for normal work since even controller in my computer is not the fastest one :)?
What I am looking for is best price performance ssd for late 2013 macbook pro retina.

Thanks and have a nice day
 
Does anybody have the performance / power consumption results for the OWC Aura X2 drives? I'd love to see that compared to the list on the first post in this thread.
 
iCharlie86 said:
Hi,

What is difference between this two adapters

http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1139.html


http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1139.html

I need it for MacBook pro Retina late 2013 13inch.

Also what do you think about
1tb 970 evo
Vs
1tb intel 660p

I know Intel is slower then Samsung but is it fast enough for normal work since even controller in my computer is not the fastest one :)?
What I am looking for is best price performance ssd for late 2013 macbook pro retina.

Thanks and have a nice day
Click to expand...
I have the 660p 2tb and it runs fast as hell as long as I’m not transferring 50+gb transfers. I’m getting read/write 1100/1400 on a mbp2015 13” so performance will be limited to your link width I believe
 
Installed 10.14.5 with non-Apple SSD installed on a mid-2015 rMBP 15, just to see what would happen.

Install went fine, but BootROM remains at 189. No idea what it should be for this model and MacOS version.
 
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