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

[spacec0w]

Sorry but you seem to maybe miss some points :

• a fresh install on any new SSD consumes more lot power because of spotlight indexing, caches rebuilding, etc. This is normal and this is EXPECTED. If you want to compare battery life (eg. power consumption) between two SSD you need to compare the EXACT same OS version with the EXACT same softwares and launchagents / launchdaemons
• a faster SSD doesn't at all makes a CPU run hotter, this is the opposite. A faster SSD takes less time to handle file copy so when you make a file copy, your CPU can return to idle state in much less time. If you don't believe me you can still boot on a 5400/min hdd on a USB 2.0 bus to see if you will have more battery life...

I just wanted to throw in here that I've now tested on two computers (rMBP 13" 2014 and MBA 11" 2015) with Sintech adapters bought several months ago directly from them and the Adata XPG 8200 Pro and have great performance but very hot computers. I have tested booting from the same external drive (the overheating even happens when disk is internal and not boot disk) and this SSD adds about 20C to my CPU temperatures, idle or other. There are no strange background processes. For example the idle temp with the original Apple SSDs is around 35C and idle with the Adata is 50-55C.

It seems pretty easily reproducible, I see at least one or two other people have this issue with this drive from a quick search in this thread. But I assume many others are having this problem and just not noticing it, really it took quite a while to see this issue after installing the drive.

Do other drives definitely not have this problem? The next best drive for me seems to maybe be the WD Black v3. Or can it really be some problem with the adapter I am using... or something else?? Has anyone actually verified that some of these drives do NOT cause overheating with measured temperatures?

Anyway I'm very confused and any help would be appreciated. For the time being going back to the Apple drive.

 

[djangoreinhardt442]

I just wanted to throw in here that I've now tested on two computers (rMBP 13" 2014 and MBA 11" 2015) with Sintech adapters bought several months ago directly from them and the Adata XPG 8200 Pro and have great performance but very hot computers. I have tested booting from the same external drive (the overheating even happens when disk is internal and not boot disk) and this SSD adds about 20C to my CPU temperatures, idle or other. There are no strange background processes. For example the idle temp with the original Apple SSDs is around 35C and idle with the Adata is 50-55C.

It seems pretty easily reproducible, I see at least one or two other people have this issue with this drive from a quick search in this thread. But I assume many others are having this problem and just not noticing it, really it took quite a while to see this issue after installing the drive.

Do other drives definitely not have this problem? The next best drive for me seems to maybe be the WD Black v3. Or can it really be some problem with the adapter I am using... or something else?? Has anyone actually verified that some of these drives do NOT cause overheating with measured temperatures?

Anyway I'm very confused and any help would be appreciated. For the time being going back to the Apple drive.

THERE IS a tradeoff: performance comes with heat gain.
As MOST, if not ALL, NVME drives are installed in a tight package (laptop) AND it has poor cooling AND there is no heatsink included/attached to NVME drive (and it may not be practical due to size limitations)

This will continue to be an issue.

If you WANT more performance, you will pay the price.
Now, if I were to pick a COOL(coolER, not cool)-running drive, the logical choice would be a SM2262-based drive (HP EX920 (-NOT 950!), Adata SX8200 NOT Pro model, and Intel 760p) which all utilize a DUAL CORE controller, which generated relatively less heat.
I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend all of you read every POST of user /NewMaxx on reddit.
That guy knows his SSDs...and he has very helpful tutorials and spreadsheets on PICKING the right kind of SSD for YOUR NEEDS!!!

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsa...000/enu7bik?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

Here is an explanation on why Phison E12 and Samsung controllers run hotter

 

[liberace]

I just wanted to throw in here that I've now tested on two computers (rMBP 13" 2014 and MBA 11" 2015) with Sintech adapters bought several months ago directly from them and the Adata XPG 8200 Pro and have great performance but very hot computers. I have tested booting from the same external drive (the overheating even happens when disk is internal and not boot disk) and this SSD adds about 20C to my CPU temperatures, idle or other. There are no strange background processes. For example the idle temp with the original Apple SSDs is around 35C and idle with the Adata is 50-55C.

It seems pretty easily reproducible, I see at least one or two other people have this issue with this drive from a quick search in this thread. But I assume many others are having this problem and just not noticing it, really it took quite a while to see this issue after installing the drive.

Do other drives definitely not have this problem? The next best drive for me seems to maybe be the WD Black v3. Or can it really be some problem with the adapter I am using... or something else?? Has anyone actually verified that some of these drives do NOT cause overheating with measured temperatures?

Anyway I'm very confused and any help would be appreciated. For the time being going back to the Apple drive.

i get similar experience with ADATA SX8200Pro in MBP13' mid2014 i get much much hotter CPU (70+) every time i do something a bit heavier than just chilling in tab while SSD becomes between 45-55 degree
Of course i replace my thermal paste while i replace SSD, but interesting that in 10 minutes after this experience i switchback to stock apple ssd128 and get temperatures no more 65-70 during high loads not just a few tabs in browser or opening microsoft office
my guess its because my laptop from factory with psi-e 2.0x2 while SX8200pro using x4 lanes, i remember that it is supported but it is a reallt hotter CPU with proper fresh thermal and again cooler CPU while you switch back
now i am waiting for kingston a1000 just to accept my guessing

 

[lucaros]

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.

I can confirm it's a controller issue.
In my case switching from SM2262 to Phison e12 have solved the issue and I don't get PPN001 error anymore.

 

[spacec0w]

THERE IS a tradeoff: performance comes with heat gain.
As MOST, if not ALL, NVME drives are installed in a tight package (laptop) AND it has poor cooling AND there is no heatsink included/attached to NVME drive (and it may not be practical due to size limitations)

I get that I guess, first of all it just seemed odd to me that the SSD itself didn't seem to be running hot (generally around 35-40), and also that the CPU was heating up even when not doing anything disk-intensive (video streaming, computer idle, chilled web browsing...). Is that normal you think still? I would think like 5C or something might be normal, but like 15-20 degrees? The difference with and without this SSD just seemed so extreme, but if people have the same experiences with other models maybe then I'll just have to accept it. In any case other models seem more efficient but not so much as to change signficantly what I'd been seeing.

 

[jackqueenking]

This might have been answered already but are the following items in the two links sufficient to flash the bootrom on my 2014 MBP?

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JINDC90...&pd_rd_r=35d47478-79b8-11e9-bee9-f381f43bc426

and

https://www.amazon.ca/SOIC8-Flash-S...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D6S88Z4YZN81QQTFES1S

The last one is concerning because I don't know the difference between this and an SPI to J6100 adapter unless its the same thing, thanks in advance!

 

[Audit13]

I get that I guess, first of all it just seemed odd to me that the SSD itself didn't seem to be running hot (generally around 35-40), and also that the CPU was heating up even when not doing anything disk-intensive (video streaming, computer idle, chilled web browsing...). Is that normal you think still? I would think like 5C or something might be normal, but like 15-20 degrees? The difference with and without this SSD just seemed so extreme, but if people have the same experiences with other models maybe then I'll just have to accept it. In any case other models seem more efficient but not so much as to change signficantly what I'd been seeing.

What program are you using to measure the temps? I'd like to see what happens on my 2015 Air. Thanks.

 

[liberace]

What program are you using to measure the temps? I'd like to see what happens on my 2015 Air. Thanks.

Temperature Gauge Pro or try to search alts to it

 

[Audit13]

Temperature Gauge Pro or try to search alts to it

I have an Intel 660p 256 GB inside an early 2015 13" Air. Using the Air to surf, play iTunes, and email for about an hour did not make the Air very hot. I don't do anything intensive on this air so this may be why the temperature remains acceptable.

 

[liberace]

there is some benefits to convert ssd in 4k sector size or not?
want to do a clean setup so or now or never
p.s. mbp13' mid2014 + Kingston A1000

 

[wawon]

I can confirm it's a controller issue.
In my case switching from SM2262 to Phison e12 have solved the issue and I don't get PPN001 error anymore.

OK, I will try. Which SSD do you use?, Please show me the product code or model number.

I found

PHISON PS5012-E12
CFD PG2VN (with heat sink)
GreenHouse GH-SSDRMPA
Silicon Power P34A80
CORSAIR Force MP510
MyDigitalSSD BPX Pro
Addlink S70

thanks.

 

[spacec0w]

I have an Intel 660p 256 GB inside an early 2015 13" Air. Using the Air to surf, play iTunes, and email for about an hour did not make the Air very hot. I don't do anything intensive on this air so this may be why the temperature remains acceptable.

That's useful to know, thanks. Those temperatures seem very normal (assuming your air temperature is around 20C!)

 

[Audit13]

That's useful to know, thanks. Those temperatures seem very normal (assuming your air temperature is around 20C!)

I usually keep the thermostat around 71 (21.7 Celsius) farhenheit during the day and 68 over night. I checked the Mac temperatures in the morning before the house had completely warmed.

 

[lucaros]

OK, I will try. Which SSD do you use?, Please show me the product code or model number.

I found

PHISON PS5012-E12
CFD PG2VN (with heat sink)
GreenHouse GH-SSDRMPA
Silicon Power P34A80
CORSAIR Force MP510
MyDigitalSSD BPX Pro
Addlink S70

thanks.

I have bought the Sabrent Rocket (SB-Rocket-1TB)
You're welcome

 

[liberace]

Here is my story
Had a problem with quite bigger CPU temperature with ADATA SX8200Pro,
now successfully replace it with Kingston A1000, no problem at all with CPU temperatures
Speed difference like (write/read):
Apple Stock SSD 128GB ~ 180/400 mb/s
Adata SX8200Pro 256GB ~ 1000/1400 mb/s (overheating with medium load: 1 fullscreen HD video, 3-5 tabs totally, 1 background app installation)
Kingston A1000 480GB ~ 500/800 mb/s
Usability very big difference between stock 128gb ssd and both of this, but not a big difference between 500/800 vs 1000/1400, you can notice this only while you installing something big like photoshop, office etc.
Even during launching this apps very difficult to notice any difference between Kingston A1000 and SX8200Pro
But behind the scenes I get always 70 degrees CPU and higher with really mid loadings with SX8200Pro and the same really cold 45-55 with stock and Kingston a1000
One more behind the scenes few pages before I was explaining about battery drain, SX8200Pro cut me around 40 min-1hour from battery standby and Kingston no difference at all comparing to stock even looks like more battery friendly than stock, didn't measure exactly yet (stock vs Adata sx8200 pro was measured few weeks before)
So, finally my goal was to expand my storage and get a bit better usability and do not loose nothing from battery life
And I guess that Kingston A1000 very good choice for this reason because of 2x speeds from stock apple ssd that is very noticeable, more than 3x difference comparing to StockSSD -> Adata SX8200Pro that looks like exactly as StockSSD -> Kingston A1000 with no overheating at all for CPU (ssd was cold af)
P.S. now I am still digging around BootROM patching with ch341a and soic8/sop8 clip that somebody in this thread successfully did for 15' mbps, but my chip is downside of logic-board so its impossible to do without disassembling comparing to 15' mbps chip that is on the face side, did somebody this way with 13' mbp mid 2014 and this kind of tools???

 

[jackqueenking]

Here is my story
Had a problem with quite bigger CPU temperature with ADATA SX8200Pro,
now successfully replace it with Kingston A1000, no problem at all with CPU temperatures
Speed difference like (write/read):
Apple Stock SSD 128GB ~ 180/400 mb/s
Adata SX8200Pro 256GB ~ 1000/1400 mb/s (overheating with medium load: 1 fullscreen HD video, 3-5 tabs totally, 1 background app installation)
Kingston A1000 480GB ~ 500/800 mb/s
Usability very big difference between stock 128gb ssd and both of this, but not a big difference between 500/800 vs 1000/1400, you can notice this only while you installing something big like photoshop, office etc.
Even during launching this apps very difficult to notice any difference between Kingston A1000 and SX8200Pro
But behind the scenes I get always 70 degrees CPU and higher with really mid loadings with SX8200Pro and the same really cold 45-55 with stock and Kingston a1000
One more behind the scenes few pages before I was explaining about battery drain, SX8200Pro cut me around 40 min-1hour from battery standby and Kingston no difference at all comparing to stock even looks like more battery friendly than stock, didn't measure exactly yet (stock vs Adata sx8200 pro was measured few weeks before)
So, finally my goal was to expand my storage and get a bit better usability and do not loose nothing from battery life
And I guess that Kingston A1000 very good choice for this reason because of 2x speeds from stock apple ssd that is very noticeable, more than 3x difference comparing to StockSSD -> Adata SX8200Pro that looks like exactly as StockSSD -> Kingston A1000 with no overheating at all for CPU (ssd was cold af)
P.S. now I am still digging around BootROM patching with ch341a and soic8/sop8 clip that somebody in this thread successfully did for 15' mbps, but my chip is downside of logic-board so its impossible to do without disassembling comparing to 15' mbps chip that is on the face side, did somebody this way with 13' mbp mid 2014 and this kind of tools???

I posted the following up top

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01JINDC90...&pd_rd_r=35d47478-79b8-11e9-bee9-f381f43bc426

and

https://www.amazon.ca/SOIC8-Flash-S...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=D6S88Z4YZN81QQTFES1S

Is this what you're referring to? I am wondering as well if this will suffice, more importantly, will that clip work or do we need a SPI to J6100 adapter for 2014

 

[Colin0317]

I have an SX8200Pro installed in my 13” MacBook pro mid 2014 with a Sintech long black adaptor. Now I’m reading that this ssd can heat up the MacBook Pro too much and potentially cause heat issues.

I’m now looking to get another ssd as I don’t want to cause any heat issues on my Mac. Which one is recommended? I’m looking at the intel 660p, 760p or the Kingston A1000.

Which one will give me the best performance without heating issues?

Thank you!

 

[whg]

I ha

I have an SX8200Pro installed in my 13” MacBook pro mid 2014 with a Sintech long black adaptor. Now I’m reading that this ssd can heat up the MacBook Pro too much and potentially cause heat issues.

I’m now looking to get another ssd as I don’t want to cause any heat issues on my Mac. Which one is recommended? I’m looking at the intel 660p, 760p or the Kingston A1000.

Which one will give me the best performance without heating issues?

Thank you!

I have a MacBookPro 15" (Mid 2015, Model 11,4, without dGPU). I use the long Sintech adapter with an Intel 760p 2TB without any signs of a heat issue. Measured with the BlackMagic SpeedTest I get about 1470MB/s write and 2840MB/s read speed. I would not recommend the 660p which I believe is using QLC (vs TLC in the 760p). I don't know if all the rumours about the disadvantages of QLC (at least in its current version) are justified, but I would nevertheless go for the more expensive TLC version (760p).

 

[mbosse]

I ha

I have a MacBookPro 15" (Mid 2015, Model 11,4, without dGPU). I use the long Sintech adapter with an Intel 760p 2TB without any signs of a heat issue. Measured with the BlackMagic SpeedTest I get about 1470MB/s write and 2840MB/s read speed. I would not recommend the 660p which I believe is using QLC (vs TLC in the 760p). I don't know if all the rumours about the disadvantages of QLC (at least in its current version) are justified, but I would nevertheless go for the more expensive TLC version (760p).

When I upgraded my very same MBPr with the 2 TB 760p I initially had very hot keyboards and upper case areas. However, this bettered over time. I came to the conclusion that the initial heat was due to Spotlight doing its indexing.

The 760p works flawlessly.

Best,
Magnus

 

[Marcin_K]

was testing someone already KC2000 ??
I wonder how it works in the energy consumption test and is better than the SX8200 PRO

 

[Saili]

I have a rMBP 2015 13" with long SINTECH and Intel 660p 1TB for almost a month now.

With Mojave 10.14.4 I had heat problems in whole bottom case (around 20 C more than before) and battery went down faster (another 20% more than with original disk).

Two days before, i upgraded to 10.14.5 and all heating problems disappeared, it's working cooler than with the original. Bottom stays cool and TG Pro shows temperatures for CPU from 40-50 C and for INTEL 30-35 C in normal browsing.

I have to check for battery.

No kernel panics before or now.

The only strange thing is that Boot ROM stayed at 182.0.0.0.0 and did not upgrade to 184. I do not know why, or if this can cause some problem.

 

[liberace]

There are only two ways：
Disassemble your macbook or use j6100 connector.
I'm lucky in China, the price of the connector is about US $20, and the price of the CH341A is US $2.
If you go to the unofficial service center and provide the firmware, the service fee only costs US $6.

in my city I can't find a guys with instruments to flash efi ..
are you friendly with the way how to do this with disassembled logic board? because some guys who's way is ch341a+j6100 they report that to help programmer to detect a chip they connect and battery and MagSafe for a while, how to do for example if your logic board is out of everything?
or maybe you can buy and send connector if I gonna send you money?)

 

[wawon]

I have bought the Sabrent Rocket (SB-Rocket-1TB)
You're welcome

I have bought Silicon Power P34A80 (SP512GBP34A80M28).
Apple Diagnostics result are both ADP000 (D or Option+D at start-up), no error.

MacBook Pro 13 2015 / macOS 10.14.5 / EFI firm 184.0.0.0.0 / SMC 2.28f7
D: 1.0.36r2 ADP000
option+D: 1.1.25r2 ADP000

I do not know why the result of the diagnosis will be like this, but I'm glad that there is no problem with the result.

 

[Ovaq]

Has anyone tried the WD Black v3 (SN750)?

I want to know if there is a problem like 970evo plus.
and, I also want to know the status of temperature and power consumption.

 

[Colin0317]

My MacBook Pro 13” hovers around 64-65c (does get warmer with 1440p streaming ~70c or so) when I’m watching YouTube on one window and browsing on another according to the Fanny widget. Idle is around 54c. This is with the Adata SX8200Pro.

I didn’t check temperatures before the upgrade, but are these temperatures safe?