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Upgrading 2013-2015 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe
- Thread starter maxthackray
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I was looking at the mattcard as an option. It wasn't clear to me though if the mattcard is pre-loaded with a rom or if I can load my modified rom? I wouldn't want to get the mattcard and only have it "unlock" my mac, since I don't need that.
Yeah I have no idea why, I feel like because we have dedicated graphics card which took extra PCI lines? Hence our SSD is capped at 1.5g/s?
Mattcard is a slave bootrom, you can write a modified bootrom, I'm not a salesman and I don't want to sell it. This is just my research work.
Another possibility may be caused by the firmware of Intel, and there may be a problem when the speed is negotiated. I saw that some people's machines are normal, but they don't use intel hard drives. like #4777 in this thread.
I installed a 2 TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus in my MBPr 15" late 2013, using a QNINE adapter. The first step was to update the firmware using Samsung's ISO on a bootable USB flash, then to proceed with the installation of the OS. So far, the only think I noticed is that it takes a bit longer to show the white apple logo after pressing the power button (cold boot). I'd say it takes approx. 10 seconds, whereas the original AHCI SSD takes about 2 sec. Is this behaviour to be expected?
I should also mention that I tried with a Sintech adapter but it lead to constant kernel panics (the SSD had been updated to the latest firmware) and only two active lanes out of the four that this particular macbook model supports. Any thoughts? Could the adapted have been one of the older revisions?
I should also mention that I tried with a Sintech adapter but it lead to constant kernel panics (the SSD had been updated to the latest firmware) and only two active lanes out of the four that this particular macbook model supports. Any thoughts? Could the adapted have been one of the older revisions?
The Plus line has caused issues for some people which is why it isn't a recommended SSD.
Update the firmware on your logic board or disable hibernation in Mac OS. It has nothing to do with the SSD firmware. Slow adapter speeds are probably caused by lack of isolation between the adapter and the board socket. Use kapton tape and read the guide on the first page more careful.
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Sad to hear you're not intending to distribute these... Would love to get my hands on one, you won't hear from me again asking for support or whatever...
Indeed it wasn't recommended when most guides were written, however, Samsung promises that all macOS-related issues have been resolved with the new firmware. In my experience, this seems to be the case.
Just to be clear, are we talking about this 10-sec delay I'm experiencing or in general? The SSD is super fast past this delay and on par with the expected speeds (up to or even more than 1,5 GBs sequential if I remember correctly, bottlenecked by 4 lanes of PCIe 2.0...)
I posted this months ago, but it is due to the Radeon discreet graphics that your seeing those speeds.
The sweet spot for maximum speed is the 11,4 mid 2015. 11,5 will be slower. Period.
If you really need it, maybe I can make a few cards and try to sell them. The cost about $20~25/pcs plus shipping $14.
Note that only MBA6,2 MBP11,1 MBP11,2 MBP11,3 are currently available.
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I could be completely wrong but I think I remember reading that someone had the same issue until they selected the drive to boot from, possibly 'Select Startup Disk' from within MacOS. The delay is it trying to pick a drive, even if there is only one to choose from.
Apologies for the delay in responding. Please can you take a look at the attached file. The kernel panic log shows that the fatal error was due to the nvme.
I read that you should only have to set hibernation to 0 on 2013-2014 MacBooks? I have a 2015 which should be compatible?
I had a similar incident on my MacBook Pro 15" from 2015 (no dGPU). Originally I used the long black Sintech adapter with a 2TB Intel 760p without any issues for a couple of months.
Four weeks ago I had to service this MacBook because of swollen batteries. Before I brought the MacBook to the Apple store I removed the SSD and inserted it into a 13" model from 2015, but here I used the short black Snitch adapter.
When I got my 15" model back from Apple (thanks for the new battery and half of a new MacBook
) I switched the SSD back, but still used the short black Sintech adapter because I had misplaced the long one I used before.This gave rise to the kernel panic, accompanied with a strange smell like new electronics being burned in. Everything seemed to work fine after the restart, but I changed back to the long black Sintech adapter (which I had found again
).Since then (now about 3 weeks) I'm again free of any issues. I don't know if there is an issue with the short adapter or if this was just an unlucky coincidence.
Thanks, I have tested with a solid state drive from another mac and the panics have not occurred (they happen almost always after the Macbook wakes on battery). The adapter looked dodgy to me, where can I get the long adapter from?I had a similar incident on my MacBook Pro 15" from 2015 (no dGPU). Originally I used the long black Sintech adapter with a 2TB Intel 760p without any issues for a couple of months.
Four weeks ago I had to service this MacBook because of swollen batteries. Before I brought the MacBook to the Apple store I removed the SSD and inserted it into a 13" model from 2015, but here I used the short black Snitch adapter.
When I got my 15" model back from Apple (thanks for the new battery and half of a new MacBook
This gave rise to the kernel panic, accompanied with a strange smell like new electronics being burned in. Everything seemed to work fine after the restart, but I changed back to the long black Sintech adapter (which I had found again
Since then (now about 3 weeks) I'm again free of any issues. I don't know if there is an issue with the short adapter or if this was just an unlucky coincidence.
Hi Everyone,
I have recently updated my 256 ssd drive in my macbook pro 15" mid 2015. I went for the Sabrent Rocket SSD 1TB based on the amazon reviews and this thread opinions. I think is the best cost/performance option so far.
I havent had any issues during instalation.
Steps:
Created a time machine back up.
Replaced the ssd
Installed fresh copy of Mojave and the used Migration Assistant to recover my info.
So far no kernel panic or any other fail whatsoever.
Sorry for my english and thank you all for sharing
Here are some speed test:
Its been a while since the update and I have not experience a single issue. I have used the long black Sintech adapter.
I have also installed Windows 10 using bootcamp and everything went superb.
Regards.
I ordered it through Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/Sintech-M-2-P...words=sintech&qid=1563465856&s=gateway&sr=8-1
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
How important is the initial osx deployment? Do you have to start with the original SSD in place, then upgrade to High Sierra, then install the nvme drive and then use Internet recovery to get Mojave onto the new drive?
The MacBook needs the original SSD installed internally in order for the bootrom to update during the os installation process unless your MacBook is able to take a bootrom update with a nvme drive.
It's best to install an original Apple ssd, install the latest Mojave release, install the nvme drive, and install either High Sierra or Mojave.
Upgraded the bootrom to 194.0.0.0.0 ( Catalina Dev Beta 4 ) from 187.0.0.0.0
NVMe cold boot from chime is still a painful 80 seconds.
Wake from sleep 2 seconds
This is an 11,5 with 1TB 970 EVO + Long Sintech
Shame about the long boot time with NVMe.....
NVMe cold boot from chime is still a painful 80 seconds.
Wake from sleep 2 seconds
This is an 11,5 with 1TB 970 EVO + Long Sintech
Shame about the long boot time with NVMe.....
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I've been reading this thread for a couple of months, and am still feeling like an idiot here. My 11,4 MBP 15" has the 256 and is maxed. I already have Mojave installed, so am kind of confused about the ROM tie-in? If I read correctly, and I'm sorry I know everyone is doing this--I even reread page 1 Wiki twice yesterday, but it seems like no updates for months?--I still need a stick with Mojave on it, to reinstall after in stick on the new SSD? Why can't I just Carbon Copy my 256 to the new SSD, and spare myself that misery? All of my software, etc., is there. I do have TM on an SSD. I'm scared to death of the Kernels. See these past few posts where people don't seem to have any problems. Is the just a plug and play if I have Mojave already installed? Can I CCC my existing SSD or is the restore better? Sorry, but I'm a little overwhelmed.
I'm in this same position as olindacat, MBP 11,4 256, although can't say I'm "scared to death" ;-) just somewhat apprehensive of 'problems' with heat, battery-life, kernel panics, and wake from sleep issues that may [or not] happen after installing a non-APPLE SSD. I really need more space, but also really don't want any problems. I'm almost at the point of just getting a used 512gb APPLE SSD with the idea that I can sell the 256 (would have to keep it for bootrom upgrades if getting any other SSD) and it would work out to be just a bit more than a 1tb NVMe with adapter price. What to do, what to do...? More space and speed does sound good 'on paper.'
How much is that new NVMe 'speed bump' compared to an original APPLE SSD in actual use (in a MBP mid-2105)?
How much is that new NVMe 'speed bump' compared to an original APPLE SSD in actual use (in a MBP mid-2105)?
To @olindacat and @elmarjazz:
Please read my post 2115 in this thread for a start. Here is the relevant part again:
My upgrade steps (as recommended elsewhere in this thread):
1) Make a bootable USB stick with a Mojave installer (I already had Mojave on the Macbook)
2) Make a full (bootable) backup with Carbon Copy Cloner to an external HD
3) Replace the original Apple SSD with Sintech-Intel 760p combo
4) Boot from USB, initialise the new SSD with Disk Utility, then install Mojave
5) Boot from external HDD with Carbon Copy Cloner
6) Restore full system with Carbon Copy Cloner
With the long black Sintech adapter and the 2TB Intel 760p I didn't notice extraordinary battery drain nor other issues. The process as outlined above was straightforward. Later, I only changed the time to go to deep sleep state down to 10 minutes, even for full battery. You could use the following commands:
sudo pmset -a standbydelaylow 600
sudo pmset -a standbydelayhigh 600
Please read my post 2115 in this thread for a start. Here is the relevant part again:
My upgrade steps (as recommended elsewhere in this thread):
1) Make a bootable USB stick with a Mojave installer (I already had Mojave on the Macbook)
2) Make a full (bootable) backup with Carbon Copy Cloner to an external HD
3) Replace the original Apple SSD with Sintech-Intel 760p combo
4) Boot from USB, initialise the new SSD with Disk Utility, then install Mojave
5) Boot from external HDD with Carbon Copy Cloner
6) Restore full system with Carbon Copy Cloner
With the long black Sintech adapter and the 2TB Intel 760p I didn't notice extraordinary battery drain nor other issues. The process as outlined above was straightforward. Later, I only changed the time to go to deep sleep state down to 10 minutes, even for full battery. You could use the following commands:
sudo pmset -a standbydelaylow 600
sudo pmset -a standbydelayhigh 600
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