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

[le9508]

1. I bought MattCard and flash patched EFI backup to this card and then install it to motherboard. I think this is more safety variant. Yes, you can't receive EFI updates to non-Apple ssd.
2. I bought Sabrent Rocket 1tb + Sintech long adapter - working perfect, but you should cut a part of adapter(anchorage area), cause Sabrent Rocket has memory on both sides of ssd logic board and you can't close notebook back lid without this modification.

Best regads

Thanks for the reply.

I saw that you posted earlier that you used the

CH341A + sop 8 clip + flashrom cli?

to flash the MattCard.
I also read that you can connect this flasher directly to the motherboard in the MacBook (apparently you can access the chip on the 2013 15" without removing the logic board) and then just flash directly. I am leaning towards this because it would be considerably cheaper, what do you think?

 

[halbprinz]

is it possible to upgrade my EFI Version (MacBook Pro 2015) by installing macOS on an external usb drive?
or do I need to swap my nvme drive to the oem Apple SSD ?

 

[Audit13]

is it possible to upgrade my EFI Version (MacBook Pro 2015) by installing macOS on an external usb drive?
or do I need to swap my nvme drive to the oem Apple SSD ?

The efi needs to have the os installed to an internal drive.

I was able to update the bootrom on my early 2015 13" with an Intel 600p by upgrading the os.

Which os is currently on your MacBook?

 

[halbprinz]

The efi needs to have the os installed to an internal drive.

I was able to update the bootrom on my early 2015 13" with an Intel 600p by upgrading the os.

Which os is currently on your MacBook?

Mojave 10.14.6 ...
Bootrom version is 180.0.0.0.0.
ADATA SX8200 Pro (1TB)

well if you say external drives don't update the efi then I need to swap the OEM Apple SSD and get a new macOS installation

 

[DmitryZ]

Thanks for the reply.

I saw that you posted earlier that you used the to flash the MattCard.
I also read that you can connect this flasher directly to the motherboard in the MacBook (apparently you can access the chip on the 2013 15" without removing the logic board) and then just flash directly. I am leaning towards this because it would be considerably cheaper, what do you think?

Difference in amount 15 Euro only - not so much if you can buy apple laptop =) + You can use only your laptop for update EFI (unplug MattCard, update EFI on it and plug in this card to motherboard again).
Yes, I use CH341A + sop 8 clip + flashrom cli.

 

[randallphoto]

I've got the same issue with mine as well - has anyone come across this?

I figured this out. There was a kext taking exclusive control of the ch341 programmer. You have to do these 2 terminal commands, then plug the device in, then it will work. This was on Mojave 10.14.6

sudo kextunload -p -b com.apple.driver.AppleUSBFTDI
sudo kextutil -b com.apple.driver.AppleUSBFTDI -p AppleUSBEFTDI-6010-1

After I did that it was able to read and dump the rom

Found the info here https://embeddedartistry.com/blog/2017/6/9/ei040htek35x337e81634a8t5agixs

 

[Audit13]

Mojave 10.14.6 ...
Bootrom version is 180.0.0.0.0.
ADATA SX8200 Pro (1TB)

well if you say external drives don't update the efi then I need to swap the OEM Apple SSD and get a new macOS installation

Which model is your MacBook?

 

[qnxor]

Hi all,

I want to move all my existing stuff from the current 512GB ssd to a new 1TB ssd which will replace the current ssd. I saw some posts here recommending Migration Assistant and an external USB enclosure. However, My Migration Assistant gives me only 3 options to "transfer your information"
- from a mac, time machine backup, or startup disk
- from a windows pc
- to another mac

There doesn't seem to be an option to transfer my stuff to an external disk. I wanted to push it to the usb disk, then install the new ssd, then push it back.

Running High Sierra on a MBP Late 2013. What am I missing?

 

[Ami256]

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:

please can you tell us wich adapter did you use on your MBPr 2015 with sabrent ssd, the long or the short one ?

 

[juan985_Spain]

please can you tell us wich adapter did you use on your MBPr 2015 with sabrent ssd, the long or the short one ?

The long one.

Regards

 

[splifingate]

Just upgraded my 13' Early 2015 Macbook Pro (aka MacBookPro12,1).

Adapter: Sintech long version
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CWWAENG)

SSD: Sabrent Rocket 1TB
(https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Rocket-Internal-Performance-SB-ROCKET-1TB/dp/B07LGF54XR)

Everything went fine.

Thank you all for the infos.

View attachment 849988 View attachment 849989

Planning on doing the same...

Were there any fitment issues?

From what I've read, the height/length tolerances are very close...did you encounter bending/etc.?

How's your battery life post-upgrade?

Thanks.

Regards, splifingate

 

[fduvall]

I put an EVO 970 1TB into my 13" MBP Early 2015 last year and it is working well. My wife has the same computer and needs a bigger SSD. I bought her the EVO 970 Plus, but didn't realize I need to update the firmware. Should I exchange it for the EVO 970 or just do the firmware update?

Sounds like a lot of people are still having trouble with the EVO 970 Plus even with the new firmware.

TIA!

 

[dpro111]

Trying to play it safe, I got a Matt Card. I haven't connected it yet, and grabbed the ROM off the "virgin" Matt Card just in case. I can't find the nvme driver GUID in there however. Is this expected?

Also, I want to back up my current ROM, but I don't have the adapter ($55+). Can I still use flashrom -p internal to gather a local copy? It doesn't seem to recognize the internal programmer option.

sudo /usr/libexec/firmwarecheckers/eficheck/eficheck --save -b backup.bin

 

[fduvall]

Looking into it, without a PC of my own, it might be difficult to update the firmware. Any Mac users done it successfully?

 

[Ami256]

The long one.

Regards

Excuse me, to ask you again. did you cut the adapter or not. I've learned that it dosent fit cause the sabrent ssd has blocs on both sides

 

[qnxor]

Did anyone try this converter? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PJTFBKL

 

[qnxor]

Did anyone try this converter? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PJTFBKL

I can confirm it works (MBP Late 2103).

Can anyone explain if and how Migration Assistant can be used to push the content of the old ssd to an external USB drive? I don't have that option in my Migration Assistant (High Sierra). I basically want to clone the existing SSD to my new NVME (including the Windows Bootcamp, etc).

 

[busterje]

Updated my early 2015 13" Air running a 256 GB HP ex900 to 10.14.6 and the bootrom updated to 188.0.0.0.0 from 187.0.0.0.0.

Hey, I think u wrote your previous bootrom number wrong, it should be 186.0.0.0.0.

I also can confirm that my bootroom got updated using non original apple ssd. After instaling 10.14.6 bootrom changed from 186.0.0.0.0 to 188.0.0.0.0 using sx8200 pro.

 

[juan985_Spain]

Excuse me, to ask you again. did you cut the adapter or not. I've learned that it dosent fit cause the sabrent ssd has blocs on both sides

I did not cut the adapter. It fitted perfectly in my macbook pro. However I did not screw the ssd all the way because it would have bended.

 

[Ami256]

I did not cut the adapter. It fitted perfectly in my macbook pro. However I did not screw the ssd all the way because I would have bended.

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[Johnaz]

I can confirm it works (MBP Late 2103).

Can anyone explain if and how Migration Assistant can be used to push the content of the old ssd to an external USB drive? I don't have that option in my Migration Assistant (High Sierra). I basically want to clone the existing SSD to my new NVME (including the Windows Bootcamp, etc).

That's precisely what I expect from the 10.14.6 supplemental update that claims to fix issues of waking from sleep.

Is there any way for you to see whether we still need to modify the bootrom to fix the wake issue on 2013/4 MacBook Pro or Air?

[doublepost=1565115292][/doublepost]

Hey, I think u wrote your previous bootrom number wrong, it should be 186.0.0.0.0.

I also can confirm that my bootroom got updated using non original apple ssd. After instaling 10.14.6 bootrom changed from 186.0.0.0.0 to 188.0.0.0.0 using sx8200 pro.

Is there any way for you to see whether we still need to modify the bootrom to fix the wake issue on 2013/4 MacBook Pro or Air?

 

[slon]

Hey,
Has anyone try A-Data SX6000 Lite or Pro? Any heat issues like SX8200 Pro?
I am looking for 1TB drive, and these two has nice prices here in Poland.

 

[mork4]

Hello, I've got a strange problem with speeds on my Macbook pro 15 Mid 2015 attached with long Sintech adapter (taped) and Sabrent 512Gb. When I run benchmark first time I've got pretty good speeds, but if I run it again, speeds are significantly lower. Can anyone guess whats going on ? Thanks

 

[splifingate]

Hello, I've got a strange problem with speeds on my Macbook pro 15 Mid 2015 attached with long Sintech adapter (taped) and Sabrent 512Gb. When I run benchmark first time I've got pretty good speeds, but if I run it again, speeds are significantly lower. Can anyone guess whats going on ? Thanks

View attachment 851872 View attachment 851873

The Sabrent uses a 24GB cache to buffer transactions to the memory chips:

https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions/Tx15N6RSCCGSHWW/ref=ask_dp_dpmw_al_hza

Once the SLC cache is filled, slower TLC is used for the buffer.

Large sequential writes soon exhaust the SLC, and give lowered results in bench soft.

Unsure of how long it takes for the SLC buffer to be flushed, but I do know that synthetic benchmarking does not always tell the full story

I am awaiting two of the 1TB Rockets for my own testing....

Regards, splifingate

 

[Audit13]

Hey, I think u wrote your previous bootrom number wrong, it should be 186.0.0.0.0.

I also can confirm that my bootroom got updated using non original apple ssd. After instaling 10.14.6 bootrom changed from 186.0.0.0.0 to 188.0.0.0.0 using sx8200 pro.

Mine was at 187 using beta Catalina before I updated my OS to the latest Mojave and it is now on 188.
[doublepost=1565141316][/doublepost]

Is there any way for you to see whether we still need to modify the bootrom to fix the wake issue on 2013/4 MacBook Pro or Air?

Set hibernate mode to 25, close lid for about 10 minutes, open the lid and see if you see the progress bar as the MacBook restore the sleep image.