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

[flameir]

Hello. I need more space in my MacBook Pro 2015 i5 2.7 16GB.
Now I have 128GB (original) SSD, but I decided to upgrade it to 1TB. I really need good battery life, write/read speed is not so important for me. Can you guys can help me, which SSD is the best for battery? Are they all worse than original from Apple? :/
Thank you for your help!

 

[gianttg]

Hello. I need more space in my MacBook Pro 2015 i5 2.7 16GB.
Now I have 128GB (original) SSD, but I decided to upgrade it to 1TB. I really need good battery life, write/read speed is not so important for me. Can you guys can help me, which SSD is the best for battery? Are they all worse than original from Apple? :/
Thank you for your help!

intel660p should be good for you

 

[RedTomato]

Six months later report

- Original: Macbook Air 2013 13" 256GB SSD 8GB ram
- Upgrade: Adata XPG SX8200 1TB (not the Pro)
- Adaptor: Short adaptor with 183307 stamped on it, and on the green circuit board it says NFHK N-941A. (Possibly no longer available). Purchased from Amazon UK.

All working fine. Macbook Air far, far faster, far more snappy, far more usable after the upgrade. Occasional black screen / force reboot on waking. Especially if battery is under 5% when putting to sleep.

Old Apple SSD: around 400MB/sec
New Adata SSD: Around 1300MB/sec

Installation post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e.2034976/page-96?post=26773813#post-26773813

Important comment on the Adata SSD especially degrade in performance when filling up. To be expected but good to be aware.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2034976/page-180?post=27430472#post-27430472

Next project:
I've just got a 2015 MBP 15", 16GB ram 512GB Apple SSD, 700MB/sec.

Feels 'slower' than the Air, even though the MPB has an i7 & fresh OSX install and the Air has an old undervolted i5. It's all because of the SSD (!)

I have a new Crucial 1TB CT1000 P1 which might be slower than the Adata. Considering moving the 1TB Adata to the MPB and putting the Crucial in the Air, but it's a lot of hassle.

I have a spare short 183307 adaptor (accidentally brought two last June). Any updates on adaptors? if not, I will use that for the MBP.

 

[Kraizelburg]

Six months later report

- Original: Macbook Air 2013 13" 256GB SSD 8GB ram
- Upgrade: Adata XPG SX8200 1TB (not the Pro)
- Adaptor: Short adaptor with 183307 stamped on it, and on the green circuit board it says NFHK N-941A. (Possibly no longer available). Purchased from Amazon UK.

All working fine. Macbook Air far, far faster, far more snappy, far more usable after the upgrade. Occasional black screen / force reboot on waking. Especially if battery is under 5% when putting to sleep.

Old Apple SSD: around 400MB/sec
New Adata SSD: Around 1300MB/sec

Installation post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e.2034976/page-96?post=26773813#post-26773813

Important comment on the Adata SSD especially degrade in performance when filling up. To be expected but good to be aware.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2034976/page-180?post=27430472#post-27430472

Next project:
I've just got a 2015 MBP 15", 16GB ram 512GB Apple SSD, 700MB/sec.

Feels 'slower' than the Air, even though the MPB has an i7 & fresh OSX install and the Air has an old undervolted i5. It's all because of the SSD (!)

I have a new Crucial 1TB CT1000 P1 which might be slower than the Adata. Considering moving the 1TB Adata to the MPB and putting the Crucial in the Air, but it's a lot of hassle.

I have a spare short 183307 adaptor (accidentally brought two last June). Any updates on adaptors? if not, I will use that for the MBP.

How's battery life compared to before the upgrade?

 

[flameir]

intel660p should be good for you

What about sabrent sb rocket, because Intel 660p is QLC and I read that this is not like TLC.

 

[sawpits]

What about sabrent sb rocket, because Intel 660p is QLC and I read that this is not like TLC.

Only if you write lots of large files every day, otherwise the Intel 660p should be fine. They also have the Intel 665p just out but I have yet to see any reviews online.

Here is an article about the 665p: https://www.anandtech.com/show/15133/intel-releases-ssd-665p-secondgen-qlc

 

[RedTomato]

How's battery life compared to before the upgrade?

As far as I can tell, about the same. Functionally a little bit less because I have to be more careful now about not letting it go under 5% while asleep if I don’t want to loose unsaved work.

Overnight it loses a couple of %, but quite minimal.

 

[Kraizelburg]

As far as I can tell, about the same. Functionally a little bit less because I have to be more careful now about not letting it go under 5% while asleep if I don’t want to loose unsaved work.

Overnight it loses a couple of %, but quite minimal.

Thanks for your comments. Could you post some iStats screenshoots to have a look at power consumption?

Thanks again

 

[sanitariu]

After doing some digging in the Apple supplied EFI tools, I have had a strong suspicion it should be possible to develop a software-based solution to flashing a modified bootrom that should fix the Late 2013 hibernation issues.

Some users reported to have achieved this successfully around November/December 2018, but their guides or information are incomplete or don't deliver the desired results anymore.(https://apple.stackexchange.com/que...use-of-a-sintech-adapter#comment444229_333495)
(https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ld-efi-after-downgrade-from-yosemite.1803934/)

Modifying the firmware updater is very similar to modifying the extracted bootrom image (through hardware extraction with a CH341A or /usr/libexec/Firmwarecheckers/eficheck/eficheck). The main difference is you're changing an firmware updater file, and not a rom image from the chip. The chip files use rom or .bin.

1. Extract the latest firmware updater file for your specific MacBook from the a Mac Install.app(Open Contents->Contents->SharedSupport->InstallESD.dmg->Packages->FirmwareUpdate.pkg->Scripts->Scripts->Tools->EFIPayloads). For my Late 2013 it was MBP111.scap
2. Extract the firmware for the 2015 Macbook. For my 13" Late 2013 I used MBP114.fd
3. Use UEFITools 0.24 to extract the NVMe driver (GUID
   51116915-C34B-4D8E-86DB-6A70F2E60DAA) as a separate file from the MBP114.fd, I named it DXE NVME2015, and the added extension was .ffs
4. Execute a "Replace as is" on the NVMe driver in the MBP111.scap and replace it using the DXE NVMe.ffs file
5. save the firmware updater file, and you could be required to rename the extension back to .scap
6. Use terminal and execute sudo /usr/libexec/efiupdater -p /Path/To/Folder/Containing/fixed.scap --force-update
7. This should pre-stage the EFI firmware and write it to the EFI partition with bless -mount / -firmware
8. According to the users reporting success, if you'd shutdown the Mac, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on, it should go to a grey screen and a progress bar, indicating it is flashing the pre-staged firmware update to the actual bootrom. Actual quote from second link above: "Shut down your mac from menu, wait until it will turn off.
   Wait a bit, then turn on your computer but do NOT hold the power button down. The screen will turn black and remain in that state for up to 40 seconds. A gray screen will appear and a status bar indicates the progress of the update."

Until step 8, everything works and gives good outputs. I can see the changed firmware in the EFI partition. It just doesn't flash it when booting the first time after it. I've tried running the efiupdater from recovery as well, not different results.

For now I'll flash my MacBook tonight with the CH341 and Pomona clip I have waiting at home. But I'm sure someone with a bit more knowledge can fix this method too, and save a lot of people the risk of flashing manually.


=====EDIT=====
After some more testing, I tried to pre-stage/flash an unmodified MBP111.scap to my Late 2013. Same terminal response, but it DID flash it with a visible progress bar when rebooting afterwards.
So:

There is probably some firmware signing taking place, meaning this would never work.... Maybe it's been added since Mojave, leading to some users being successful previously

Do you have any new success in flashing firmware via software on 2013 MacBook Air

 

[omawnakw]

Hi, i'm having a problem when i try to connect the ch341a to my secondary mac... it doesn't recognize the chip and i don't know where to find drivers of it, how can i ask you some questions about it?
Thanks

As far as I know there is no SPI drivers for ch341a for MacOS: chip manufacturer doesn't supply them (only for Linux and Windows). There is SDK available and the low level USB driver but it is useless for most of us. So the easiest way is to run linux either with BootCamp or virtualisation software with usb passthrough support like Parallels Desktop.

EDIT: Looks like I was wrong. flashrom utility can talk directly to usb device. Programmer name is ch341a_spi (jumper must short pins 1 and 2 as it set by default to work in SPI mode):

brew install flashrom
flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r dump1.bin -c "MX25L6406E/MX25L6408E"

If you don't have homebrew you can get it at https://brew.sh/
You can find instruction by Cmd+Q in rtf file on the first page of this thread. here https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-65#post-26224320
If you have problem with flashrom identifying the chip you should check your connection pinout.

 

[profcutter]

Has anyone tried the 4tb Sabrent yet? Will the machines even support a 4tb NVME?

 

[Menkveld]

So after having read this forum multiple times i decided to upgrade my 13” macbook pro early 2015 (12,1) from 128gb to 1tb. I found the wd black sn750 for a good deal and its from a known good brand.
Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/r.html?C=1VAYFMVJ4YLY6&K=MGXKL72OLY7V&M=urn:rtn:msg:20191129000106bda64ebbf1304428a7e1f0d5b890p0eu&R=129U4DH2OP0TH&T=C&U=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07M64QXMN/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item&H=J1ZAHAZRRJA7GXOTLLXUPSWQCAKA&ref_=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

I also went with the official sintech adapter:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/r.html?C=1VAYFMVJ4YLY6&K=MGXKL72OLY7V&M=urn:rtn:msg:20191129000106bda64ebbf1304428a7e1f0d5b890p0eu&R=Z09NQCTW1ZUR&T=C&U=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FYY3H5F/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item&H=6QQYDC14IWFK8GOIB946NUBBID4A&ref_=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

It works great, much faster and more storage. The only downside are the kernel panics which occur.
They seem to occur when my macbook is in hybernation and password locked on. I tried disabling power nap and put ssd in sleep when possible. Still doesnt work. I tried a reinstall of the soeftware but no luck either.
Im out of ideas.

 

[W_Y_G_K]

I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015).

And I want to upgrade SSD.

Can I use WD Blue™ 3D NAND SATA SSD Internal Storage 2TB NVME M.2 2280 ?

Not WD BLACK!

​

 

[Walee]

The only downside are the kernel panics which occur.
They seem to occur when my macbook is in hybernation and password locked on.

Looks like it panics because of nvme driver or something related. What version of bootrom your mac has?

 

[playtech1]

The only downside are the kernel panics which occur.
They seem to occur when my macbook is in hybernation and password locked on. I tried disabling power nap and put ssd in sleep when possible. Still doesnt work. I tried a reinstall of the soeftware but no luck either.
Im out of ideas.

For me, on a 15 inch 2015 MBP, Kapton tape was the answer. First at the end of the adapter, reducing the amount of metal exposed on the pins being inserted into the socket. That fixed most of my problems. Was still getting a few problems, so Kapton tape on the surface underneath the SSD. No idea if the latter did anything, of if just reseating it fixed it, but so far so good.

 

[Carioquinha]

Hi @All,
meanwhile my "short" sintech adapter has arrived, together with the adata 8200 pro in place insde my macbook pro retina 13" early 2015; hdd clone installed - and - it works finally. As well as without the "bulge" on the backside as with the usage of the "long" adapter.
And yes - temperature is getting higher than with the original apple sdd - but seems not to be an issue so far - but:
My macbook has slown down significantly - at startup and also at startup of simple appes (like safari etc.).
Quick test with an SDD test has shown writing speeds up to 1.300 MB/sec and reading speed up to 1.500 MB/sec (with 5 GB files).

Does anybody of you guys have an idea what could have gone wrong?
BTW - "FileVault" is still off - I did not change anything in the configuration.

Thanks in advance,
Carioquinha

 

[vince22]

Hi @All,
meanwhile my "short" sintech adapter has arrived, together with the adata 8200 pro in place insde my macbook pro retina 13" early 2015; hdd clone installed - and - it works finally. As well as without the "bulge" on the backside as with the usage of the "long" adapter.
And yes - temperature is getting higher than with the original apple sdd - but seems not to be an issue so far - but:
My macbook has slown down significantly - at startup and also at startup of simple appes (like safari etc.).
Quick test with an SDD test has shown writing speeds up to 1.300 MB/sec and reading speed up to 1.500 MB/sec (with 5 GB files).

Does anybody of you guys have an idea what could have gone wrong?
BTW - "FileVault" is still off - I did not change anything in the configuration.

Thanks in advance,
Carioquinha

do a pram and smc reset see if that helps.

 

[profcutter]

OK, so I put the 2TB Sabrent in a late 2015 MacBook pro maxed out. I took it out of my late 2013 MacBook pro 15 inch. In the 2013, I was getting consistent speeds of 1300 MB/s read and write. In the 2015, I'm getting 2500 MB/s writes and a fraction of that with reads, most recently 600 MB/s. Sometimes the reads get up to 1200 or so, and as I run the speed test, the writes slow to 1300 MB/s or so. Any idea why the 2015 would be so much less consistent with speeds?

Hmm. For some reason, spotlight is back at work. Looks like it's having to reindex the entire drive, even though I just moved it from one machine to another.

 

[Carioquinha]

do a pram and smc reset see if that helps.

Hey Vince22,
thanks a lot - but unfortunately that did not help so far - I feel that the entire system is running with lower speed somehow - for example loading this forum's page takes (visible) split second longer. Another example: Starting safari without specific starting page normally shows directly all bookmarks - with the ssd installed, that takes a bit longer: In first instance I can see only some unspecific place holder for those bookmarks - a second later it shows the specific icons. With the original apple ssd installed I never saw those "place holders" but directly the specific icons.

Any other idea?

Thanks and a great weekend!
Carioquinha

 

[Carioquinha]

Hey guys,
I don't have any idea - but after formatting the SDD again and installing the same clone as before - the system seems to be working well...anybody with an idea why?

Cheers,
Carioquinha

 

[markintosh13]

Anyone in Canada: the ADATA SX8200 2TB is on sale - $300 after $50 instant coupon, Prime shipping. When I bought mine I was not charged tax (YMMV). Have been very happy with the two Adata XPG SX8200 drives I've used to upgrade MacBooks (a 1TB SX8200 went into my 13" Late 2013 and a 2TB SX8200 Pro ended up in my 13" early 2015 (after a bit of a painful start with two Sabrent 2TB Rockets that failed [one that created endless kernel panics and another that worked great but then abruptly died after two days]).

XPG SX8200 Pro 2TB 3D NAND NVMe Gen3x4 PCIe M.2 2280 Solid State Drive R/W 3500/3000MB/s SSD (ASX8200PNP-2TT-C)

XPG SX8200 Pro delivers fast speed for gaming notebooks and high-end desktops with a very budget-friendly price. Utilizing the fast PCIe gen3x4 interface*, XPG SX8200 Pro reaches high speeds of up to 3500/3000MB per second (read/write) **, outperforming SATA 6GB/s several times over. With NVMe 1....

www.amazon.ca

 

[Kraizelburg]

Hey guys,
I don't have any idea - but after formatting the SDD again and installing the same clone as before - the system seems to be working well...anybody with an idea why?

Cheers,
Carioquinha

How’s battery life after the upgrade?

 

[Menkveld]

Looks like it panics because of nvme driver or something related. What version of bootrom your mac has?

Hi,
I checked my bootrom and it is 187.0.0.0.0
My macbook is the 12,1
I did some research and found that bootrom 188.0.0.0.0 is available for my macbook.
(I’m currently on the latest catalina 10.15.1)

 

[Walee]

I did some research and found that bootrom 188.0.0.0.0 is available for my macbook.

an nvme ssd should in theory work as intended with 187.0.0.0.0 bootrom, so it must be something else. I'd try a different ssd if possible - maybe your current one is simply incompatible. Also if there is a firmware update available for your ssd - it might be a good idea to apply it before trying to swap it. Note: remember to create backups.

 

[Menkveld]

an nvme ssd should in theory work as intended with 187.0.0.0.0 bootrom, so it must be something else. I'd try a different ssd if possible - maybe your current one is simply incompatible. Also if there is a firmware update available for your ssd - it might be a good idea to apply it before trying to swap it. Note: remember to create backups.

I dont know if the 102000wd is the latest driver of my wd black sn750.
It says that it does support smart and trim