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

[Audit13]

I understand that people like to see very high numbers for read and write speeds but I wanted as little trouble as possible. Also, I don't spend a lot of time writing data to the drive so I chose the Intel 600p. I found someone selling it in a sealed box for a low price. After installation, it has been very stable with high Sierra and the large, green Sintech.

 

[clemolin]

[doublepost=1515768426][/doublepost]

I understand that people like to see very high numbers for read and write speeds but I wanted as little trouble as possible. Also, I don't spend a lot of time writing data to the drive so I chose the Intel 600p. I found someone selling it in a sealed box for a low price. After installation, it has been very stable with high Sierra and the large, green Sintech.

i now have a properly kapton taped 600p with the bigger green sintech adapter running on 4x link speed. The only problem is I get strange crashes in (deep) sleep mode. what where your steps to get it stable?

 

[Audit13]

[doublepost=1515768426][/doublepost]

i now have a properly kapton taped 600p with the bigger green sintech adapter running on 4x link speed. The only problem is I get strange crashes in (deep) sleep mode. what where your steps to get it stable?

I did not do anything other than installing the tape, adapter, drive, and High Sierra into an early 2015 Air.

I always shut down my Air at the end of the day. For testing purposes, I put it into sleep mode over night, three nights in a row, for about 8 hours each night and the Air woke up properly by opening the lid each time.

 

[tensevensun]

What would be the sole purpose of having a m.2 that can write at speeds <1000mb/s?

 

[monofase]

What would be the sole purpose of having a m.2 that can write at speeds <1000mb/s?

Some people just need more internal storage. I have a lot of clients with 128GB MBA/MBP and they all have their disks full...
[doublepost=1515795515][/doublepost]

Hi monofase,
thanks a lot, great ! and thanks for your update

Please could you test the following if you have a 960 Evo and an Intel 600P :
- install a full macOS and some data on the NVMe drive
- do a full backup with Carbon Copy Cloner from the NVMe drive to an external USB 3.0 SSD

Every Samsung drive I've tested so far fails the test and can't finish the backup, with the computer frozing at some point (after 3-4 min of copy), which is followed by a kernel panic and reset.
I verified this with a SM951, two 960 Pro and a 960 Evo.

And every other NVMe SSDs I've tested so far pass this test.

So you should have the Intel 600P pass the test and not the 960 Evo...
[doublepost=1515710389][/doublepost]
Hi gymboy,
I'm in Europe, please send me a personnal mail with your address

Hi @gilles_polysoft
At the moment I do not have any Intel drive, but I can test the CCC thing by copying the data from internal 960 Evo to an external USB 3.0 crucial SSD... Tomorrow I will try this and let you know.

 

[Hycardoria]

Hi to all, gilles_polysoft and @t0mx (and specials thinks to gilles!).
I just ordered a KC1000 980GB (with PCIe adapter for 380€!) for my MBPro 13" 2015 thanks to the people who worked, tried, and made many attempts to debug the subject of this on this thread.
I now need one more advice on the NGFF adaptor considering the current problem with the black V3 (gilles, would you like me to make some test with a V2 green adaptor ? ). The Sintech is the best one if I recall correctly. Where Would you advise me to buy one considering I am in France for months now?


PS: for those living in western EU, Kingston KC1000 for cheap price in January 2018 :
https://www.rueducommerce.fr/produi...carte-fille-pcie-hhhl-29201938/offre-70996150
or
http://www.rueducommerce.fr/produit...-67-75[lien_profond]-120001[zanox]-[deeplink]

Hello everyone,

That's pretty funny, I ordered the exact same KC1000 from the exact same site (same price) for the exact same MacBook Pro 13 early 2015 on Wednesday :-D .

I received the KC1000 this morning, and I just finished the installation and all works pretty great!!

I used the V2 sinetech adaptor (with large green PCB) and I isolated the pin on the adaptor with Kapton tape (ordered on Ebay).

For High Sierra installation, I made a USB installation key with Install Disk Creator (https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/) to make a clean install.
I booted from the USB key, then I used Disk utility to format the KC1000 in APFS (the KC1000 was in the list of Disk utility with no manipulation from me).

The high Sierra installation took about 14 minutes. All works great !!!

For now, no issue when I'm booting (no missing disk) and the boot is really fast (a bit faster than before with the original Apple SSD).

That's took me about 25 minutes start to end to upgrade from my 256Go Apple's SSD with Sierra to my new 960Go KC1000 with High Sierra.

The KC1000 is a very great choice to upgrade the storage of a MacBook Pro.

Thanks to gilles_polysoft for all that works ;-) (I discovered your work on Macbidouille)
[doublepost=1515796787][/doublepost]Black Magic Disk Speed Test with the 960Go KC1000 on a MacBook Pro 13 early 2015.

 

[tensevensun]

Some people just need more internal storage. I have a lot of clients with 128GB MBA/MBP and they all have their disks full...
[doublepost=1515795515][/doublepost]

I understand the more internal storage space. What I was wondering will I notice a different between write speed between the intel 600p vs. samsung 960. What tasks would someone be doing to need higher write speeds?

Has anyone tested the Toshiba SK Hynix 1TB (1024GB) PCI Express Gen3 x4 PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD? I've looked at the list on page 28 not sure if this drive was one of them on there just named differently.

Thanks

 

[majonex]

PM961 is the newer version than the PM951.

The SM series is much faster than PM so a SM951 is a better deal than a PM961. Not sure what they did elsewise between the series but I was impressed with the SM951 and very dissapointed with PM961. Have yet to test if the SM samsung crash on heavy file transfers.
[doublepost=1515837551][/doublepost]

[doublepost=1515768426][/doublepost]

i now have a properly kapton taped 600p with the bigger green sintech adapter running on 4x link speed. The only problem is I get strange crashes in (deep) sleep mode. what where your steps to get it stable?

Have installed several 600p 512GB. Only way to fix the deep sleep issue I found out is to disable hibernate and write lock sleep image file. Then very stable and no special power issues. No problems with large file transfers.

 

[monofase]

Some people just need more internal storage. I have a lot of clients with 128GB MBA/MBP and they all have their disks full...
[doublepost=1515795515][/doublepost]

Hi @gilles_polysoft
At the moment I do not have any Intel drive, but I can test the CCC thing by copying the data from internal 960 Evo to an external USB 3.0 crucial SSD... Tomorrow I will try this and let you know.

Tried by copying with CCC and Time Machine the internal 960 EVO with your adapter to an external SSD. Works fine.

 

[dker]

Hello everyone,

That's pretty funny, I ordered the exact same KC1000 from the exact same site (same price) for the exact same MacBook Pro 13 early 2015 on Wednesday :-D .

I received the KC1000 this morning, and I just finished the installation and all works pretty great!!

I used the V2 sinetech adaptor (with large green PCB) and I isolated the pin on the adaptor with Kapton tape (ordered on Ebay).

For High Sierra installation, I made a USB installation key with Install Disk Creator (https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/) to make a clean install.
I booted from the USB key, then I used Disk utility to format the KC1000 in APFS (the KC1000 was in the list of Disk utility with no manipulation from me).

The high Sierra installation took about 14 minutes. All works great !!!

For now, no issue when I'm booting (no missing disk) and the boot is really fast (a bit faster than before with the original Apple SSD).

That's took me about 25 minutes start to end to upgrade from my 256Go Apple's SSD with Sierra to my new 960Go KC1000 with High Sierra.

The KC1000 is a very great choice to upgrade the storage of a MacBook Pro.

Thanks to gilles_polysoft for all that works ;-) (I discovered your work on Macbidouille)
[doublepost=1515796787][/doublepost]Black Magic Disk Speed Test with the 960Go KC1000 on a MacBook Pro 13 early 2015.

Can you tell me, where you ordered the large green green adaptor?
here?: http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1143.html

 

[clemolin]

The SM series is much faster than PM so a SM951 is a better deal than a PM961. Not sure what they did elsewise between the series but I was impressed with the SM951 and very dissapointed with PM961. Have yet to test if the SM samsung crash on heavy file transfers.
[doublepost=1515837551][/doublepost]
Have installed several 600p 512GB. Only way to fix the deep sleep issue I found out is to disable hibernate and write lock sleep image file. Then very stable and no special power issues. No problems with large file transfers.

Thanks a lot for the hints.
Do I need all of those?


"View the sleep image size
Type in the Terminal: ls -lh /private/var/vm/sleepimage

Disable sleep mode:
Type in the Terminal: sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0

Remove the image:
Type in the Terminal: sudo rm /private/var/vm/sleepimage

Create a 0-byte file:
Type in the Terminal: sudo touch /private/var/vm/sleepimage

Make the file not writable:
Type in the Terminal: sudo chflags uchg /private/var/vm/sleepimage


Run these commands one by one and reboot. After reboot, re-run the first command to see the sleep image size. It should look like this (0B)"

 

[macairnyc]

First I wanted to voice my appreciation for all of those who have gone before, trouble shot the various SSDs available and the issues faced. Although most of the talk has been based on a 13" 2015 macbook pro, I'm assuming that this will also apply to my macbook air.
I have a Macbook air 13" early 2014, 1.4ghz, 8GB RAM currently running OSX10.9.5 and am close to maxing out my 256GB SSD. I would like to double SSD size to ~500GB. I just spent a couple hours reading this entire thread and am tending to think that this is something I could handle installing. I do not use Windows, I but don't know if that should affect my choice. Someone here stated that (any) (super fast) EVO is not necessary -I wouldn't really see any speed benefits from using it on this earlier machine. (I don't use this for gaming or heavy computation)
From what I've read, it seems that the Intel 600P + the Sintech adapter would be all that i would need. I am planning to use the existing SSD as a backup in an enclosure.

Is there a need for the tape on both sids of the adapter in an air?

Does adding the adapter/tape in the air create any kind of thickness/space issue?

My fan hardly runs at all now, and I like that. Will the Intel 600P create additional heat that will cause fan to come on?

Any other issues around this upgrade in a 2014 air that would steer me toward another specific SSD choice?

 

[GSMagx]

Hi
I really need help !!! We have a MacBook Pro 15 2013 ende A1398 (MacBookPro11,2) bought Samsung SM951 512GB (NVMe) MZHP512HDGL-00000 MZ-HPV5120 Gen3 M.2 80mm PCIe link
and adapter NGFF M.2 PCIe SSD (M Key) a 2013 2014 2015 link

all neatly connected, but when you start in recovery mode, working with the disk, there is not any device !! Help how to be?

 

[Batmandc]

Hi
I really need help !!! We have a MacBook Pro 15 2013 ende A1398 (MacBookPro11,2) bought Samsung SM951 512GB (NVMe) MZHP512HDGL-00000 MZ-HPV5120 Gen3 M.2 80mm PCIe link
and adapter NGFF M.2 PCIe SSD (M Key) a 2013 2014 2015 link

all neatly connected, but when you start in recovery mode, working with the disk, there is not any device !! Help how to be?

You have to search a little but this thread is packed with advice. Look on page 12 nr #277


https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-12#post-25254541

 

[Audit13]

Hi
I really need help !!! We have a MacBook Pro 15 2013 ende A1398 (MacBookPro11,2) bought Samsung SM951 512GB (NVMe) MZHP512HDGL-00000 MZ-HPV5120 Gen3 M.2 80mm PCIe link
and adapter NGFF M.2 PCIe SSD (M Key) a 2013 2014 2015 link

all neatly connected, but when you start in recovery mode, working with the disk, there is not any device !! Help how to be?

As a starting point, the Macbook needs to be running High Sierra on the original ssd before switching to the Samsung .

 

[GSMagx]

Thank you
diskutil list - i am no see Samsung drive disk0 ((
system check (hold D) error VDH002

photo
photo
photo

You have to search a little but this thread is packed with advice. Look on page 12 nr #277


https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-12#post-25254541

[doublepost=1515882794][/doublepost]

As a starting point, the Macbook needs to be running High Sierra on the original ssd before switching to the Samsung .

hi Thanks
please manual

 

[Audit13]

Thank you
diskutil list - i am no see Samsung drive disk0 ((
system check (hold D) error VDH002

photo
photo
photo



[doublepost=1515882794][/doublepost]
hi Thanks
please manual

Was the Macbook running High Sierra before swapping the drive?

You used kapton tape on the adapter?

 

[GSMagx]

Was the Macbook running High Sierra before swapping the drive?

You used kapton tape on the adapter?

yes I had High Sierra on the original SSD
i use adapter NGFF M.2 PCIe SSD
kapton tape__?? no

 

[Audit13]

yes I had Sierra on the original SSD
i use adapter NGFF M.2 PCIe SSD
kapton tape__?? no

It needs to be running High Sierra before installing the drive, not Sierra.

 

[GSMagx]

It needs to be running High Sierra before installing the drive, not Sierra.

sorry, yes High Sierra

 

[Audit13]

sorry, yes High Sierra

Do you have a USB High Sierra installer? Did you add the kapton tape?

 

[GSMagx]

Do you have a USB High Sierra installer? Did you add the kapton tape?

I booted from my external SSD High Sierra. But the same does not see the Samsung disk. I do not have kapton tape . it is important ? and where to glue?

 

[Audit13]

It's possible that some of the pins on the adapter are touching other metal parts on the Macbook. The purpose of adding the tape (not glue) is to isolate the pins on the adapter.

Tape it like this: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-27#post-25690967

 

[GSMagx]

I booted from my external SSD High Sierra. But the same does not see the Samsung disk. I do not have kapton tape . it is important ? and where to glue?

I have a different type of adapter, see the photo above. there will be no contact with the contacts

 

[Audit13]

I have a different type of adapter, see the photo above. there will be no contact with the contacts

I have a similar adapter and I had to add the tape to get a 4x link speed. Without the tape, I get 2x link width.

Do you have another machine to try with the adapter and ssd? It's possible that the ssd and/or adapter is not good.