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

[jlagoon]

Hi all,

I thought, I would share this. I just upgraded the original 512 GB SSD with a 1 TB Crucial P5 in my mid 2014 rMBP 15". I cloned the SSD with Carbon Copy Cloner, and swapped it. No issues thus far.

Transfer speed is around 1300 - 1400 MB/s. The speed of original drive was around 600 MB/s.

 

[herb2k]

Remarkeble. Neverless 0.16 is (compared to other brands) still low. I selected the 660p because of the low price and low energy usage long before NVMEfix became available. Did you disabled csrutil? And also installed lilu?

Yup, I posted up the instructions earlier in the thread , even tried a couple of changes to NVMeFix in xcode to see if it would work better on my Intel 660p.

Ultimately, I switched to something Phison E12 based, after also trying the SX 8200 Pro.

 

[Jedi82]

Hello Otosan, thanks for your reply! Well, I'm so sad reading what you wrote me and I don't know how to solve all of this
My original SSD - APPLE SSD SM0256F - for me seems to be very fast but yes, if I launch a speedtest it's seems so bad (new speed test here --> https://prnt.sc/usrphr). But fortunately, for what I read and searched on the internet, other speediest of the same models of other users seems to be identical to mine so maybe this is the max we can have with the original ssd

When I change it (with the Sintech adapter I saw in the first post) I installed a Sabrent SSD 512GB Rocket NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 (SB-ROCKET-512) and yes something happens with speed because I increase my overall performance but also for me results were so bad...

Yes, I just yesterday repast my cpu with new (and good) thermal paste, my fan are super clean, my Mac doesn't have any problems and is still perfect for me I mean never ever had problems with anything...soooooo what can I do???

Due to your experience with all of this NVME installed on this model, what can I try or do? Oh, and of course, I have the latest operating system Catalina 10.15.17)

Thanks to help me!

I think big question is,

what SSD did you use ? Because that "new ssd" benchmark is terribly slow in term of write speed as well.

2013 retina should be able to pull a 1200-1300Mb/s write easily, been installing dozen of NVME ssd on that model, and all perform in that range of speed, and Read should be even higher.

as for temp, it would be normal to see 1-3° higher temp, since the throughput also much higher than original. (Your original ssd is terribly slow as well for a PCI, with only 560 Mb/s it barely better than SATA)

so i think something is wrong with your macbook overall performance. Have you consider to repaste your cpu thermal paste ? Or cleaning your fan ?

 

[_penguinman_]

Hello Otosan, thanks for your reply! Well, I'm so sad reading what you wrote me and I don't know how to solve all of this
My original SSD - APPLE SSD SM0256F - for me seems to be very fast but yes, if I launch a speedtest it's seems so bad (new speed test here --> https://prnt.sc/usrphr). But fortunately, for what I read and searched on the internet, other speediest of the same models of other users seems to be identical to mine so maybe this is the max we can have with the original ssd

When I change it (with the Sintech adapter I saw in the first post) I installed a Sabrent SSD 512GB Rocket NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 (SB-ROCKET-512) and yes something happens with speed because I increase my overall performance but also for me results were so bad...

Yes, I just yesterday repast my cpu with new (and good) thermal paste, my fan are super clean, my Mac doesn't have any problems and is still perfect for me I mean never ever had problems with anything...soooooo what can I do???

Due to your experience with all of this NVME installed on this model, what can I try or do? Oh, and of course, I have the latest operating system Catalina 10.15.17)

Thanks to help me!

just wondering, how much space have you used on your new sabrent ssd?

I've read reports that cheaper ssd's like the sabrent and adata x8200 pro will show reduced performance when the drive is nearing its full capacity. it can hit as soon as the drive is 50-60-70 percent full. Conflicting reports tho since nobody has really published an exhaustive review on that matter.

Anyway, you can try:
1. use the sabrent on a different computer and do a speedtest there.
2. speedtesting on a fresh install.
3. speedtesting on an empty drive and later after you've restored all your data.

Next, i would check the ssd's contacts. 9 out of 10 its bad contacts, either by not seating the ssd and adapter properly —too tight, bent ssd, capacitors or metals touching, contact or interference between pins, etc— or because of faulty adapters. So the next best thing is to buy another adapter if the problem still persists.

 

[Jedi82]

(What you guys think if I try with a Crucial P1 500 GB CT500P1SSD8?)

So here I am:

I tested the sabrent just in the beginning after fresh install macOS on my mbp so occupied space wasn’t the problem. Also restored data was not the problem because of the fresh install.
I bought 3 adapters and they seems to fit perfectly on my Mac but I will buy another sabrent maybe (I got a refund of the old one) and retry from scratch.

can somebody please post some speed test on a 15 inch mbp 2013?

 

[Shrimply Pibbles]

I would like to know if hibernating works on 2013-14 on 157.0.0.0.0

It seems to depend on factors I don't quite understand. My late 2013 11,3 running OS 10.13.6 has EFI 162.0.0.0.0, which I've not seen in any posts. I experience the hibernation issue when the battery goes flat and results in the black screen of death.

 

[Macbookprodude]

So, what SSD can someone recommend to me which does NOT cause sleep issues ? I am looking at the Samsung NVME ones.

 

[macpro_mid2014]

So, what SSD can someone recommend to me which does NOT cause sleep issues ? I am looking at the Samsung NVME ones.

The only SSDs that do not cause hibernation issues are the Apple's SSDs. You can find them used on eBay.

 

[vince22]

So, what SSD can someone recommend to me which does NOT cause sleep issues ? I am looking at the Samsung NVME ones.

2015 Macbook Pro's no sleep/hibernaton issues paired with Samsung NVME.

 

[otosan]

The only SSDs that do not cause hibernation issues are the Apple's SSDs. You can find them used on eBay.

This is not true. Hibernation issue only happen on 2013-2014 model. If you are on 2015-2017 model, almost any NVME drive is fine.

 

[Audit13]

The only SSDs that do not cause hibernation issues are the Apple's SSDs. You can find them used on eBay.

This is true for all 2013, 2014, and 2015 Pros and Airs.

The 2015 models may not have issues with some NVMe drives but may have issues with others. It would be impossible to test every single NVMe drive with a 2015 MacBook for hibernation issues.

 

[otosan]

(What you guys think if I try with a Crucial P1 500 GB CT500P1SSD8?)

So here I am:

I tested the sabrent just in the beginning after fresh install macOS on my mbp so occupied space wasn’t the problem. Also restored data was not the problem because of the fresh install.
I bought 3 adapters and they seems to fit perfectly on my Mac but I will buy another sabrent maybe (I got a refund of the old one) and retry from scratch.

can somebody please post some speed test on a 15 inch mbp 2013?

Is your PCI lanes shown as X4 or X2 in the "NVMExpress" section in System Report ?

P1 is not a good idea. It's QLC based with lower TBW. And although it has DRAM on it, it's performance is not any better than DRAMless one.

Your Sabrent should be able to give you 1200-1400 just fine if everything work correctly.

Although for 2013 model, i find that Exceria (previously Toshiba RC 500) perform well, and it's rated spec is just suitable for all those macbook model with PCI 2.0x4 limitation.

 

[macpro_mid2014]

This is not true. Hibernation issue only happen on 2013-2014 model. If you are on 2015-2017 model, almost any NVME drive is fine.

Yes, you are correct. The person asking did not mention what model he/she has and the only concern was about hibernation. Therefore, I assumed the model has to be 2013-2014.

 

[Jedi82]

Hy, my Mbp 15 Late 2013 have these specs: https://prnt.sc/utmgko (NVMExpress doesn't have nothing to show maybe because I don't have the nvme drive yet). My Boot ROM version is 162.0.0.0.0

So i will try one more time with a new Sabrent and hope for the best!

Is your PCI lanes shown as X4 or X2 in the "NVMExpress" section in System Report ?

P1 is not a good idea. It's QLC based with lower TBW. And although it has DRAM on it, it's performance is not any better than DRAMless one.

Your Sabrent should be able to give you 1200-1400 just fine if everything work correctly.

Although for 2013 model, i find that Exceria (previously Toshiba RC 500) perform well, and it's rated spec is just suitable for all those macbook model with PCI 2.0x4 limitation.

 

[MauriceG]

Yup, I posted up the instructions earlier in the thread , even tried a couple of changes to NVMeFix in xcode to see if it would work better on my Intel 660p.

Ultimately, I switched to something Phison E12 based, after also trying the SX 8200 Pro.

You tried a lot👍🏼. I have good figures with NVMEfix according to iStat menus. And a good battery health (< 200 cycles). But still a poor run time (up to 6 hours). Could be caused by macOS internals that have been changed with the new versions.

 

[herb2k]

You tried a lot👍🏼. I have good figures with NVMEfix according to iStat menus. And a good battery health (< 200 cycles). But still a poor run time (up to 6 hours). Could be caused by macOS internals that have been changed with the new versions.

Thanks!

One thing I do have to mention - Right now on my MBP Retina 13" 2015, I get ~6hrs while watching youtube videos continuously, but before that....

I did have to do a clean install of MacOS - I noticed my original copy (from 2015, upgraded all the way through Catalina) had a few background tasks always sync'ing and consuming CPU time. For some reason, a clean install of Catalina seemed to fix that.

Also, (off topic for this thread) if you use Firefox or Chrome - switch them over to use the GPU for page rendering (default is software rendering on Macs - not the same as turning on the Hardware Acceleration flag), it saves a LOT of power for general browsing and scrolling long pages

 

[MauriceG]

Thanks!

One thing I do have to mention - Right now on my MBP Retina 13" 2015, I get ~6hrs while watching youtube videos continuously, but before that....

I did have to do a clean install of MacOS - I noticed my original copy (from 2015, upgraded all the way through Catalina) had a few background tasks always sync'ing and consuming CPU time. For some reason, a clean install of Catalina seemed to fix that.

Also, (off topic for this thread) if you use Firefox or Chrome - switch them over to use the GPU for page rendering (default is software rendering on Macs - not the same as turning on the Hardware Acceleration flag), it saves a LOT of power for general browsing and scrolling long pages

Dear Herb,
Thank you for your hints 🙏. I try to use Safari as often as possibe (but must use Chrome sometimes, e.g. for managing Ubiquiti network devices). I will do a clean install, never thought of that. Greetings, Maurice.

 

[randika100100]

Hi all, I have a Mac Book Pro Retina early 2015. I am thinking of buying a Crucial P1 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. Do I also need an adapter? Or will it work straight away?

 

[davidc81]

Wow I just came across this thread. I ordered the OWC Aura Pro X2 last week 1TB but if I can get a new HD for half the price definitely that seems the smarter route

I have a 15" late 2013 MBP Retina running 10.13.6
Any recs? It's mostly used for browsing and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop

I saw there is some power draw with these NVMe SSDs?
Is the Sintech adapter still the one to get?
Which SSD is recommended?

 

[otosan]

Hi all, I have a Mac Book Pro Retina early 2015. I am thinking of buying a Crucial P1 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. Do I also need an adapter? Or will it work straight away?

View attachment 964014

You will need adapter. Btw P1 is using QLC nand, it has shorter lifetime, the speed is not incredible, and i dont think the price is good enough for the spec. You might want to find better alternative if possible.

 

[randika100100]

You will need adapter. Btw P1 is using QLC nand, it has shorter lifetime, the speed is not incredible, and i dont think the price is good enough for the spec. You might want to find better alternative if possible.

Can you kindly suggest some brands and models that will work? I am a total noob. Also is there something that works without an adapter?

 

[otosan]

Can you kindly suggest some brands and models that will work? I am a total noob. Also is there something that works without an adapter?

Transcend Jetdrive work without adapter but cost a fortune. Oscoo work without adapter but hard to found. Adapter is your best bet. As for the SSD, you might want to look for Lexar NM700, or WD SN550 or Adata SX8200 pro.

 

[Prana Govinda]

What do you guys thinks of this one?
R-2000mb/s
W-1600mb/s

did you get it? thinking of also buying for my MB Promid 2015

 

[Shrimply Pibbles]

11,3 is correct for me at 158.0.0.0. Which Catalina version do you have? Perhaps something came out within the past few months that moved all of these to 159. I'm leaving mine at Mojave because of some tools I need to work.

That's intriguing. I have an 11,3 and ROM version is 162.0.0.0.0. Late 2013 15".

 

[Shrimply Pibbles]

No one?

¡Hola Ricardo! I have the same MBP but maxed out with 2.6Ghz. I chose the Sabrent Rocket 1TB and Sintech long adapter. I've been pouring over this thread for the last few months and the charts posted by Gilles are extremely helpful. The Sabrent seems to have the best averages of power consumption, thermals, and speed.

I've been using the setup for about 1.5 months and it's working very well. As long as I don't let the battery go flat, I've no issues with the hibernation/black screen of death.