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

[otosan]

Did you do that with the modified installer you posted in this thread or via terminal?

I wonder if apple will release possible future updates for Catalina with the new Bootrom… Does anybody know if that was the case for Mojave after Catalina had been released?

Normally they will update the BootRom along with security patch. They even bump the BootRom on High Sierra.

 

[BoPl]

Silicon Power A80 went under my radar when I was googling this gigantic thread (as I recall it was not mentioned in OP). In retrospect, A80 seems to be a better drive in most aspects over a few others except the price. For example, the past Black Friday, $90 for WD SN550 1TB vs $115 for SP A80 1TB. I would still have gone with SN550 for 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The first post provides overwhelming info. The maintainer(s) are doing a terrific job in providing consistent test data. If you have to pick only one data to prioritise your purchase for MacBook's, look at the "av. Power" column. Any drives between 0.9W-1.1W should be among a good pick. Below 0.9W, good luck on sourcing the models.

Skimming through some of the discussions in this thread, I found the idle power issue is over exaggerated out of proportion. For example, the better drives in this aspect usually achieve ~0.18A idle current. The lesser drives in this aspect, e.g. WD SN550 idles at 0.26A. To put it in perspective, leave your MacBook actively idle or even sleeping, SN550 will cause at most only less than an extra 4% battery drain over a period of 10 hours.

For the 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro only, I'll probably go for A80. For any other MacBook's between 2013-2015, start from one between the 0.9W-1.1W range, value buyers will find sweet spots there and actually better fit for MacBook's than more expensive drives.

Silicon Power A80, same as Sabrent Rocket in the late revision SSDs went from P12 to P12S controller. I've seen someone at this forum had an issue with new revision Sabrent Rocket SSD.
#6,032

 

[kvic]

Silicon Power A80, same as Sabrent Rocket in the late revision SSDs went from P12 to P12S controller. I've seen someone at this forum had an issue with new revision Sabrent Rocket SSD.
#6,032

I saw Silicon Power a few weeks ago, and went to read the highest hit review (by tomshardware) published in 2019... I guess in SSD space one & half year is too long. Thanks for letting us know.

Just did a quick check. A recent review from 6 month ago showed that A80 switched controller vendor. Now it's using SM2262ENG (!), which is same as in last year's ADATA SX8200 Pro (in my Linux desktop). It's likely speed/thermal/power consumption will be similar to SX8200 Pro instead then.

Just in case some people missed manufacturers' references listed on the chart. "Dark blue" Sabrent Rocket on the chart != Sabrent Rocket Q currently available in abundance. "ADATA SX8200" on the chart != ADATA SX8200 Pro from 2019 (which in turn slightly different from ADATA SX8200 Pro from 2020)

 

[otosan]

I saw Silicon Power a few weeks ago, and went to read the highest hit review (by tomshardware) published in 2019... I guess in SSD space one & half year is too long. Thanks for letting us know.

Just did a quick check. A recent review from 6 month ago showed that A80 switched controller vendor. Now it's using SM2262ENG (!), which is same as in last year's ADATA SX8200 Pro (in my Linux desktop). It's likely speed/thermal/power consumption will be similar to SX8200 Pro instead then.

Just in case some people missed manufacturers' references listed on the chart. "Dark blue" Sabrent Rocket on the chart != Sabrent Rocket Q currently available in abundance. "ADATA SX8200" on the chart != ADATA SX8200 Pro from 2019 (which in turn slightly different from ADATA SX8200 Pro from 2020)

Good writes and analysis mate.

Most of people still using years old informations for today consideration. Which might mislead us/them.

 

[bubsdaddy]

Is there any use for the removed SSD drive? The only enclosures I can find that the custom Apple SSD drive will work with are $70 - $90 which is cost prohibitive for a 128GB SSD. What are you guys doing with your old drive?

 

[tshelby73]

I would keep your old drive in case for some reason in the future the firmware won’t update without it. Especially since it’s the smaller 128 and not worth much

 

[quaresma]

I just upgraded from Adata SX8200 Pro 512GB to Sabrent Rocket 1TB.
Battery life is so much better! This is on the latest Big Sur bootrom (OS is Mojave) and without nvmefix.
I was expecting better battery life, but not this much. Phison E12 power management is better than SM2262

 

[chrickers]

I was also looking for an enclosure, but it's just not worth it. I consider my Apple SSD as an additional (although very limited) backup and first aid if the new SSD inside my Macbook should ever fail… I think I'm gonna deposit it at my parents' house.

 

[edevmon]

I was also looking for an enclosure, but it's just not worth it. I consider my Apple SSD as an additional (although very limited) backup and first aid if the new SSD inside my Macbook should ever fail… I think I'm gonna deposit it at my parents' house.

It might be useful as a fast external drive, a backup system to boot off in case of emergency, etc.


I bought this on Amazon, not very cheap.

I also bought a Sintech external case for the Apple SSD. I put it on the top case of the MacBook using a couple of velcro strips, so it makes for a total of 2 Tb (internal) + 256 GB (Apple's) + 1 Tb (external Samsung 860 QVO).

But user @FløH found one on AliExpress as well, much cheaper:

As a side note, there's an alternative to the OWC adapter for your original drive available on AliExpress which is pretty decent and has USB-C. Read and write speed weren't anything to write home about (250 Tx 300 Rx), but I thought I'd mention it anyway because of its convenience.

 

[belm0]

everything I learned about SSD upgrades (OWC Aura, MBA 11")​

(cross-post from MBA forum)

Background: I upgraded my MacBookAir6,1 to a MacBookAir7,1 (both core i7) with an undersized SSD. Since I read something reputable that said the SSD's were incompatible (turned out not to be true), I went about evaluating 3rd party drives (OWC Aura N and Aura Pro X2). I'm very battery-life conscious; also wanted an SSD with a native connector.

Here is the TLDR of what I learned on this journey. Most of this info I just couldn't find anywhere (including this forum thread and product pages) and had to discover it myself.

• MBA 11" has slower SSD bus than 13" and other Mac laptops. It will max out at ~700 MB/s read/write for 2 channels (e.g. Aura N), 1400 MB/s for 4 channels (Aura Pro X2), regardless of the drive spec.
• stock 512GB AHCI drive on MacBookAir6,1 (SM0512F) actually had reasonable performance: ~650 MB/s read/write
• stock 128GB drive on MacBookAir7,1 (AP0128H) is NVMe, 4 channel, and seems to be tuned for power savings by limiting write performance (or it's due to small size?): 990 MB/s read, 320 MB/s write. Its idle power usage is extremely low (more below).
• Aura Pro X2 (512GB tested) has huge idle power draw (despite receiving good power usage marks from AnandTech review). Literally it drains the battery of my idle MacBookAir7,1 over 50% faster than either of my stock drives. For perspective, the difference was larger than max vs. min screen brightness. It's important that the OS & firmware know how to manage the storage low power modes.
• MacBookAir7,1 (Broadwell) has significantly lower power use than MacBookAir6,1 (50% when idle?)
• you can clone bootable drives just fine with Disk Utility, no need for 3rd party software. Just be sure to use Disk Utility from Catalina or newer.
• you can get reasonable estimates of total system power usage by using "pmset -g rawlog", which logs current being drawn from the battery every minute. By running this with different devices (e.g. SSD) you can discover their relative power draw.
• NVMe drives are fully functional (fast startup to boot screen and correctly resume from disk hibernate) as long as the computer firmware is from Catalina or better. With High Sierra firmware I'd see a long delay to boot screen (even after NVRAM reset), and resume from disk hibernate fails.

Following details idle power use measurements for various device combinations. Unfortunately I returned my Aura N before discovering how to use "pmset", and that drive is supposed to have a fraction of the Pro X2 power use due to the 2 channel controller (it literally had 3 chips on the PCB, single side). I ended up returning the Pro X2 as well once I confirmed its effect on battery life, and am content with my stock AHCI drive despite the modest max speeds. If the drive fails I'd probably go back for the Aura N.

Please do your own measurements, as I may have made measurement errors or incorrect assumptions.

power draw of idle system (min display brightness, wifi off)
​

config	size MB	pmset mA *	conditions
MacBookAir6,1 - AP0128H	128	490	Catalina
MacBookAir6,1 - Aura Pro X2	512	600	Catalina
MacBookAir7,1 - AP0128H	128	220	Catalina
MacBookAir7,1 - Aura Pro X2	512	630	Catalina
MacBookAir7,1 - Aura Pro X2	512	670	High Sierra, not quite idle
MacBookAir7,1 - SM0512F	512	230	High Sierra, not quite idle

* for reference, the pmset delta between min and max display brightness is ~310 mA

 

[mdgm]

One of my issues with the Aura N is that it only goes up to 1TB in capacity. After struggling for a long time with just 512GB I wanted to more than simply double my amount of storage. So I went with a 2TB SSD.

 

[otosan]

Is there any use for the removed SSD drive? The only enclosures I can find that the custom Apple SSD drive will work with are $70 - $90 which is cost prohibitive for a 128GB SSD. What are you guys doing with your old drive?

Enclosure is mostly expensive.

other usage would be an Apple Pin to NVME converter. But it will only work on Desktop PC Motherboard, and as a Data Drive Only (no Boot Drive)

no enclosure or adapter supporting boot for Apple 12+16 pin.

So most of users only keep their original SSD for emergency case.

Some selling it off on eCommerce sites. But i suggest to simply keep it.

 

[MauriceG]

Hola amigos, para mi MacBook Pro 2015 13”
Wich is better?, WD SN550 or SILICON POWER A80

Don’t know about the A80. I do like the WD Blue. Low power, nice price, good performance (better than what your MBP can handle). Please do verify page 1 of this subject for compatibility.

 

[halexber]

Hi, to all, has anyone try these https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005001303482569.html?spm=a219c.12010612.8148356.4.311f5393Pb6ngL
Or does anyone know about this brand? Thank you.

 

[MauriceG]

Enclosure is mostly expensive.

other usage would be an Apple Pin to NVME converter. But it will only work on Desktop PC Motherboard, and as a Data Drive Only (no Boot Drive)

no enclosure or adapter supporting boot for Apple 12+16 pin.

So most of users only keep their original SSD for emergency case.

Some selling it off on eCommerce sites. But i suggest to simply keep it.

You could look on AliExpress. Ugreen and Orico are good brands.

Hi, to all, has anyone try these https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005001303482569.html?spm=a219c.12010612.8148356.4.311f5393Pb6ngL
Or does anyone know about this brand? Thank you.

no, it’s a SATA model for MBA 2010/2011. So a bit off topic in this thread. I do have good experiences with Transcend for these air models. But that brand is expensive (although cheaper than OWC)

 

[otosan]

Hi, to all, has anyone try these https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005001303482569.html?spm=a219c.12010612.8148356.4.311f5393Pb6ngL
Or does anyone know about this brand? Thank you.

It work but you need different model from them. You need one for 2013-2017 model.

Basically OSCOO SSD is what happen when you embed the adapter to the SSD directly by changing the connector shape altogether.

It still has all limitation (and advantage) of NVME drive just like if you use one with adapter.

Plus side is that it's more convenient.

 

[halexber]

It work but you need different model from them. You need one for 2013-2017 model.

Basically OSCOO SSD is what happen when you embed the adapter to the SSD directly by changing the connector shape altogether.

It still has all limitation (and advantage) of NVME drive just like if you use one with adapter.

Plus side is that it's more convenient.Thnak

Thank you for answer, I was thinking they were like originals lol.

 

[danrooster]

Would I see an upgrade in average battery life (average power consumption) going from a WD SN550 to a Sabrent Rocket (the non-Q model with the Phison E12 controller) on a MBP mid-2014 13"?

I'm not satisfied with the current battery life given that I've just gotten the battery replaced. I'll need to do some more testing against my original Apple SSD and with different settings and bootrom to get to the bottom of it.

There seems to be some issues with getting a Sabrent Rocket with the correct controller as well. It seems the cheaper Phison E12S controller from the Rocket Q is starting to find it's way down to the Rocket series as well. So I'm a bit hesitant if the power savings will be minimal.

The Corsair MP510B might still have the Phison E12 controller, it's unclear.

 

[oryan_dunn]

I am looking to upgrade my sisters A1502 early 2015 13" MBP. She currently has 128GB, and it's not near enough. My goals are to have something very reliable and not too expensive. While I'm very proficient with this, she isn't, and lives over an hour away from me, so it has to be a pretty solid solution.

From reading here, it looks like I'll need the Sintech adapter, and I was looking at the Sabrent Rocket SB-ROCKET-1TB. She's a very light user, and so power draw would likely be more of a concern for her than outright performance.

The other option is a used Apple 1TB drive from Beetstech or similar, but those are very expensive and unknown wear counts. The advantage is I know it'll be compatible and work well enough.

 

[MauriceG]

I am looking to upgrade my sisters A1502 early 2015 13" MBP. She currently has 128GB, and it's not near enough. My goals are to have something very reliable and not too expensive. While I'm very proficient with this, she isn't, and lives over an hour away from me, so it has to be a pretty solid solution.

From reading here, it looks like I'll need the Sintech adapter, and I was looking at the Sabrent Rocket SB-ROCKET-1TB. She's a very light user, and so power draw would likely be more of a concern for her than outright performance.

The other option is a used Apple 1TB drive from Beetstech or similar, but those are very expensive and unknown wear counts. The advantage is I know it'll be compatible and work well enough.

I have an Intel 660p (2 TB). One of the least expensive SSDs, big brand, lower power usage than average, single sided, better specs than her Macbook can handle. The 665p is the newer model. The endurance is lower than average, but still enough for decades of normal use. It’s just a suggestion. Now for about 2 years in use(with short Sintech adapter). Mac has become noticable faster; startup is somewhat slower.

 

[otosan]

I have an Intel 660p (2 TB). One of the least expensive SSDs, big brand, lower power usage than average, single sided, better specs than her Macbook can handle. The 665p is the newer model. The endurance is lower than average, but still enough for decades of normal use. It’s just a suggestion. Now for about 2 years in use(with short Sintech adapter). Mac has become noticable faster; startup is somewhat slower.

Startup will always be slower unless you set uo your startup disk from System Preferences - Startup Disk

 

[Cambe]

Hi ! I finally received my sintech adaptor (black short one) I wanted to use it on a macbook pro 2015 with a sandisk extreme pro but I can’t put the screw the ssd is kinda pushed back. Am I the only one with this problem? 😢

 

[otosan]

Hi ! I finally received my sintech adaptor (black short one) I wanted to use it on a macbook pro 2015 with a sandisk extreme pro but I can’t put the screw the ssd is kinda pushed back. Am I the only one with this problem? 😢

You sure you have push until there's click ? Some of my customer who decide to install by themself were too affraid when pushing and it simply not fully going in. Although in some bad adapter case, the fitting is indeed not good and it's like half milimeter off. Can you send picture ? After you placed it prior to screwing down

Btw, Extreme Pro = WD750N. Hopefully you are not facing firmware compatibility issue later on.

 

[Cambe]

You sure you have push until there's click ? Some of my customer who decide to install by themself were too affraid when pushing and it simply not fully going in. Although in some bad adapter case, the fitting is indeed not good and it's like half milimeter off. Can you send picture ? After you placed it prior to screwing down

Btw, Extreme Pro = WD750N. Hopefully you are not facing firmware compatibility issue later on.

Everything is working now thank you ! What's up with the WD750N ?

 

[MauriceG]

Would I see an upgrade in average battery life (average power consumption) going from a WD SN550 to a Sabrent Rocket (the non-Q model with the Phison E12 controller) on a MBP mid-2014 13"?

I'm not satisfied with the current battery life given that I've just gotten the battery replaced. I'll need to do some more testing against my original Apple SSD and with different settings and bootrom to get to the bottom of it.

There seems to be some issues with getting a Sabrent Rocket with the correct controller as well. It seems the cheaper Phison E12S controller from the Rocket Q is starting to find it's way down to the Rocket series as well. So I'm a bit hesitant if the power savings will be minimal.

The Corsair MP510B might still have the Phison E12 controller, it's unclear.

It could also be that the preinstalled version of MacOS and Safari are less power hungry than the current versions that you use. I have a low power SSD with NVMEfix; the battery is still very good. But the far below than what you might expect according to the original specs of Apple. Did a fresh install, that didn’t help.