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

[spockers]

hi, my bootrom version is 425.0.0.0.0, do i need to install nvmefix? and if so, how would one do that? thanks

also in activity monitor and istat i can see programs such as kernel_task, windowserver, sysmond and bird that are using more cpu% than i think they should, is this anything to worry about

 

[BoPl]

Have you consulted page 1? (Bootcamp installation issues section)

MauriceG,

Yes, tried everything. Didn't help.

 

[mdgm]

Maybe try creating a Windows 10 Bootcamp install using the factory OEM SSD and if necessary try using Winclone to clone it and then put on the SSD you really want it installed on.

I think there are alternatives such as WinToUSB if you have a suitable USB enclosure that you could try as well.

 

[Huberer]

hi, my bootrom version is 425.0.0.0.0, do i need to install nvmefix? and if so, how would one do that? thanks

It depends on you if you want to install nvmefix. If you want to extend your battery consumption than I would suggest to install these kext (Lilu.kext and nvmefix.kext).
You can do this with the program "hackintool". Create a folder on your desktop an name it like you want (e.g. "kext") and put "lilu.kext" and "nvmefix.kext" inside this folder. Open "hackintool", go to "utilities" (in the right upper corner of the program window) and down on the new window there's the option "install kext" (next to the last choice), navigate to the folder where you've saved the kext), choose them and let "Hackintool" the work for you (just enter your system password and agree the suggestions). It will copy the kexts to /Library/Extensions. After that do a reboot and voila you have a lower "nvme" power consumption.

 

[BoPl]

Maybe try creating a Windows 10 Bootcamp install using the factory OEM SSD and if necessary try using Winclone to clone it and then put on the SSD you really want it installed on.

I think there are alternatives such as WinToUSB if you have a suitable USB enclosure that you could try as well.

mdgm,
thanks a lot for advise, much appreciated. I just tried to install Widows to upgrade the firmware on my Corsair MP510 SSD due to Corsair SSD toolkit doesn't support MacOS. Still no luck to install SsdPmEnabler on my mid 2014 MBPr 13" due to my corsair SSD firmware ECMF22,6.
Did you try to install the SsdPmEnabler on your Mac?

 

[Nimpoc]

To everyone: Feel free to share your total TB written over how many years of ownership or total power on years. And state your usage characteristics a bit. Would like to get some real numbers on this. I think TBW for SSD is not an issue for most users.

Mid-2015 rMBP w/ original 512GB disk, used for both personal and work. Lots of VM activity, otherwise general use, no video editing, software compile, etc.

@ 34TB written in 5 years, seems like any disk will last forever.

Am I interpreting this correctly?

Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate 0x001a 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct 0x0033 100 100 000 Pre-fail Always - 0
9 Power_On_Hours 0x0032 099 099 000 Old_age Always - 4782
12 Power_Cycle_Count 0x0032 076 076 000 Old_age Always - 23781
169 Unknown_Apple_Attrib 0x0013 223 223 010 Pre-fail Always - 4174884374400
173 Wear_Leveling_Count 0x0032 190 190 100 Old_age Always - 433812275383
174 Host_Reads_MiB 0x0022 099 099 000 Old_age Always - 44901549
175 Host_Writes_MiB 0x0022 099 099 000 Old_age Always - 34388822 (34TB)
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0012 099 099 000 Old_age Always - 105
194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0022 068 018 000 Old_age Always - 32 (Min/Max 0/84)
197 Current_Pending_Sector 0x0022 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count 0x001a 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0

 

[mdgm]

Drives can fail at any time, though they are more likely to fail once they reach their rated useful life.

 

[mrsuxx]

Hi all.

i've been reading this thread for some time now. i've read the OP and the recent posts.

Crucial p2 seems to be the new favourite here.
BUT
it's only available in my country in 500GB variant.

i'd like a 1TB ssd upgrade to my macbook a1502 early 2015 13" retina.

what would you guys have gone with if crucial P2 was not available in 1TB variant?
or is the P2 that good that i should just take the 500GB version and manage somehow ?

 

[MauriceG]

Hi all.

i've been reading this thread for some time now. i've read the OP and the recent posts.

Crucial p2 seems to be the new favourite here.
BUT
it's only available in my country in 500GB variant.

i'd like a 1TB ssd upgrade to my macbook a1502 early 2015 13" retina.

what would you guys have gone with if crucial P2 was not available in 1TB variant?
or is the P2 that good that i should just take the 500GB version and manage somehow ?

You could consider the Intel 660p or 665p (newer model). Available up to 2 TB. It’s useless to select a faster SSD (more expensive, higher power usage, no speed gain). I have a 2TB 660p running in my MBP 2015 13” for about 2 years. Recently upgraded to Big Sur 11.1 . Idle power usage is very low (so low that I wonder if the iStat Menus current readings are reliable). No special kext installed (anymore since Big Sur).
WD Blue SN550 might also be a good option.

 

[mrsuxx]

ignore this one.

 

[mrsuxx]

You could consider the Intel 660p or 665p (newer model). Available up to 2 TB. It’s useless to select a faster SSD (more expensive, higher power usage, no speed gain). I have a 2TB 660p running in my MBP 2015 13” for about 2 years. Recently upgraded to Big Sur 11.1 . Idle power usage is very low (so low that I wonder if the iStat Menus current readings are reliable). No special kext installed (anymore since Big Sur).
WD Blue SN550 might also be a good option.

Yea, power consumption is what i am on about.

my battery has over 1100 cycles and is about 65% of the original design now, so you can see i am little concerned with ssds that draw more power. WD SN550 is available in 1TB, i think i can probably get the intel one too if i look for it.

any thing you'd like to advise me / against about with the whole upgrade process ? first time : P

also sintech adapter is like 40% of the cost of ssd here. i am tempted to go for a cheaper knock off one.

also++ . i plan to run windows natively (see NOT BOOTCAMP) maybe even linux too with all this storage, has anyone been doing that here with newer ssds?

 

[BitMac]

@All
If you have problems with Lilu.kext under Big Sur, like I had (permanent reboot - under Catalina everything was ok)
With this command in terminal



I could solve the reboot-loop and I was able to install nvmefix.kext. I was a hard way to find out this solution.
Maybe someone could use this tip

- Before I try and execute this, what does this command do exactly?
- Would it also work to avoid permanent reboots (Kernel Panics) with SsdPmEnabler kext?

 

[kvic]

- Before I try and execute this, what does this command do exactly?

As far as I'm aware, @herb2k figured out and first posted to this thread how to get NvmeFix/Lilu working in Big Sur which for a long while didn't work and would kernel panics (?). See this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/post-29464834.

So you will need to run `sudo nvram boot-args="keepsyms=1"` before installing NvmeFix in BigSur even for the latest v1.0.5 (which contrary to Release Note might imply otherwise. You actually still need this NVRAM variable set).

Btw that's the impression I got from interaction with herb2k. Not my first hand experience. Nor there is a use case in my situation. By the sound of it, seems @Huberer re-discovered the same thing independently.

- Would it also work to avoid permanent reboots (Kernel Panics) with SsdPmEnabler kext?

No. Completely different.

NvmeFix is not a pre-requisite for ssdpmEnabler to work. NvmeFix to my understsanding was initially created to improve compatibility of NVMe SSDs in Hackintosh i.e. avoiding kernel panics (?)

So see if this could help on your KP issue after ssdpmEnabler is installed. Pls follow this order of installation:

1. Install NvmeFix/Lilu. Reboot.
2. Do some sanity check to make sure NvmeFix working.
3. Install ssdpmEnabler as per my User Guide.

Hope this clarify for you.

EDIT:

@BitMac, I just recall you're running Mojave and saw KP on Mojave right? Forget about the digression above. And you don't need that NVRAM variable set.

Pls get your NvmeFix/Lilu installed and then try ssdpmEnabler. Should be a fairly quick test. Let me know if it works or not. I have a private build of NvmeFix to try in case the stock version doesn't resolve your KP.

 

[herb2k]

As far as I'm aware, @herb2k figured out and first posted to this thread how to get NvmeFix/Lilu working in Big Sur which for a long while didn't work and would kernel panics (?). See this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/post-29464834.

So you will need to run `sudo nvram boot-args="keepsyms=1"` before installing NvmeFix in BigSur even for the latest v1.0.5 (which contrary to Release Note might imply otherwise. You actually still need this NVRAM variable set).

Btw that's the impression I got from interaction with herb2k. Not my first hand experience. Nor there is a use case in my situation. By the sound of it, seems @Huberer re-discovered the same thing independently.

The command simply keeps debugging symbols in the KP report - as I understand it, on Big Sur it has a side effect of activating a kernel flag required for LiLu on 11.x

I found it while researching reported LiLu bugs/KPs after Big Sur - here's the original bug report that led me to this finding: https://github.com/acidanthera/bugtracker/issues/1353

 

[joebeazelman]

I would like to upgrade my 2014 i7 3.0MHZ 16GB 13" MBP to 1TB. I've already had good success with the Sabrent 512GB on my wife 2015 MBA, but that was a couple of years ago. A lot may have changed since then.

Is the Sabrent still the best bang for the buck in terms of performance and price? Are there any new players rivaling it?

 

[MauriceG]

Yea, power consumption is what i am on about.

my battery has over 1100 cycles and is about 65% of the original design now, so you can see i am little concerned with ssds that draw more power. WD SN550 is available in 1TB, i think i can probably get the intel one too if i look for it.

any thing you'd like to advise me / against about with the whole upgrade process ? first time : P

also sintech adapter is like 40% of the cost of ssd here. i am tempted to go for a cheaper knock off one.

also++ . i plan to run windows natively (see NOT BOOTCAMP) maybe even linux too with all this storage, has anyone been doing that here with newer ssds?

Tips:
- make sure that your boot rom is updated (before the nvme SSD installation) to version 425.0.0.0 (update comes via Big Sur 11.1 and the original SSD). Because the boot rom won’t update with the new SSD installed.
- the run time on battery will become shorter. I think your battery is near end of life...
- page 1 mentions a cheap alternative for the Sintech short adapter (via AliExpress, so deliverry will take a long time)
Good luck👍🏼

 

[mrsuxx]

Tips:
- make sure that your boot rom is updated (before the nvme SSD installation) to version 425.0.0.0 (update comes via Big Sur 11.1 and the original SSD). Because the boot rom won’t update with the new SSD installed.
- the run time on battery will become shorter. I think your battery is near end of life...
- page 1 mentions a cheap alternative for the Sintech short adapter (via AliExpress, so deliverry will take a long time)
Good luck👍🏼

Right on.

Thanks for taking the time to reply @MauriceG

 

[mertingen]

hi there, this will be my first post. Thanks everyone for contributing, learnt alot.

I have an early 2015 MacBook Pro 13' with 8gb ram with i5 2,7ghz processor and swapped the 128 gb apple ssd with the crucial p2 500gb using Sintech long adapter. Before that I updated the Apple SSD to Big Sur and bootrom is 425.0.0.0.0

What I ve done is formatting the p2 apfs and installing Mojave using a bootable usb.
My problem is slow write and read speed. In Blackmagic test write and read speeds are slower than Apple SSD and drops within seconds dramatically. Are these speeds normal or am I doing something wrong?

first

after 20 seconds

 

[BoPl]

I would like to upgrade my 2014 i7 3.0MHZ 16GB 13" MBP to 1TB. I've already had good success with the Sabrent 512GB on my wife 2015 MBA, but that was a couple of years ago. A lot may have changed since then.

Is the Sabrent still the best bang for the buck in terms of performance and price? Are there any new players rivaling it?

I've been testing 3 different 1TB SSDs on my mid 2014 MBPr 13":
Samsung 970 Evo Plus, Corsair Force MP510 and Crucial P2.
Everything with Big Sur 11.1 and 429.0.0.0 updated bootrom.
1. Samsung is 100% outsider to use in MBP - very hot and power hungry - 0,45A Idle.
2. Corsair MP510 is the same as Sabrent - good in power consumption - 0,16A Idle without install any kext, and 0,11A with Lily&NVMeFix installed.
3. Crucial P2 is the coldest and most power economy SSD of those 3 I tested - 0,10A Idle without any installed kext. And using Lilu&NVMeFix still same 0,10A.

And for All with MacBook Pro 11.1 mid 2014 13" model - I tried to install the SsdPmEnabler using all 3 above SSDs with my MBP on macOS Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur 11.1.
The SsdPmEnabler.kext doesn't work on my Mac!
Reboot stops on Logo half way, black screen for a second and:


Thank Kvic very much for the help.

 

[MauriceG]

hi there, this will be my first post. Thanks everyone for contributing, learnt alot.

I have an early 2015 MacBook Pro 13' with 8gb ram with i5 2,7ghz processor and swapped the 128 gb apple ssd with the crucial p2 500gb using Sintech long adapter. Before that I updated the Apple SSD to Big Sur and bootrom is 425.0.0.0.0

What I ve done is formatting the p2 apfs and installing Mojave using a bootable usb.
My problem is slow write and read speed. In Blackmagic test write and read speeds are slower than Apple SSD and drops within seconds dramatically. Are these speeds normal or am I doing something wrong?

first

View attachment 1714307

after 20 seconds

View attachment 1714308

You should be able to reach double the speed. It’s normal that the speed drops after some time (cache full, characteristic of a Q SSD).
Verify link width and speed, should be x4 and 5.0 GT/s (about this Mac , System report... , nvme).
If you have lower readings than please verify placement of the SSD (you need some force to properly install the adapter and the SSD). The small screw should fit exactly in the middle of the hole of the SSD.

 

[mertingen]

checked the width and speed all seems ok.
don't know what happened bec i've practically done nothing to change the result but when I tried the speed test again i got this result. These speeds are ok right?

 

[MauriceG]

checked the width and speed all seems ok.
don't know what happened bec i've practically done nothing to change the result but when I tried the speed test again i got this result. These speeds are ok right?


View attachment 1714490

As expected. So OK. Might be that MacOS was still doing things after the installation (indexing, synchronize photos etc.).

 

[CosmicDust]

This is embarrassing...and I feel dumb but I really do not know so I thought the least I could do was ask for help and hope somebody answers...I am new here and not the most tech savvy. I started searching the internet for ways to upgrade the storage capacity in my wife's Macbook Air and my Macbook Pro and stumbled upon this site. I read the original post/guide, which seemed encouraging and made it appear there was a way to upgrade the SSD...however I still wan't sure on several things so I started reading the last several pages of comments and now I am just more confused and questioning whether I can even do this.

My Mac: 13" Macbook Pro, mid 2014. Original Apple 256GB SSD in it. I am looking to upgrade to at least a 500/512 GB SSD, and maybe even a 1TB.

• Can mine be upgraded without any issues?? (I keep reading about not waking from sleep/hibernation issues, kernel panics, high power consumption while sleeping, and something about Big Sur and possibly solving some issue but updating Boot Rom is needed, etc - I don't understand most of this)
  • If mine can be updated without any issues, what would the exact process be (besides the typical tear apart Mac, replace old SSD with new SSD, restore from time machine backup, etc). What SSD would you guys recommend? (I don't care about super fast/crazy read/write times - as long it is reliable and at least matches the original Apple SSD read/write times, I would be happy). I do realize I would need that Sintech adapter.
  • I'm also pretty sure I would need to make the jump from Catalina to Big Sur prior to doing the SSD swap. This is suppose to fix something with the hibernation issue right? Would there be anything else I need to do? I keep reading about this ssdpmEnabler, NvmeFix, Lilu etc - I am totally lost in regards to what these do. I also read something about updating a Boot Rom? Would I need to do this and if so, how do I go about doing this?

My wife's Mac: Macbook Air, 13", 2017. Original Apple 128GB SSD, would like to upgrade to at least a 500/512 GB SSD, and maybe even a 1TB.

• Pretty much same questions above. I'm pretty sure from reading everything in this post that only 2013-2014's have these hibernation issues...so I am wondering if her's would be easier? Just buy the new SSD and adapter and do the swap/Time Machine restore and thats it? Or are there still other things to worry about with high power consumption while sleeping, needing to update this Boot Rom thing in Big Sur, doing stuff with ssdpmEnabler, NvmeFix, Lilu etc?

I'm really not expecting a lot of people to respond to this as I've also seen several others ask similar questions and its obviously cumbersome for the people who do understand this stuff to reply to all us newbies/dumbies and are thinking we should just read the original guide/comments, but I am here asking this because I did read a lot of this thread and still don't understand so I was hoping somebody could post some better direction for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance?

 

[BoPl]

This is embarrassing...and I feel dumb but I really do not know so I thought the least I could do was ask for help and hope somebody answers...I am new here and not the most tech savvy. I started searching the internet for ways to upgrade the storage capacity in my wife's Macbook Air and my Macbook Pro and stumbled upon this site. I read the original post/guide, which seemed encouraging and made it appear there was a way to upgrade the SSD...however I still wan't sure on several things so I started reading the last several pages of comments and now I am just more confused and questioning whether I can even do this.

My Mac: 13" Macbook Pro, mid 2014. Original Apple 256GB SSD in it. I am looking to upgrade to at least a 500/512 GB SSD, and maybe even a 1TB.

• Can mine be upgraded without any issues?? (I keep reading about not waking from sleep/hibernation issues, kernel panics, high power consumption while sleeping, and something about Big Sur and possibly solving some issue but updating Boot Rom is needed, etc - I don't understand most of this)
  • If mine can be updated without any issues, what would the exact process be (besides the typical tear apart Mac, replace old SSD with new SSD, restore from time machine backup, etc). What SSD would you guys recommend? (I don't care about super fast/crazy read/write times - as long it is reliable and at least matches the original Apple SSD read/write times, I would be happy). I do realize I would need that Sintech adapter.
  • I'm also pretty sure I would need to make the jump from Catalina to Big Sur prior to doing the SSD swap. This is suppose to fix something with the hibernation issue right? Would there be anything else I need to do? I keep reading about this ssdpmEnabler, NvmeFix, Lilu etc - I am totally lost in regards to what these do. I also read something about updating a Boot Rom? Would I need to do this and if so, how do I go about doing this?

My wife's Mac: Macbook Air, 13", 2017. Original Apple 128GB SSD, would like to upgrade to at least a 500/512 GB SSD, and maybe even a 1TB.

• Pretty much same questions above. I'm pretty sure from reading everything in this post that only 2013-2014's have these hibernation issues...so I am wondering if her's would be easier? Just buy the new SSD and adapter and do the swap/Time Machine restore and thats it? Or are there still other things to worry about with high power consumption while sleeping, needing to update this Boot Rom thing in Big Sur, doing stuff with ssdpmEnabler, NvmeFix, Lilu etc?

I'm really not expecting a lot of people to respond to this as I've also seen several others ask similar questions and its obviously cumbersome for the people who do understand this stuff to reply to all us newbies/dumbies and are thinking we should just read the original guide/comments, but I am here asking this because I did read a lot of this thread and still don't understand so I was hoping somebody could post some better direction for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance?

I've been testing my 13" MacBook Pro mid 2014 with 3 different SSDs and my choice is Crucial P2 1TB SSD. I'm afraid your Mac is 100% the same as my so highly likely you will not be able for now to install the SsdPmEnable kext so at this point the Crucial P2 SSD is on top of the list for Power efficiency (battery life) and Price.
Please read my post #8,245.
And Sintech short adapter is only right choice.

 

[mdgm]

Mojave or Catalina with latest security updates would also give a recent enough Boot ROM update.