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

[xanderx007]

Long adapter should no longer be used nowaday. Except when you are planning to use 2230 or 2242 ssd.

It generate more heat due to less available space for air. And it's not suitable for two sided ssd (although most of new ssd is 1 side)

Sintech is known to work, but they are NOT necessarily better than other options (pricier, yes. better, not really) . And they FAIL every now and then also just like any other adapters (or ssd - it's human made after all) . They just have a benefit of being the first one available around in 2013-2014 time.

And we are in 2022 now.

I belive the long adapter's advantage is indeed as added support for the longer SSDs, but, I disagree that it generates heat since the longer part (with that copper lining where the SSDs are secured) acts like a secondary heatsink, drawing heat away from the SSD. Also, it can't generate heat, as was mentioned in the discussions, it doesn't have a chip, so there's nothing on it that generates heat. The only thing what generates heat, therefore, is the SSD and the surrounding components. The SSD is also located next to one of the fans (at least in most MBP models) so it does get partial cooling from the vortex/vacuum created as the fan sucks the air around it.

I've also mentioned that Sintech might just be a rebranded OEM (they all come from China), so it's basically the same as the other unbranded adapters. These OEMs will either work or fail, though most of them do work than otherwise.

 

[BlueBlueMan]

Hello Community,

got now all the parts for the SSD upgrade on my A1398 (Kingston A2000 1TB, Sintech Short).

Just one question before starting: I am currently on Catalina, hence, my bootable USB also would be Catalina? And I should do the Monterey upgrade only after completing the SSD upgrade?

Thanks.

 

[xanderx007]

Hello Community,

got now all the parts for the SSD upgrade on my A1398 (Kingston A2000 1TB, Sintech Short).

Just one question before starting: I am currently on Catalina, hence, my bootable USB also would be Catalina? And I should do the Monterey upgrade only after completing the SSD upgrade?

Thanks.

Install Big Sur, because Monterey won't install on an MBP 2014 without OpenCore.

 

[csonni]

I'm really thinking my kernel panics are due to the Crucial P5. My MBP works flawlessly if it doesn't go to sleep for over 5-10 minutes. If there was an issue with my adapter, you'd think that there would be panics at other times but not one has occurred.

 

[BlueBlueMan]

Install Big Sur, because Monterey won't install on an MBP 2014 without OpenCore.

My MBP is a Mid 2015 15” Retina (A1398) - Does your comment also apply to that model?

 

[Rimmsi]

My MBP is a Mid 2015 15” Retina (A1398) - Does your comment also apply to that model?

No, you can install Monterey, mid 2015 is supported.

 

[xanderx007]

My MBP is a Mid 2015 15” Retina (A1398) - Does your comment also apply to that model?

Yes. Apparently, Apple listed the A1398 as Legacy right after I installed Big Sur. While I was prepping the SSD for intallation, I can still choose Monterey as an upgrade. A week or so after that, I tried to check upgrade options in the System preferences, and Monterey was no longer available.

The oldest MBPs that can install Monterey are the 2015s.

@macpro_mid2014 care to chime in? You're on Monterey and Open Core after all.

 

[vince22]

updated results Hynix P31 1TB with my early 2015 13" MacBook Pro power idling consumption (doing nothing) results, latest MacOs Monterey 12.3 beta, latest Lilu +Nvmefix kext.

 

[BlueBlueMan]

Yes. Apparently, Apple listed the A1398 as Legacy right after I installed Big Sur. While I was prepping the SSD for intallation, I can still choose Monterey as an upgrade. A week or so after that, I tried to check upgrade options in the System preferences, and Monterey was no longer available.

The oldest MBPs that can install Monterey are the 2015s.

@macpro_mid2014 care to chime in? You're on Monterey and Open Core after all.

According to https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT212551 the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) should be supported. Apparently all 15'' Retina MBPs from 2012-2015 are A1398 models. So I guess yours is an older one.

 

[macpro_mid2014]

Yes. Apparently, Apple listed the A1398 as Legacy right after I installed Big Sur. While I was prepping the SSD for intallation, I can still choose Monterey as an upgrade. A week or so after that, I tried to check upgrade options in the System preferences, and Monterey was no longer available.

The oldest MBPs that can install Monterey are the 2015s.

@macpro_mid2014 care to chime in? You're on Monterey and Open Core after all.

Yes, I had been using Monterey since 12.0 Beta 2 + OCLP.

When Apple released 12.0.1, I downloaded Open Core (not the OCLP), compiled it, and customized it for my needs (spoofed hardware was MacBookPro11,4).

At the moment, I am at OC 0.7.7 without any Kexts and without any hardware spoofing (0.7.7 allows you to configure OC to use VM_x86 instead of a spoofed model).

My wife's MacBookAir Early 2015 is natively running Monterey 12.2. As far as I know, Apple will support the 2015 models until the next major macOS update (13.0). Take a look at the link below, Dr. Oakley "guesses" which models will be out of the next release:

Have Monterey updates got smaller?

Going from 11.0 to 11.6 required over 50 GB of updates for an M1 Mac. Has Monterey tamed the beast, and reduced them? And which Macs will be supported by macOS 13?

eclecticlight.co

If you are interested, a thread about Monterey on compatible hardware is here:

Install macOS Monterey 12 MacBook Pro retina late 2013

Update 22 Jan 2022 OC 0.7.8 Change default theme for Flavours-B -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to install macOS Monterey on a MacBook Pro retina late 2013 Without patcher, without any kexts files. Genuine macOS booting with...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[scorpic]

Does Sabrent 2TB Rocket Q4 NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD will work on my mac? My mac is MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015). Or can suggest a 2 tb SSD. Currently i have the 1TB inland premium SSD. Thank you.

 

[csonni]

Monterey is running fine on my early 2015 MBP 13 inch.

 

[herb2k]

Does Sabrent 2TB Rocket Q4 NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD will work on my mac? My mac is MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015). Or can suggest a 2 tb SSD. Currently i have the 1TB inland premium SSD. Thank you.

Yes it should.

 

[anavas]

Is there any one used

Silicon Power P34A60 1TB ?​

Can I use it on my Macbook air 2017, how is the power consumption compared to other drives?

 

[vince22]

Does Sabrent 2TB Rocket Q4 NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD will work on my mac? My mac is MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015). Or can suggest a 2 tb SSD. Currently i have the 1TB inland premium SSD. Thank you.

I'm pretty positive it will work, just a side note, PCie 4.0 runs hotter, unless you keep your MacBook Pro plugin at all times, it will drain your battery much quicker than PCie 3.0 NVme's, plus your 2015 15" MBP are limited to PCie 3x lane.
whatever you decide its your Mac.

 

[andy_hooli]

Greetings to the community!

My original Apple SSD died and I want to replace it. Can you tell me which drive from the list I should choose?
Kingston A2000 256GB
Intel 760P 256GB
XPG SX8200 Pro 256GB
WD SN520 256GB
Samsung PM991 256GB
Kingston KC2500 256gb
My Mac: MBP 13" early 2015
PS The most important thing for me is stable operation and low power consumption

 

[superlativo]

I am looking for a 1TB SSD for my 2013 Macbook Air 128GB with Big Sur. I have compared the balance between speed, power consumptions and endurance (TBW). I give a lot of importance to consumption being a laptop. After several days comparing various brands and models I have selected these two:

Kingston A2000 1TB:
TLC NAND
0.0032W idle
0.08W average
1.7 W (max) read
4.5 W (max) write
Sequential Read/Write: up to 2,200/2,000 MB/s
4K Random Read/Write: Up to 250,000/220,000 IOPS
TBW: 600

Corsair MP510 Force Series 960GB:
TLC NAND
Power Consumption active: 6.9W Average
Power Consumption Inactive: 0.03W
Max Sequential Read: 3,480MB/s
Max Sequential Write: 3,000MB/s
TBW: 720

According to these tables (section 9) the Corsair is more energy efficient. Although those 6.9W average extracted from their official website make me distrust the tables. In this other review the A2000 is a big winner.

Do you recommend any of these or any other?

Any help is welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[joe4227]

I have to replace the battery in my MacBook Pro Retina 2015. Have that waiting to install. I figured as good a time as any to also upgrade the drive. Bought a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2T. Awaiting delivery of the Sintech Adapter. I ordered both a long and a short one.
My question is, how does one "heat sink" these SSD's? Does the Long Sintech Adapter suffice, or do I have to put a sink on top of the SSD? And will the MacBook Pro have room?

 

[scorpic]

I'm pretty positive it will work, just a side note, PCie 4.0 runs hotter, unless you keep your MacBook Pro plugin at all times, it will drain your battery much quicker than PCie 3.0 NVme's, plus your 2015 15" MBP are limited to PCie 3x lane.
whatever you decide its your Mac.

thanks for the information, then i am going to stick to pcie 3.0.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Hello there,

FIRST I want to thank all those who sacrificed their time to share their experiences about upgrading older MBPs to save a lot of money AND keep good old machines at life PLUS doing so protectIng our envirement at the same time !! THANK YOU !

I had the chance to purchase a 15“ MBP 11,4 model mid 2015 (produced in 2017) in absolutely perfect condition for a very good price - but with the 256 GB apple SSD…. Already on Monterey 12.2 - now I have to install a 2TB SSD…

Did read a part of the now 411 (!) pages with 10.000+ postings - and I really beg your pardon for my short questions:

The predecessor sold it with the wiped original 256 GB SSD and installed Monterey 12.2 on it.
But I want to install a 2TB NVMe M.2

- Is is correct that I can „just“ install a Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB SSD with fresh installed Monterey on it using the Sintech adapter ?

- Is it correct that the firmware of the MBP 15“ (MBP which already works well with the old SSD and OS Monterey) doesn’t need to be updated firmware-wise because Monterey did already this job?

So - Is my impression correct that my new MBP should have much less problems -or no problems at all - than those still existing some years ago when this thread has been started Because the newer OS accept now third party NVM M.2 SSD like the Samsung 980 ?

FYI
MBP 11,4 15" Mod 2015
System-Firmware version is : 428.60.3.0.0
SMC Version is: 2.29/24

Thanks a lot for your advice!

cheers

 

[herb2k]

MBP 11,4 15" Mod 2015
System-Firmware version is : 428.60.3.0.0
SMC Version is: 2.29/24

The old firmwares were 1xx.xx.x.x and yours is updated to one of the latest. Should be OK to install any of the recommended SSDs.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

The old firmwares were 1xx.xx.x.x and yours is updated to one of the latest. Should be OK to install any of the recommended SSDs.

THANKS A LOT !!

That makes me even more looking forward to the upgrading than before since my 2 MBPs are 15" from 2011 and 2012 ... they are still working fine and fully service-friendly what I appreciate a lot.

But the 2015 is a nicer machine with its much better 2880x1800 screen and I think will be largely sufficient for me for further at least 5 years for normal photography needs (amateur postproduction) . The older Models will still serve me for office and Internet etc.
I am happy that for me personally there is still no need to go for an expensive MBP 14" oder 16"

So - I am very happy and will purchase a Samsung 980 or 980 Pro (their prices are falling at the moment in Germany)...

cheers

 

[quaresma]

Time to say goodbye. I just received my M1 Air 16GB/1TB today.

Thanks for all the help, I learned so much here. This is truly the best thread ever on MacRumors!

 

[macpro_mid2014]

If you are interested in running OpenCore (not the OCLP), I've just updated my EFI to the latest release version.
Please check this link for more information:

Install macOS Monterey 12 MacBook Pro retina late 2013

If you followed the instructions in this thread, you should not have any issues!! Also, if you put a complete description of your Macbook Pro, people could give you more specific advice. I am attaching my EFI based on OpenCore 0.7.8 released today (Feb. 07) which uses a Virtual Machine approach...

forums.macrumors.com

Regards,

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Since these older MBP have all PCIe 3.0 and NOT 4.0 connections and after reading some reviews (Anandtech for example) I think one can save a lot of money to go for the Samsung 970 Evo plus 2TB instead of a Samsung 980 2TB - especially Since the promoted peak- data rates can’t be realized with our „old“ MBPs….
connected via PCIe 3.0 the 970 Evo plus seems to have even better/more constant R/W rates than the 980… for (at this moment) a 20-25% lower price…

what do you think ?

cheers