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

[macpro_mid2014]

Thanks for the suggestions. I decided to get a 2TB Crucial P2 instead of the 4TB P3, hopefully that will work out too.

Also, does anyone know of an adapter to take the 500GB Apple SSD that I'll be taking out of my MacBook Pro, so that I can use it in the PCIe slot of a regular desktop computer? Or a USB adapter?

I've been using the OWC's enclosure for more than two years without any issue (I know, it is a rip-off).

I've tried the "Apple Macbook Air Pro Retina 2013 2014 2015 /2016 Hard Disk Box Usb3.0 to Mac SSD Case Enclosure A1466 A1465 A1398 A1502" from AliExpress but it is very sensitive if you disconnect it without doing the "Eject" procedure. I think I end up damaging the SSD because of it! I keep my USB sticks connected through a powered USB hub and after a couple of power outrages, the SSD seemed dead.

If you find one that you like, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[smoothbit]

I've been using the OWC's enclosure for more than two years without any issue (I know, it is a rip-off).

I've tried the "Apple Macbook Air Pro Retina 2013 2014 2015 /2016 Hard Disk Box Usb3.0 to Mac SSD Case Enclosure A1466 A1465 A1398 A1502" from AliExpress but it is very sensitive if you disconnect it without doing the "Eject" procedure. I think I end up damaging the SSD because of it! I keep my USB sticks connected through a powered USB hub and after a couple of power outrages, the SSD seemed dead.

If you find one that you like, please let me know.

Thanks.

I may try this PCIe adapter:

NFHK PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466

PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 With Standard PCI Back Bracket Single-lane (x1) PCI Express throughput rates up to 5 Gbps Support Windows 10 or later The SSD is not included. Compatibility With: 2013 Macbook Pro A1493...

www.amazon.co.uk

Since all these adapters do is remap the pins I'm optimistic it will work in an old PC, I'll just need to see if the motherboard supports booting from PCIe drives.

 

[macpro_mid2014]

I may try this PCIe adapter:

NFHK PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466

PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 With Standard PCI Back Bracket Single-lane (x1) PCI Express throughput rates up to 5 Gbps Support Windows 10 or later The SSD is not included. Compatibility With: 2013 Macbook Pro A1493...

www.amazon.co.uk

Since all these adapters do is remap the pins I'm optimistic it will work in an old PC, I'll just need to see if the motherboard supports booting from PCIe drives.

There is also this one which I never tested:

Sintech M.2 NGFF 28Pin SSD Adapter, for Read SSD Compatible with MacBook 2013-2015 Year in M-Key Slot (Only Fit in Desktop,Height 10mms,NOT fit in Laptop)

Specifications and features: 1. Fit SSD modules only from the following : 11" Air Mid 2013, A1465(MD711.MD712) 13" Air Mid 2013, A1466 (MD760.MD761); 13" PRO Retina Late 2013, A1502 (ME864, ME865, ME866) 15" PRO Retina Late 2013, A1398 (ME293, ME294, ME874) 2. Fit following SSD modules: Sa...

www.amazon.ca

 

[smoothbit]

There is also this one which I never tested:

Sintech M.2 NGFF 28Pin SSD Adapter, for Read SSD Compatible with MacBook 2013-2015 Year in M-Key Slot (Only Fit in Desktop,Height 10mms,NOT fit in Laptop)

Specifications and features: 1. Fit SSD modules only from the following : 11" Air Mid 2013, A1465(MD711.MD712) 13" Air Mid 2013, A1466 (MD760.MD761); 13" PRO Retina Late 2013, A1502 (ME864, ME865, ME866) 15" PRO Retina Late 2013, A1398 (ME293, ME294, ME874) 2. Fit following SSD modules: Sa...

www.amazon.ca

That looks good for a motherboard with M.2 slots, the one I have in mind doesn't have those.

 

[otosan]

I may try this PCIe adapter:

NFHK PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466

PCI Express PCI-E 1X to 12+16Pin 2013-2017 Mac Pro Air SSD Convert Card for A1493 A1502 A1465 A1466 With Standard PCI Back Bracket Single-lane (x1) PCI Express throughput rates up to 5 Gbps Support Windows 10 or later The SSD is not included. Compatibility With: 2013 Macbook Pro A1493...

www.amazon.co.uk

Since all these adapters do is remap the pins I'm optimistic it will work in an old PC, I'll just need to see if the motherboard supports booting from PCIe drives.

Last time i tried, this kind of adapter (12+16 to PCIe or M2) doesnt support booting from it, only as data storage

but maybe now it already improved.

 

[hailyn83]

Hello everyone, I am new

I have a MacBook 13 pro retina from 2015, I would like to replace my 128gb ssd with a 500gb / 1T one

my mac has 8gb of ram.

I saw that I need an adapter, do you recommend a working SSD? thank you

 

[macpro_mid2014]

ciao a tutti sono nuovo
Ho un MacBook 13 pro retina del 2015, vorrei sostituire il mio ssd da 128gb con uno da 500gb/1T
il mio mac ha 8gb di ram.
Ho visto che ho bisogno di un adattatore, mi consigliate un SSD funzionante? grazie

Ciao!

Any SSD mentioned in the last three pages would fit your MBP. I suggest you read these pages to understand which one is best for your scenario.

 

[hailyn83]

I've seen the last pages, I'm opting for this: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B07K1J3C23/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A7P7EAUWU945G&psc=1

the adapter should I take long or short?
i found this:

www.amazon.it
SZsintech - Adapter card for NGFF M.2 nVME SSD, to upgrade Mac-Book Air (year 2013–2016) and Mac-Book Pro (year late 2013–2015)
Sintech ST-NGFF2013 / B / C supports following nVME SSD: - Adata nVME SSD: SX6000, SX7000, SX8200, SX8200 etc. - Cruicial nVME SSD: P1 - Corsair nVME SSD: MP500, MP510 - HP nVME SSD: ex920, ex950 - OCZ RD400 (and all Toshiba XG3, XG4, XG5, XG5p, XG6 line) - Intel nVME SSD: 600p, 660p, 760p etc. ...
www.amazon.it

ok or is the long one necessary?

 

[macpro_mid2014]

Ho visto le ultime pagine, sto optando per questo: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B07K1J3C23/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A7P7EAUWU945G&psc=1

l'adattatore devo prendere lungo o corto?
ho trovato questo:

SZsintech - Scheda adattatrice per SSD NGFF M.2 nVME, per aggiornamento del Mac-Book Air (anno 2013–2016) e Mac-Book Pro (anno tardo 2013–2015)

Se avete un Macbook con un'unità SSD a bassa capacità ma non volete spendere molti soldi per un'unità SSD originale ad alta capacità. Allora potete scegliere questa scheda adattatore perché l'SSD nVME è ora più economico e più veloce. Sintech ST-NGFF2013/B/C supporta le seguenti unità SSD nVME: -...

www.amazon.it

ok o è necessario quello lungo?

I suggest you get the short adapter! Some people in this thread opted for the long one, but I've been using the short one since the beginning without any issues.

 

[otosan]

Ho visto le ultime pagine, sto optando per questo: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B07K1J3C23/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A7P7EAUWU945G&psc=1

l'adattatore devo prendere lungo o corto?
ho trovato questo:

SZsintech - Scheda adattatrice per SSD NGFF M.2 nVME, per aggiornamento del Mac-Book Air (anno 2013–2016) e Mac-Book Pro (anno tardo 2013–2015)

Se avete un Macbook con un'unità SSD a bassa capacità ma non volete spendere molti soldi per un'unità SSD originale ad alta capacità. Allora potete scegliere questa scheda adattatore perché l'SSD nVME è ora più economico e più veloce. Sintech ST-NGFF2013/B/C supporta le seguenti unità SSD nVME: -...

www.amazon.it

ok o è necessario quello lungo?

I always suggest people to use short adapter. Some peole said it has worse structure support/strenght, but the long one won't do any better, yet it disturb more airflow and has more tendency to bend the ssd.

You can go for sintech, but that's uneccessary. The information regarding adapter on first page of this thread is no longer valid. NFHK, BZHS, LCCT and other manufaturer already made an adapter as good as sintech (if not better), there's NO SUCH A THING as FAKE SINTECH

Btw, i suggest you to write in english, since this is an international forum, so thatother users can help/understand you faster/better

Best of luck!

 

[hailyn83]

I'm sorry, I thought I wrote in English I use the translator, but obviously I copied in Italian.
Can you give me the link of any of these adapters you told me?

 

[Jacky Yang]

Has anyone tried the WD Blue SN570 for MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)? Its listed as incompatible, but I don't see an actual post about it.

 

[kvic]

Has anyone tried the WD Blue SN570 for MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)? Its listed as incompatible, but I don't see an actual post about it.

Recently one user reported his experience on my GitHub. Seems SN570 'out of box' is fine. Kernel panic if you try to lower idle power consumption e.g. by using ssdpmEnabler. Note that his test machine is 2017 MBP (MacbookPro14,1).

 

[IDMah]

You can,

but by the time they plug it on windows, SMART will show OK. So they might reject the RMA.

I got the "Advanced RMA" where I get the drive first. I'm going to send them a printout of the screen.
and Pretty sure they don't care. As they've got $41 of my Canadian dollars to get the advanced RMA.

They have also sent me a 570 Blue vs the 550, do I need to do a bios Update to that too?

 

[IDMah]

Can you send an screenshot?

From Storage and MVMExpress in that order below.

 

[0134168]

From Storage and MVMExpress in that order below.

Same here. But SMART ok.

 

[kvic]

Smart = Failing
Looking for a recommendation for a cool, endurance drive.
Right now I've a WD Blue
My CPU temps are 58-70 Degrees C. also I realized seem to write 10-15 gig a day thus endurance need.

For the reference of SN550 owners landing on this page in future.

Without detailed log, hard to tell what's the exact error. However, based on my first hand experience with SN550, you probably don't have to worry about the "smart failure' on SN550.

If you intend to sell it in future or SN550 able to spare from a few weeks' work, then by all means do a free RMA. WD technicians won't be able to tell what caused the smart error (though I'm pretty certain how it happened and what caused it).

If neither apply, then just keep using it happily like I did (or rather my advice to my family member).

I would think "smart failure" is not uncommon among users of this thread. I believe victims are simply unaware of it if they don't specifically look for it. It's one of the reasons in retrospect, I would rather get the LONG adaptor than the SHORT one.

To avoid repeated smart failure on your new drive(s), perhaps you should consider switching to LONG adaptor. It'll be a very tight fit. So a bit of MODing will loosen the mechanical stress a bit. Some discussion on this in the past 30-50 pages from me and another folk.

 

[otosan]

For the reference of SN550 owners landing on this page in future.

Without detailed log, hard to tell what's the exact error. However, based on my first hand experience with SN550, you probably don't have to worry about the "smart failure' on SN550.

If you intend to sell it in future or SN550 able to spare from a few weeks' work, then by all means do a free RMA. WD technicians won't be able to tell what caused the smart error (though I'm pretty certain how it happened and what caused it).

If neither apply, then just keep using it happily like I did (or rather my advice to my family member).

I would think "smart failure" is not uncommon among users of this thread. I believe victims are simply unaware of it if they don't specifically look for it. It's one of the reasons in retrospect, I would rather get the LONG adaptor than the SHORT one.

To avoid repeated smart failure on your new drive(s), perhaps you should consider switching to LONG adaptor. It'll be a very tight fit. So a bit of MODing will loosen the mechanical stress a bit. Some discussion on this in the past 30-50 pages from me and another folk.

The thing with SMART failure is, that it will make us unable to do some thing/ use some stuff.

Most common example is, you won't be able to install bootcamp.

I stop recommending WD to my customer after some of bad experience with SN550. Now i custom order my own nvme brand instead.

Regarding adapter, i've been installing short version to more than 500 macbook up to today, and the failure rate of the adapter is < 3, so i can vouch with everything i have for the short one, lol. But then maybe people get different manufactures.

 

[kvic]

The thing with SMART failure is, that it will make us unable to do some thing/ use some stuff.

Most common example is, you won't be able to install bootcamp.

I realised "smart failure" on our SN550 only when I tried to upgrade from Catalina to Monterey early this year. But the error should have been there for over a year. Apple installer stopped average Joe to proceed further indeed. Nevertheless, I installed Monterey successfully. Haven't tried Bootcamp which we don't care.

...
Regarding adapter, i've been installing short version to more than 500 macbook up to today, and the failure rate of the adapter is < 3, so i can vouch with everything i have for the short one, lol. But then maybe people get different manufactures.

The short adaptor is and will be a disaster for users using their laptops as laptops, not desktop replacement. I would still go with LONG adaptor if I had the chance to start again. Anyway, these old machines are on the way out. Our MBP will likely retire when Monterey update stops. It's a very nice run of 9 yrs.

 

[xboxbml]

I realised "smart failure" on our SN550 only when I tried to upgrade from Catalina to Monterey early this year. But the error should have been there for over a year. Apple installer stopped average Joe to proceed further indeed. Nevertheless, I installed Monterey successfully. Haven't tried Bootcamp which we don't care.


The short adaptor is and will be a disaster for users using their laptops as laptops, not desktop replacement. I would still go with LONG adaptor if I had the chance to start again. Anyway, these old machines are on the way out. Our MBP will likely retire when Monterey update stops. It's a very nice run of 9 yrs.

I've never had an issue with the short adapter... Been using it for a couple years now with my Adata 2TB ... no issues at all..

 

[mdgm]

Well I've now got a new laptop and will retire my mid-2014 MBP with 2TB OWC Aura Pro X2 SSD. I may use it just for those times that I really need to run something that'll only run on a machine with an Intel processor.

 

[kvic]

I've never had an issue with the short adapter... Been using it for a couple years now with my Adata 2TB ... no issues at all..

You and I had briefly gone over it before. So if your testament is for me, then it's meaningless. I have pretty good memory, and do not require repetitive reminders.

If your testament is for newbies to this thread, then you should properly disclose your usage pattern at the same time. Otherwise, like this testament, and your recommendation of SX8200pro over the years are misleading to newbies.

As I understand it, you use your laptop at home, often connected to a power brick. So your laptop is pretty much stationary almost like a desktop. That's what I called 'using a laptop as a desktop replacement' in my post that you just responded to.

For a mostly stationary machine, I doubt that you can find any difference using short or long adaptors. Perhaps lots of users in the audience use their laptops like you as a desktop replacement indeed, considering how old the batteries in these machine are (if not replaced since out of factories).

Laptops as mobile devices will go on daily commute trips, carried in bags/luggage, passed along single handly & etc. These situations are much more rough for a laptop than one mostly sitting stationary at home. I'm such a user. I regretted I picked the SHORT adaptor. A LONG adaptor will be a much better choice.

 

[IDMah]

Anyone notice the WD sn570 runs hotter?
+2-3°c - temps are hovering around 59-62°c not unbearable but warm.

 

[Brad_C]

The short adaptor is and will be a disaster for users using their laptops as laptops, not desktop replacement.

Mine isn't. The laptop gets taken out daily, then hurled around, dropped off beds and generally abused by kids at night. The short adapter is and has been fine.

I regretted I picked the SHORT adaptor. A LONG adaptor will be a much better choice.

Sounds like you got a dud.

 

[kvic]

Should I congratulate you or what? Good luck on your ride until the end.

There are also numerous reports (for those who care to report) in this thread that they get kernel panics six months or a year into using the short adaptor.

As I said before in this thread, I believe these kernel panics are due to the short adaptor's poor mechanical structure, seems nobody correlate the two together until I pointed this out. And in those few cases that I answered seems everyone solved the problem by re-seating their installation. Have people wondered with a slightest engineering mind why a re-seat solved the problem? And why a 'de-seat' happened in the first place to the short adaptor installation?

A design that's 90% time fine (SHORT adaptor) vs another design that's 99% time fine (LONG adaptor). I'll always pick the latter, anytime.