I didn't do anything except what I wrote. I plugged the nvme m2 ssd into the macbook with the adapter. I pressed the power key after pressing the alt key. Then I tried cmd+alt+R and cmd+R combinations.
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Upgrading 2013-2015 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe
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Without installing an OS?
You have to install an OS first to the new SSD via USB external enclosure.
Follow this thread, and do a thread search as well using your SSD.
Just remember, not all SSDs will work, but there are several that do.
Hey folks. Just a quick check in. I’ve read the threads I could find on MBA SSD blade upgrades, I just want a second opinion on whether these parts will work. I believe the Sintech adapter is the best regarded. Will a Kingston drive as shown work with the unit? Boot Camp is not a priority.
Also do these drives physically fit to the mounting screw on the MBA logic board or does it need double sided tape or some other trick to stay in place?
Thanks. Screenshot of my parts order from Amazon, not processed yet.
Also do these drives physically fit to the mounting screw on the MBA logic board or does it need double sided tape or some other trick to stay in place?
Thanks. Screenshot of my parts order from Amazon, not processed yet.
I believe the drive you've listed is quite a bit overkill as the machine will only do PCIe 2.0... Has that specific model been listed in the upgrade thread as working? I haven't looked in so long..(https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-2013-2015-macbook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/)
But the adapter looks right..update: I just saw your sig.. I assume you mean for the 2017 MBA? I've got the 2015 at PCIe 2.0. Not sure what the 2017 has.
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Good point about overkill, just checked EveryMac, the 2017 supports PCIe 3.0. My understanding is newer PCIe drives just run at lower speeds in older setups, which is fine cause it’s still gonna be a big speed boost from the 300Mb/s I clocked the Apple drive at. It’s actually more expensive to find an older 2.0/3.0 drive than it seems to be to get a 4.0.
I don’t see that specific Kingston module on the support list so I’ll keep looking, just wondered if anyone had done it. I can grab a Samsung 990 1TB, it’s more money but I know it’ll work according to the list.
Thanks for help. 🙂
Yeah no prob.. Yes, that is true on capability. I thought maybe the 2017 did 3.0.. Yeah my 2015 is 2.0x4 and the ADATA 2TB is 3.0 and it works fine. I heard the Samsungs were either more power hungry or ran hotter than others.. My first pick was gonna be Samsung no matter what when I started this journey, but I got over it. The ADATA was a bit more expensive than others at the time but I've had no issues with it. I put the SKHynix P31 Gold in this 2015MBP and that works well too. I read it was one of the more power efficient-runs cooler options.
I had a Kingston A2000 as an initial upgrade from the original SSD and installed Big Sur on it without any issues. I had it in BS for a while, I didn't upgrade to Monterey since the OS was really buggy, and OCLP was not as robust back then as it is now. I upgraded to Ventura with an Adata SX8200 just a couple of weeks ago. Then I got another SX8200 for Sequoia so I have a fall back. Ventura is working quite well on the SX8200 and it's always been practical for me to install on an external before switching the drives out.
I would have opted for another couple of A2000s, but it's alreadt phased out and can't really source it out anymore. My other option was the KC3000, but it's almost twice the price of an SX8200 where I am at.
The 1TB SX8200 is rather cheap now where I am at (around $69, down from $219 on first release), and since my MBP is PCI 2.0, any drive with higher than 2K transfer rate is already a waste.
BTW, One of the reasons why I didn't choose the NV3 it's because it's DRAMless and has inconsistent controllers and flash memories. DRAM, for me, is important since I use my MBP for heavy graphics.
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Can you run the TV app and playback downloaded movies with an External monitor attached at all? I'm trying to find where the cutoff is. It works on my 2012MBP but will not on this 2015 running any OS beyond Monterey. It will NOT playback HDCP content with an external monitor attached in any way. Only on the built in with no others attached.
I Launched TV just to check (I currently do not have a subscription), but apparently, it's free for this weekend.
I'm currently running it on my 3rd External in streaming mode. I'm currently downloading an episode of Foundation. Will update this when it's done.
Have you tried unplugging the external display then plugging it back in (the port)?
There's pretty much nothing I haven't tried... it just will not work. I think Apple changed something regarding HDCP and macOS on this particular model... others have reported same issue..
Like how some functions are dropped in some models?
Yeah, I've read that in Dortania's guide.
Well, that's interesting..but more off in the weeds than I want to venture.. also looks more PC/macOS related..
Yeah finding something that is lower than 3.0 is pretty difficult it seems like. I found some generic Chinese sourced drives that are 3.0 but I'm not sure about their quality. ORICO makes a 1TB that's on for $55 at Amazon right now, tempted but also a little worried it'll burn something out.
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Thanks for this, it's a big help. I can't seem to find the SX8200 or the SNV35 listed on Amazon, gonna try and look in other places and see if I can dig them up. This laptop doesn't get used for anything crazy, just some light gaming (like Cult Of The Lamb, etc) and mostly just writing and such. So not sure if DRAM is needed, unless it's very noticeable in the operation of the OS itself. The machine is surprisingly snappy for being on the Apple SSD and I would only like it to get better, not worse.
PS: Oh I found the SX8200, I was looking for it under Kingston and was going nowhere, but it's an ADATA drive.
I also looked for a "slower" SSD to avoid the overkill aspect but in the end went for a 500GB SK Hynix Platinum P41 (see posts a few pages back). It's a PCI 4.0 I believe so it easily outruns my early 2015 11" MBA, but it's quick and runs cool. In most operations the machine actually feels quicker than with the original 500GB Apple SSD. I also use the short adapter you showed earlier.
Edit: I forgot to say that I went for a drive with DRAM because I (as strange as it may seem) I use this MacBook Air for HD video editing in DaVinci Resolve so drive ops are occasionally heavy.
I'm not sure if this helps as my 11" Early 2015 MBA (7,1, i7, 2.2GHz, 8GB) runs Monterey 12.6.4, but I hooked it up to my Eizo with HDMI and a Thunderbolt adapter and the TV app launches and can play streamed content. It also plays Netflix in Safari without issue.
Yeah, it works fine on my 2015MBA as well. It's not so much the streaming that doesn't work on the 2015MBP, it's the Apple/iTunes purchased and downloaded/stored locally movies that don't work. I went ahead and finally loaded the 2015MBA up with OCLP2.2/Sequoia 15.2. Plays the downloaded movies fine. Of course, the MBA does not have an additional GPU in it. It's the 2015MBP with the AMD Radeon R9 M370X GPU in it using OCLP/Sonoma-Sequoia where it does not work. There's something with that that Apple has done and how it works with HDCP. I have a feeling if there is such a thing as a 2015MBP without the AMD GPU in it, it would work with the built in Intel Iris Pro graphics like the MBA.
I am thinking about upgrading my storage on my Macbook Pro. Ive read what needs to be done however I am not a "technical person". My Macbook Pro is a 13 inch 2015 Macbook Pro retina Model No. > A1502 EMC > 2385. It has 250gb of storage however I would like to upgrade from this to atleast a 2tb storage. My current OS is Monterey 12.7.6.
How can I do this? I do not know which ssd's are good so can someone suggest very good/reliable SSD's. Once the ssd is installed, is it ready to use or must I do something to "migrate" the OS onto the drive or do something to the firmware. I am not a technical person so apologies if I am not making sense. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
How can I do this? I do not know which ssd's are good so can someone suggest very good/reliable SSD's. Once the ssd is installed, is it ready to use or must I do something to "migrate" the OS onto the drive or do something to the firmware. I am not a technical person so apologies if I am not making sense. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I ended up picking up a Samsung 990EVO 1TB drive because I got it for $100(CDN) at a local shop. Adapter says it works with the 970/980 series so I suspect this will work too. It's total overkill, it can do PCIe 5.0 double lanes, or PCIe 4.0 quad lanes, so I doubt the drive will be stressed in my machine with a 3.0 bus. I've had Samsung drives before and never had a bad one, so I ended up paying a little more than I would have on Amazon for a no-name drive but get the peace of mind that comes with the name & warranty. I'll be keeping the laptop for a few years yet assuming it keeps working well so I didn't mind the cost and I can always reuse it as an external or system drive in another machine. The Sintech adapter should be here Sunday, and then I'll let y'all know if it works. Fingers and toes crossed.