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

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Well it looks like the Macunlocks chips are a bust - they're like the newer ones in the apple machines - no exposed pins to clip onto. I've been in conversation with them and they said they are not SOIC chips, unlike what is depicted in the photo. They will, however burn any code you like onto them so they could still be a plug and play option, you just won't have the ability to upgrade the contents when apple releases newer roms.

Another option, would be to make up a jig that plugs into the connector on the chip's base, where the diagnostic port would normally plug in, running to the programmer.
 
vk2fro said:
Well it looks like the Macunlocks chips are a bust - they're like the newer ones in the apple machines - no exposed pins to clip onto. I've been in conversation with them and they said they are not SOIC chips, unlike what is depicted in the photo. They will, however burn any code you like onto them so they could still be a plug and play option, you just won't have the ability to upgrade the contents when apple releases newer roms.

Another option, would be to make up a jig that plugs into the connector on the chip's base, where the diagnostic port would normally plug in, running to the programmer.
Click to expand...

Maybe, I'm not sure but you would find this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-EFI-RO...e-MacBook-J6100-SPI-ROM-EFI-ROM-/323225409462

For your reference, the video clip in the link shows us the old version. The photos in the link are the newer one.
You can see the video clip for the new version in the following link;
He's speaking in Korean, but you can understand what it looks somehow.
 
terraphantm said:
So just did this to mine. Used an HP EX920 1TB drive

Drive installed and flashed the firmware w/ the 2015 NVMe driver:
View attachment 765411



Restored my backup and everything just works. No delay when booting, detects as an internal drive, etc.
View attachment 765412
Click to expand...
I have the same SSD, which adapter are you using? I just changed over to the green Sintech adapter, but it is too tall for a MacBook Air. I switched back to the black Sintech adapter, which still adds some height overall, but is better. I could not update Mac OS to 10.13.15 with the black one, but was able to with the green one.
 
ohnggni said:
Maybe, I'm not sure but you would find this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-EFI-RO...e-MacBook-J6100-SPI-ROM-EFI-ROM-/323225409462

For your reference, the video clip in the link shows us the old version. The photos in the link are the newer one.
You can see the video clip for the new version in the following link;
He's speaking in Korean, but you can understand what it looks somehow.
Click to expand...

That looks like it could be worth a shot - and simply connect magsafe or battery or combination of both (or none) to get PP3V3SUS up, and it doesn't require a sign up to another forum to get your hands on one - and hes depicting what looks suspiciously like a CH341A programmer in the photos, which I already have.
 
vk2fro said:
That looks like it could be worth a shot - and simply connect magsafe or battery or combination of both (or none) to get PP3V3SUS up, and it doesn't require a sign up to another forum to get your hands on one - and hes depicting what looks suspiciously like a CH341A programmer in the photos, which I already have.
Click to expand...
I asked him if I have to supply 3.3v and he replied that I don’t have to do that if I use CH341A.
 
Even better! oh well this could be the solution for those of us who don't want to go pulling out their logic board, or whos rom is not "clippable".

Edit: I just bought one. We'll see how it goes. Order placed this morning on the ebay Australia site - 11-33 days for delivery (postage was 3 bux after all). Am pleased I contacted Macunlocks, sure their product has its place, but without access to the pins, it is not for us.

I also pulled the board file for the 820-3476-A out of my collection and had a look. If needed, 3V3_SUS is right next to the connector. It also told me which pin is pin one on the connector so I plug in the clip the correct way around.
 
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vk2fro said:
Even better! oh well this could be the solution for those of us who don't want to go pulling out their logic board, or whos rom is not "clippable".

Edit: I just bought one. We'll see how it goes. Order placed this morning on the ebay Australia site - 11-33 days for delivery (postage was 3 bux after all). Am pleased I contacted Macunlocks, sure their product has its place, but without access to the pins, it is not for us.

I also pulled the board file for the 820-3476-A out of my collection and had a look. If needed, 3V3_SUS is right next to the connector. It also told me which pin is pin one on the connector so I plug in the clip the correct way around.
Click to expand...
Good! I ordered it, too. And I also purchased CH341A. Since I live in South Korea, I expect I'll received them in a few days. Only what I'm worrying is:( I have little experience on soldering something and I haven't had any opportunity to use a SPI programmer in the past. The converting board will come to me, being left header pins unsoldered. That will be, to some degree, challenging to me but I bought some extra header pins and perf board as well for soldering practice. After practicing enough, I'll start to play the main game.:)
 
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You will be fine - just take your time with the perfboard to get a feel for soldering, and once you have nice clean shiny joints on the perf, move onto the little board supplied by the ebay seller. Remember that 2 of the pin rows go in up side down, so they can plug into your CH341A :)
 
thometomasz said:
Hi,
I just bought (http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-1139.html) and it fits ok with my Macbook Pro Retina late 2013.

Installation was easy, system work property but the especially the write speed is so low 250-300 Mb/s, read 1400 Mb/s. I have WD Black NVME PCI M.2. SSD that have 800 Mb/s / 2500 Mb/s.

Do you know what can cause the write speed problem?
Click to expand...
Is it possible that the contacts on the adapter are touching the metal shield on the motherboard?
 
thometomasz said:
I don't think so everything fits ok. Can check this but this can seems problem with only write speed?
Click to expand...
Not sure if it would cause a problem with only the write speed.

I have the original green adapter and applied Kapton tape but still had slow read/write speeds. I removed and reapplied the tape to the top and bottom of the adapter and speeds improved to where they should be. I'm using an Intel 600p in a 2015 Air so the speeds aren't that good with the Intel compared to the Samsung EVO but it works for my purposes.
 
Audit13 said:
Not sure if it would cause a problem with only the write speed.

I have the original green adapter and applied Kapton tape but still had slow read/write speeds. I removed and reapplied the tape to the top and bottom of the adapter and speeds improved to where they should be. I'm using an Intel 600p in a 2015 Air so the speeds aren't that good with the Intel compared to the Samsung EVO but it works for my purposes.
Click to expand...

Do you have photo where you applied the tape?
 

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ats329 said:
Been waiting for Transcend to come out with a Gen 3 x4 NVMe solution:

https://us.transcend-info.com/Products/No-957

Not sure when itll be available on Amazon though.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I wonder if they will somehow solve the problems with sleep on 2013-2014 Macs, and upgrading bootroom from the NVME drive. I don't see how, but for an "official" product, they would have to have some official warnings about that if not, I would think.
 
macuser_123 said:
Interesting. I wonder if they will somehow solve the problems with sleep on 2013-2014 Macs, and upgrading bootroom from the NVME drive. I don't see how, but for an "official" product, they would have to have some official warnings about that if not, I would think.
Click to expand...
I have never seen anything on the owc or Transcend sites about being able to upgrade the bootrom while either of these manufacturer's drives is installed internally on a MacBook. Not sure they will start now.
 
vk2fro said:
You will be fine - just take your time with the perfboard to get a feel for soldering, and once you have nice clean shiny joints on the perf, move onto the little board supplied by the ebay seller. Remember that 2 of the pin rows go in up side down, so they can plug into your CH341A :)
Click to expand...
Yesterday I received J6100 converting board and CH341A and I gave it a try. But I failed. When I run CH341A program on my windows10 PC, it showed me "Device state: Connected" but it displayed "Memory Name&Size: Unknown" even though I clicked the Detect button. I checked the pins' directions multiple times but it didn't work.

I consulted the seller again and he suggested I connect the PP3V3SUS with the power supplier.
Is there any easy & simple way for me to give 3.3v to my macbook?

Otherwise is there any missing points for me to check up? (eg. cold soldering joints,...)
 

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The 3.3V test point on that model is in the same location as my model - below the J6100 connector. Unfortunatly, you only have one way to connect to it, and it involves a soldering iron.
 
vk2fro said:
The 3.3V test point on that model is in the same location as my model - below the J6100 connector. Unfortunatly, you only have one way to connect to it, and it involves a soldering iron.
Click to expand...
What should I use as a power supply? Can I use like a ‘stepdown regulator module’, which can convert dc 12v to dc 3.3v and minimum output current is about 800mA? I really like to look for the cheapest way.
 
SsinLiao said:
Hi guys

Just received this adapter but unfortunately can't get it to work

Model:Macbook Pro 2015 15' iGPU
Direct upgrade to 10.13:Yes
Check under Linux:Yes, but no NVME section detected

I did a screenshot on my BootRom and SMC version
View attachment 754919
Can anyone with the similar model confirm I have the working BootRom for NVME?

Also, it seems like one or two of the pins may be damaged during shipping
View attachment 754920 View attachment 754921

Don't know should I order a later adapter(Sintech big black maybe?) or something softwarewise I haven't fixed?
Click to expand...

I started with that same adapter and it did not work with NVMe drives at all, switched to Sintech and all ok.
 
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