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

[desperex]

Finally upgraded my macbook's ROM with J6100 to have NVMe support.
Model: Macbook Pro 2014 15" mid 2014, model MacBookPro11,3, upgraded to firmware from MacBookPro11,4, now with Boot ROM MBP112.0142.B00
Instructions followed: Post #1801 Step-by-step guide by Cmd+Q, post #1607 important notes by zaxa, thanks guys!

Some tips and additional comments on the process:
- You can look up your model in System Profiler (first root node, second property)
- It may be obvious, but the direction of how you put on J6100 on your board matters, the connector itself is unidirectional
- My J6100 LED had no blue light, only yellow, I expected it to be lit blue (sic!) once I have proper connection, no way, proceed with yellow
- Don't use UEFI Tool latest NE version, it doesn't have replacement functionality, instead use this latest pre-NE version.

 

[markintosh13]

which adapter is better? the long or short one?
thanks

For my MBPr Late 2013, used the short JSER adapter, with the stock apple screw, and the SX8200 960GB SSD - there was room for the included heatsink.

 

[apemaia]

Hi All,

I have just reinstalled my MBP 15" MID 2015 with an EVO 970 1TB and Mojave macOS.

Everything works but Black Magic speed test surprices my though...

I get read speed just under 2200MB/S and write speed of +2500MB/S...

This is strange. I like the write speed but shouldn't the read speed be higher? And even higher than the write speed???

Who else has tried the 970 EVO and what are your findings??

BR Flemming

Hello Flemming,

I have your same strange situation and machine with 2TB 970 EVO but with High Sierra. I don't know why but I would investigate kapton tape insulation. Since I upgraded I did not find time and motivation to open again the back of my macbook. The speed is anyway very good form me. If you find something let me know.

How is your boot time? My machine booted in 23 sec at the beginning of the upgrade but now is slower with more than 1 minute. This is for me more annoying than the reversed speed. The progress bar slows at 2/3 of his length: could be interesting to know what the machine do in this moment... I suspect the system is trying to find a ressource not available.

Have a nice day

APe

 

[keiji11]

will this heat sink fit in with the sintech longer adapter? or it doesnt fit even with the shorter adapter?

13 macbook pro 2015

Thanks

 

[amenjas]

In

Translation:

No problem with OSX, the only thing I can not install Windows. I tried both with bootcamp and unetbootin but the installation fails in the last phase. I think it's a problem with Windows and the nvme drivers.

Are you using Windows 10? Windows 7 has no nvme support.

I am using macbook air 2015 with same samsung ssd 970evo 500gb. Windows 10 pro working fine with bootcamp. Only issue is bootcamp control panel not accessible directly from windows probably bcoz of APFS file system. Nothing to do with nvme drives.

 

[RedTomato]

Guys,
What do you use for restoring your data after installing the new NVME SSD and installing Mojave from scratch?

Time Machine restore or Super Duper (free version) clone drive or ?

 

[keiji11]

Guys,
What do you use for restoring your data after installing the new NVME SSD and installing Mojave from scratch?

Time Machine restore or Super Duper (free version) clone drive or ?

i use time machine

 

[Audit13]

In


I am using macbook air 2015 with same samsung ssd 970evo 500gb. Windows 10 pro working fine with bootcamp. Only issue is bootcamp control panel not accessible directly from windows probably bcoz of APFS file system. Nothing to do with nvme drives.

Windows 10 has built-in legacy, EFI, and NVME support so a Win10 installer can be booted from a USB key. The Air 2015 will not officially support Win7 with bootcamp and High Sierra: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT205016#tables.

I slipstreamed nvme and chipset drivers into an EFI Win7 USB key but the installer would not run properly on a Mac; however, it worked on a PC laptop so I know the installer files are fine.

The person who originally asked about Windows did not specify whether s/he was referring to Windows 7, 8, or 10.

 

[AnonMac50]

Finally upgraded my macbook's ROM with J6100 to have NVMe support.
Model: Macbook Pro 2014 15" mid 2014, model MacBookPro11,3, upgraded to firmware from MacBookPro11,4, now with Boot ROM MBP112.0142.B00
Instructions followed: Post #1801 Step-by-step guide by Cmd+Q, post #1607 important notes by zaxa, thanks guys!

Some tips and additional comments on the process:
- You can look up your model in System Profiler (first root node, second property)
- It may be obvious, but the direction of how you put on J6100 on your board matters, the connector itself is unidirectional
- My J6100 LED had no blue light, only yellow, I expected it to be lit blue (sic!) once I have proper connection, no way, proceed with yellow
- Don't use UEFI Tool latest NE version, it doesn't have replacement functionality, instead use this latest pre-NE version.

Does that mean your computer now recognises itself as a MacBook Pro 11,4?

 

[mad cow disease]

May i know which external SSD enclosure are u guys using for your original macbook ssd after swapping it out? any recommendation?

They are all expensive ($70+) and honestly not worthwhile for what you get. I will probably flog mine on eBay after I leave the upgraded one in for several months and make sure it's reliable.

 

[amenjas]

Windows 10 has built-in legacy, EFI, and NVME support so a Win10 installer can be booted from a USB key. The Air 2015 will not officially support Win7 with bootcamp and High Sierra: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT205016#tables.

I slipstreamed nvme and chipset drivers into an EFI Win7 USB key but the installer would not run properly on a Mac; however, it worked on a PC laptop so I know the installer files are fine.

The person who originally asked about Windows did not specify whether s/he was referring to Windows 7, 8, or 10.

Thanks for info. I didn’t know that.

 

[desperex]

Does that mean your computer now recognises itself as a MacBook Pro 11,4?

I'm sure it is, but it won't give a clue

 

[ilovejamon]

Hi folks! Has anybody managed to manually upgrade their bootrom using a non-Apple SSD? I am following the procedure detailed in post #1972 on my 2014 MBP without success.

By that I mean that efiupdater finds a new bootrom file (in the MacOS Mojave 10.14.1 disk image) and copies the necessary files onto my EFI partition. However when I reboot the machine no firmware upgrade takes place...

 

[gerbilbox]

I'm glad I found this thread! I wasn't aware that the SSDs in the MBP were upgradable. I read through many pages here, but a lot of the info is scattered, so please excuse me repeating or missing anything.

What I've gathered I should have an easier time since I already have a mid-2015 15" rMBP (512GB) with Mojave installed, so I don't have to deal with sleep/hibernation issues or the bootrom. Next I'll need:

Sintech long adapter (I understand I don't need Kapon tape for this one)
Adata SX8200 1TB (I was initially drawn to the Samsung EVOs but it sounds like they have heat/battery issues)

I already have the tools for opening up the computer, I just need to find them again. I have a spare hard USB thumb drive I can put the Mojave installer on, and of course a separate external drive for the Time Machine backup.

From what I've been reading this is everything I'll need. Am I missing anything? Thanks!

 

[polanskiman]

I selected the 760p for its low power requirement, not for speed. I made my choice after reading this thread, and I'm happy with the performance. The other option with low power requirement (ADATA ?) was not locally available with 2TB.

Are you able to see the SMART status with the 760p. I read in ifixit (comment dated October 17) that with ADATA ASX8200NP-960GT-C SMART status is unavailable.

 

[mbosse]

Are you able to see the SMART status with the 70p. I read in ifixit (comment dated October 17) that with ADATA ASX8200NP-960GT-C SMART status is unavailable.

SMART status should work with DriveDx, so far no luck with other software. Magnus

 

[whg]

Are you able to see the SMART status with the 70p. I read in ifixit (comment dated October 17) that with ADATA ASX8200NP-960GT-C SMART status is unavailable.

I just downloaded the 15 days test version of DriveDx for Mac, and I can confirm that I works as indicated by @mbosse

 

[Ryker9]

I still have very high battery drain with SX8200 (over 25% overnight) and I still don't know how to fix it, the Mac seems quite hot btw when covered

 

[Audit13]

I still have very high battery drain with SX8200 (over 25% overnight) and I still don't know how to fix it, the Mac seems quite hot btw when covered

Which model and adapter do you have?

 

[Ryker9]

Which model and adapter do you have?

I have the ADATA XPG SX8200 480GB with JSER adapter.

 

[Audit13]

I have the ADATA XPG SX8200 480GB with JSER adapter.

What about the Macbook? Apparently, pre-2015 Macbooks have a problem with hibernation in that the Macbook can't enter deep sleep.

It's also possible that a program is preventing the Macbook from entering hibernation.

 

[AnonMac50]

I'm sure it is, but it won't give a clue

That is exactly what I’d been planning to do if possible. Must I use an external reader or can I do it directly from OS X?

 

[Ryker9]

What about the Macbook? Apparently, pre-2015 Macbooks have a problem with hibernation in that the Macbook can't enter deep sleep.

It's also possible that a program is preventing the Macbook from entering hibernation.

My Macbook is a rMBP Mid-2014 13' so I don't know if I'm alone to experience this problem.

 

[Audit13]

My Macbook is a rMBP Mid-2014 13' so I don't know if I'm alone to experience this problem.

You are not alone.

At the end of the day, you are putting the MacBook to sleep or closing the lid?

You may have to disable sleep: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-29#post-25703979

 

[mwcfc1905]

I'm glad I found this thread! I wasn't aware that the SSDs in the MBP were upgradable. I read through many pages here, but a lot of the info is scattered, so please excuse me repeating or missing anything.

What I've gathered I should have an easier time since I already have a mid-2015 15" rMBP (512GB) with Mojave installed, so I don't have to deal with sleep/hibernation issues or the bootrom. Next I'll need:

Sintech long adapter (I understand I don't need Kapon tape for this one)
Adata SX8200 1TB (I was initially drawn to the Samsung EVOs but it sounds like they have heat/battery issues)

I already have the tools for opening up the computer, I just need to find them again. I have a spare hard USB thumb drive I can put the Mojave installer on, and of course a separate external drive for the Time Machine backup.

From what I've been reading this is everything I'll need. Am I missing anything? Thanks!

I’ve got the 2015 13 and the same adaptor and same ssd although mine is 480, I’m in same situation just wondering if I have missed anything.
Lots of people saying about upgrading to the latest version of high Sierra, but I presume that means any version of mojave will be fine? I’m doing a clean install just copying the stuff I need back