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Affordable SSD to replace MacBook Pro 13-inch (June 2012)?

R

ronaldcastillo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 25, 2009
619
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My cousin's MacBook Pro 13-inch hard drive failed today (flashing folder with question mark). Tried reinstalling OS X but the hard drive wouldn't show up. Looking to invest in a SSD (120-130 GB is good). Anyone know any affordable brands along with what tools I would need to replace the current HD to a SSD.
 
I can definitely recommend a crucial mx100 I stuck that in my old macbook and it made the thing absolutely fly.
 
NZfly said:
I can definitely recommend a crucial mx100 I stuck that in my old macbook and it made the thing absolutely fly.
Click to expand...

This SSD will replace the HD right? I notice there's a few that replace the optical drive as well. Does Crucial sell the screw drivers and tools I would need as we'll?
 
Yup it'll replace the regular hdd not the optical drive. I'm not sure about the screw drives but just go to any hardware store and grab a phillips #00 and a torn t6 it should only cost like 10 bucks :)
 
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I just installed a Crucial MX100 256GB yesterday, and I am very impressed. It was money well spent.

The install is quick and easy. The tool kit with precision torx drivers that I ordered ended up being a cheap kit coming from China, and isn't due in for weeks yet, so I had to improvise. The improvisation is that the torx screw heads have hexagonal symmetry, so if you can find a small enough allen wrench/hex key, you can get by. I believe the size that fits well is 0.9mm.
 
Crucial and Samsung both make great drives. iFixit has tools and guides. It's fairly easy to do.
 
I notice Amazon sells the MX100 a little cheaper than Crucial.com. Can anyone suggest a website/place where I can buy the screwdriver and Torx 6 tool for a cheap price?
 
Another vote for the MX100. If all you need is 128 GB (or any capacity, for that matter!), get it on Amazon! Currently it's only $75!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KFAGCUM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile#

I got this #00 driver and it works ok:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053611PO/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=torx%20t6&qid=1405016800&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I also bought this T6 driver and it worked great:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053611PO/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=torx%20t6&qid=1405016800&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
Applefan 2013 said:
Another vote for the MX100. If all you need is 128 GB (or any capacity, for that matter!), get it on Amazon! Currently it's only $75!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KFAGCUM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile#

I got this #00 driver and it works ok:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053...rds=torx t6&qid=1405016800&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I also bought this T6 driver and it worked great:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0053...rds=torx t6&qid=1405016800&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
Click to expand...

xky74h.jpg


Are these all the things I would need to replace my dead HD to a SSD?
 
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ronaldcastillo said:
Image

Are these all the things I would need to replace my dead HD to a SSD?
Click to expand...

That is all that is needed to swap out the drives. After you install the SSD you can boot from a Time Machine backup disk where you should be able to format the SSD, reinstall OS X, and restore your files.
 
Applefan 2013 said:
That is all that is needed to swap out the drives. After you install the SSD you can boot from a Time Machine backup disk where you should be able to format the SSD, reinstall OS X, and restore your files.
Click to expand...

Thinking of just reinstalling a fresh version of OS X. All I would need is to partition the SSD to Mac then install OS X using a flash drive right?
 
ronaldcastillo said:
Thanks! Last question, got a friend that owns a 2010 MacBook Pro, will the MX100 fit into that MB as well?
Click to expand...

As far as I know it will fit in the 2010 MacBook Pro, seeing as it has a SATA interface. Anyway, I hope that your cousin enjoys his SSD! It makes a world of a difference compared to a HDD.
 
TechGod said:
I would look at slightly bigger than 120GB. Trust me you don't expect to use it, but people do.
Click to expand...

I'll second this...

I actually purchased my 2012 cMBP with a 128GB SSD from Apple...and I have to constantly delete files to keep more than 10GB free on this drive. Going to look into getting a 500GB 840 EVO when the prices drop just a little further.
 
Hey just a further bit of help If it's a 2012 macbook pro then you should be able to install OS X from internet recovery swell if you wanted to that's what I done and it was nice and easy.
 
Samsung 840 EVO.

I had upgraded a friend's 2010 MacBook Pro to 8GB of RAM and a 250GB Samsung 840 EVO and it was a worlds difference. So even if the computer isn't broken, an SSD is a worthy upgrade.
 
k9tbbb.jpg


Ended up going with the Samsung 840 Evo ($118.99 at Best Buy). Ordered the screwdrivers from macsales.com but anyone know what store I may be able to get them locally?
 
The 00 Phillips you can find anywhere. A cheap set of precision screwdrivers will have it. The torx driver will be tougher. It's a crap shoot with larger cain stores, but if you have a local mom and pop hardware store, odds are good they have some laying around. If not, check a tool shop like Fastenal Supply.

Also, a small hex key will work, I believe it was an 0.9mm hex key that did it for me.

Enjoy your "new" mac.
 
meson said:
The 00 Phillips you can find anywhere. A cheap set of precision screwdrivers will have it. The torx driver will be tougher. It's a crap shoot with larger cain stores, but if you have a local mom and pop hardware store, odds are good they have some laying around. If not, check a tool shop like Fastenal Supply.

Also, a small hex key will work, I believe it was an 0.9mm hex key that did it for me.

Enjoy your "new" mac.
Click to expand...

Gun shops that sell gunsmithing supplies often will have T6 torx drivers/bits too.
 
I ended up installing the SSD into my cousin's MacBook Pro (followed all the steps on iFixIT, but somewhat the SSD isn't showing up in Disk Utility when I boot from Mavericks USB. Help!?
 
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