Replace Hard Drive to SSD?

An early 2011 MBP has a SATA II connecttion. Hence, it'll be limited to 300MB/s max write/read. So, it doesn't matter which interface the SSD has, it will limited to that. That out of the way, consider the Samsung 830 series.

If you want to repair your HDD and have an IBM PC, see Spinrite below.

If you want to upgrade to an SSD, consider the Samsung 830 or Samsung 840. Also, iFixit.com has great tutorials, photos and videos on everything you need to do the upgrade. Plus they also sell the necessary tools to do it with.

You can also get MacTracker for free which will tell you all the specifics about yours and all Mac's.

Spinrite

I use a PC DOS-based program called Spinrite as a maintenance utility and data recovery utility on all my HDD's. You have to have an IBM-PC in order to use it though. You take the HDD out of the Mac and connect it to the IBM-PC and run the program. Below is my old MBP HDD in a Dell PC with Spinrite working on it.

Independent review of Spinrite (not me)

The SATA III SSD will work in your computer, it will just run at the speed of your system bus, though it's capable of more.

kasmokia said:

I am slightly confused... Both of you guys recommended the Samsung SSD's but they are both SATA III??

Jav said only SATA II would work in my computer?

Can you clarify? or help me understand?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

No. You got it wrong. Well I also explained it bad.

Anyways, SATA III works on a SATA II connection. The only issue is that the SATA III device will run at SATA II speeds. That's it.

In other words, your SSD (which is capable of speeds greater than 300MB/s) will work at 300MB/s maximum due to the SATA II bottleneck.

jav6454 said:

An early 2011 MBP has a SATA II connecttion. Hence, it'll be limited to 300MB/s max write/read. So, it doesn't matter which interface the SSD has, it will limited to that. That out of the way, consider the Samsung 830 series.

Click to expand...

All of the 13-, 15-, and 17-inch early 2011 MacBook Pros shipped with SATA 3.0 6Gb/s connectivity in the main drive bay and SATA 2.0 3Gb/s connectivity in the optical bay.

As you are replacing the HDD you will get SATA III speeds.

It's a simple upgrade. Use this link as a guide and take your time. http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_early11_hd/



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kasmokia said:

can you tell me if this is a good deal/ will work on my computer?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443

thank you in advance!!

Click to expand...

It will work.

Look at an install video and/or an iFixIt instructions.