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Best way to increase MBP storage

N

nmaxcom

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 28, 2014
83
9
Hi!

I bought a MBP 128GB a few weeks ago. I should have bough it with at least 256GB but I thought it would be enough.

What's the best way to get bigger storage? I've looked through all kinds of solutions, but not sure what's best.

I'm afraid of disabling my warranty by changing the internal drive, and I also wouldn't like to have to carry yet another external thing around.

I've seen one solution is to use the SD card slot. Would you recommend it? How big can storage be in one of those? How fast is it?

Any better options?

Thanks guys
 
Weaselboy

Weaselboy

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 23, 2005
34,171
15,691
California
If you have the new Retina model the internal drive is replaceable, but nobody makes one yet. Both OWC and Transcend have said they are working on it. Replacing your drive will not void your warranty unless of course you break something while you are in there.

An external drive like you mentioned will work fine. Give this thread a look for info about a 128GB Transcend SD card that might be a good solution for you.
 
AZhappyjack

AZhappyjack

macrumors G3
Jul 3, 2011
9,681
22,826
Happy Jack, AZ
There are several threads about (almost) flush-fitting SD cards for MacBook Pros/Airs.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1613575/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1400326/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1740072/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1737294/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1564633/

Any of these will do well at adding storage. But understand this is still an "external" drive. And depending on your machine, some SD card slots are connected via the USB bus and others via the PCIe bus. The PCIe bus is much faster for read/write.

YMMV.
 
MCAsan

MCAsan

macrumors 601
Jul 9, 2012
4,587
442
Atlanta
So what is the storage requirement? How much data do you have to have with you....as opposed to all the data you own?

Without knowing the target....hard to hit it. ;)
 
Steve686

Steve686

macrumors 68040
Nov 13, 2007
3,887
1,914
US>FL>Miami/Dade>Sunny Isles Beach>Condo
The "best" way would be to buy another machine and get more storage this time. But the "next-best" way would be to work off of as fast a drive as possible which seems to me, to be a toss up between the thunderbolt drives and the USB 3.0 drives.

I know the touted specs, but real world usage of the 3.0 seems to really give the Thunderbolt a run for its money. An 11gb transfer to my rMBP was actuall 10% faster with my 3.0.
 
N

nmaxcom

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 28, 2014
83
9
Weaselboy said:
If you have the new Retina model the internal drive is replaceable, but nobody makes one yet. Both OWC and Transcend have said they are working on it. Replacing your drive will not void your warranty unless of course you break something while you are in there.

An external drive like you mentioned will work fine. Give this thread a look for info about a 128GB Transcend SD card that might be a good solution for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll take a look.

MCAsan said:
So what is the storage requirement? How much data do you have to have with you....as opposed to all the data you own?

Without knowing the target....hard to hit it. ;)
Click to expand...

Not that much really, an extra 128GB would be enough.

Steve686 said:
The "best" way would be to buy another machine and get more storage this time.
Click to expand...

Why do you think that would be the best way?
 
K

kelon111

macrumors 6502
Mar 16, 2013
303
4
nmaxcom said:
Why do you think that would be the best way?
Click to expand...

Short answer: The only replacement SSDs for the new MacBook Pro are ones that people took out from higher models. Although the SSD is not soldered , replacement parts are very hard to find since Apple tells manufacturers to make a propriety interface so to speak. Also , SSD replacement is not covered by warranty if you do it since Apple believes you shouldn't upgrade your own computer by yourself.
 
2

2984839

Cancelled
Apr 19, 2014
2,114
2,240
I would get a 128 GB USB 3.0 drive and keep it on a keychain. Just be sure to backup important stuff you store on it because USB flash storage is usually poor quality.
 
blueroom

blueroom

macrumors 603
Feb 15, 2009
6,381
26
Toronto, Canada
yjchua95 said:
Doesn't work for late-2013/mid-2014 ones, which the OP has.
Click to expand...

?

I have a late 2013 MBP and it fits like a charm in the SDXC slot.
2014052012072004654.jpg
 
maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,572
43,555
KUguardgrl13 said:
Did you buy it less than 14 days ago? If so I'd return it and buy one with larger capacity.
Click to expand...

He stated a few weeks, so the chances are high that he's already beyond the 14 day return period.

Still being so new, go to your apple store and see if you effect an exchange - it can't hurt to ask.
 
N

nmaxcom

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 28, 2014
83
9
yjchua95 said:
Doesn't work for late-2013/mid-2014 ones, which the OP has.
Click to expand...

It should work:

1B6AFIX.png


MCAsan said:
The question is how you define in the context of the thread. Is it largest, fastest, cheapest....?
Click to expand...

The order would be fastest, cheapest, largest.

Steve686 said:
Because "BEST" is a totally subjective term to use.

Is your storage simply capacity related or workflow related?
Click to expand...

maflynn said:
He stated a few weeks, so the chances are high that he's already beyond the 14 day return period.

Still being so new, go to your apple store and see if you effect an exchange - it can't hurt to ask.
Click to expand...

I just checked at the store's website and the one with 256GB is 300€ more expensive :\

To me the transcent way seems a better overall deal. Don't you?
 
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