Do I have everything for a HDD/SSD change?

You need a Phillips #00 and Torx T6 screwdriver to perform the installation itself.
Otherwise, you're good.

The OS X installation can be done via Internet Recovery, but that will give you the OS X version the machine shipped with. So if you want to start fresh directly from Yosemite, you'll have to create an installation medium.

Download Yosemite from the App store and then use DiskMaker X to create a bootable USB flash drive or SD card.

Rockadile said:

I'm wondering if I should start clean and use migration assistant or clone transfer with disk utility.
It seems like I'd be doing the same thing.

If I install the SSD and have the old HDD as external, what would be my next step?
Boot into the Yosemite installation or my old HDD and start disk utilities for cloning perhaps?

Click to expand...

That depends how you want to proceed. You have a few options:

- Complete clone via Disk Utility
- Complete Migration Assistant
- Complete Time Machine restore (if you have one)
- Fresh OS X installation with partial Migration Assistant for your data.
- Fresh OS X installation with partial Time Machine restore for your data.

I'd do the clone via Disk Utility - that's the fastest and easiest.
For that, you'd connect your HDD externally and the SSD internally (or vice versa), boot into Internet Recovery or from your installation medium, open disk utility and use the "Restore" function.

Rockadile said:

It looks like you have a similar computer setup reading your sig.
Which option did you take? I read it was better to do a fresh install when moving to the next OS version.
Also does your RAM run at 1600? I just bought 1333 thinking it was the max for this model year.

Click to expand...

Back in 2012 when I installed my 830, I opted for a fresh installation of OS X Mountain Lion (then the current version) with a partial Time Machine restore for my data and settings, etc.

Yes, my RAM does run at 1600MHz. Contrary to Apple's specifications listing a maximum of 8GB 1333MHz for the 2011 models, they will actually all take 16GB 1600MHz without issues.

Rockadile said:

Do you know if I can do a TM restore that was on Lion with a Yosemite fresh install?

Click to expand...

- You can. If you do the fresh install and then restore from Time Machine, it won't restore the OS from TM but just your data and settings, etc.

I just bought the 850 Evo

Click to expand...

- Good choice!

JTToft said:

2011 models, they will actually all take 16GB 1600MHz without issues.

Click to expand...

Out of interest how do you know that the ram is actually running at 1600?

----------

Rockadile said:

I think I'll have to do the cloning route with FW800 because our model year doesn't have usb 3.0

Click to expand...

If you don't have any issues with your current install then cloning is the safest way of:

1. Not introducing any new issues
2. Not wasting any (re)setup time on any apps etc

Good luck and enjoy!

I just upgraded to a Samsung 840 EVO 512gb ssd in my early 2011 15" MBP

I used carbon copy cloner and even though that took about 4 hours, the opening and swapping using the ifixit guide took about 15 to 20 minutes max.

Been about a week and still going great, not to mention time machine backups happen almost instantly now instead of taking awhile.

I used the spudger, anti-static bracelet, the torx t6, and the phillips #00

pingfan59 said:

time machine backups happen almost instantly now instead of taking awhile.

Click to expand...

TM backups to where? Backup speed is normally determined by the write speed of the target unless there is a slower interface in the way, not the read speed of the source...??

simonsi said:

Out of interest how do you know that the ram is actually running at 1600?

Click to expand...

- Oh, let's see... From a few places.
(Geekbench scores)

simonsi said:

TM backups to where? Backup speed is normally determined by the write speed of the target unless there is a slower interface in the way, not the read speed of the source...??

Click to expand...

- Not to mention by the Time Machine software itself. In my experience it never runs at the full transfer capacity of the target.

JTToft said:

- Oh, let's see... From a few places.

Click to expand...

About This Mac tells you what is installed rather than what it is actually running at, my Early 2011 13" takes (and the bus run at) 1333, I thought you were saying your machine <should> be a 1333 but was accepting and running at 1600, looks like yours is specced to accept (and run) at 1600...according to ATM.

simonsi said:

About This Mac tells you what is installed rather than what it is actually running at

Click to expand...

- I'm not so sure. How might the machine know that the modules are 1600MHz without being able to run them at that speed?
By that logic, if I were to install 1866Mhz modules, I should see 1866Mhz listed in various spots (About This Mac, etc.), even though the machine isn't compatible with that speed. I don't have any to test, but it would surprise me enormously if that were the case.

simonsi said:

, my Early 2011 13" takes (and the bus run at) 1333, I thought you were saying your machine <should> be a 1333 but was accepting and running at 1600, looks like yours is specced to accept (and run) at 1600...according to ATM.

Click to expand...

- Your 13" will take 1600MHz as well, unless it's faulty. All 2011 (early and late, 13", 15", and 17") accepts a maximum of 16GB 1600MHz.

JTToft said:

- I'm not so sure. How might the machine know that the modules are 1600MHz without being able to run them at that speed?
By that logic, if I were to install 1866Mhz modules, I should see 1866Mhz listed in various spots (About This Mac, etc.), even though the machine isn't compatible with that speed. I don't have any to test, but it would surprise me enormously if that were the case.


- Your 13" will take 1600MHz as well, unless it's faulty. All 2011 (early and late, 13", 15", and 17") accepts a maximum of 16GB 1600MHz.

Click to expand...

RAM is (mostly), downwards compatible so you should be able to put 1600 modules into a 1333 machine and the modules should clock down to the bus speed. The bus <cannot> clock up. The fact that they fit and work does not necessarily mean they run at the modules maximum rated speed. Accepting the size (16GB), is determined by the number of address lines basically, and is nothing to do with the bus speed.

I don't know of any utility that will report the negotiated speed of the modules in the same way that DriveDX will for SATA connections.

And yes, quite possible that the module reports size and speed rating in the same way the a SATA disk reports a huge amount of information to its controller and an iPhone will tell iTunes it is white.

You may or may not see 1866 reported if that speed didn't exist when the RAM controller was designed...that is into the unknown, quite possible that the module reports a code, say "T" that the controller knows is 1600, if the 1866 reports "Q", the controller may not know what that is if "Q" didn't exist at the time the controller was designed, it may just error.

My About This Mac reports that it accepts "up to 2 modules of 1333" and both are in use, total of 16GB.

simonsi said:

RAM is (mostly), downwards compatible so you should be able to put 1600 modules into a 1333 machine and the modules should clock down to the bus speed. The bus <cannot> clock up. The fact that they fit and work does not necessarily mean they run at the modules maximum rated speed.

Click to expand...

- Yes, naturally. That much is common knowledge.

simonsi said:

My About This Mac reports that it accepts "up to 2 modules of 1333" and both are in use, total of 16GB.

Click to expand...

- Strangely, that section of ATM will report the same clock speed as is actually installed as being the maximum it accepts (unless, of course, that installed speed is above what the machine supports).
Mine said 1333, as well, before I upgraded to 1600.

Just take OWC's word for it if you don't believe the software (link in previous post):

Other World Computing said:

... although Apple sold and marketed the 2011 MacBook Pros as using 1333MHz memory, they are, in fact, capable of utilizing 1600MHz memory

Click to expand...

Other World Computing said:

In any 2011 MacBook Pro including the 8,1, you will be able to see this benefit. We have performed extensive testing on this and have found no reliability or performance issues using 1600Mhz DDR3 memory in any of the 2011 MacBook Pros.

Click to expand...

JTToft said:

- Yes, naturally. That much is common knowledge.


- Strangely, that section of ATM will report the same clock speed as is actually installed as being the maximum it accepts (unless, of course, that installed speed is above what the machine supports).
Mine said 1333, as well, before I upgraded to 1600.

Just take OWC's word for it if you don't believe the software (link in previous post):

Click to expand...

Sure but none of that explicitly states the RAM is actually running at 1600, those <marketing> statements could all be made about 1600 RAM that will fit and function which is, as you say, common knowledge, I was asking what made you sure the RAM was actually running at 1600 and it seems there isn't any firm indication. If the bus clock speed is 1333 then that is it, 1600 can be fitted/utilised whatever but unless someone states that Apple actually made the bus run at 1600 then your RAM is still running at 1333.

It was a point of interest that is all, it seems ATM just reports what is fitted, probably a careless programming shortcut if 1333 was the fastest available at the time.

simonsi said:

Sure but none of that explicitly states the RAM is actually running at 1600, those <marketing> statements could all be made about 1600 RAM that will fit and function which is, as you say, common knowledge, I was asking what made you sure the RAM was actually running at 1600 and it seems there isn't any firm indication. If the bus clock speed is 1333 then that is it, 1600 can be fitted/utilised whatever but unless someone states that Apple actually made the bus run at 1600 then your RAM is still running at 1333.

It was a point of interest that is all, it seems ATM just reports what is fitted, probably a careless programming shortcut if 1333 was the fastest available at the time.

Click to expand...

- My lord...
Alright, fine. I'll shut up.

http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2012/20120620_6-MacBookPro-1600MHz-memory.html

JTToft said:

- My lord...
Alright, fine. I'll shut up.

http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2012/20120620_6-MacBookPro-1600MHz-memory.html

Click to expand...

Sorry you are getting frustrated but obviously a 0-3% improvement doesn't mean the modules are running at 1600 (which would be 27% faster), it indicates the faster bus settle time that the modules have (needed to keep up when fitted to a machine bus running at 1600), gives a marginal improvement on a 1333 bus machine.

Yes the modules can be utilised, yes the motherboard supports (ie you can fit) the faster modules, (no surprise).

But hey, as I said it was just a point of interest. No biggie.

OP asked above:
[[ Do I just need the SSD and external HDD enclosure to migrate data? ]]

You don't absolutely "need" one, but it would be a VERY good idea to get an enclosure for the old drive, and then use it to "prep and test" the NEW drive BEFORE you do the drive swap.

By doing the prep-and-test "externally", you will KNOW that you have a good SSD, you will KNOW that you have a bootable OS on it, and you will KNOW that the drive is "as you like it" before you go through the work of opening the MacBook and installing it.

And you'll have an enclosure into which to put the old drive once you have it in-hand.

I picked up one of these recently and it's been a good performer:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VKTJGW...UTF8&colid=R75PP4I2A0BE&coliid=I3DOKZ31SP7539

Rockadile said:

How many GB cloned and by which connection

Click to expand...

A little over 300gb cloned via usb 2 connection

----------

simonsi said:

TM backups to where? Backup speed is normally determined by the write speed of the target unless there is a slower interface in the way, not the read speed of the source...??

Click to expand...

using a WD Mybook via firewire port and the speed increase is probably coming from the preparing back up part of my TM backups, I havent used a stop watch but the difference was noticeable.

OP wrote above:
[[ Testing the SSD in it would be a good idea. What steps would I need to take? ]]

Just initialize it and either clone over your existing OS, or install a "fresh" copy of the OS onto it.

The idea is to get the OS and your data installed, and do a test boot, before you install it internally.

That should be "good enough"...