13 inch rMBP SSD Read/Write speeds

[shahin90]

Hey all,

I'm wondering if the read/write speeds of the SSDs on retina macbook pros are the same for 13 and 15 inch models?

I heard the 13 inch has slower right speeds and if so, why? Aren't they all supposed to be PCIe based? Also what read/write speed is expected usually from PCIe?

 

[yjchua95]

Hey all,

I'm wondering if the read/write speeds of the SSDs on retina macbook pros are the same for 13 and 15 inch models?

I heard the 13 inch has slower right speeds and if so, why? Aren't they all supposed to be PCIe based? Also what read/write speed is expected usually from PCIe?

256GB come in two variants - SanDisk and Samsung.

The SanDisk SD0256F variant operates at much lower write speeds. 550MB/s writes and 700MB/s reads.

The Samsung SM0256F variant operates at 630-680MB/s writes and 720MB/s reads.

The 512GB is Samsung-only, SM0512F. 720MB/s writes and 730MB/s reads. Only slightly faster than the SM0256F.

1TB is also Samsung only, SM1024F. This operates at far higher speeds, as it's a 4-lane PCIe SSD. It exceeds 1GB/s in both operations. 512GB and smaller are 2-lane only.

Smaller SSDs operate at lower speeds. Think of each NAND lash on the SSD operating as separate entities striped in RAID0. The more NAND flash chips there are, the faster, since you're writing to more NAND flash chips simultaneously.

128GB PCIe SSDs operate at only around 350MB/s in writes.

 

[shahin90]

256GB come in two variants - SanDisk and Samsung.

The SanDisk SD0256F variant operates at much lower write speeds. 550MB/s writes and 700MB/s reads.

The Samsung SM0256F variant operates at 630-680MB/s writes and 720MB/s reads.

The 512GB is Samsung-only, SM0512F. 720MB/s writes and 730MB/s reads. Only slightly faster than the SM0256F.

1TB is also Samsung only, SM1024F. This operates at far higher speeds, as it's a 4-lane PCIe SSD. It exceeds 1GB/s in both operations. 512GB and smaller are 2-lane only.

Smaller SSDs operate at lower speeds. Think of each NAND lash on the SSD operating as separate entities striped in RAID0. The more NAND flash chips there are, the faster, since you're writing to more NAND flash chips simultaneously.

128GB PCIe SSDs operate at only around 350MB/s in writes.

Wow! Thanks for the detailed response! So there is no difference in the SSD models inside the 13 inch/15 inch laptop given than they are the same size? A 512 GB SSD inside the 13 inch is just as fast as the one inside the 15 inch?

 

[yjchua95]

Wow! Thanks for the detailed response! So there is no difference in the SSD models inside the 13 inch/15 inch laptop given than they are the same size? A 512 GB SSD inside the 13 inch is just as fast as the one inside the 15 inch?

Yes.

 

[Meister]

It should be mentioned, as usual, that the great advantage of ssd is not necessarily faster r/w speeds, but the much, much faster access times. R/w speeds only make a difference if you are constantly copying around massive files.

 

[yjchua95]

It should be mentioned, as usual, that the great advantage of ssd is not necessarily faster r/w speeds, but the much, much faster access times. R/w speeds only make a difference if you are constantly copying around massive files.

Or doing I/O intensive operations.

 

[Donfor39]

speeds from my 13'' late 2013 mcbpro

 

[Dave245]

In terms of SSD speeds, do you recommend SSD to everyone? by this i mean does SSD improve speeds for people who just do day to day tasks on their machines? internet browsing, writing essays/reports for university, watching TV programmes on iTunes, Youtube, Facebook, downloading content from the internet?

I currently have a 2011 Macbook Pro with a HDD and i'm pondering an upgrade if Apple release a 12" Retina Macbook Air and i was wondering if SSD's are worth the upgrade.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Yes....

In terms of SSD speeds, do you recommend SSD to everyone? by this i mean does SSD improve speeds for people who just do day to day tasks on their machines? internet browsing, writing essays/reports for university, watching TV programmes on iTunes, Youtube, Facebook, downloading content from the internet?

I currently have a 2011 Macbook Pro with a HDD and i'm pondering an upgrade if Apple release a 12" Retina Macbook Air and i was wondering if SSD's are worth the upgrade.

.... SSD's make the whole system much more responsive and faster for file movement and copying, opening apps, loading internet pages, photos, etc etc. However the new macbook air is unlikely to be that much faster than your macbook pro with an aftermarket ssd thrown into it so you may get another good couple of years out of it with that upgrade. Of course a retina screen (they are awesome) much better battery life and AC wifi and bluetooth 4 and superior graphics might make it worth the upgrade for you it would for me.

 

[yjchua95]

In terms of SSD speeds, do you recommend SSD to everyone? by this i mean does SSD improve speeds for people who just do day to day tasks on their machines? internet browsing, writing essays/reports for university, watching TV programmes on iTunes, Youtube, Facebook, downloading content from the internet?

I currently have a 2011 Macbook Pro with a HDD and i'm pondering an upgrade if Apple release a 12" Retina Macbook Air and i was wondering if SSD's are worth the upgrade.

Yup, it's worth it. It makes everything feel faster.

My early-2011 15" MBP has a Samsung 840 Pro 512GB SSD and it boots up in just 11 seconds.