Advice on buying MBP 13" 2015 (MF839)

[KhunJay]

So I have an opportunity to get this from an authorised store in my area...at a good discount.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...arly-2015-retina-display-specs.html#macspecs4

The ports on it are the main reason as I do not ever want to be fkin around with dongles.

My usage does not need the fastest and greatest....just word processing, interwebz light video watching.
So please, no lectures on get the latest it'll hold its value....i don't upgrade often....plan to get at least a good 5-7 years use from it. Plan to keep it on el capitan for as long as possible.

Question Im asking is....can I swap the 128GB SSD with a larger one from the market. AND WHICH ONE TO GET?
Samsung is preferred. I have no idea whether to get a NVME drive or something else....nonroom for error as I won;t be able to return it.

Does it need an adaptor? and if so does anyone have a link to which one specifically?

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

It's not a good idea to get a computer that you immediately plan on upgrading, effectively you need to think of these things as none-upgradable and get the one that you need at the time of purchase. Whilst you can upgrade, it is expensive and risky. If you want the same quality/speed you need to use a recycled one from another machine (used), if you want aftermarket you need expensive made ones (If they exist yet?). So ideally if you need say 512GB then buy one with that storage, it'll be cheaper and better in the long run. Check sources like this for ideas https://9to5mac.com/2015/02/24/upgrade-ssd-macbook-air-retina-macbook-pro/

In terms of lasting I don't see why not, it's a 2 year old computer already remember but assuming it fits your needs and those needs aren't likely to change in the next 5-7 years then it will be fine. No reason to keep it on an older OS either, HS will be faster.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Get what you need is never a bad thing

Have a look at OWC for compatible drives to give you a guide on price and installation

You can also make good use of the old SSD with one of their external cases

Additionally check warranties for both

 

[KhunJay]

Thanks...Im not worried about the risk, if the components exist and it's be one before. At the price Im getting it, it's not a big deal.

But this is the only info I could find:

"Newer-generation 13″ and 15″ Retina MacBook Pros use newer SSDs with faster PCIe connectors. As of early 2015, no third-party SSDs are compatible with this standard, but we’re expecting to see options hit the market closer to the middle of the year. Some Retina MacBook Pro SSDs will apparently be capable of achieving speeds in the 1.2GB/second range, compared with the 700-800MB/second speeds of stock drives."

I guess I was kinda hoping someone would pop in and say: yes Ive upgraded the PCIe SSD in my 2015 macbook pro 13".....it's a samsung and this is the model no.....and it needed an adaptor and here's the link to both components.

 

[rutrack]

Thanks...Im not worried about the risk, if the components exist and it's be one before. At the price Im getting it, it's not a big deal.

But this is the only info I could find:

"Newer-generation 13″ and 15″ Retina MacBook Pros use newer SSDs with faster PCIe connectors. As of early 2015, no third-party SSDs are compatible with this standard, but we’re expecting to see options hit the market closer to the middle of the year. Some Retina MacBook Pro SSDs will apparently be capable of achieving speeds in the 1.2GB/second range, compared with the 700-800MB/second speeds of stock drives."

I guess I was kinda hoping someone would pop in and say: yes Ive upgraded the PCIe SSD in my 2015 macbook pro 13".....it's a samsung and this is the model no.....and it needed an adaptor and here's the link to both components.

Great laptop, there are still very few products, if any, that can match the 2015 MPB in balance of power, screen quality, ports, keyboard, quality, reliability, battery power.

There are actualy several options you have of the top of my head:
Option 1:
Just get a larger used hard drive, there are plenty on ebay. This is the best way to go I think.

Option 2:
You can get this drive:
https://www.owcdigital.com/products/aura-pro-x
It is advertised to work with in MBP and to work with High Sierra,
Sold here: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2013-2014-2015
There are many reviews of this drive available online:
https://9to5mac.com/2016/04/25/revi...rage-upgrade-capacity-mid-2013-later-macbook/

 

[ZapNZs]

The Transcend 820 is another potential option. MCE has some offerings as well.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"So I have an opportunity to get this from an authorised store in my area...at a good discount.
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...arly-2015-retina-display-specs.html#macspecs4"

If it's only got a 128gb SSD inside, that's the reason it's being offered at "a good discount".

The drive in the MacBook Pro is not easily swapped out or upgraded. There are very few replacement drives (I think Other World Computing offers one, but I wouldn't recommend it) other than "original Apple factory" drives that are offered used on ebay.

Really, if you want more drive space, you need to buy a MacBook Pro that HAS more drive space "from the get-go". DON'T count on "upgrading" it.

I'd look to the Apple refurbished MBPro page, and pick one with 256 or 512gb of storage.
8gb of RAM is ok, 16gb if you can afford it.

 

[KhunJay]

I read somewhere that the SSD in the 512GB variant of this machine is faster than the lesser capacity ones...any truth in this?

Also, if the machine comes with 8GB RAM soldered in, can I take it to apple to upgrade it to 16?

I remember people here warning against owc SSDs as they have a high fail rate....so I was put off....but snagging a used SSD that came from this model seems a possibility.

 

[robvas]

The only drive I would use is an OEM drive. Look on eBay.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I read somewhere that the SSD in the 512GB variant of this machine is faster than the lesser capacity ones...any truth in this?

Also, if the machine comes with 8GB RAM soldered in, can I take it to apple to upgrade it to 16?

I remember people here warning against owc SSDs as they have a high fail rate....so I was put off....but snagging a used SSD that came from this model seems a possibility.

Yes all older SSDs were faster with bigger storage due to parallel processing, to be honest though it makes little difference they are all very fast for most daily use cases. I doubt you will notice.

As others say the OWC drives are slower and do not allow trim I would avoid them, the transcend 820 should work just like new a MBP speed wise though.

https://www.transcend-info.com/apple/jetdrive_pcie

No you can only have the ram as is, Apple will not upgrade and I know of no one else offering this service. With ram the only option is buy what you need.

 

[KhunJay]

Thanks samuelsan and zapnz....the transcend 820 looks like the way to go.

Btw does the transcend have trim enabled?

 

[newellj]

I read somewhere that the SSD in the 512GB variant of this machine is faster than the lesser capacity ones...any truth in this?

Also, if the machine comes with 8GB RAM soldered in, can I take it to apple to upgrade it to 16?

I remember people here warning against owc SSDs as they have a high fail rate....so I was put off....but snagging a used SSD that came from this model seems a possibility.

Yes, faster.

No, no upgrades.