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Anyone have an SSD in their 12" PB?

ApolloBoy

ApolloBoy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 16, 2015
778
305
San Jose, CA
So I'm thinking of swapping in an mSATA SSD in my new 12" PowerBook G4, and I just wanted to know if anyone else here has done the same and what their experience was like. I've heard a few issues about the computer not waking from sleep properly with an SSD and I want to be sure that I'm not going to encounter any major hiccups. FWIW, I have a 2005 model.
 
I've got a friend with a 15' 1.67GHz PowerBook G4 like mine and has an mSATA SSD in his. I was talking to him about it and asked his opinion on if I should do it to mine, he said he wouldn't do it. He says his read speeds were significantly slower than his 5200RPM HDD he had in before (not the original drive). I'd assume it's the same with the 12, and that's just his experience. Yours could be different but I figured I'd share anyway
 
The mSATA SSD in my PowerBook G4 is great, you will end up paying less for the mSATA and adapter than for a standard mechanical drive. The adapter your friend used probably had some overhead, I reccomend you got of an adapter with the Marvel chip
 
I have one in mine. No problems that I have encountered. My adapter has a Marvel chip.
 
I have SSDs in all sizes of Powerbooks. I didn't install the one that's in one of my 12"s, while I installed the ones in my 15 and 17" DLSDs.

For my own installations, I used Toshiba branded 128gb drives. I bought enclosures from China that duplicate the form factor of a 2.5" IDE mechanical drive.

I have no complaints about any of the installations-they really perk up the computers, make them quieter, and help battery life.
 
I have one in mine using a msata card with ide adapter. It works well.
 
Just adding my tuppence-worth: have SSD in both my PowerBooks (12 and 15) and they're both significantly snappier than with HDD. The chip in the adapter makes the difference between a good and a bad experience - make sure it's the Marvel chip and you'll be fine.
 
SecretSquirrel said:
Just adding my tuppence-worth: have SSD in both my PowerBooks (12 and 15) and they're both significantly snappier than with HDD. The chip in the adapter makes the difference between a good and a bad experience - make sure it's the Marvel chip and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Can you post a link please to the adaptor you use.
 
mSATA + adatpor in the PB5.9

"real" IDE-SSD in the 1.33GHz 12" iBook

No problems whatsoever, but also no experience on wakeup issues as OSX gets booted less then once a year on these....
 
I have one of these: http://www.transcend-info.com/Products/No-418

It works fine and is noticeably faster than the HDD, though speed wasn't my reason for buying it. I got it for durability reasons as my PowerBook travels with me a lot in a backpack. I probably wouldn't bother with an SSD again though in any computer.
 
556fmjoe said:
I have one of these: http://www.transcend-info.com/Products/No-418

It works fine and is noticeably faster than the HDD, though speed wasn't my reason for buying it. I got it for durability reasons as my PowerBook travels with me a lot in a backpack. I probably wouldn't bother with an SSD again though in any computer.
Click to expand...
Those are really expensive on eBay! How much did you pay just wondering
 
That feeling when your IDE mSATA adaptor arrives, you open up your PowerBook and you see that the previous owner has managed to strip the screws holding the HDD bracket....
 
That happened to me too, but I stripped them... Crush the heads using wire cutters, if there isn't room, just use brute force and crush the thing... Mine was pretty bad so I don't have a support bar in mine
 
Aika said:
That feeling when your IDE mSATA adaptor arrives, you open up your PowerBook and you see that the previous owner has managed to strip the screws holding the HDD bracket....
Click to expand...
Been there, seen that so you have my sympathies. A small hand drill and a 2mm bit will be enough to part head and screw body. If you're putting in an adapter without cage, it doesn't matter as you'll have to wedge the adapter board in place somehow anyway. But if you're installing a more complete adapter ( like the Aleratec) and need to use the HDD bracket I've found that just using the black pan head screw near the battery board is fine to hold it in place. If both are missing, insulating tape will do the job as well as it's really light.
 
No room for wire cutters so I will try the hand drill, thank you for the suggestions. I'll see if I can get hold of new 6mm screws but if not one of the three screws is usable at least.

Come to think of it, the HDD that's currently in there is the stock config so chances are the screws got stripped in the factory during assembly.
 
Mainly, is there orange tape over the HDD connector(Correct me if I am wrong, but IRC, there is orange tape over the HDD connector)
 
MacCubed said:
Mainly, is there orange tape over the HDD connector(Correct me if I am wrong, but IRC, there is orange tape over the HDD connector)
Click to expand...

Yep all the tape I expected to be there (from guides) is there.
 
Then it's a factory issue, use a drill bit or grinder to a. drill out the head or b. to cut a slot in the screw to use as a flathead
 
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