Budget SSD for my aging 2010 13" MBP?

[chuckflip53]

Currently using a 2010 13" MBP w/ a 5400rpm 250GB HDD

Recently, everything from word to chrome has entailed prolonged loading periods. I did research here on the forums and have narrowed down my future SSD to two choices:

1. Crucial M4 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2JKZI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
2. Samsung 830 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077CR60Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Is there a clear-cut winner for my situation?

 

[trooperx17]

samsung 830.

 

[chuckflip53]

I've heard good things about the 830. However, are there any functions of the 830 that won't be compatible with my SATAII 2010 MBP?

 

[Weaselboy]

I've heard good things about the 830. However, are there any functions of the 830 that won't be compatible with my SATAII 2010 MBP?

I would say it is about a toss up between those two drives. I might give a slight advantage to the M4 because Crucial has a downloadable ISO you can use to update SSD firmware on a Mac while the Samsung does not.

SATA III is backward compatible, so you won't lose any features other than being limited to SATA II speeds.

 

[robgendreau]

I've got a similar situation. Did you consider the Momentus 750 hybrid? I'm thinking of it cuz it has the added benefit of more room (at 7200 no less) and is pretty speedy, matching the SSD in a MBA but not something like the best SSDs. But it's also quite cheap.

 

[user418]

My vote goes with the Samsung 830. Running a Samsung 470 now and it's a super, fantastic SSD. Plan to purchase an 830 as soon as the price is right for my budget.

 

[myrtlebee]

I did the Crucial in my '09 and it's been great.

 

[ender land]

aging? It's just getting into its prime!

(also has a 2010 13" MBP with base harddrive right now )

 

[Zzari]

I would go with the Crucial M4 for two reasons:

1. It's slightly cheaper than the 830 (128GB can be had for ~$85 from Staples using price match and $25 off $75 coupon).

2. Since you're on SATA II, either drive will max out the bandwidth. Yes, the 830 is faster than the M4, but it doesn't matter since the M4 will max out the bandwidth anyways. Ordinarily I'd recommend the 830 (have one myself), but there isn't really a point in this case.

 

[jtcedinburgh]

I've just installed a Crucial M4 256Gb in my 2009 13" MBP on behalf of the fellow who is buying it. I am seriously impressed with its performance (as compared to my year-old OCZ Vertex 2 240Gb SSD which I am keeping).

For example: 6 seconds from turned off to login screen? That's *stupidly* fast - my OCZ takes around 20s. And nothing I've installed (iLife mainly) has any appreciable load-time.

It's so fast I'm quite taken aback by how much SSD performance must have improved in just a year. So much so that I'm tempted to get a USB3 external chassis for this drive and get an M4 to put into the 2012 MBP that I'm going to be buying as soon as I can....

FTR it's a 2.24GHz Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro with 8Gb ram, so not a flying machine by today's standards, but it feels seriously quick with the M4...

 

[tardman91]

I really want to put an ssd in my 2009 MacBook Pro but I think I'm going to wait until the prices drop some more. My wife would not be happy if I spent that kind of money right now.

 

[calibrationx]

I really want to put an ssd in my 2009 MacBook Pro but I think I'm going to wait until the prices drop some more. My wife would not be happy if I spent that kind of money right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

This one is $143 after rebate.

I got mine at buy.com for $110 AR but its sold out.

I think I'll take my chances with the sandforce controller at this price.