How fast are the rMBP SSDs?

[jdong217]

I currently have a mid-2012 13" MBP with a Samsung SSD and it's worked wonderfully so far. I'm thinking of getting the 13" rMBP and I'm just wondering how the hard drive compares and if it's noticeably slower.

The rMBP does have an SSD, right? As far as I'm aware, the hard drives in the retinas cannot be swapped out, so I want to make sure I make the right decision.

 

[827538]

Unlike the SSD you are using just now they do not use the SATA III interface which is limited to a theoretical maximum of 600MB/s. While the SSD's in the Late 2013 rMBP's are PCI-e based which is far faster as it is essentially connected straight to the computer's data bus. I have a 512GB PCI-e SSD and see over 700MB/s for both read and write. In other words it is extremely fast and responsive, even more than your current SSD so yes it's fantastic and a definite improvement.

2012 rMBP's use SATA SSD's which transfer at around 400-500MB/s
2013 rMBP's use PCI-e SSD's and transfer at over 700MB/s (around 1000MB/s for the 1TB versions)

 

[Gjwilly]

The SSD is actually one of the easiest things to replace in a rMBP.
The problem is that with the latest PCI-e SSD design, there are next to no aftermarket options which makes the whole replacement problem moot.

 

[827538]

The SSD is actually one of the easiest things to replace in a rMBP.
The problem is that with the latest PCI-e SSD design, there are next to no aftermarket options which makes the whole replacement problem moot.

I'm sure aftermarket options will become available. For me I prefer the slimmer and more compact form factor over upgradability as I upgrade my hardware yearly but I realise for some this is an issue.

The only problem with the SSD's in the rMBP might be capacity. The $/GB isn't that good yet, but from the performance perspective I feel they really have reached a level where drive performance is no longer limiting the usability and functionality of the system like HDD's were.

 

[fskywalker]

Unlike the SSD you are using just now they do not use the SATA III interface which is limited to a theoretical maximum of 600MB/s. While the SSD's in the Late 2013 rMBP's are PCI-e based which is far faster as it is essentially connected straight to the computer's data bus. I have a 512GB PCI-e SSD and see over 700MB/s for both read and write. In other words it is extremely fast and responsive, even more than your current SSD so yes it's fantastic and a definite improvement.

2012 rMBP's use SATA SSD's which transfer at around 400-500MB/s
2013 rMBP's use PCI-e SSD's and transfer at over 700MB/s (around 1000MB/s for the 1TB versions)

I have the 1TB PCIe on my 13" rMBP 2.8Ghz /16 GB Ram and am getting pretty nice speeds (close to the 1000MB/s mentioned above):

 

[durkkin]

512 SSD/8GB RAM. Read and write are both around 700 with encryption on.

 

[827538]

710 and 730, extremely happy with it. Although would love to get the 1TB, maybe I'll chose that option when I upgrade to Broadwell.

 

[yjchua95]

1TB SSD

2.6GHz i7 late-2013 15" rMBP
16GB RAM
Iris Pro + GT750M

 

[Macman45]

rMBP early 2013:

3GHZ CPU
500GB SSD
8GB RAM

Gives the speeds in the test image. It never beach balls and even thought has the 8GB RAM instead of the 16 I would have liked, I really can't complain about it's speed...It runs things I really didn't expect it to very well indeed, and the screen is a joy to use.

 

[yjchua95]

rMBP early 2013:

3GHZ CPU
500GB SSD
8GB RAM

Gives the speeds in the test image. It never beach balls and even thought has the 8GB RAM instead of the 16 I would have liked, I really can't complain about it's speed...It runs things I really didn't expect it to very well indeed, and the screen is a joy to use.

Since when did early-2013 rMBPs have a 3GHz CPU?

The fastest was only 2.8GHz, if I recall.

 

[maflynn]

I find my 2012 rMBP to be really fast but apple really ratcheted up performance with the 2013 model, these numbers are incredible.

 

[fskywalker]

Since when did early-2013 rMBPs have a 3GHz CPU?

The fastest was only 2.8GHz, if I recall.

The early 2013 13" rMBP higher end model was 3 Ghz

 

[yjchua95]

The early 2013 13" rMBP higher end model was 3 Ghz

Are you sure?

I suggest you go to  (upper left corner) → About This Mac and check your processor speed.

 

[fskywalker]

Are you sure?

I suggest you go to  (upper left corner) → About This Mac and check your processor speed.

I used to have a late 2012 13" rMBP with the Built To Order higher spec of 2.9 GHZ and know the same machine came out ar 3 GHZ with the early January 2013 refresh

 

[yjchua95]

I used to have a late 2012 13" rMBP with the Built To Order higher spec of 2.9 GHZ and know the same machine came out ar 3 GHZ with the early January 2013 refresh

Ohh...I thought you were referring to the 15".

Yes, the 13" does have a 3GHz dual-core i7 option in the early-2013 ones.

 

[Inhalant]

What's a beachball? (I seriously only have seen this computer beach ball a couple times...)

 

[Nhaps]

Just as fast

512 SSD/8GB RAM. Read and write are both around 700 with encryption on.

I have a rMBP 15" Late 2013 with 8GB Ram and the SM0256F (256GB) and I am getting just about the same speed as the SSD 500GB: 671 Write and 729 Read. This is all right , and way better than my previous 2012 MBP with a Samsung 840 Pro 256 for sure.

 

[mrweirdo]

From what I understand there are at least two different speeds you can get on the current rMBP. It relates to the drive manufacture with Samsung based ones being the fastest option. So far it seems they are the only one providing Apple with the 1TB SSDs. With 512gb or less you run the risk of getting a sandisk/Toshiba part thus it may be slower then another rMBP of the same model.

 

[Nhaps]

The question is how we can find out whether Sandisk or Samsung is in it?

 

[yjchua95]

The question is how we can find out whether Sandisk or Samsung is in it?

It's a lottery between SD or SM until you get the Mac.

To check, go to Spotlight -> search for System Information and open it.

Under SATA, it'll list the type of SSD installed.

 

[Nhaps]

It's a lottery between SD or SM until you get the Mac.

To check, go to Spotlight -> search for System Information and open it.

Under SATA, it'll list the type of SSD installed.

Got it

 

[yjchua95]

This is what I have, can't tell which one:
SSD Drive:
Capacity: 250.14 GB (250,140,434,432 bytes)
Available: 67.42 GB (67,422,969,856 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /
Content: Apple_HFS
Volume UUID: 1066277C-03A2-3AE7-BA33-5933E926523D

It should look something like this.

As seen here, this MBA has a Toshiba drive (TS064E)

EDIT: Saw your updated post, you have a Samsung SM0256F drive. Congratulations!

 

[Nhaps]

It should look something like this.

As seen here, this MBA has a Toshiba drive (TS064E)

EDIT: Saw your updated post, you have a Samsung SM0256F drive. Congratulations!

Well, well, well, it was about time cause I never won the lottery before LOL. If you use DiskLed it should tell you right up without going to System Information.

 

[mdgm]

I'm sure aftermarket options will become available.

I think I read on OWC's blog that they are working on one such option (if not, I would still be surprised if they are not), but if their aftermarket options for earlier models are anything to go by, they won't be cheap. However unlike when you buy a CTO Mac, when you get a 3rd party SSD you get to keep the stock/CTO SSD that was in the Mac which you should bear in mind.

Since the SSD in the rMBP is not considered a user-replaceable part if you have issues and have a 3rd party SSD installed, I presume you may have difficulty getting help from Apple.

Nice to know though that after the warranty runs out, if the SSD fails there are likely be at least some 3rd party options to consider.

The RAM is soldered on, so if that fails outside of warranty it would be time to get a new machine.

 

[fskywalker]

I think I read on OWC's blog that they are working on one such option (if not, I would still be surprised if they are not), but if their aftermarket options for earlier models are anything to go by, they won't be cheap. However unlike when you buy a CTO Mac, when you get a 3rd party SSD you get to keep the stock/CTO SSD that was in the Mac which you should bear in mind.

Since the SSD in the rMBP is not considered a user-replaceable part if you have issues and have a 3rd party SSD installed, I presume you may have difficulty getting help from Apple.

Nice to know though that after the warranty runs out, if the SSD fails there are likely be at least some 3rd party options to consider.

The RAM is soldered on, so if that fails outside of warranty it would be time to get a new machine.

You can also buy the OEM drive in places like Ebay for about $1 per MB. At least on the 2012 rMBP SATA SSD's the OWC drives were not as fast as the OEM Samsung, lets see what happens when they release the PCIe's.