How to install a new Samsung 840 EVO and new firmware

[friskokid]

I'm a totaly noob and need some help understanding how to install a new Samsung 840 EVO and updating to the new firmware (april 2015), which fixes the issue with read speeds of old data.

I bought a 500GB Samsung 840 EVO and then found out about the issue before installing the drive. So it's been sitting in a drawer unused this whole time. Now that Samsung has just released a good fix, assuming the fix solves the issue for Mac users, I want to finally install the drive.

I'm on a Macbook Pro early 2011:
2.2 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1024 MB
OS X 10.9.5

1. Is the issue actually resolved for Mac users?

2. Are there any guides, resources for installing the drive in my Macbook Pro early 2011? I know close to nothing about this.

3. Do I need to use the Samsung data migration software?

4. Do I need to update my OS?

5. People have mentioned having to install separate TRIM software. I don't know what this is. Is it necessary?

6. In forums, it seems like there are directions for installing the firmware. Is there anything I need to do differently since the drive has never been used/installed?

Thanks in so much in advance so any insights for this noob!

 

[JTToft]

1. Is the issue actually resolved for Mac users?

2. Are there any guides, resources for installing the drive in my Macbook Pro early 2011? I know close to nothing about this.

3. Do I need to use the Samsung data migration software?

4. Do I need to update my OS?

5. People have mentioned having to install separate TRIM software. I don't know what this is. Is it necessary?

6. In forums, it seems like there are directions for installing the firmware. Is there anything I need to do differently since the drive has never been used/installed?

1. I believe so, yes. See the thread here.

2. Yes.

3. No. You can restore from a Time Machine backup or use Disk Utility to clone to your new drive if you install one of the drives in an external enclosure.

4. No.

5. No. It's good to have, but not a requirement. And it does require some technical know-how to run it wisely - at least on Yosemite if you should choose to upgrade. Based on you not knowing what it is, I'd say you're probably better off not bothering - especially if you'll be running Yosemite.
If you intend to keep Mavericks, it's basically just clicking a button in an app and remembering to re-enable it after OS X updates as they'll disable it (though if you're staying on Mavericks there probably won't be a lot of OS X updates to install).

6. No.

I don't have personal experience with the 840 EVO or its firmware updates, so the answers to numbers 1 and 6 are somewhat tentative. I'm sure someone else with more firsthand knowledge can contribute.

 

[yukari]

Is this what you are looking for?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1821897/

 

[glenthompson]

Since the important issues are covered, I'll add one more comment. My preference is to clone the new drive in an external enclosure before performing the install. You can boot from it to verify that it works properly. Then install the SSD. If you install the drive first and have problems you have to perform multiple drive swaps. That means more chances for something to get damaged.

 

[snaky69]

I'm a totaly noob and need some help understanding how to install a new Samsung 840 EVO and updating to the new firmware (april 2015), which fixes the issue with read speeds of old data.

I bought a 500GB Samsung 840 EVO and then found out about the issue before installing the drive. So it's been sitting in a drawer unused this whole time. Now that Samsung has just released a good fix, assuming the fix solves the issue for Mac users, I want to finally install the drive.

I'm on a Macbook Pro early 2011:
2.2 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1024 MB
OS X 10.9.5

1. Is the issue actually resolved for Mac users?

2. Are there any guides, resources for installing the drive in my Macbook Pro early 2011? I know close to nothing about this.

3. Do I need to use the Samsung data migration software?

4. Do I need to update my OS?

5. People have mentioned having to install separate TRIM software. I don't know what this is. Is it necessary?

6. In forums, it seems like there are directions for installing the firmware. Is there anything I need to do differently since the drive has never been used/installed?

Thanks in so much in advance so any insights for this noob!

1. It has been resolved, and is entirely independent of the OS you are running. The drive itself was affected, no matter if you had OS X, Linux, Windows or whatever else on it. You didn't need to wait to install the drive because of it. It only affect a small minority of users with VERY old files.

2. If you know which end of the screwdriver goes where, you have pretty much all the skill needed. When in doubt, consult ifixit.com, their guides are excellent.

3. You can't, it's Windows only.

4. Nope.

5. Not necessary, but it can prolong the life of your SSD if you do use it.

6. The process is the same. If you still have your optical drive it is likely to be easier to do using a CD or DVD.

 

[friskokid]

Thanks so much for the replies! I'm right in the middle of a few projects but hope to install the drive in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it goes.