is it possible to upgrade ssd on rmbp 2015?

[Samuelsan2001]

As I have previously said, not everyone can or want to spend money buying the most expensive storage configuration at the time of initial purchase.

For example, the retail price for the MacBook Pro 15-inch (non dGPU) with 256 GB SSD is $1999. The upfront cost of upgrading to 1TB SSD is an additional $800 and many people cannot or do not want to spend another $800 upfront.

Perhaps you are fortunate enough to be able to easily spend another $800 at the time of purchase, but that is not the case with many others.


What "mistakes" did I made?

Also, how am I being "dishonest"?

You have said it many times and we all agree not everyone can afford to buy a Mac specced as they want at the time of purchase.

However we seem to diagree on the solution. The solution is don't buy one then, all this "how can I do it on the cheap, risking voiding warranties, having to put bits back in for service or repair," it can all be avoided (as can all this pointless banter) by buying a cheaper computer with the specs or upgradeability you want from another manufacturer. Problem solved.

 

[maflynn]

However we seem to diagree on the solution. The solution is don't buy one then, all this "how can I do it on the cheap, risking voiding warranties,

I opted for a 2TB iMac model, as the cost of a 1TB SSD was (and is) ridiculously priced. I'm content with the Fusion drive, while I know the SSD is faster.

I think people should realize different strokes for different folks. I personally, believe the risk of damage on some of these macs higher then what the benefit it will bring. Granted, its much harder and more work cracking open an iMac then a MBP, but the risk remains. to some the risk is acceptable, and I understand that, to others its not. different strokes for different folks

 

[tubeexperience]

You have said it many times and we all agree not everyone can afford to buy a Mac specced as they want at the time of purchase.

However we seem to diagree on the solution. The solution is don't buy one then, all this "how can I do it on the cheap, risking voiding warranties, having to put bits back in for service or repair," it can all be avoided (as can all this pointless banter) by buying a cheaper computer with the specs or upgradeability you want from another manufacturer. Problem solved.

Or... you know ... you can avoid voiding the warranty by reading the instructions and doing the upgrade properly.

Let's take a look at the Dell XPS 15 9550 which has a PCIe SSD similar to the one in the MacBook Pro 15 Retina.

To upgrade the SSD (in the Dell XPS 15 9550), remove the bottom case, disconnect the battery, remove a single screw holding the SSD, lift the SSD very slightly upward and pull back. Follow the instruction in reverse for reassembly.

This instruction is identical to the one for the MacBook Pro 15 Retina.

In other words, you are NOT any more likely to damage a MacBook Pro 15 Retina by upgrading the SSD than you are to damage a Dell XPS 15 9550 by upgrading the SSD.

 

[T5BRICK]

As I have previously said, not everyone can or want to spend money buying the most expensive storage configuration at the time of initial purchase.

That's why I said buy the computer that suits your needs and budget. Several times now.

You seem to think that implies buying the fully loaded 15" rMBP, but I'm not even suggesting that the person sticks with a Mac. If you need a computer and a Dell or HP will fit your budget and suit your needs, by all means, go with the Dell or HP(in my opinion, Windows 10 is pretty nice). If you need a Mac to run your specific software, buy the Mac that fits your budget and suits your needs. It's easier in the long run. There are less "gotchas" and compromises.

I understand that from a repairability or upgradeability standpoint, this isn't ideal. Unfortunately, users like you and I who actually do those things are obviously not part of Apples target market. I still open up my PC and tinker with it. It's about time for me to upgrade the motherboard and CPU and also swap out the watercooling system that I've got installed, so I'll probably take care of that later this year. I don't do any of these things with my Macs anymore. I have accepted that Apple doesn't sell that kind of computer and I'm ok with it. If you're not ok with it, then by all means, continue buying Apple products and complaining about them on MacRumors. Or, vote with your wallet and spend your money elsewhere. If enough people did this Apple would notice.

 

[tubeexperience]

That's why I said buy the computer that suits your needs and budget. Several times now.

You seem to think that implies buying the fully loaded 15" rMBP, but I'm not even suggesting that the person sticks with a Mac. If you need a computer and a Dell or HP will fit your budget and suit your needs, by all means, go with the Dell or HP(in my opinion, Windows 10 is pretty nice). If you need a Mac to run your specific software, buy the Mac that fits your budget and suits your needs. It's easier in the long run. There are less "gotchas" and compromises.

I understand that from a repairability or upgradeability standpoint, this isn't ideal. Unfortunately, users like you and I who actually do those things are obviously not part of Apples target market. I still open up my PC and tinker with it. It's about time for me to upgrade the motherboard and CPU and also swap out the watercooling system that I've got installed, so I'll probably take care of that later this year. I don't do any of these things with my Macs anymore. I have accepted that Apple doesn't sell that kind of computer and I'm ok with it. If you're not ok with it, then by all means, continue buying Apple products and complaining about them on MacRumors. Or, vote with your wallet and spend your money elsewhere. If enough people did this Apple would notice.

This is the MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch):

This is the Dell XPS 15 9950:

In both laptops, the SSD is outlined in red.

As far as replacing the SSD is concern, both involve removing the bottom case, then removing a single screw securing the SSD and then removing the SSD itself.

There is no reason at all that the SSD in the MacBook Pro Retina cannot be replaced.

 

[jerryk]

Thanks for posting this.

Seeing the PCIe M.2 Sata module and sticks of memory makes me very jealous. Heck it even looks like you can replace the Wifi/BT module with one screw.

 

[tubeexperience]

Thanks for posting this.

Seeing the PCIe M.2 Sata module and sticks of memory makes me very jealous. Heck it even looks like you can replace the Wifi/BT module with one screw.

Not to mention Skylake and DDR4.

 

[jerryk]

Not to mention Skylake and DDR4.

Don't rub it in.

But to be honest I have two desktop systems side by side. One with a Skylake processor and one with a Haswell processor. Both have the same amount of memory (32GB), SSDs, and same video card (Nvidia 970). In most basic tasks, Mail, Word, Excel, browsing, coding, etc. they perform about the same.

The Skylake system is 20% faster at rendering video, but that is probably due to have 6 cores and a Samsung PCIe M.2 NVME drive (2.5 GB/sec!!!) vs Samsung 850.

 

[T5BRICK]

As far as replacing the SSD is concern, both involve removing the bottom case, then removing a single screw securing the SSD and then removing the SSD itself.

Please note that in my very first post in the thread, I said that it is removeable. I don't disagree with you here.

There is no reason at all that the SSD in the MacBook Pro Retina cannot be replaced.

Except for potentially voiding your warranty. Which is why I suggest just buying the computer that suits your needs within your budget, even though the drive is technically replaceable(although not, as defined by Apple, user replaceable).

 

[tubeexperience]

Except for potentially voiding your warranty. Which is why I suggest just buying the computer that suits your needs within your budget, even though the drive is technically replaceable(although not, as defined by Apple, user replaceable).

Well, I am assuming that the vast majority of users (who are considering upgrading the SSDs themselves) are competent enough to be able to read and follow online instructions and wouldn't, for example, break the SSD connector and void the warranty.

That's not a very high bar to meet unless one of them is Johnny Bravo.

 

[the_zee]

Did anyone try this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/252536827553
I'm on the fence for giving it a shot... from one hand side it's not a known Apple SSD, rather an M.2 PCIe, based on a model number, but from the pictures, it appears to have a connector like Apple SSDs have...

 

[JTToft]

Did anyone try this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/252536827553
I'm on the fence for giving it a shot... from one hand side it's not a known Apple SSD, rather an M.2 PCIe, based on a model number, but from the pictures, it appears to have a connector like Apple SSDs have...

- It's just a Samsung M.2 drive with an adaptor board. It should work, but recent experiences on these boards have been less than ideal with similar setups.

Read through this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m-2-ssd-for-retina-macbook-pro-late-2013-and-later.1985514/