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ultimate15red

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 23, 2009
14
0
I want to replace mine with 4tb ssd but not right now because am saving for the time being

so is it true that your stuck with what you have?
 
Realistically it has not been practical to replace the SSD since the 2012 classic MBP. The rMBP drive has proprietary protocols so a standard M.2 SSD (from Amazon, etc) don't work.
 
They used standard protocols, but in a different physical layout. It turned out to be fairly easy to adapt mSATA to the 2012 retina models, though I don't think the PCIe models were nearly so easy.
 
Another limitation you have is I don't see any 4TB PCIe SSD's (at least not in the 2280 form factor) on the market. Granted, Apple doesn't use a traditional 2280 M.2 form factor, but in looking at the 15" teardown, I doubt that they've designed the MBP for adding more NAND chips than what they already have.
 
Only on the non touch bar 13". But there is no 4TB available atm. If you would have to sell an arm and a leg to afford
 
This is a malicious lie spread by Windoze and Dumbdroid fanboyz!

A Macbook SSD is easily replaceable: buy a new Macbook; easy peasy don't even need a screewdriver!



But on a serious note, you could replace the SSD in the retina generation Macbooks.
Some retailers even sold replacement kits to make it easier.

Though I'm not sure if this was true for all retina Macbook Pros or just the latter iterations, helpfull I know.

EDIT:
Nevermind!
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Touch+Bar+Teardown/73395
Touchbar Macbooks have the SSD soldered directly on the motherboard.
 
As Ovedius mentioned:
"Touchbar Macbooks have the SSD soldered directly on the motherboard."

I'm wondering how Apple is going to handle MBPro's that come back as returns and need to be "prepped" to be resold as factory-refurbished.

Do they have software at-hand that can -completely- reset the internal SSD to "virgin state", then test it for defects, and then re-install a clean ready-to-sell OS?

Or, do they replace the motherboard in EVERY refurb with a new one, and a new "soldered-on" drive…???

Inquiring minds want to know!
 
To do a complete secure erase on a SSD is much quicker (Micron says it takes less than a minute on most of their SSD's and they don't sell PCIe NVMe SSD's) than on HDD's because of the technology and the ability to parallelize - something you can't do on HDD's - this is the case if the SSD manufacturer has implemented it properly and the software that Apple uses it utilizes the proper commands and does the secure erase prior to selling a refurb. I'm sure that the SSD vendors that Apple uses has implemented it (there's only a few manufacturers of NAND chips and controllers of the sort that Apple uses). Hopefully, Apple has done their part. I would suspect if they didn't, we'd have seen an exposé to that effect by now.

The refurb Mac with HDD's may be different. I bought a refurb 2012 MBP in late 2015. I just recently noticed that the HDD that came out of that computer (swapped out immediately for a SSD) used Core Storage. I don't know if all Apple computers with HDD's at that time were Core Storage-formatted or if the previous owner encrypted the drive and simply erased it. They may not secure-erase a HDD Mac going to refurb because of the time it takes.
 
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But on a serious note, you could replace the SSD in the retina generation Macbooks.
Some retailers even sold replacement kits to make it easier.

The OWC kit is reverse engineered and tops out at 500MB/sec or so. 2014 factory SSDs top out at 800 MB/sec and 2015 factory SSDs top out at 1500 MB/sec. So the trade off is losing 50-70% SSD performance for size with 3rd party SSDs in late retina units.

The only way to retain performance and keep speed is to get a Apple unit removed from a system or a find a Apple replacement part from a service provider.

Your idea of using a credit card to buy a new unit is the best way to upgrade for most.
 
As Ovedius mentioned:
"Touchbar Macbooks have the SSD soldered directly on the motherboard."

I'm wondering how Apple is going to handle MBPro's that come back as returns and need to be "prepped" to be resold as factory-refurbished.

Do they have software at-hand that can -completely- reset the internal SSD to "virgin state", then test it for defects, and then re-install a clean ready-to-sell OS?

Or, do they replace the motherboard in EVERY refurb with a new one, and a new "soldered-on" drive…???

Inquiring minds want to know!

They replace the entire logic board. The old one is then sent off to be refurbished, if it's beyond repair it'll be written off. If it's serviceable it'll be repaired. They do have the ability to desolder too, but it's much more economical to replace the logic board than it is to faff around desoldering components and changing stuff. That's what your local repair shop does, not a huge operation like Apple repair centres.
 
The OWC kit is reverse engineered and tops out at 500MB/sec or so. 2014 factory SSDs top out at 800 MB/sec and 2015 factory SSDs top out at 1500 MB/sec. So the trade off is losing 50-70% SSD performance for size with 3rd party SSDs in late retina units.

The only way to retain performance and keep speed is to get a Apple unit removed from a system or a find a Apple replacement part from a service provider.

Your idea of using a credit card to buy a new unit is the best way to upgrade for most.

Did not know that. The more you know!
giphy.gif
 
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Only on the non touch bar 13". But there is no 4TB available atm. If you would have to sell an arm and a leg to afford
Could you please specify how to upgrade 2016 13" without touch bar? I guess the 2017 model without the touchbar is upgradeable too?
 
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Realistically it has not been practical to replace the SSD since the 2012 classic MBP. The rMBP drive has proprietary protocols so a standard M.2 SSD (from Amazon, etc) don't work.

Say again?
MPBr '12-Early '13 SSD upgrades
MBPr Late '13 - '15 SSD upgrades
[doublepost=1498320883][/doublepost]
The only way to retain performance and keep speed is to get a Apple unit removed from a system or a find a Apple replacement part from a service provider.

Apple Service Providers or Premium Service Providers will be able to get a part at stock cost which will be cost prohibitive for most (vs a repair cost). Apple treats upgrades like customer damaged parts when in for service. Cheaper will be to find a shop that sells used parts from partouts for whatever reason.
 
Yup and I "liked" your post. Just wanted to show that a storage upgrade is possible and where to find. Most wont notice the performance difference if not working with large files, however after installing several hundred of them have found other caveats. Personally I would buy a larger used Apple SSD if can be found at time of need.
 
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Reactions: jerryk
Yup and I "liked" your post. Just wanted to show that a storage upgrade is possible and where to find. Most wont notice the performance difference if not working with large files, however after installing several hundred of them have found other caveats. Personally I would buy a larger used Apple SSD if can be found at time of need.

Understand.

IMHO, at this point I am not sure that upgrading the SSD on a 2015 or older MBP is worth the effort and potential loss of Applecare (for OWC) regardless of whether the SSD is from Apple or a 3rd party. Get an external SSD for current system, a well priced 2016 refurb, or wait for the 2018 which should have CoffeeLake with the potential of a good performance boast.
 
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