Late-08 MacBook Pro + Sandisk Extreme 240GB SSD = Junk

[GermanyChris]

I'll answer my own question.

The Late 2009 Mac Mini doesn't have the problem. My SanDisk Extreme SSD shows it's running at 1.5gbps.

1.5Gbs is SATA I

 

[bigredchris]

Macbook Pro (Early 2008) MacOSX Lion 10.7.5 + SanDisk Extreme R211 Firmware Update

Hi All,

Thanks for this thread, was useful and was about to purchase a new SSD to replace my SanDisk Extreme 240GB (SDSSDX240GG25) SSD since it was exhibiting the same secs-mins hanging problem over the past year since upgrading. But did a bit more research and found that SanDisk released a new R211 firmware update (Oct 17, 2012) for the 60GB|120GB|240GB|480GB drives thats supposed to resolve the hanging problem, importantly please also note the SanDisk DISCLAIMER detailed below:

"- Resolves a speed negotiation issue where instead of SATA II/3.0Gbps the Extreme SSD functioned at SATA I/1.5Gbps. Affected platforms are MacBook and MacBook Pros dated in 2008-2009 based on NVidia MCP79 chipset.

Disclaimer: This firmware will configure the SSD drive to operate at SATA II/3.0Gbps and will no longer function at SATA III/6.0Gbps. The fix is only recommended for MacBook and MacBook Pros dated in 2008-2009 based on NVidia MCP79 chipset. In the event for future use you would prefer to switch back to SATA III/6.0Gbps, you will need to re-download to the standard Extreme SSD firmware."

URL Link to the R211 Firmware Release Notes:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10127/kw/SanDisk SDSSDX240GG25 firmware update/related/1

URL to the R211 Firmware download page is here:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10476/kw/SanDisk SDSSDX240GG25 firmware update

Downloaded and burned the Firmware Updater ISO image to CD, rebooted pressing the 'C' key and applied this to my drive. So far this looks to have worked perfectly, drive is intact and no further hangs... outstanding!!! Please make sure to make a backup of your SSD before applying the Firmware Update just in case of any problems to avoid data-loss.

Would recommend this, BUT please ensure that you have the correct SanDisk Extreme SSD model onto which you're applying the specific Firmware Update ISO as this may otherwise brick your SSD.

I cannot thank you enough! I almost despaired after installing my old Sandisk Extreme in my 2009 MacBook expecting SATA 2 speeds but only getting about 70 MB/s Write and 100 MB/s Read. After applying this Firmware Update and using the 'sudo trimforce enable' command in Terminal, System report no longer showed a negotiated speed of 1.5Gbps but 3Gbps! Drive speeds went to 130MB/s Write and 260MB/s Read! It's no SATA3, but a noticeable boost from the HDD and 1.5Gbps.

To anyone looking at attempting this, don't forget to enable TRIM after applying the Firmware update! For me the drive continued to operate at 1.5Gbps until I had.

Thank you again sarfrazulhaque!