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New SSD installed for my Macbook Air rev.A
- Thread starter hunter127
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I dont have my MBA yet (but it will be here today!), but windows has a featured called system restore. Sometimes that creates a "stoppage" as you describe. I am not familiar with using Parralels, but my gut feeling is that running windows under an emulated enviroment might make the system restore "stoppage" more pronounced. Just my guess.
So, as I forgot to include, try disabling system restore to see if that helps. Start, control panel, system, advanced system settings, system protection tab, and uncheck your system HD.
Runcore SSD 128 Gb
I am currently struggling with a 128 Gb SSD From Runcore:
Runcore SSD PO IV MacBookRevA
The problem seems to be around the setting of the drive which is in Cable select and not Master.
Anyone having a clue if this can be handled from the MBA side?
Regards
I am currently struggling with a 128 Gb SSD From Runcore:
Runcore SSD PO IV MacBookRevA
The problem seems to be around the setting of the drive which is in Cable select and not Master.
Anyone having a clue if this can be handled from the MBA side?
Regards
Just a little resume.
___________________________________________________
Appear to be compatible:
G-Monster Photofast SSD 64GB and 128 GB ZIF 40pin (MLC not too fast at all)
Stock Samsung 64GB SSD
___________________________________________________
Not compatible:
Runcore
Mtron SLC (The one I bought now lives in my old mac mini G4...)
Kingspec
___________________________________________________
Appear to be compatible:
G-Monster Photofast SSD 64GB and 128 GB ZIF 40pin (MLC not too fast at all)
Stock Samsung 64GB SSD
___________________________________________________
Not compatible:
Runcore
Mtron SLC (The one I bought now lives in my old mac mini G4...)
Kingspec
I was having the same problem (in both Fusion and Parallels), and thought it might by the Photofast drive.
After a lot of tinkering, I narrowed the problem to MacFuse, the application that provides the guts of folder sharing for both Fusion and Parallels. I realized that I had upgraded MacFuse to a newer version than that originally installed by Fusion, and that's when the slowdowns started; I upgraded the SSD shortly after that, and wrongly assumed it was the drive. Parallels (at least v4) installs MacFuse directly from the Google project site, so you don't have a choice of version.
In any case, the solution is to completely disable folder sharing (in both directions), and the Windows VMs work like a charm.
The way I figured this out, by the way, is to install Ubuntu into a VM; it worked really well--no pauses/slowdowns/freezes. So it certainly wasn't the drive or the VM software; it had to be something "special" about Windows. The "special" part, I think, is the particular filesystem MacFuse is working with; something about MacFuse is really slow in working with the Windows format vs. the ext3 of Ubuntu.
Anyway, I'm happy to say my VMs now behave, I'm happier with Parallels than Fusion due to a much nicer RAM usage footprint, and I just use Dropbox to move data between Windows and my Mac (with the added benefit of automatically backing up the data in the Dropbox cloud).
Thanks for the ifixit link This is what i am putting in mine, a Runcore SSDRunCore SSD on MBA 2.13GHz Revision C
RUNCORE SPECS
Disk Test 176.54
Sequential 152.18
Uncached Write 152.04 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 104.86 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 21.70 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 149.49 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 210.19
Uncached Write 7.43 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 112.45 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 14.47 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 128.80 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Stock SSD on MBA 2.13GHz Revision C
SSD THAT COMES IN THE MBA
Disk Test 86.89
Sequential 70.49
Uncached Write 50.88 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 34.01 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 13.03 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 90.01 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 113.23
Uncached Write 5.50 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 24.22 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 9.85 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 86.90 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Specifications
Photofast G-Monster
I too replaced my wife's Air hard drive with an SSD from DVNATION. Got the 128GB Photofast, seems to work flawlessly. I was a bit hesitant since there seems to be this weird thing with 40 and 44 pin ZIFs, but whatever I got just works. It flies compared to the stock IPodish hard drive the Air had before. Also Jason (the guy running dvnation) was very helpful.
I too replaced my wife's Air hard drive with an SSD from DVNATION. Got the 128GB Photofast, seems to work flawlessly. I was a bit hesitant since there seems to be this weird thing with 40 and 44 pin ZIFs, but whatever I got just works. It flies compared to the stock IPodish hard drive the Air had before. Also Jason (the guy running dvnation) was very helpful.
I guess you may try to format the windows partition with FAT32 instead of NTFS to resolve your problem.
I found same problem with PCs using SSD running Windows XP.
Hey guys, I have decided to take the plunge and replace the 80gb HDD for an SSD in my 1.8ghz Rev. A MBA.
I purchased a new OEM Samsung 64gb SSD (the same model number as the original one from apple) for $200 on craigslist. My Apple repair man said it would be $1,200 for him to get the part without sending in an old one.
I am also thinking about reapplying the thermal paste while I'm in there.
I was wondering if any of you whom have already done such procedures have any advice... I have already watched every youtube video and studied everything online that I could find (e.g. the ifixit take apart story) but I figured some hands-on advice from you guys would be of the utmost assistance. Thanks.
I'll be sure to post results when my drive comes in.
EDIT: Baseline Xbench 1.3 results for my 1.8ghz 80gb Rev. A MBA HDD:
Disk Test 28.47
Sequential 51.30
Uncached Write 57.74 35.45 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 57.87 32.75 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 35.71 10.45 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 65.04 32.69 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 19.70
Uncached Write 6.48 0.69 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 64.14 20.53 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 50.51 0.36 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 75.34 13.98 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Those are pretty horrible numbers... so hopefully the Samsung SLC 64gb SSD will improve this quite a bit.
I purchased a new OEM Samsung 64gb SSD (the same model number as the original one from apple) for $200 on craigslist. My Apple repair man said it would be $1,200 for him to get the part without sending in an old one.
I am also thinking about reapplying the thermal paste while I'm in there.
I was wondering if any of you whom have already done such procedures have any advice... I have already watched every youtube video and studied everything online that I could find (e.g. the ifixit take apart story) but I figured some hands-on advice from you guys would be of the utmost assistance. Thanks.
I'll be sure to post results when my drive comes in.
EDIT: Baseline Xbench 1.3 results for my 1.8ghz 80gb Rev. A MBA HDD:
Disk Test 28.47
Sequential 51.30
Uncached Write 57.74 35.45 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 57.87 32.75 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 35.71 10.45 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 65.04 32.69 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 19.70
Uncached Write 6.48 0.69 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 64.14 20.53 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 50.51 0.36 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 75.34 13.98 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Those are pretty horrible numbers... so hopefully the Samsung SLC 64gb SSD will improve this quite a bit.
What are the performance specs on the Samsung SSD like compared to the Photofast?
At any rate, keep us up to date on your swap-out... I'd like to do this myself.
Has anyone tried the 1.8" SSDs from Foremay??? I have never heard of this company before, but they appear to make drives that are compatible with all versions of MBA.
UPDATE:
I just installed the original Samsung SLC SSD in my Rev. A MBA.
a few tips:
It doesn't take very long, so be careful and take your time. I also replaced the thermal compound and it all only took about 45 minutes.
data transfer: I just downloaded SuperDuper and copied my HDD to an external drive, then once the SSD was installed, I just booted from the external (hold 'option' on startup) then erased the SSD (and reformatted in the process) in Disk Utility, then used SuperDuper again to copy everything from the external to the SSD.
One quirk: when I hit 'restart', I get a blinking question mark folder, but when I shut it down and restart it manually, it's fine. Also, there is no reading for HDD temp in istat.
ok, now for the results. For the baseline, please refer to a few posts above this.
Disk Test 56.74
Sequential 48.89
Uncached Write 36.88 22.65 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 57.43 32.49 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 35.95 10.52 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 105.62 53.08 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 67.59
Uncached Write 24.35 2.58 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 71.98 23.04 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1555.53 11.02 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 280.10 51.97 MB/sec [256K blocks]
It's still not that great, but it is better than it used to be!... and it appears to be better than the PhotoFast drive that others have posted results for. All in all, I'm pleased with my $200 upgrade!
I just installed the original Samsung SLC SSD in my Rev. A MBA.
a few tips:
It doesn't take very long, so be careful and take your time. I also replaced the thermal compound and it all only took about 45 minutes.
data transfer: I just downloaded SuperDuper and copied my HDD to an external drive, then once the SSD was installed, I just booted from the external (hold 'option' on startup) then erased the SSD (and reformatted in the process) in Disk Utility, then used SuperDuper again to copy everything from the external to the SSD.
One quirk: when I hit 'restart', I get a blinking question mark folder, but when I shut it down and restart it manually, it's fine. Also, there is no reading for HDD temp in istat.
ok, now for the results. For the baseline, please refer to a few posts above this.
Disk Test 56.74
Sequential 48.89
Uncached Write 36.88 22.65 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 57.43 32.49 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 35.95 10.52 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 105.62 53.08 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 67.59
Uncached Write 24.35 2.58 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 71.98 23.04 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1555.53 11.02 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 280.10 51.97 MB/sec [256K blocks]
It's still not that great, but it is better than it used to be!... and it appears to be better than the PhotoFast drive that others have posted results for. All in all, I'm pleased with my $200 upgrade!
Thanks for the follow-up but that's hardly what I'd call a few tips!?
What guide did you follow for both the HD and thermal paste?
Also, what's the model # for the drive?
Cheers,
-VR
The model number for the drive is MCCOE64GEMPP-01A.
I used the iFixit guide for taking apart the MBA. It was very helpful. I also completed the build on a white cloth, so that I could put the screws around the MBA while working on it so I knew where to put them back. Basically after you get the bottom cover off, it's just unplugging some cables and taking out four screws each for the heatsink and HDD. I cleaned the old paste off with a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. Then I spread on a thin layer to the CPU and GPU using a razor blade.
... oh, and be sure to lift up the little black tab on the ZIF connector to get the ribbon cable out.
I would have taken pictures, but I was too anxious to get things up and running!
I was very nervous tearing apart my beloved MBA, but it was cool to see the inside of it!... everything is tiny! the motherboard and drive especially!
What can I do with my old HDD??? could I buy a broken iPod and throw it in there? Should I buy and enclosure? Should I just sell it? Decisions, decisions.
I used the iFixit guide for taking apart the MBA. It was very helpful. I also completed the build on a white cloth, so that I could put the screws around the MBA while working on it so I knew where to put them back. Basically after you get the bottom cover off, it's just unplugging some cables and taking out four screws each for the heatsink and HDD. I cleaned the old paste off with a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. Then I spread on a thin layer to the CPU and GPU using a razor blade.
... oh, and be sure to lift up the little black tab on the ZIF connector to get the ribbon cable out.
I would have taken pictures, but I was too anxious to get things up and running!
I was very nervous tearing apart my beloved MBA, but it was cool to see the inside of it!... everything is tiny! the motherboard and drive especially!
What can I do with my old HDD??? could I buy a broken iPod and throw it in there? Should I buy and enclosure? Should I just sell it? Decisions, decisions.
Thanks... that drive seems to command a real premium ($600-$1000)!
You lucked out big time getting one for $200. I think I'm going to have to find something much cheaper.Thanks... that drive seems to command a real premium ($600-$1000)!
Yeah, the guy I got it from was going to put it in a Dell or something and never got around to it... He wanted $550 but I argued that I could find faster drives for around $200 (which is true) and he took it! I was delighted to get the original SLC drive and know that it would work for the same price as the MLC drives that are hit-or-miss.
Thanks for the help, everyone!
I installed the Photofast 128 and am very thrilled with the performance. Started with a clean install of Snow Leopard. I also installed Vista via Boot Camp and am noticing some of the unresponsiveness described in previous messages with Parallels; however, the hang-ups don't seem to be as bad. It usually happens when Update is running.
It was easy install (although ifixit.com rates it as difficult) and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to give a little kick to MBAir Rev A. The hardest part of the install was connecting the cable to the ssd. Still, it was much easier than I thought.
I installed the Photofast 128 and am very thrilled with the performance. Started with a clean install of Snow Leopard. I also installed Vista via Boot Camp and am noticing some of the unresponsiveness described in previous messages with Parallels; however, the hang-ups don't seem to be as bad. It usually happens when Update is running.
It was easy install (although ifixit.com rates it as difficult) and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to give a little kick to MBAir Rev A. The hardest part of the install was connecting the cable to the ssd. Still, it was much easier than I thought.
Installed Photofast 1.8 128GB ZIF SSD in first generation MacBookAir Rev A
I installed two weeks ago a Photofast 1.8 128GB ZIF SSD into my MacBook Air Rev A. It works very well and I am very happy with it.
I bought it from http://www.dvnation.com/ for USD 499, which is a steal for Europeans like me because of the incredibly shrinking Dollar
Procedure that I used to replace HDD with SSD
==============================
1. I first installed the SSD into an external USB drive enclosure for ZIF PATA 1.8" drives.
2. Then boot normally from my original (and still built-in) harddisk.
3. Then used SuperDuper and cloned the internal drive to to the Photofast SSD that was installed in the external USB drive enclosure. SuperDuper is available from http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
4. Shutdown the MacBook Air Rev A and boot from the SSD, which was still installed in the external USB drive enclosure. It booted up correctly and in that way I could verify that the SSD itself works and the cloning went well (In step 6, I was very glad I tested this)
5. Shutdown the MacBook Air Rev A and replace the original 80GB HDD with the 128GB Photofast SSD.
6. And Oh NO! After booting I got this Folder with Question Mark symbol but not the expected Apple. I once tested the KingSpec drive and had the same effect, and I never got the Kingspec to work in my MBA. So I was shocked to the bones.
Since I knew from Step 4 that the SSD drive booted OK, I suspected something with the cabling. So I reopened the body, removed the drive cable from both ends, straightened the cable contacts that go into the SSD PATA IF with my fingernails, and reinstalled the drive (left case open). Tried to boot again with the same effect. So I removed the drive again, straightened and realigned all cables as best as I possibly could, reinstalled the drive again and tried to boot. Now everything worked perfectly So my learning is that these cables are extremely
7. So I reassembled the MacBook Air Rev A, tightened all body screws (do not use much force here!).
8. Booted from SSD and it worked|
So I am using my MBA daily for my work ind in the past two weeks of operation I never experienced a problem.
So Here are my XBENCH results for the Photofast V2 128GB SSD:
=========================================
Results 30.71
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.1 (10B504)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookAir1,1
Drive Type PHOTOFAST18ZIFV2_128GB PHOTOFAST18ZIFV2_128GB
Disk Test 30.71
Sequential 36.33
Uncached Write 31.02 19.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 37.09 20.99 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 23.60 6.91 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 117.10 58.85 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 26.60
Uncached Write 8.28 0.88 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 40.02 12.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 776.19 5.50 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 300.08 55.68 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Compare this to my XBENCH results for the original 80 GB Apple HDD
============================================
Results 26.02
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.7 (9J61)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookAir1,1
Drive Type SAMSUNG HS082HB SAMSUNG HS082HB
Disk Test 26.02
Sequential 41.85
Uncached Write 48.19 29.59 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 39.80 22.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 31.41 9.19 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 55.93 28.11 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 18.88
Uncached Write 6.28 0.67 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 55.50 17.77 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 49.17 0.35 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 69.71 12.94 MB/sec [256K blocks]
I not only replaced the HDD with an SSD for speed reasons, I also desperately needed more storage capacity INSIDE my MBA.
I installed two weeks ago a Photofast 1.8 128GB ZIF SSD into my MacBook Air Rev A. It works very well and I am very happy with it.
I bought it from http://www.dvnation.com/ for USD 499, which is a steal for Europeans like me because of the incredibly shrinking Dollar
Procedure that I used to replace HDD with SSD
==============================
1. I first installed the SSD into an external USB drive enclosure for ZIF PATA 1.8" drives.
2. Then boot normally from my original (and still built-in) harddisk.
3. Then used SuperDuper and cloned the internal drive to to the Photofast SSD that was installed in the external USB drive enclosure. SuperDuper is available from http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
4. Shutdown the MacBook Air Rev A and boot from the SSD, which was still installed in the external USB drive enclosure. It booted up correctly and in that way I could verify that the SSD itself works and the cloning went well (In step 6, I was very glad I tested this)
5. Shutdown the MacBook Air Rev A and replace the original 80GB HDD with the 128GB Photofast SSD.
6. And Oh NO! After booting I got this Folder with Question Mark symbol but not the expected Apple. I once tested the KingSpec drive and had the same effect, and I never got the Kingspec to work in my MBA. So I was shocked to the bones.
Since I knew from Step 4 that the SSD drive booted OK, I suspected something with the cabling. So I reopened the body, removed the drive cable from both ends, straightened the cable contacts that go into the SSD PATA IF with my fingernails, and reinstalled the drive (left case open). Tried to boot again with the same effect. So I removed the drive again, straightened and realigned all cables as best as I possibly could, reinstalled the drive again and tried to boot. Now everything worked perfectly
So my learning is that these cables are extremely 7. So I reassembled the MacBook Air Rev A, tightened all body screws (do not use much force here!).
8. Booted from SSD and it worked|
So I am using my MBA daily for my work ind in the past two weeks of operation I never experienced a problem.
So Here are my XBENCH results for the Photofast V2 128GB SSD:
=========================================
Results 30.71
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.1 (10B504)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookAir1,1
Drive Type PHOTOFAST18ZIFV2_128GB PHOTOFAST18ZIFV2_128GB
Disk Test 30.71
Sequential 36.33
Uncached Write 31.02 19.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 37.09 20.99 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 23.60 6.91 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 117.10 58.85 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 26.60
Uncached Write 8.28 0.88 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 40.02 12.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 776.19 5.50 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 300.08 55.68 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Compare this to my XBENCH results for the original 80 GB Apple HDD
============================================
Results 26.02
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.7 (9J61)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookAir1,1
Drive Type SAMSUNG HS082HB SAMSUNG HS082HB
Disk Test 26.02
Sequential 41.85
Uncached Write 48.19 29.59 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 39.80 22.52 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 31.41 9.19 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 55.93 28.11 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 18.88
Uncached Write 6.28 0.67 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 55.50 17.77 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 49.17 0.35 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 69.71 12.94 MB/sec [256K blocks]
I not only replaced the HDD with an SSD for speed reasons, I also desperately needed more storage capacity INSIDE my MBA.
Still works!
Just an update on this old tread:
My MBA Rev A with the PhotoFast SSD still works and is now owned by my 15 year old niece, who thinks it is a fast and elegant machine and it is an Apple. Incredible how long MacBook Airs last and how long they are useful to people.
Just an update on this old tread:
My MBA Rev A with the PhotoFast SSD still works and is now owned by my 15 year old niece, who thinks it is a fast and elegant machine and it is an Apple. Incredible how long MacBook Airs last and how long they are useful to people.
Hi, I have a question do you think the Samsung 128GB Solid State Drive MMDPE28GDDXP-MVB LIF will work as a replacement for my bad drive. I have a MBA 1304 rev b with the LIF connector. Here is a link on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-128...Internal_Hard_Disk_Drives&hash=item4d0cd6438e