Massive improvement. Once you've gone SSD, you'll never be able to go back. As a number of people have already said...
Any operation involving transfers of data between RAM and disk will be much faster. With a spinning disk this is a bottleneck. I can't say for sure it will greatly speed up CPU-heavy tasks like exporting from iMovie, but you won't care because every other action will be like you have a brand new SSD-based computer. I did this with a 2008 MBP. Still awesome.
An enclosure is £10 and this will give you some space for backup or archiving your movie projects, etc.
I tried looking for guides but can't seem to find anything worthwhile.
It shouldn't be too complicated. I know how to burn the installer onto dvd/usb and do a clean install with Lion. The only difference is I'll be doing it on a new SSD.
I think it should be as simple as burning the installer to a dvd/usb drive, putting the SSD in and booting from the dvd/usb. Once you boot from either one you just format the SSD (if you haven't already) and then follow the instructions to install the OS
Upgrading to 8GB of RAM is definitely worth the upgrade. You'll see a significant difference in speed and the way your app handles running more apps. I suggest buying your RAM at OWC, they give you a lifetime warranty.
I have a separate backup hdd (250 gb) and all of my files and applications are on there.
Here's my plan, and I believe someone mentioned this earlier in the thread:
I'm going to download ML (when it comes out) on my hdd. I'll then create the disk image on a USB (i'm doing a clean install.) I'll replace my HDD with my new SSD, then configure the ssd, and then cleanly install Mountain Lion.
If anyone has any good videos/tutorials/instructions on how to do this exaclty, they would be greatly appreciated!
I tried looking for guides but can't seem to find anything worthwhile.
It shouldn't be too complicated. I know how to burn the installer onto dvd/usb and do a clean install with Lion. The only difference is I'll be doing it on a new SSD.
I think it should be as simple as burning the installer to a dvd/usb drive, putting the SSD in and booting from the dvd/usb. Once you boot from either one you just format the SSD (if you haven't already) and then follow the instructions to install the OS
I used a HD enclosure so it was as simple as putting the SSD in that, plug the usb cable in and formatting it using Disk Utility.
If you don't have an enclosure then you could try downloading the ML installer, burning it to DVD/USB and then boot up your Mac from that. Instead of installing the OS just go to Disk Utility and format the SSD. Once that's done then just install the OS
I suggest burning to USB over DVD as it's much simpler and faster than DVD.
Here's a guide to what should be done:
1. Download ML installer from Mac App Store.
2. Burn installer onto USB/DVD. Guides are in my earlier post. If you're burning to DVD then put it in the drive before next step.
3. Shut down Mac, remove HD and install SSD. You'll need both a 00 Philips & Torx T6 screwdriver!
4. If you burn to USB then plug it in BEFORE turning Mac back on.
5. Turn Mac on and hold option key. The option to boot into USB/DVD will come up. Select it.
6. If you haven't already then format the SSD by selecting Disk Utility then format to Mac OS Extended Journaled.
7. Go back and start installation process and follow the instructions. Don't remove USB/DVD until the OS is fully installed.
I'll help you
Follow these steps and you should be fine.
1. Download ML from Mac App Store.
2. Once it has downloaded you need to burn the installer onto a USB. For a guide to do this click here!
3. Once you get to the part that says "When finished, reboot the Mac and hold down the Option key to bring up the boot menu:" Don't do this. What you need to do is SHUT DOWN the Mac. Remove your old HD and install the new SSD. Here is a video showing you what needs to be done. You'll need a 00 Philips/Torx T6 screwdriver.
4. Once the SSD is installed then plug in the USB drive. Power on the Mac and hold down the option key (between ctrl/cmd) until you see this screen. The orange disk is the USB drive. Select that and you'll boot into it.
5. Once the installer starts running then you'll presented with some options. Find the Disk Utility and format your SSD to "Mac OS Extended Journaled". Should only take about 10-20 seconds
6. When the SSD is formatted exit Disk Utility and select the option to start installation. Just follow the instructions and that's it! Don't remove the USB until ML is fully installed.
Not a problem! Glad I could help
Download this guide by clicking here. It is really helpful and it's from another member on here. The only thing that you need to different is install the SSD between steps 10 & 11. The guide covers making a bootable USB drive and formatting the SSD
