Rev. A MBA with Runcore SSD upgrade

[Shrek-Moscow]

Hi

if have been reading this topic and i got very excited to get the 12b gb, the only thing, problem is i did not get,
it is all about an upgrade but what about my old 80 Gb has crashed and since that, how can i make the ssd bootable if my MBA wont start up at all?? 😱

Boot from Snow Leopard DVD (with super drive or from a remote disk) with the new SSD already installed, than before starting the installation process choose disk utility and format/partition the SSD as you prefer.

🙂

 

[sege]

Well this is a 1st on a Rev B. Please send me the serial # so I can investigate the build date and also I would get an RMA from your vendor.

I haven't heared anything from you since I got/sent you an email. What's happening?

Restted my pram today, it boots twice as fast now at least. 🙂

 

[Shrek-Moscow]

About performance:
after being forced to fill the SSD till just 1 Mb was left for two times my SSD performances collapsed till under 50 (xbench). I tried different workarounds with wich I was able to get back to 50/60... but the writing performance were still terrible..

Than I tried "SredIt X" and his "shred free space" function (I setted the pattern to "all ones" in the program preferences) restored my disk performance up to 90-99 (xbench give always slightly different results).

I can image that to get back the full performances we should:

• clone our SSD to an external HDD (than run some utility to compact free space on it and optimize fragmentation)
• repartition and format our SSD after having booted from the external HDD
• run ShredIt X one or two times on the freshly formatted SSD
• restore the installation cloning the external HDD to SSD

However the performance restored after the simple "shred free space" function are more than enough to make the difference compared old hdd.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

Than I tried "SredIt X" and his "shred free space" function (I setted the pattern to "all ones" in the program preferences) restored my disk performance up to 90-99 (xbench give always slightly different results).[...]
However the performance restored after the simple "shred free space" function are more than enough to make the difference compared old hdd.

Inspired by you, I bought a copy of ShredIt X and have been using it for a couple of days, running its scheduled "shred free space" function in the middle of the night to write 1s to free space.

It definitely has brought the write speed back to essentially where it was right after install during the "holy **** this is fast" experience. People waiting for a WIPER utility for the Mac should know that this might fit the bill and it's been out for years.

However, my read performance is nowhere near where it was when I first put the RunCore SSD in, and I'm perplexed. That near-instant experience is gone, although it's still much, much better than the factory HDD. Running Xbench, the low score is consistently "Sequential Uncached Read" with 4K blocks typically around 29-35 topping out around 10 MB/sec and "Random Uncached Read" with 4K blocks around 125 and <1 MB/sec. Overall Xbench is around 75-80 (50-60 sequential, 120-160 random) since keeping ShredIt X scheduled. That's still 40% slower than it was when I first installed it.

I have cloned the SSD to an external HDD, repartitioned the SSD, and then cloned it back. No difference. It was before I started using ShredIt X however...

 

[Karch]

Not quite sure who to thank

I'm brand new to the forum.

My Original Macbook Air died. I maxed out the hard drive and used it daily. It just died.

I was about to sink $1800 (plus) on a new MacBook Air to get 128GB solid state hard drive, when I came across these posts.

I too bought a 128 GB Solid State RunCore drive from the place recommended below (www.mydigitaldiscount.com, for $419 and $4 shipping.)

I got it and installed it in an hour. I have no computer skills at all. I found the screwdrivers in the RunCore kit adequate--and more helpful than my own because they were magnetic and could recover the tiny screws when I lost control of them.

These instructions were amazingly helpful: http://www.ifixit.com/pdf/guide_860_en.pdf

I did not clone my old drive. Rather, I installed the new drive, then put in my original Macbook Air CDs and booted from them. Then, after installing 10.5 again, I simply imported all the settings and files from my TimeCapsule. It was amazing, and the machine has worked super fast and super solid now for a week.

I am so thankful to you guys for covering the process in such detail and telling me where to buy the drive. The RunCore drive is awesome

Thank you Runcore!

I received the drive today. Unfortunately I have a world of crap to do tonight and travel tomorrow. I intend to do the upgrade with pic's, benchmarks and real world tests on Wednesday.

As others have mentioned and I've posted about here almost two years ago now is the funky PATA interface in the Rev. A MBA's. My poor MBA Rev. A with a measly 80GB 4200rpm drive has been a bit of dog. Albeit an expensive one...

I've reapplied heat sink compound, run CoolBook and tried everything I can to make the laptop a more useable machine. 80GB doesn't go very far and the market isn't loaded with a plethora of 1.8" PATA upgrades with useable capacity. 128GB will be a welcome upgrade in capacity alone. Here's to hoping the speed is the icing on the cake.

The total X Bench score on the stock HDD, 1.6GHz Rev. A MBA is comparable with an Atom Dell Hackintosh.😱 If you pull apart the X Bench total score of 41-47 with all tests run, you can see the bottleneck is the HDD.

I'll post updates in this thread.

Here's the X Bench disk test for the unit w. the stock HDD:

 

[Shrek-Moscow]

However, my read performance is nowhere near where it was when I first put the RunCore SSD in, and I'm perplexed. That near-instant experience is gone, although it's still much, much better than the factory HDD. Running Xbench, the low score is consistently "Sequential Uncached Read" with 4K blocks typically around 29-35 topping out around 10 MB/sec and "Random Uncached Read" with 4K blocks around 125 and <1 MB/sec. Overall Xbench is around 75-80 (50-60 sequential, 120-160 random) since keeping ShredIt X scheduled. That's still 40% slower than it was when I first installed it.

I have cloned the SSD to an external HDD, repartitioned the SSD, and then cloned it back. No difference. It was before I started using ShredIt X however...

I'm in the very same situation. Read speed really slow!! It's frustrating.
Moreover it happen that, after cloning the SSD to an external HDD I defragged and compacted (iDefrag) the external HDD before re-cloning to the SSD (to improve free space fragmentation) and this has gratly slowed down boot times (something is hanging during boot for about a minute).. I can't figure how to solve this problem..

😕

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

RunCore firmware 1916

After installing RunCore FW1916 my speed is often, but not always, just about the same as it was when I first installed the SSD drive. Sometimes it's a semi-slow speed. Here's four tests back to back that illustrate the problem:

Disk Test = 109.30 (Sequential = 85.04, Random = 152.92)
Disk Test = 34.41 (Sequential = 20.51, Random = 106.82)
Disk Test = 119.87 (Sequential = 90.45, Random = 177.67)
Disk Test = 99.89 (Sequential = 91.78, Random = 109.57)

The process of installing the firmware on my MacBook Air rev A was not completely straightforward, in that I downloaded the Crucial M225 1916 update CD and then used UltraISO on Windows to add the correct RunCore 1916 firmware (in my case: Intel\8pcs\IE2808.exe) to the ISO image. That boot CD worked on my MacBook Air without errors both booting and updating the firmware.

 

[Shrek-Moscow]

Weird.. on my machine, after same FW upgrade, my test results are consistently stable over 100 point, generally around 108-112.

Try to keep the computer for long time on stand-by or with screensaver active because, as far as I understood, during that time the GC function will clean the free space.

Can you also give us some more detailed numbers? When disk test is dropping from 110 to 34 there is a HUGE difference, so what is happening in detail? All performance are degraded the same or, for instance, just write or read speeds, sequential or random... what is dropping more?

Today I didn't take my Air to the office, so now I can't make any test, but later today I'll be able to post something for comparison.

 

[Shrek-Moscow]

Here it is one of my test as reference:

Results 113.72
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.2 (10C540)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacBookAir1,1
Drive Type RunCore 128G-C SSD RunCore 128G-C SSD
Disk Test 113.72
Sequential 88.70
Uncached Write 84.20 51.69 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 90.75 51.35 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 65.72 19.23 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 143.13 71.94 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 158.42
Uncached Write 61.99 6.56 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 166.44 53.28 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 1779.14 12.61 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 392.44 72.82 MB/sec [256K blocks]

This is one of the best, however usually it does not get lower tha 106-107. Weird, I've found that if I have many open (but unactive) programs it is closer to 111-113.. if I have no open programs it is closer to 107!

However I don't see your drops in performance. By the way, have you disabled spotlit? It can affect performance test if it is working in background..

 

[Runcore]

I got it and installed it in an hour. I have no computer skills at all. I found the screwdrivers in the RunCore kit adequate--and more helpful than my own because they were magnetic and could recover the tiny screws when I lost control of them.

[/QUOTE]

Sorry to the guys that did not get the nice new screw driver but without your feedback this guy would be stuck with that old crappy one.

Also we just got a new one from Ifixit that we will be acting on. Why does it come with a Y USB cable when there is only one USB port on the MBA? Answer - no reason at all so we will make it a single male female cable now.

Karch, thanks for the positive words.

Matt Dawson
Runcore

 

[WDW]

Just wanted to give some kudos to the Runcore SSD. I upgraded my Rev A to the 128 GB Runcore about 2 months ago. I'm actually getting ready to replace the MBA with an iPad 3G (ducks) since I have an iMac for everything else, but the MBA is getting passed on to my husband to replace his bottom-of-the-line Rev A MB. The Runcore made me second guess my decision to get an iPad - it legitimately felt like a new computer after installation.

My only complaint was that the included screwdriver was terrible, and it almost would have been better to not have one at all. Almost stripped some screws when I tried to use it.

 

[Runcore]

J
My only complaint was that the included screwdriver was terrible, and it almost would have been better to not have one at all. Almost stripped some screws when I tried to use it.

We replaced the old screw driver with one with a carbon tip. It is the exact head for the screws on the MBA. If you bought yours 2 months ago you should have received the new screw driver. If you don't mind please check it if you still have it the tip should be a little different color than the shaft of the screw driver. If not then I need to have a talk with the packaging department.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[WDW]

We replaced the old screw driver with one with a carbon tip. It is the exact head for the screws on the MBA. If you bought yours 2 months ago you should have received the new screw driver. If you don't mind please check it if you still have it the tip should be a little different color than the shaft of the screw driver.

Finally checked, and it looks like I got the old screwdriver. Black handle, no apparent difference in the tip.

 

[Mr Miserable]

Did the 128Gb Runcore upgrade to my ageing Rev A Air.
Wow! It flies! I should have done it months ago.
Used the fixit guide but didn't remove the battery - I don't think you need to.
I received a lousy screwdriver in the Runcore kit - used my own.
Reset the PRAM and SMC.
Very pleased (at the moment anyway)
Mr M

 

[iltwtv]

Did the 128Gb Runcore upgrade to my ageing Rev A Air.
Wow! It flies! I should have done it months ago.
Used the fixit guide but didn't remove the battery - I don't think you need to.
I received a lousy screwdriver in the Runcore kit - used my own.
Reset the PRAM and SMC.
Very pleased (at the moment anyway)
Mr M

i had the same experience. Used the iFixit guide and my own screwdriver and reset the PRAM and SMC. It's like a whole new machine.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

[...]I can now run far more apps with a far more responsive MBA, it's really like a whole new computer. The difference is easy to see and feel.[...]

Sadly, 10 months later my RunCore SSD has failed and doesn't work in my MBA or in the USB enclosure. I was surfing the web, and the computer just hung. Turns out the drive stopped working. The original 80GB drive is now back, it's slow but at least it works. (Thank goodness for Time Machine!)

I have requested support today both from RunCore and MyDigitalDiscount so we'll see what happens next.

 

[paeza]

Sadly, 10 months later my RunCore SSD has failed and doesn't work in my MBA or in the USB enclosure. I was surfing the web, and the computer just hung. Turns out the drive stopped working. The original 80GB drive is now back, it's slow but at least it works. (Thank goodness for Time Machine!)

I have requested support today both from RunCore and MyDigitalDiscount so we'll see what happens next.

Once you get a response from them, please update.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

Once you get a response from them, please update.

I have an RMA from MyDigitalDiscount, I'm travelling so won't be able to send it out until Wednesday morning. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

Once you get a response from them, please update.

So far:

10/2/2010: RunCore 128GB SSD dies, RMA requested from MDD
10/4/2010: RMA received
10/6/2010: SSD sent to MDD via USPS Priority Mail
10/8/2010: Received at MDD according to USPS Delivery Confirmation

We'll see how quickly I get a replacement. In comparison, I now hate my MBA with the original 80GB HDD.

 

[Mhaddy]

So far:

10/2/2010: RunCore 128GB SSD dies, RMA requested from MDD
10/4/2010: RMA received
10/6/2010: SSD sent to MDD via USPS Priority Mail
10/8/2010: Received at MDD according to USPS Delivery Confirmation

We'll see how quickly I get a replacement. In comparison, I now hate my MBA with the original 80GB HDD.

From a real world, usability perspective, is there really that much of a difference?

 

[MacFrance]

SCAM? RUNCORE doesn't reply

Hello,

I placed an order for this SSC for the rev A to RuncoreStore and haven't had any reply, nor confirmation, though I sent my details (won't ever do it again)...

Should I think they are fraud or have lots of mac user actually have been serviced by Runcore company?

Please Mac users, tell me if you have had similar delays or unreliable service or plain fraud...

thanks

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

From a real world, usability perspective, is there really that much of a difference?

Yes, night and day. HDD = slow and pokey, but usable. SSD = zippy, instant-on from sleep, many apps bounce once and are open to use.

Another update, MDD says my replacement drive is backordered from RunCore and will be another couple of weeks. (sigh)

 

[diddl14]

How is the runcore SSD doing after a couple months of usage? Any signs that it gets slower over time due to lack of TRIM?

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

How is the runcore SSD doing after a couple months of usage? Any signs that it gets slower over time due to lack of TRIM?

I ran ShredIt X to write ones to freespace and that seemed to keep performance stable.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

Once you get a response from them, please update.

11/04/10: MyDigitalDiscount asks if I'd take a Renice K3VLAR 128GB SSD instead of a RunCore
11/05/10: Renice K3VLAR 128GB SSD received
11/06/10: Installed the Renice SSD

I can't tell any difference between performance of the new Renice and the old Runcore (boot time is perhaps a second longer, Xbench shows it to be about 1% faster) so I'm happy. MDD also refunded the difference for what I paid for the Runcore and the current cost of the Renice drive.

The kit itself is a better kit than the Runcore. The screwdriver was the correct size. The USB enclosure was the same as the Runcore, but it had its logic board attached inside so it worked better without wiggling the USB cable. Amazingly, still zero instructions.

I'm happy. My old rev A MacBook Air is humming along again. It was really terrible using it with the original 80GB HDD after having lived with the Runcore 128GB SSD. I'm totally happy with it using the Renice 128GB SSD.