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SSD Buying Guide

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MasturB said:
So to get the Crucial and return the Samsung or not, that is the question. :(
Click to expand...

If I may jump in here. I see absolutely no reason to return the Samsung if you already have it. There are hundreds of users here of both those SSDs, and sure you will see complaints about either one from time to time, but overall they both work fine.

In synthetic benchmark tests, the Samsung is a bit faster, but in normal usage you are not going to ever notice the difference.

This whole "best SSD" thing is a bit like if a Ford or Chevrolet truck is best IMO.

Just install the Samsung and enjoy it. :)
 
MasturB said:
So to get the Crucial and return the Samsung or not, that is the question. :(
Click to expand...

which crucial are you looking at?

----------
Weaselboy said:
If I may jump in here. I see absolutely no reason to return the Samsung if you already have it. There are hundreds of users here of both those SSDs, and sure you will see complaints about either one from time to time, but overall they both work fine.

In synthetic benchmark tests, the Samsung is a bit faster, but in normal usage you are not going to ever notice the difference.

This whole "best SSD" thing is a bit like if a Ford or Chevrolet truck is best IMO.

Just install the Samsung and enjoy it. :)
Click to expand...

agreed if you geting a quality brand with a 2-3 year warranty you can't really go wrong
 
MasturB said:
I think another issue was you have to update the EVO SSD but it won't work with MAC it has to be done with Windows? If that's the case I haven't had a Windows PC in years, I have an old Compaq PC with 512 ram and 80gigs memory... from 2002 and I think it'd take a millennium to update it on there.
Click to expand...

You won't need a PC to update it - the firmware update is something that you probably should do, but can get by without doing it...as for the "Windows" component, there is a Windows utility that you can use or you can use the bootable disk that I think is a DOS-based item (it will work on a Mac, but just won't have a friendly GUI). This is a lot more than most SSD vendors offer...either way, you should be fine.
 
ecschwarz said:
You won't need a PC to update it - the firmware update is something that you probably should do, but can get by without doing it...as for the "Windows" component, there is a Windows utility that you can use or you can use the bootable disk that I think is a DOS-based item (it will work on a Mac, but just won't have a friendly GUI). This is a lot more than most SSD vendors offer...either way, you should be fine.
Click to expand...

so when I mount the ISO file for the firmware update it show the IMG file
Screen Shot 2014-01-31 at 7.55.51 PM.png

If I mount the IMG file I get more what I expected
Screen Shot 2014-01-31 at 7.55.40 PM.png

I assume I want to use the IMG when making a bootable DVD?
 
I was just about to order an 840 EVO 250GB but then I made the mistake of also looking into the Apple support community where there are quite some suggestions that the Crucial M500 240GB is better (less troubles with MacBooks). So I am back to square one. Pricewise it is almost the same, (actually the Crucial is some 15$ cheaper here, but then it is also a bit smaller). Can't make up my mind :confused:

What I could gather from reading around the Pro's and Con's of either:

Samsung:
- lower power consumption
- faster

Crucial:
- less computability issues (?)
- power loss protection (not sure if this is true, I read this only in one review and nowhere else)

Anybody care add / correct the list above?
 
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MarvinHC said:
I was just about to order an 840 EVO 250GB but then I made the mistake of also looking into the Apple support community where there are quite some suggestions that the Crucial M500 240GB is better (less troubles with MacBooks). So I am back to square one. Pricewise it is almost the same, (actually the Crucial is some 15$ cheaper here, but then it is also a bit smaller). Can't make up my mind :confused:

What I could gather from reading around the Pro's and Con's of either:

Samsung:
- lower power consumption
- faster

Crucial:
- less computability issues (?)
- power loss protection (not sure if this is true, I read this only in one review and nowhere else)

Anybody care add / correct the list above?
Click to expand...

This is why I was on the fence also... lol

----------

Here's an instruction guide on installing the SSD, and he states he recommends the crucial over Samsung.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4741
 
heisenberg123 said:
so when I mount the ISO file for the firmware update it show the IMG file
View attachment 459156

If I mount the IMG file I get more what I expected
View attachment 459157

I assume I want to use the IMG when making a bootable DVD?
Click to expand...

I just checked the one that I used...I think I ran the "PC" one on my MacBook Pro - it generated a disc titled FDOS OEM CD entitled 'isolinux'...if you dig a few more layers deep (there's a few disk images), I eventually come across the MS-DOS-like file structure.

I just went and booted from it - holding down option brings up a disc like any other, and booting throws you into a very straightforward utility - follow the prompts and it updates. Since I already had the firmware, it wouldn't let me do much else. Then, when it was done, it kicks you out to a DOS prompt. From there, I shut down my computer and restarted like normal.

I think what they did here was package an installation of MS/PC-DOS inside a bootable Linux distribution. Either way, it works and isn't horrible.
 

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ecschwarz said:
I just checked the one that I used...I think I ran the "PC" one on my MacBook Pro - it generated a disc titled FDOS OEM CD entitled 'isolinux'...if you dig a few more layers deep (there's a few disk images), I eventually come across the MS-DOS-like file structure.

I just went and booted from it - holding down option brings up a disc like any other, and booting throws you into a very straightforward utility - follow the prompts and it updates. Since I already had the firmware, it wouldn't let me do much else. Then, when it was done, it kicks you out to a DOS prompt. From there, I shut down my computer and restarted like normal.

I think what they did here was package an installation of MS/PC-DOS inside a bootable Linux distribution. Either way, it works and isn't horrible.
Click to expand...

thanks for your help, out of curiosity I tested the first disk I made with that when mounted only showed the IMG file, when I booted off it it gave it the name windows on my boot selection screen, when i ran it it does the DOS utility, it obviously said no SSD found but look like the firmware disc was burned right

how do you exit the dos utility, i just ended up hard powering off, is there a command to type to exit?
 
MarvinHC said:
I was just about to order an 840 EVO 250GB but then I made the mistake of also looking into the Apple support community where there are quite some suggestions that the Crucial M500 240GB is better (less troubles with MacBooks). So I am back to square one. Pricewise it is almost the same, (actually the Crucial is some 15$ cheaper here, but then it is also a bit smaller). Can't make up my mind :confused:

What I could gather from reading around the Pro's and Con's of either:

Samsung:
- lower power consumption
- faster

Crucial:
- less computability issues (?)
- power loss protection (not sure if this is true, I read this only in one review and nowhere else)

Anybody care add / correct the list above?
Click to expand...
Check whether Samsung issued a new firmware to fix Mac compatibility.

Using the $/GB of the M500 on the 840 EVO should be $145.83 rather than $170.

Got a couple of 240GB Crucial M500. I just noticed that the writes wasn't 400MB/s but 230MB/s. :eek:
 
I have a 2011 ( bought new july '12 ) MBP 15 inch Quad 2,4 with 8gb ram.

I fitted a Crucial M4 250gb about two weeks later, it ran really well for almost
exactly a year and then I had the dreaded "4000 hrs use" issue!

Would not boot at all but could be seen in an external USB case.

I tried the "attach pwr only and wait 20 mins" x3 trick but still could not get it
to boot as a system drive :(
So for a while I had to go back to the original 5400 HDD ... yuk!

Now I have a Samsung EVO 750gb installed since about 3 months.
It seems great, is based on the "pro" which a friend has been running for
some time and recommends highly ( boot drives for hi-end hackintosh systems)

It reads / writes at well over 450mb-sec and boots in less than 10 !!

So fingers crossed, I don't think they are infallible but then what is ?
 
hexley said:
check whether samsung issued a new firmware to fix mac compatibility.

Using the $/gb of the m500 on the 840 evo should be $145.83 rather than $170.

Got a couple of 240gb crucial m500. I just noticed that the writes wasn't 400mb/s but 230mb/s. :eek:
Click to expand...

This is the performance I see with the Crucial M500 960GB SSD on a 2009 17" Macbook Pro.

image.jpg
 
Hexley said:
My guess is you have a MacBookPro5,2.

All Macbook Pros from Late 2008-2010 have SATA 3Gb/s (300MB/s) interface.

2011-2013 Macbook Pros without Retina Display have SATA 6Gb/s (600MB/s) interface.

Is the upgrade worth doing on a your Mac? I ask as I have a 2010 MacBookPro7,1 (SATA 3Gb/s) & 2011 MacBookPro8,1 (SATA 6Gb/s).
Click to expand...


Many thanks. Of course, you are correct. Indeed my machine has a SATA 3Gb/s (300MB/s) interface.

Is it worth upgrading? Well, I think so.

Between my kids and myself we have 4 MacBook Pro from the 2008 to 2010 time frame. All have been upgraded with Crucial SSDs after we first maxed out memory. There has been a significant performance gain and the laptops run a lot cooler to the touch. I believe overall wear and tear has been improved as well.

I also would suggest installing "Trim Enabler" and reading http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads/Samsung_SSD_Whitepaper.pdf. Ignoring the PR, the paper gives a pretty good overview about the SSD technologies. I am sure other companies have similar efforts. Finally I would recommend using disktester http://macperformanceguide.com/Storage-SSD-Reconditioning.html to recondition the SSD when its write performance has noticeable declined.
 
Hexley said:
Is the upgrade worth doing on a your Mac? I ask as I have a 2010 MacBookPro7,1 (SATA 3Gb/s) & 2011 MacBookPro8,1 (SATA 6Gb/s).
Click to expand...

I think it's definitely worth doing, even on a 3Gbps model - thanks to SSDs, I've had plenty of friends and family members squeeze a few extra years out of their early unibody MacBook Pros (some have needed new batteries and other things, but still cheaper than a new computer). Although it's a bit more intensive to install, I've heard good things about SSDs in even older machines, too - basically even using an SSD on 1.5Gbps is going to give you better performance than a 5400rpm hard drive.
 
Furthermore, all Macbook Pros from 2006-Early 2008 have SATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s) interface.

I also have a MacBookPro1,1 and MacBookPro4,1 that both use SATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s) interface.

Would it be worth installing SSDs as well? I ask this as Seagate has announced the 2TB Samsung M9T/Seagate ST2000LM003. It is as yet available as an internal HDD but easily bought as and extracted from the external enclosure of the Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive for lower than $150.

I would not be asking as any SSD will always be faster than any HDD but the 2TB Seagate can do sequential read/writes of over 110MB/s. This would probably be enough saturate a SATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s) interface and be at par with all SSDs plugged into the same interface.
 
Hexley said:
Furthermore, all Macbook Pros from 2006-Early 2008 have SATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s) interface.

I also have a MacBookPro1,1 and MacBookPro4,1 that both use SATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s) interface.

Would it be worth installing SSDs as well?
Click to expand...

The big improvement during normal usage with an SSD is the much faster seek times, not just the raw transfer speeds. So even with an older SATA connection, you will notice a big difference.

I put an old OWC SATAII SSD in my 2008 Macbook Pro and it made a big difference in day to day feel using the machine, even though raw data throughput with that setup is nothing to brag about.
 
Weaselboy said:
The big improvement during normal usage with an SSD is the much faster seek times, not just the raw transfer speeds. So even with an older SATA connection, you will notice a big difference.

I put an old OWC SATAII SSD in my 2008 Macbook Pro and it made a big difference in day to day feel using the machine, even though raw data throughput with that setup is nothing to brag about.
Click to expand...

Really wish SSDs that are SATA I or II were cheaper than & as reliable as III. It would make my decision easier.
 
Hexley said:
Really wish SSDs that are SATA I or II were cheaper than & as reliable as III. It would make my decision easier.
Click to expand...

SATA is backwards compatible. You should be able to take any new SATA III SSD and have to work just fine in your old SATA I and II Macs. You won't get the max rated speeds of course, but it will work.
 
Weaselboy said:
SATA is backwards compatible. You should be able to take any new SATA III SSD and have to work just fine in your old SATA I and II Macs. You won't get the max rated speeds of course, but it will work.
Click to expand...

No question! But my issue is the price of SATA III SSDs. ;) I'd assume SATA I & II were cheaper.

To be perfectly honest I just want to upgrade my MacBookPro1,1, MacBookPro4,1, iMac7,1, MacBookPro5,1 & MacBookPro7,1. :D

I couldn't Fusion Drive the MacBookPro1,1. :(

At minimum all I need to upgrade are just a couple of MacBookPro8,1.
 
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