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SSD Buying Guide

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Early 2011 MBP 13" + Samsung 830 SSD 256gig

Just wanted to let everyone know that I installed the Samsung 830 256 gig ssd in my Early 2011 (February) 13" MBP and I'm getting dang near advertised speeds. Some people on other forums/Youtube were complaining the bus on the SATA III for writing to the SSD was around 220 MB/s.

The advertised speeds:
Write: 420 MB/s
Read: 550 MB/s
y3k9Y.png

S30oK.png


Boot time went from 51s to 11 seconds from power button on to desktop. Hope this helps anyone interested in a solid SSD for the MBP.

Some concerns with the Sandforce based controllers are that they are made by a 3rd party. So the OCZ, Corsair, Crucial, etc that are using these controller are at the mercy of Sandforce to release a firmware update and then they must take that and port it to their drive.

Samsung makes every part of their drive in house, including the controller and NAND chips. This makes life a lot easier when making sure everything plays right. I know the 830 SSD is a tad bit more expensive than similar SSDs and a tad bit slower, but the homogeneity of the components all from Samsung is the reason I purchased it.

Very happy so far. I turned on TRIM even though it has built in garbage collection. It worked very well without TRIM but I wanted to see if it makes any difference.

Key points:
1) No beachballs
2) No hangs from sleep
3) Tried both with clean install and using SuperDuper to clone drive successfully.
4) Better battery life
5) Unbelievably fast
 
Last edited:
So now trim is available on 3rd party SSDs through OS X or is this through a third party app/program?
 
ArmanUV said:
I don't know why everybody is against Sandforce-based SSDs here. I have OWC Electra 6G drives running in my MBP, Mac Mini and iMac with absolutely no issues.
The sleep/hibernation problem was solved a long time ago with a firmware update.
Click to expand...

I bought the OWC Mercury Extreme 6 weeks ago so far. Not a hitch.
 
Ssd 320

I took the advice from this buying guide and got an 80GB Intel SSD 320 for my 2010 13" MacBook Pro. It's been an incredible purchase. My boot time is less than 30 seconds and apps launch instantly. I took out my optical drive and replaced it with my 320GB WD Scorpio Black using an OWC Data Doubler.

Anyone on the fence about buying an SSD, its 150% worth it!

Here's a video I made showing the speeds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS1uk2g0YuQ
 
Ok, so with a 3rd party drive you have to keep up with firmware updates on your own right? If you put an Apple model in and also use the optibay for the old HDD will firmware upgrades for the SSD come through software update automatically?
 
Firmware

Generally the firmware for an Apple branded SSD will be sent out via Apple Update (I assume). A 3rd party ssd will have an installer software for firmware updates. Most of these software packages are for Windows so you may need to update that way. I am not aware of any OSX specific firmware updaters available.

If you have a PC laying around that supports AHCI, you're in luck. However, in order to update the firmware, you must load the ssd using a SATA cable and not a usb cable unless the vendor specifically states that. This is because the SSD will not be recognized by the system as a SSD via USB.

This is a pain but so far the only way. Also, if you update the firmware you do risk complete data loss so backup the drive.
 
Expirobo said:
Some concerns with the Sandforce based controllers are that they are made by a 3rd party. So the OCZ, Corsair, Crucial, etc that are using these controller are at the mercy of INTEL to release a firmware update and then they must take that and port it to their drive.
Click to expand...

I think you meant to say Sandforce here and not Intel. Sandforce makes the firmware for its controllers then sends it out to all the manufacturers for distribution. I recall an Anandtech review of Sandforce based drives and it showed them all using the same firmware.


Expirobo said:
I am not aware of any OSX specific firmware updaters available.
Click to expand...

I have not seen a native OS X SSD firmware updater either. I know some use a Free-DOS or Linux boot CD that works on Mac hardware.
 
Weaselboy said:
I think you meant to say Sandforce here and not Intel. Sandforce makes the firmware for its controllers then sends it out to all the manufacturers for distribution. I recall an Anandtech review of Sandforce based drives and it showed them all using the same firmware.
Click to expand...

That's true. However, OEMs like to rename the firmwares so sometimes it's hard to know what firmware is what. Most SandForce OEMs lack the code monkey division and hence they have to use the default firmware provided by SandForce. However, the firmware can be customized. E.g. Intel Cherryville (coming this year) will use a SandForce controller and most likely an in-house firmware.

Marvell, on the other hand, provides only a very basic firmware which needs tuning if you want a high performance drive. That's why there are quite big performance differences between Marvell based SSDs.
 
sorry, this is in german, and from a crappy news site:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Stabilitaetsprobleme-bei-Crucial-SSD-m4-1402437.html

Brief summary:

Reports are accumulating in the Crucial forums about an issue where the SSDs stop reacting after about an hour of runtime, causing the system to crash. The problem seems to appear in a variety of M4 SSDs and with different firmwares (0002) and (0009).
Crucial is replacing the SSDs of affected users and investigating the issue.


Note:
I have no idea if this is really a new issue or just due to some reporter running out of topics. Citing a forum as source is definitely a bad sign. In any case, I thought it might be interesting for some.
 
do these results look ok from my macbook pro 13 (late 2011) (only slowness ive seen is with garageband opening takes around 10 secs everything else is near instant) with a crucial c300 128gb ssd in-

negotiated link speed-6gb

Results 335.67
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.7.2 (11C74)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro8,1
Drive Type C300-CTFDDAC128MAG
Disk Test 335.67
Sequential 203.76
Uncached Write 243.51 149.51 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 225.53 127.61 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 109.50 32.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 510.63 256.64 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 951.96
Uncached Write 1234.02 130.63 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 445.36 142.58 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 2696.02 19.10 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 1289.95 239.36 MB/sec [256K blocks]
 
Stupid question(s) time

I have a late 2008 MBP and an SSD on the way. I have a 750gb 7200 rpm drive that I want to keep. Obviously, I'll be ditching the Superdrive.

How would you set it up? SSD into existing HD spot and 750 into the Optibay? Will I need an adapter for that? Or just stick the SSD into the Optibay?

Forgive me if this has been answered, I skimmed the thread but may have missed it.
 
thrilllho said:
I have a late 2008 MBP and an SSD on the way. I have a 750gb 7200 rpm drive that I want to keep. Obviously, I'll be ditching the Superdrive.

How would you set it up? SSD into existing HD spot and 750 into the Optibay? Will I need an adapter for that? Or just stick the SSD into the Optibay?

Forgive me if this has been answered, I skimmed the thread but may have missed it.
Click to expand...

Unless there are compatibility issues, you'd be best to put the SSD in the secondary drive bay, and keep your HDD where it is. Better shock protection in main bay, and you know that the SMS will work.
 
Just ordered a 128GB M4 from Crucial for my new 15" MBP. Won't receive it till sometime next week though as I am in Australia.
 
Anyone here who can confirm this?

Following google I found some reports.
But about other SSDs (including Samsung 830) also.

Do we M4-users have to fear BSODs and system crashes over average?

The article says, that Micron is investigating the problem, but has no solution so far. Micron does exchange affected SSDs. But no one knows, whether it may happen again with the exchanged SSD!
 
Last edited:
Erasmus said:
Hmmm... If you have a HDD in your machine, unchecking the box will keep it spinning, so reading/writing from it will have less of a delay. Checking the box will save idle power. Whether you have an SSD or not is irrelevant.
Click to expand...

Huh? How do figure it's irrelevant? One has an electric motor that spins platters and that uses some power while running and the other is just electronic circuits that are not going to consume more or less power depending on the power settings.
 
slattery69 said:
do these results look ok from my macbook pro 13 (late 2011) (only slowness ive seen is with garageband opening takes around 10 secs everything else is near instant) with a crucial c300 128gb ssd in-

negotiated link speed-6gb

Results 335.67
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.7.2 (11C74)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model MacBookPro8,1
Drive Type C300-CTFDDAC128MAG
Disk Test 335.67
Sequential 203.76
Uncached Write 243.51 149.51 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 225.53 127.61 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 109.50 32.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 510.63 256.64 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 951.96
Uncached Write 1234.02 130.63 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 445.36 142.58 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 2696.02 19.10 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 1289.95 239.36 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Click to expand...

Looks pretty normal for the SSD you have.

Mac Husky said:
Anyone here who can confirm this?

Following google I found some reports.
But about other SSDs (including Samsung 830) also.

Do we M4-users have to fear BSODs and system crashes over average?

The article says, that Micron is investigating the problem, but has no solution so far. Micron does exchange affected SSDs. But no one knows, whether it may happen again with the exchanged SSD!
Click to expand...

Every tree has bad apples. Right now, it doesn't look like a widespread issue so I wouldn't worry.

phpmaven said:
Huh? How do figure it's irrelevant? One has an electric motor that spins platters and that uses some power while running and the other is just electronic circuits that are not going to consume more or less power depending on the power settings.
Click to expand...

SSDs still need power to be on. E.g. the controller (which is actually just a fine-tuned processor) needs power to be on. If you check that box, the power can be cut off totally, from both SSD and HD. Otherwise they will constantly be on and ready for action.
 
SSD in optibay or original HD slot?

Can anybody confirm if putting an SSD in an optibay enclosure, it being your primary OS HD, gives you problems after your Mac goes into sleep mode? I've read that it does and that it doesn't, since putting your normal spinning HD in the optibay enclosure is more susceptible to bumps and movements and can be easily damaged.

Does it matter?
 
thundersteele said:
sorry, this is in german, and from a crappy news site:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Stabilitaetsprobleme-bei-Crucial-SSD-m4-1402437.html

Brief summary:

Reports are accumulating in the Crucial forums about an issue where the SSDs stop reacting after about an hour of runtime, causing the system to crash. The problem seems to appear in a variety of M4 SSDs and with different firmwares (0002) and (0009).
Crucial is replacing the SSDs of affected users and investigating the issue.


Note:
I have no idea if this is really a new issue or just due to some reporter running out of topics. Citing a forum as source is definitely a bad sign. In any case, I thought it might be interesting for some.
Click to expand...


I read about this on the crucial forum. I haven't seen this issue arise with macs or at least I haven't seen any posts about the issue with macs. If anyone here hears differently please post here.
Thanks.
 
B.Ellis said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo


128 GB Sandisk Ultra.....only $124

Any reason not to do this?
Click to expand...

SF-2281 based SSD so buy at your own risk. SanDisk isn't the most reliable brand either.

MacBookPro13";14111654 said:
How does this SSD look? Good value for money?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/10438845/art/corsair/force-series-3-internal-s.html
Click to expand...

SF-1200 based so not really. Try to find Samsung 470 series if you're looking for SATA 3Gb/s drive. Otherwise e.g. Crucial M4 or Samsung 830.
 
Expirobo said:
Just wanted to let everyone know that I installed the Samsung 830 256 gig ssd in my Early 2011 (February) 13" MBP and I'm getting dang near advertised speeds. Some people on other forums/Youtube were complaining the bus on the SATA III for writing to the SSD was around 220 MB/s.

The advertised speeds:
Write: 420 MB/s
Read: 550 MB/s
Image
Image

Boot time went from 51s to 11 seconds from power button on to desktop. Hope this helps anyone interested in a solid SSD for the MBP.

Some concerns with the Sandforce based controllers are that they are made by a 3rd party. So the OCZ, Corsair, Crucial, etc that are using these controller are at the mercy of Sandforce to release a firmware update and then they must take that and port it to their drive.

Samsung makes every part of their drive in house, including the controller and NAND chips. This makes life a lot easier when making sure everything plays right. I know the 830 SSD is a tad bit more expensive than similar SSDs and a tad bit slower, but the homogeneity of the components all from Samsung is the reason I purchased it.

Very happy so far. I turned on TRIM even though it has built in garbage collection. It worked very well without TRIM but I wanted to see if it makes any difference.

Key points:
1) No beachballs
2) No hangs from sleep
3) Tried both with clean install and using SuperDuper to clone drive successfully.
4) Better battery life
5) Unbelievably fast
Click to expand...

Amazing results! What battery time are you looking at now? Compared to before (with same settings / same apps opened)
 
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