Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

SSD Buying Guide

Status
Not open for further replies.
Let me put this to you all:

- I've got a Late 2008 MBP
- Want a 240/250GB SSD drive
- Something which is reliable

What would you buy?
 
mentaluproar said:
But for that capacity, a hybrid drive is still more economical.
Click to expand...

From a pure dollar perspective, yes. However, if you crunch data the way I do, it is absolutely worth the price.

mentaluproar said:
Neutron GTX or an 840. The gtx is cheaper and performs almost the same as the 840 pro.
Click to expand...

Except when it comes to power consumption. The 840 stingier under load and much more so at idle. Yes, it's a fraction of a watt, but when you're dealing with a computer that has a meager 85W power supply (in the case of the 15" MBP), take any savings you can get.

Also, Corsair's firmware update process is not Mac friendly. Samsung's is, as those from Intel, SanDisk, Crucial, and OCZ.
 
DSTOFEL said:
This is the one I got: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/897035-REG/Samsung_mz_7td250bw_250GB_2_5_inch_SSD_840.html

The install is very simple. You'll need an enclosure (USB enclosure works fine....very cheap). You can use Carbon Copy Cloner CCC) or OSX Disk Utility to clone your HHD to your SSD. Both work, but keep in mind thati if you use CCC, you'll need the purchased version $40 or so) in order to also clone the recovery partition....the free version won't clone the recovery Partition. If you use OSX disk utility (easy)....it does also clone the recovery partition. Using OSX DISK UTILITY, the steps (high level) that I did are:
-remove your HHD and put it in your enclosure.
-Install you SSD in the MBP
-Boot up while holding down the option key to have the option to boot from your external drive. You'll see two options: your HHD (main partition) and the recovery portion.
-select the recovery partition to boot from
-You'll have the option to open Disk Utility from the recovery boot up. In Disk Utility, you'll see both your HHD (in the external enclosure) and your SSD (installed)
-Use disk utility to first partition the SSD and then restore (ie clone the contents of your HHD onto your SSD).....here is one link to the process.....google it for more info if needed.....very simple: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2184

No need to reinstall OSX and do a fresh install.....you can clone instead!
Click to expand...

So I tried to use the disk utility. I put my old HDD in an external enclosure and installed the SSD into the macbook. I booted from the recovery partition and opened Disk Utility. Unfortunately, the SSD wasn't found by the disk utility. I aslo tried to boot from an old mountain lion install cd, but the ssd wasn't from from that disk utility either. Should the SSD be found directly by the Disk Utility? If that's the case, there may be something else weird with my computer :( ... Any suggestions?

**

I realize now that it may be problem with the SATA cable, see this thread. http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts...-Mid-2009-Mid-2010-Hard-Drive-Cable/IF163-013

Better try the HDD in a friend's macbook and see if it is found by the disk utility...
 
Last edited:
mentaluproar said:
Neutron GTX or an 840. The gtx is cheaper and performs almost the same as the 840 pro.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation - seems quite expensive compared to others (nearer £200 than £100). Are the ones I mentioned on the previous page, ok?
 
DSTOFEL said:
Just thought I'd respond: I have a mid-2009 13 inch MBP, Model (5,5), 2.26Ghz Core 2 duo, 8GB RAM on Firmware version EFI 1.7.

Two weeks ago, I replaced my HHD with the 250GB Samsung 840 (Model MZ-7TD250BW). The upgrade has been fantastic. I'm getting the negotiated link speed of Link speed of 3 Gigabit and have zero "beach balling" (ie This drive is not impacted by the EFI 1.7 issues that prevent many SSD's from working with the mid-2009 MBP's). Boot up time on Mountain Lion has decreased from about 40 seconds to 15 seconds, App's open very quickly and everything zips silently along. There is much less heat and battery life is excellent. I'm getting write speeds of around 190 MB/s and Read speeds of around 265 MB/S. This is very good given that the mid-2009 drives are limited to SATA II speeds.

i've read many posts where people have had to downgrade their mid-2009 MBP to EFI 1.6 and settle on negotiated link speed at 1.5 Gigabit in order to use a SSD. There is no such issue with the Samsung 840. It's really transformed my MBP....feels like a new machine. Highly recommended! Best of all, it's $149 at B&H....great deal!
Click to expand...
Thanks for doing the leg work on this one, I have the same model mbp and the only thing I plan on doing differently is to put the 500gb hd in the superdrive slot. I was already leaning samsung, but this made up my mind.
 
480GB for $349!
I guess pricing is falling in line with Micron 1TB for $600 on the horizon.

http://m.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2979420&sku=S153-9907
 
What read/write speeds should I be getting on my 3G SSD in a white 2010 7,1 macbook? Just installed crucial 256gb M4 today.
 
new Crucial M5

Anyone have experience with the new M5 Crucial model? I have seen some technical reviews, but no actual user reports. Interested in the 256GB model especially.
 
I'm about to make my first SSD purchase and it looks like the Samsung 840 is the one to beat.

How quickly has the price been falling with respect to SSDs? It seems to be occurring at a snail's pace. Has the manufacturing sector recovered back to full scale operations since the Thailand flood?

Also, is anyone using their SSD as a scratch disk for video/audio editing? Would I be better off leaving the 750GB Hitachi at the scratch drive instead?
 
DSTOFEL said:
Just thought I'd respond: I have a mid-2009 13 inch MBP, Model (5,5), 2.26Ghz Core 2 duo, 8GB RAM on Firmware version EFI 1.7.

Two weeks ago, I replaced my HHD with the 250GB Samsung 840 (Model MZ-7TD250BW). The upgrade has been fantastic. I'm getting the negotiated link speed of Link speed of 3 Gigabit and have zero "beach balling" (ie This drive is not impacted by the EFI 1.7 issues that prevent many SSD's from working with the mid-2009 MBP's). Boot up time on Mountain Lion has decreased from about 40 seconds to 15 seconds, App's open very quickly and everything zips silently along. There is much less heat and battery life is excellent. I'm getting write speeds of around 190 MB/s and Read speeds of around 265 MB/S. This is very good given that the mid-2009 drives are limited to SATA II speeds.

I've read many posts where people have had to downgrade their mid-2009 MBP to EFI 1.6 and settle on negotiated link speed at 1.5 Gigabit in order to use a SSD. There is no such issue with the Samsung 840. It's really transformed my MBP....feels like a new machine. Highly recommended! Best of all, it's $149 at B&H....great deal!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed info. How are your CRC error rates? I've read a post from another user who was also getting better performance from an SSD in a mid 2009 Macbook Pro, however he stated that his CRC error rates were increasing every day. How is your drive's SMART status with the 1.7 EFI firmware?
 
I am looking at getting a Crucial M4, Samsung 840 Pro or a Vertex 4.

I'm not actually that bothered which but what I can't find within this forum is what thickness drive do you buy? 7mm, 9mm, 9.5mm? Maybe it doesn't really matter but thought I'd better check with people who have installed these already.

This would be for an early 2011 Macbook Pro 13".

Thanks.

*EDIT*

My apologies, found some info here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1364279/
 
sc25893 said:
I am looking at getting a Crucial M4, Samsung 840 Pro or a Vertex 4.

I'm not actually that bothered which but what I can't find within this forum is what thickness drive do you buy? 7mm, 9mm, 9.5mm? Maybe it doesn't really matter but thought I'd better check with people who have installed these already.

This would be for an early 2011 Macbook Pro 13".

Thanks.

*EDIT*

My apologies, found some info here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1364279/
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter, as long as it's thinner than 12.5mm (the maximum MBP can take) it will work. There are holders to keep the drive in place so it being thinner doesn't matter.
 
hi there!
i'm searching an SSD (in a caddy or optibay) for my 2010 13" macbook pro.
I wish to improve my workflow with Adobe Premiere Pro And Logic Pro..

Now i have a 750gb Scorpio Black and 8gb of crucial's Ram

have to choose between this models:
1) Crucial M500 240gb
2) Samsung 840 basic 250gb

Samsung is cheaper...so if there isn't difference with the Crucial (i have Sata II on my mbp) i'll go for it.

thank you
 
If the Samsung is cheaper, buy the Samsung. Also, it's generally advisable to put your spinner drive into the optical bay and the SSD where the hard drive is.
 
saturnotaku said:
If the Samsung is cheaper, buy the Samsung. Also, it's generally advisable to put your spinner drive into the optical bay and the SSD where the hard drive is.
Click to expand...

thank you for the answer. So i have to buy a caddy anyway and put the HDD on the optibay and the SSD at the stock place
 
crazee928 said:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7869890&CatId=5298

hrm... i wonder if i should jump the gun on this for my 2011 13" or wait another half year to see how prices settle in...

does anyone know where i can buy the caddy to move my existing HDD to the optibay, and an external case i can get to store my optical drive for those rare moments when i need to read a cd?

thanks!
Click to expand...
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/XLR8YourMac.Specials
Second item down the list, on special now, check out the external storage section for drive cases (various interface options). OWC ships internationally too.
Insert the "No connection, just a satisfied customer" disclaimer here. :cool:
There must be other options, too, such as e-bay, local stores, etc.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back