My late 2013 13" rMBP just developed the same issue (posting this from a Linux live USB). Did a new SSD fix it?
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ssd failed? how should prevent future failures?
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My late 2013 13" rMBP just developed the same issue (posting this from a Linux live USB). Did a new SSD fix it?
I ordered a OWC Aura Pro X and for some reason the system still don’t see the drive. So I thought it must be a toasted main logic board. And was ready to keep the 2017 I ‘borrowed’.
So I went to a Mac Repair store as I don’t plan to spend hours disassembling it and risk some eBay logic board. They advise that if it’s indeed the case, I might as well go back to Apple.
But they plugged in some take off 128GB and it worked! So yes i guess it was the SSD that died. Gonna try to stay lean on storage and wait for the 2018 Quad 13”
Cool, gonna take it to the Apple Store tomorrow, have them do some drive swapping to try and see what's at fault (the SSD or the board).
If the logic board is borked I'll just get an external USB3 SSD, there are some pretty small ones for cheap, and run OSX off of that. Wish there were Thunderbolt portable external drives, since the permanently-attatched USB HD will leave me with only one port (and I've never used the two TB ports for anything).
If the logic board is borked I'll just get an external USB3 SSD, there are some pretty small ones for cheap, and run OSX off of that. Wish there were Thunderbolt portable external drives, since the permanently-attatched USB HD will leave me with only one port (and I've never used the two TB ports for anything).
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Turns out it was the SSD that failed (256GB Samsung). I'm unsure what to do about it: replacement drives from OCW are really expensive (and you have me a bit worried whether they'll even work), and they're useless when I get rid of the system (the one - OWC - enclosure that fits them is LUDICROUSLY overpriced). I'm tempted to look into an M2 adapter (although the guy at the store warned me against it), or simply getting an external SSD (since they're like 1/3 the price-for-capacity of the OCW and will be useful after this computer bites the dust).
Decisions...
Decisions...
I bought the 128GB takeoff from the repair shop. Maybe go to your local Mac repair shop and see if they have some cheap take-offs.
The OWC that didn't work I shipped it back for a refund. Hopefully I'll get full refund with no restocking fee and no return shipping fee. Cuz after all it's a DOA.
The Apple 128GB the shop put in to test (it worked) they wanted $250+tax Canadian, which is like $220 USD. They said a 256GB Apple drive would be $450+tax Canadian (about $400 USD).
At those prices the OWC Aura X 240GB @ $280 USD seems like a steal (of course all these options are horrifically overpriced compared to a standard-form-factor SSD). I assume it must be tested to work in these machines if they're selling them as compatible.
Emailed a couple repair places about looking at the old SSD to fix it. Worth a shot since it's garbage otherwise; could be as simply as a bad resistor (or as unfixable as a bad controller).
At those prices the OWC Aura X 240GB @ $280 USD seems like a steal (of course all these options are horrifically overpriced compared to a standard-form-factor SSD). I assume it must be tested to work in these machines if they're selling them as compatible.
Emailed a couple repair places about looking at the old SSD to fix it. Worth a shot since it's garbage otherwise; could be as simply as a bad resistor (or as unfixable as a bad controller).
Where in Canada are you located? I bought my take off 128GB for $169CAD + taxes at DMAC of Lansdowne mall, Richmond (Greater Vancouver area).
I got the $250 quote in London, Ontario.
Looking on eBay the deal you got seems pretty exceptional.
I'm looking into M.2 adapter options, since I can always reuse an M.2 drive in an enclosure when this Macbook eventually dies, but it's a *LOT* to sort through (many adapter/ssd options) and seems fraught with problems.
Looking on eBay the deal you got seems pretty exceptional.
I'm looking into M.2 adapter options, since I can always reuse an M.2 drive in an enclosure when this Macbook eventually dies, but it's a *LOT* to sort through (many adapter/ssd options) and seems fraught with problems.
Yeah, I looked at articles and threads about those adapters and instantly gave up on that route. Sounds like a never-ending time sink that would for surely exceed the money we are talking about here.
Mine is a SD0128F. Sounds like a take off from a MacBook Air instead of a rMBP. And sounds like it's a SanDisk part so not as zippy, especially on write, as the Samsung parts. So if you are on a budget and don't care too much, maybe look at MacBook Air PCIe SSD instead of rMBP ones and see if it's any cheaper.
I just want this to be cheap as I just need this to last another year before going for a 2018 quad (ideally refurb).
I think the adapter situation has improved greatly with High Sierra (early days), since they now natively support NVMe. Assuming there's an adapter/SSD combo that works reliably, that'd mean *MUCH* higher speeds (4x PCIe vs 2x) at a *MUCH* lower prices w/ the late 2013 (and '14 and '15) rMBPs.
Pretty sure that's why the Aura X drives only work with High Sierra (they're NVMe). I think the problem you may have had is that you need to have already upgraded the Macbook to High Sierra (to get the new firmware flashed) before those drives will work. Did you already have HS on the system when you tried the Aura X drive?
Pretty sure that's why the Aura X drives only work with High Sierra (they're NVMe). I think the problem you may have had is that you need to have already upgraded the Macbook to High Sierra (to get the new firmware flashed) before those drives will work. Did you already have HS on the system when you tried the Aura X drive?
Nope. My laptop was dead before, so no way to install High Sierra anymore. I don't see any instruction saying I need High Sierra installed before hand. That' kinda defeats the purpose of getting their drive then. I was assuming to install the drive, then at least I'd see the drive and be able to install High Sierra on it after.
My laptop is for work. So I don't want any downtime at all. Reliability is paramount for me. If you don't mind to tinker I can see adapters being a viable option.
Studying this: https://apple.stackexchange.com/que...e-ssd-drives-via-the-use-of-a-sintech-adapter
...it seems the Late 2013's benefit especially from NVMe support in High Sierra, since they're capable of *MUCH* more speed than with the drives they shipped with (2-3x faster from what I gather). Basically, the speed increase OWC promises with the Aura X (but without their markup if you use an adapter).
From what I gather, the bad reputation of the adapters is from people using NVMe M.2 SSDs (which weren't officially supported as boot drives before High Sierra; they required hacks), SSDs that required more voltage than stock (a matter of buying the right M.2 SSD), not-properly-insulated SSDs/adapters shorting on the case (easy fix: add kapton tape), and overheating SSDs (this is what I'm concerned about, so digging for other people's first-hand experiences).
I'm surprised OWC didn't advise you to install High Sierra first (you could have installed it onto an external drive, the point is to get the firmware update flashed to the system). As they say the Aura X is High Sierra-only; I guess they assume anyone installing one will already have a fully updated system. Almost certain that's why it didn't work for you.
[doublepost=1509585518][/doublepost]If you've updated to High Sierra you'll note NVMe is now supported under System Information. I believe APFS was designed with this newer standard in mind.
...it seems the Late 2013's benefit especially from NVMe support in High Sierra, since they're capable of *MUCH* more speed than with the drives they shipped with (2-3x faster from what I gather). Basically, the speed increase OWC promises with the Aura X (but without their markup if you use an adapter).
From what I gather, the bad reputation of the adapters is from people using NVMe M.2 SSDs (which weren't officially supported as boot drives before High Sierra; they required hacks), SSDs that required more voltage than stock (a matter of buying the right M.2 SSD), not-properly-insulated SSDs/adapters shorting on the case (easy fix: add kapton tape), and overheating SSDs (this is what I'm concerned about, so digging for other people's first-hand experiences).
I'm surprised OWC didn't advise you to install High Sierra first (you could have installed it onto an external drive, the point is to get the firmware update flashed to the system). As they say the Aura X is High Sierra-only; I guess they assume anyone installing one will already have a fully updated system. Almost certain that's why it didn't work for you.
[doublepost=1509585518][/doublepost]If you've updated to High Sierra you'll note NVMe is now supported under System Information. I believe APFS was designed with this newer standard in mind.
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If you decide you do not want to deal with getting the NVMe drives to work, consider checking out the Transcend 820? It still is high-priced, but it's one of the few plug-and-go alternatives to the OWC or an OEM Apple/MCE Tech.
edit - something just dawned on me (I have my moments now and then). Have you tried calling Samsung to see if they will warranty the drive? Their MLC SSDs when sold standalone have between 5 and 10 year warranties. No idea what their policy is with OEM products, but I've had good experiences with their warranty service.
Warranty is worth checking out, but I'm dubious as it's an Apple part that had an Apple warranty once upon a time.
Do you know if any of the newer NVMe drives Just Work™ with High Sierra? NVMe would seem to future-proof it better, besides the performance benefits.
Do you know if any of the newer NVMe drives Just Work™ with High Sierra? NVMe would seem to future-proof it better, besides the performance benefits.