SSD + RAM options for MacBook Pro early 2011 13"

Stick with the Crucial RAM, but go with the Samsung 840 Pro series SSDs. They're a little bit pricey, but they are rated extremely highly.

 

My recommendation isn't anywhere near (let alone at all) against the Crucial M4 (as I don't know anything about those firmware issues of which you mention; plus I've seen the M4 also being rated highly) as much as it is in favor of the Samsung 840 Pro series. Again, I've heard great things about both, just more of them about the Samsung 840 Pro. Having just bought one for my father for a PC he's in the process of building, I did a bit of research and found that while the M4 is well respected, the 840 Pro series is just a little moreso. Not that I don't think you wouldn't like the M4; just that my research leads me to believe that you would definitely like the 840 Pro.

 

You have to prepare an USB stick and boot from that in order to upgrade the firmware. It's not that you have to open the Mac, it just doesn't work on OS X.
The same goes for the OCZ Vector, the difference being that they speak proper English and have YouTube videos on how to do it, which makes it a little easier to comprehend.

 

The only reason to avoid the m4 is because they've announced the Crucial M500 already, which is faster and less expensive. Nobody here has had problems with the Crucial m4.

To upgrade the firmware on the Samsungs and OCZs, you put a file on an USB stick, then you restart your Mac, hold down the Option key, select the USB stick and then follow the instructions by the manufacturer. No need to open the Mac, Use VMWare or Windows at all.

The Samsung and the OCZ are about equally good, take the one you find for less money.

 

If you read the whole post, it states that it's fixed. But if you are looking for an alternative to the m4, you don't want to wait for the M500 and the Samsung and OCZ are too expensive, then take a look at the new SanDisk Ultra Plus.

 

Why you so much insist to go with M4 go with ssd 840 pro. Samsung is BETTER.

 

For the money, you can't beat the Crucial m4. I've installed hundreds and had no issues. Of you've got the extra $$$ get the Samsung.

 

The Samsung 840 is a good drive too.

 

If there are firmware updates that you need for that drive (and mind you, not all SSDs need firmware updates) then, as others have said, you can make a bootable USB drive to install that firmware.

 

I've just purchased the m4 256 gb. for my Macbook Pro (early 2011) and I had massive problems with my m4.

I have updated the firmware on the SSD (070H) and installed Lion (10.7.5), so far so good. Shutdown and start up is lightningfast which is cool and all, but very often when I open e.g. Aperture, VLC, Word or Mail it get this annoying spinning wheel for about 20 seconds (try watching a movie with that going on). As of now I am only using 146 gb of the total 256 gb.

Now, I am well aware about the whole" 3rd party SSD has no TRIM support, but instead Garbage Collection"-conversation. I've written the Crucial support team several times, and they couldn't help at all. They all tell me to let the MBP run idle at the boot manager screen for about 24 hours (and to expect good results after 8 hours).

I did everything that the support-team recommended but nothing helped. At last they said i could be my SATA-cable, which doesn't make any sense to me.

 

These machines are well known for having faulty SATA cables, Crucial support is accurate in that suggestion.

Remove the SSD and boot from a known good USB connector and see if you have the same issues, if so, it's likely the drive, replace it! Otherwise, it's your cable, as suggested, replace that.

 

That was six month ago.

The m4 is ancient technology by now, the then-new 256GB SanDisk Ultra Plus is $35 less expensive than the m4 today, based on a newer version of the chipset from the m4, which is faster.

 

SSD + RAM options for MacBook Pro early 2011 13"

Given the number of requests in the Crucial forums regarding the m4 in MacBook Pro's there do seem to be -sometimes- problems.

I have a late-2011 MacBook Pro (15") and a m4 (256 GB) and I am totally happy. Have another m4 in an late-2008 Unibody MacBook, also running flawless.
From what I take from the Crucial forum readings: Don't install the SSD into the optical drive bay (using whatever adapter). It seems that the SATA-cables Apple used in the 2011 MacBook Pro's (particularly the 15" versions being affected) are not shielded sufficiently. Thus it's pure luck in case it works. This flaw kills the nice RAID 0 idea with an SSD in both HDD- and optical-slot. That, however, is not m4 specific.

One would anyhow not like to replace the optical drive in case one wants to change the firmware - Crucial only supplies update sw that works when booted from the -internal- optical drive. No (easy) way to go via booting from an USB stick or an external optical. That's a clear disadvantage compared to other producers.

Finally, use a firmware of the m4 that was OK for MacBooks - I am on 0309 and will not change that unless I must.

Taking that into consideration, m4's are perfect drives. And as there's already the M500, you may get them with a discount.

 

Crucial M500:


SanDisk Ultra Plus:


You tell me which of the 128GB and 256GB drives are the ones to get here. And yes, the SanDisks are even slightly less expensive than the Crucial M500 (as in ~$15).

I'd say that the 64-256GB SanDisk Ultra Plus and the 480-960GB Crucial M500 complement themselves to a nice lineup of inexpensive SSDs.

On exception is the 128GB OCZ Vector, which is a premium SSD but the 128GB model is on sale lately and costs as much as the 120GB Crucial M500. I'd take it over both every time (they normally cost more than 840 Pros and are on the same level of performance).

 

I have a 2011 13 in Macbook Pro.

1) I had a 128 crucial M4 and loved it and then upgraded and now have a 512 GB crucial M4. I have never had any problems, it is awesome. I can't say it is better than Samsung or Intel- I just think the SSD is an awesome upgrade.

2) I have 8 GB of 1600 MHz ram, it isn't officially spec'd for 1600 but my machine has been perfectly stable for over a year.

When you take a off the back plate make sure you remember which screws came from which holes since all the short screws are not the same length- I messed this up and had poor performance from the optical drive until it was straightened out.

Also, I did have a sata cable fail out of warranty, I recommend you replace yours during the upgrade.

 

Hi mate, are you still using your macbook this 2015? If yes. How's your macbook pro with ssd and upgraded ram after like 2-3years? still problem-free? Thanks!

 

I've never had any issues with Crucial RAM (touch wood, hoping not to jinx that now), but I did have an issue with an M4 500GB SSD. It was fine when it was new, but I wasn't running TRIM enabler. After a few months the performance was diabolical. I put the same SSD into a Windows 7 PC, reformatted and it was fine.

I found Intel and Samsung SSD's are better on OS X as they seem to survive longer periods without running TRIM enabler. If you are happy running TRIM enabler then there's nothing wrong with the Crucial SSD. A friend of mine has been running his since 2011 without issue in his 17" MBP.