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SSD recommendation for 15 inch i7 Late 2011 MBP

V

varunkrish

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 7, 2009
40
1
Hi guys,

I got a a Macbook Pro 15 inch during the Holidays last year and thinking of putting an SSD on it as its my main on-the-move computer

My MBP is the late 2011 top-end 15inch MBP(2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7) and it supports Sata 3 I guess.

I have installed a Corsair SSD on my 2009 Macbook Pro and saw a nice boost in performance in it. I'm now convinced I should get an SSD on my shiny new mac now.

I'm confused as to which SSD to pick.

This mac is used for
  1. Video Editing - iMovie , Final Cut
  2. Photoshop
  3. Dreamweaver
  4. Coding
  5. Photography and Live Blogging ;-)

Here are the SSDs I have narrowed down to

  1. OWC 120GB Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G SSD
  2. OCZ Agility 3 or Vertex 3 120GB
  3. Intel 320
  4. Intel 510
  5. Crucial M4
  6. Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD (currently using one on my 2009 MBP)
  7. Samsung ( heard a lot of praise on AnandTech, but never tried Samsung SSDs so far)

Any suggestions or recommendations will be appreciated.
 
varunkrish said:
Hi guys,

I got a a Macbook Pro 15 inch during the Holidays last year and thinking of putting an SSD on it as its my main on-the-move computer

My MBP is the late 2011 top-end 15inch MBP(2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7) and it supports Sata 3 I guess.

I have installed a Corsair SSD on my 2009 Macbook Pro and saw a nice boost in performance in it. I'm now convinced I should get an SSD on my shiny new mac now.

I'm confused as to which SSD to pick.

This mac is used for
  1. Video Editing - iMovie , Final Cut
  2. Photoshop
  3. Dreamweaver
  4. Coding
  5. Photography and Live Blogging ;-)

Here are the SSDs I have narrowed down to

  1. OWC 120GB Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G SSD
  2. OCZ Agility 3 or Vertex 3 120GB
  3. Intel 320
  4. Intel 510
  5. Crucial M4
  6. Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD (currently using one on my 2009 MBP)
  7. Samsung ( heard a lot of praise on AnandTech, but never tried Samsung SSDs so far)

Any suggestions or recommendations will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Yes it is SATA 3

I personally run a OCZ Vertex 3 MAX 120GB on an early 2011 high end 15 - zero problems

Many people praise the Crucial M4 and Samsung 830
 
Spink10 said:
Yes it is SATA 3

I personally run a OCZ Vertex 3 MAX 120GB on an early 2011 high end 15 - zero problems

Many people praise the Crucial M4 and Samsung 830
Click to expand...

I was actually a lot convinced about OCZ until I saw people complaining about random freezes and reboots with the Vertex 3. I use a OCZ Agility 3 on a Video Editing Machine as a scratch disk and love the performance.

Did you update the firmware on your Vertex 3 or you are running on stock firmware ?

cheers !
 
I just installed the Crucial M4 512GB about a week ago... love it so far. I did update the firmware before clean installing Lion. I think all the ones you mentioned so far are good choices really.
 
I've got an OCZ Vertex 3 in mine also... no problems encountered either. ;)

Edit: When I purchased mine, it came with the latest firmware already installed (v2.15).

To my knowledge, most of the issues people encountered has been rectified in the new firmware.
 
varunkrish said:
I was actually a lot convinced about OCZ until I saw people complaining about random freezes and reboots with the Vertex 3. I use a OCZ Agility 3 on a Video Editing Machine as a scratch disk and love the performance.

Did you update the firmware on your Vertex 3 or you are running on stock firmware ?

cheers !
Click to expand...

had mine 2 weeks - came with most recent firmware 2.15 - zero problems
 
What 256GB SSD does Apple use when you opt to have it pre-installed in a new MBP? I've heard they use Samsung (perhaps others), but am wondering if it's the newest version or what.

I'm trying to figure out the premium they're charging for the SSD option ... if it's not much, I'd just as well Apple do it than mess with it myself, as I've never done a hard drive install on a unibody MBP. But if it's a ton of money like it is with RAM, I can figure out how to do it at home, lol.
 
I am using the Kingston HyperX SSD 120 GIG, Its a little more expensive and was kind of a pain to get MaxOSX on it since its a windows only drive :p But once i got Mac Installed on it this thing Flys... My mac boots in under 4 seconds.
 
I've got the Crucial M4 256 GB (6G) and I am very pleased with it (2.66 GHZ MacBook Pro 13" running OSX Lion and 8GB Ram from Crucial.
 
Early 2011 MBP here.
Crucial M4 256gb. Zero problems.
250 write 500 read speed achieved easily.
 
I would get either a Curcial M4 or an Intel 330.
They just offer the best value.
A 520 is mostly just more expensive you will never notice any real difference. A Samsung 830 is great but it is not worth what they charge in comparison.
 
varunkrish said:
Hi guys,

I got a a Macbook Pro 15 inch during the Holidays last year and thinking of putting an SSD on it as its my main on-the-move computer

My MBP is the late 2011 top-end 15inch MBP(2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7) and it supports Sata 3 I guess.

I have installed a Corsair SSD on my 2009 Macbook Pro and saw a nice boost in performance in it. I'm now convinced I should get an SSD on my shiny new mac now.

I'm confused as to which SSD to pick.

This mac is used for
  1. Video Editing - iMovie , Final Cut
  2. Photoshop
  3. Dreamweaver
  4. Coding
  5. Photography and Live Blogging ;-)

Here are the SSDs I have narrowed down to

  1. OWC 120GB Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G SSD
  2. OCZ Agility 3 or Vertex 3 120GB
  3. Intel 320
  4. Intel 510
  5. Crucial M4
  6. Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD (currently using one on my 2009 MBP)
  7. Samsung ( heard a lot of praise on AnandTech, but never tried Samsung SSDs so far)

Any suggestions or recommendations will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Have a 512gb C4. Very Fast
 

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I've had OWC 120GB Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G SSD for 6 months now... So far so good. *knock on wood*
 
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