Gave the inside a quick spruce up actually wasn't too bad, thanks for your help
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Thinking of SSD upgrade on mid 2012 MacBook Pro
- Thread starter IPD2000
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Congratulations.
I am sure the only regret you have on the matter is that you are wished you did it long ago.
Check out Apple's guide to determine if more RAM would be appropriate for you, but if everything feels fine, I would just leave it.
Also, don't forget to enable TRIM if it is not already enabled.
I said this earlier, but now that you installed the SSD, do you think my statement was accurate?:
Out of curiosity, can you post some benchmarks please? (aja system test or black magic disk test)
Disk Test
Resolution: HD-1080i
File Size : 1 GB
Codec : 10bit YUV
Drive : /Users/
Cache : Disabled
Video file: Movie
Disk Write Test
Number of frames = 193
Write rate = 81 frames/second
Write rate = 428 MB/second
Minimum rate = 131 MB/Sec
Maximum rate = 478 MB/Sec
Disk Read Test
Number of frames = 193
Write rate = 87 frames/second
Write rate = 462 MB/second
Minimum rate = 287 MB/Sec
Maximum rate = 517 MB/Sec
Hello, extremely green newbie here. Thanks to IPD2000 and all others for this great thread. My mid 2012 MBP, Catalina, is used for routine personal tasks: news, photos, emails, and, a bit heavier, tips/research on DIY projects (we built our own house, a 6 yr project). So: assuming that a 5 minute cold start each morning is "slow", with gmail taking twice that long before everything opens quickly, and with no other complaints, I'm looking at a DIY SSD upgrade also. But I'm REALLY green, understanding maybe ¼ to ½ of posts in this thread. With all that, can anyone steer me to sources or tutorials to study? Many thanks...
With It that slow I would check to see if your SATA cable has gone bad. This is a known issue with the 13 inch MBP. A way to test that is to remove the hard drive from the MBP, install it in an external USB 3 enclosure and boot the computer from that external enclosure. If it boots faster, all things run faster, etc., replace the SATA cable. You can then get a SSD, I like the Crucial MX500 model, reasonably priced. You can then use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the drive to the SSD and install the SSD in the computer.
If the boot time does not improve and the overall speed does not improve, then you may have a failing hard drive.
Here is a link to video instructions on various repairs for the 2012 MBP - replacing SATA cable, removing and installing HDD/SSD etc: https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro-13-unibody-mid12/
Here is a link to the SATA cable: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/8211480/
If you can run a screwdrive, follow the video and be careful you can do this repair. Get the correct screwdrives, they can be acquired from macsales.com also.
If the boot time does not improve and the overall speed does not improve, then you may have a failing hard drive.
Here is a link to video instructions on various repairs for the 2012 MBP - replacing SATA cable, removing and installing HDD/SSD etc: https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro-13-unibody-mid12/
Here is a link to the SATA cable: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/8211480/
If you can run a screwdrive, follow the video and be careful you can do this repair. Get the correct screwdrives, they can be acquired from macsales.com also.
Hi, as a collector having owned and/or refurbished almost every Apple laptop since the early 90's up to 2014, your mid 2012 MBPro (whether it's a 13" MBP9,2 or a 15" MBP9,1) is from the Golden-Age of Macs in terms of fit, function and especially servicing and upgradability. They are truly great laptops. I'm assuming here that you do not have a mid-2012 Retina MBP10,1 which is not in the same league as the others regarding servicing and upgradability.
In my experience and from what you've described, I'd wager that your problem is unlikely to be a defective SATA cable, far more likely it's the original HD which is 'allergic' to Catalina.
I would guess that your original HD has only received progressive OS updates and not a clean install - which is essential to maintain a sweet-running OS. I reckon that running Catalina on an original 9-year old HD is a recipe for problems, especially with insufficient memory.
Others more knowledgeable than myself in this thread have already given some excellent comments, and I agree you should install an SSD (I recommend Samsung of Crucial), and do a clean install of Mojave - my personal favourite OS for your MBPro. Just my personal opinion but I'd say stay clear of Catalina, especially if you have and need to use 32bit applications.
You mention "understanding maybe ¼ to ½ of posts in this thread" and I'm wondering what parts are unclear to you. Just ask away, as there are many here that can clarify all issues.
To get started and prior to any tear-down I suggest you have a look through THIS iFixit link.
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All I can say is that I was experiencing the same issues you describe with my MBP, especially since 'upgrading' to Catalina. It's easy to fit a new SSD, I bought mine from Crucial, they have tutorials on their site and a tool to tell you what is available for your particular machine. The SSD I ended up with was a Crucial MX500 1TB, and my MBP now behaves itself and does what its asked at a very good speed. I had hardly used it for almost a year prior given the speed issues
If you're worried about fitting the SSD yourself find a local repair shop, I doubt that they will charge much if they are any good - it only took me around 15 minutes to take the back off and do the swap.... good luck with fixing it
Thanks justashooter, CooperBox, and IPD2000 for your replies and especially encouragement. To answer some of your collective questions, my problem with understanding is basic ignorance: terminology, shoptalk/jargon, and only a shallow knowledge of how a computer works. I get along best with process logic (flow charts), and I need to restudy those. No, it is not a Retina, and yes I've done every upgrade offered in sequence, and yep I think it was the Sierra or High Sierra upgrade that caused the first noticable hiccups, and doing a full upgrade from scratch returned it to normal.
I'll next check out all your suggested links (thanks for those!) and probably dive in. With your suggestions, it's kinda like getting your first ever building permit application approved, if you've ever been there.
I'll next check out all your suggested links (thanks for those!) and probably dive in. With your suggestions, it's kinda like getting your first ever building permit application approved, if you've ever been there.
Update: So, dove in and installed new SATA cable this morning, unfortunately with no change in performance. Looks like I'll be looking for a local techie to install a SSD. After replacing the cable, I no longer trust myself with having the fine dexterity needed (yep, I'm a senior-senior: the eyes are fine, but the fingers had trouble with some of those flyspecs they call screws). Another note for those doing this for the first time: some of the Phillips head case screws, and a couple of the interior screws, were so tight that I worried about my #00 Phillips screwdriver camming out. Only by pushing down HARD did they finally break loose with an audible "snap". Other screws were easy, almost loose. And no, it's never been worked on before. Thanks again for the help and tips; I'd do it again if a bit steadier.
bingow wrote:
"dove in and installed new SATA cable this morning, unfortunately with no change in performance. Looks like I'll be looking for a local techie to install a SSD"
If you did this once already, you can replace the SSD yourself.
You've already "broken free" the screws on the back, they'll come out easier a second time.
I suggest you get this enclosure with the SSD:
You can use it to "prepare and test" the SSD -BEFORE- you open the MBP again.
This way, if something doesn't go as planned, YOU STILL HAVE A WORKING MBP.
Put the SSD into the enclosure and connect to MBP.
Use disk utility to erase/initialize it for the first time.
At this point, you can either:
a. Use CarbonCopyCloner to clone the contents of the HDD to the SSD (CCC is FREE to use for 30 days)
or
b. Install a completely fresh copy of the OS onto the SSD, then migrate your data.
Then, "do a test boot":
a. power down
b. press power on button and IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key CONTINUOUSLY until the startup manager appears
c. select the SSD with the pointer and hit return.
d. you should boot from the SSD in the external enclosure.
If you get a good boot, and if everything looks ok, now it's time to power down, open up the back, and just "swap drives".
You do have to replace the "bosses" on the side of the HDD, over the SSD.
Then, boot with the option key trick one more time.
Do you get a good boot from the SSD (now inside)?
Fine, go to the startup disk pref pane and set the SSD as the new boot drive.
Finally,
Put the old HDD into the enclosure.
I'd suggest you leave it alone for a week or two, just to be sure the SSD is ok and performs as it should.
Then, you could erase the HDD and use it for external storage, or perhaps a cloned backup of the internal drive.
"dove in and installed new SATA cable this morning, unfortunately with no change in performance. Looks like I'll be looking for a local techie to install a SSD"
If you did this once already, you can replace the SSD yourself.
You've already "broken free" the screws on the back, they'll come out easier a second time.
I suggest you get this enclosure with the SSD:
SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)
SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)
tinyurl.com
You can use it to "prepare and test" the SSD -BEFORE- you open the MBP again.
This way, if something doesn't go as planned, YOU STILL HAVE A WORKING MBP.
Put the SSD into the enclosure and connect to MBP.
Use disk utility to erase/initialize it for the first time.
At this point, you can either:
a. Use CarbonCopyCloner to clone the contents of the HDD to the SSD (CCC is FREE to use for 30 days)
or
b. Install a completely fresh copy of the OS onto the SSD, then migrate your data.
Then, "do a test boot":
a. power down
b. press power on button and IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key CONTINUOUSLY until the startup manager appears
c. select the SSD with the pointer and hit return.
d. you should boot from the SSD in the external enclosure.
If you get a good boot, and if everything looks ok, now it's time to power down, open up the back, and just "swap drives".
You do have to replace the "bosses" on the side of the HDD, over the SSD.
Then, boot with the option key trick one more time.
Do you get a good boot from the SSD (now inside)?
Fine, go to the startup disk pref pane and set the SSD as the new boot drive.
Finally,
Put the old HDD into the enclosure.
I'd suggest you leave it alone for a week or two, just to be sure the SSD is ok and performs as it should.
Then, you could erase the HDD and use it for external storage, or perhaps a cloned backup of the internal drive.
Thanks Fishrrman for those detailed instructions, but you haven't observed me in action. I make OTHER people nervous. But I will be tempted, if local techie's quotes are unreasonable. I do agree that the dexterity required for replacing the SATA cable appears to be more involved than just the HDD. I'll check back in when it's done, one way or another.
Update (13" Mid 2012 MBP, Catalina, non-Retina, with new SATA cable but all else original): went ahead DIY with a Samsung EVO860, and a Sabrent enclosure for installation & testing. All done (except activating TRIM) and as everyone here promised, it's a dramatic improvement in speed. It's a few seconds now for what took minutes before. Used the built-in cloning capability vs CCC or SD. A couple of YT videos were also a help. Thanks again to this forum: life is better!
I did exactly what you propose (Samsung 512 Gb SSD) and its like a new machine. It’s not my main machine but i do use it a lot. Can’t go the the newest OS anymore but the performance is solid.
I did this with my mid-2012 MacBook Pro in 2017 and it's been an incredible performer since. It's just a real disappointment not to be able to install the latest OS on it when it still performs so well. Apple should allow machines that have been updated to an SSD to install the new OS.
You should really now activate trim. It's really dead easy and done in terminal with just a one line entry. As already mentioned in this thread you can check to see if you need to enable TRIM in the system profile, which is under the SATA section. With a Samsung EVO860 SSD I'm pretty sure it's required. Just ask away if more info required.
Thanks CooperBox, yes already done, so easy that I was suspicious. I'm now shopping for a aftermarket battery and have found good info in several threads (reason: belatedly learned that my cycle count is 1,860, with battery condition still rated "normal". I'm going to order one to have on hand.