Upgrading 2013-2015 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

[Intenditore]

I have only used Sintech short adapters.

I ordered this adapter from AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32982940719.html?spm=a2g0s.12269583.0.0.7f9c1a1dyr2svX to test in a 2017 Air. It was ordered March 29 but it still hasn't arrived.

Hi! Can you give a clue, how does this one work? Are there any issues?

 

[dstyp]

hello, I can tell that the computer is slow as well. the highest speed I got was 2580 write, 2300 read.
I felt the difference between the speeds now and then. now I dropped down around: 1400 1300 read write.
I don't understand where is this problem came from.
according to nvme ssd it must be higher speed and Im very disappointed that im not getting the best of it, or at list the best I can get from my computer and the new nvme ssd.
im sure that something is wrong in the settings of my computer, im sure something don't let my ssd get the highest performance.
please help me.

As markintosh13 wrote, the speed difference based on your numbers shouldn't really be noticeable. If you do feel the computer getting sluggish and noticeably slower at writing to the disk it's probably something else. Perhaps bad connection or interference? Did you wrap the adapter with kapton tape? My computer wasn't usable before doing that despite the "newer" Sintech adapter with plastic all around.

I'm curious - in what scenarios during use do you think you feel the disk writing slowly?

The speed test btw will get slower after a few runs, its normal. Read more in the thread for tips on how to alleviate that.

 

[maorattias]

Do you have FileVault on? I think those of us who got 2GB/s speeds don't have FileVault on. (At least I didn't, Sabrent Rocket 1 TB on rMBP 2015 15")

I will check about it. My problem can be solved by turning of the firevault?
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you posted screenshots where the ssd was 85% full - maybe that has something to do with the slowdown.

i'm surprised that a 1400/1300 rw speed is in any way noticeable as slow

the answer is probably to stop running read write tests.

The capacity of the ssd has no connection to the speed of my nvme ssd. There is something that annoying the ssd to work fast as possible.

 

[dvid67]

So i haven't found anything particulary useful about my situation regarding Windows 10 on a 2014 rmbp w upgraded ssd from a 2015 rmbp (SSUBX). If you are having problems installing/running Windows 7/8/10 (any build) then know that you are not alone. 🙂 [yes i've used the forum search, google and various other engines]

To be a little more exact:

I have a 2014 13" retina macbook pro - it came with SDNEP (Marvell controller, 2x pciex) 128GB drive.
I dont want to mess with firmware (i use the sleep feature constatly) so i've chosen to upgrade to a genuine Apple ssd - Samsung SSUBX 512GB. Everything went well, macos cloned just fine, speeds were as i'we expected...
...Until one day i've decided to install Windows 10 via BootCamp Assistant - little did i know what a sh*tstorm i've released upon to myself.

First Try: Create USB Windows installer via Bootcamp assistant, boot from created usb drive -> Windows installer fails to start. (tried all builds from 150X - 1909, earlier builds tend to go further in the install process)
Second attempt: Same "bootcamping" as before but i've removed the ssd (the upgraded one) - whoilá the Windows installer starts perfectly but 'course there's nowhere to be installed - i think i got this "" idea from an apple support thread.
Third attempt: ok i realized that this problem has to do something w windows drivers, so i downloaded bootcamp drivers for 2015 rmbp - this gave some progress - i can install windows but after the installer reboots for the first time it stuck on "Setting up services/devices or Please wait w circle animation"
Fourth attempt: Try install windows2go on a pc box - it ran fine on my rmbp w installed ssubx until it didn't. - "Please wait" on windows start screen.
Fifth attempt: Installed windows on an external usb ssd w a neat trick involving using virtualbox for starting the windows install but cut it before the first reboot on install. - This also works - for some time, same as before.

So beware that if you try to install an ssd from a 2015 machine in a 2013-2014 macbook pro it could "cripple" your machine somewhat. (running windows natively)

 

[tabormeister]

So i haven't found anything particulary useful about my situation regarding Windows 10 on a 2014 rmbp w upgraded ssd from a 2015 rmbp (SSUBX). If you are having problems installing/running Windows 7/8/10 (any build) then know that you are not alone. 🙂 [yes i've used the forum search, google and various other engines]

To be a little more exact:

I have a 2014 13" retina macbook pro - it came with SDNEP (Marvell controller, 2x pciex) 128GB drive.
I dont want to mess with firmware (i use the sleep feature constatly) so i've chosen to upgrade to a genuine Apple ssd - Samsung SSUBX 512GB. Everything went well, macos cloned just fine, speeds were as i'we expected...
...Until one day i've decided to install Windows 10 via BootCamp Assistant - little did i know what a sh*tstorm i've released upon to myself.

First Try: Create USB Windows installer via Bootcamp assistant, boot from created usb drive -> Windows installer fails to start. (tried all builds from 150X - 1909, earlier builds tend to go further in the install process)
Second attempt: Same "bootcamping" as before but i've removed the ssd (the upgraded one) - whoilá the Windows installer starts perfectly but 'course there's nowhere to be installed - i think i got this "" idea from an apple support thread.
Third attempt: ok i realized that this problem has to do something w windows drivers, so i downloaded bootcamp drivers for 2015 rmbp - this gave some progress - i can install windows but after the installer reboots for the first time it stuck on "Setting up services/devices or Please wait w circle animation"
Fourth attempt: Try install windows2go on a pc box - it ran fine on my rmbp w installed ssubx until it didn't. - "Please wait" on windows start screen.
Fifth attempt: Installed windows on an external usb ssd w a neat trick involving using virtualbox for starting the windows install but cut it before the first reboot on install. - This also works - for some time, same as before.

So beware that if you try to install an ssd from a 2015 machine in a 2013-2014 macbook pro it could "cripple" your machine somewhat. (running windows natively)

Uh... You definitely shouldn't be having those problems. Did you ever install MacOS fresh?

 

[quaresma]

If NVMeFix reports that APST is turned on, then APST is almost certainly on.

I suspect iStat is reporting ISDC, PSDC SMC keys, but I don't know what they exactly indicate and how they are physically measured. Rather than looking at this graph, you should compare battery life with and without the kext.

FWIW on Windows StorNVMe reports APST enable success, and I am getting approximately the same ISDC and PSDC values as on Mac. However, for my typical use case I get 30-60 min longer battery life with APST on.

My problem is that the kexts (Lilu and Nvmefix) are not even loading. I tried with SIP disabled and still they don’t load.

I am on Mojave btw, but that shouldn’t matter. I followed the guide for installing kexts on Tonymac

 

[dvid67]

Uh... You definitely shouldn't be having those problems. Did you ever install MacOS fresh?

Thanks for the advice, tried it same thing: Windows installer 1st reboot, the starting windows spin the spin thingy on Getting ready, then after half an hour the computer freezes.

 

[tabormeister]

Thanks for the advice, tried it same thing: Windows installer 1st reboot, the starting windows spin the spin thingy on Getting ready, than after half an hour the computer freezes.

That's so weird. Are you able to boot into safe mode when you get stuck in a please wait loop?

 

[dvid67]

That's so weird. Are you able to boot into safe mode when you get stuck in a please wait loop?

For this attempt i did not tried. After restarting: Windows tries to startup, but tells me that something went wrtong and i have to install windows.

Thanks for help i think i'll let go this thing and use vmware or buy a thinkpad for windows related stuff.

 

[Audit13]

Hi! Can you give a clue, how does this one work? Are there any issues?

I have no issues with it in an early 2015 13" Air and an HP ex900.

 

[Jérémie Lolieux]

Hi All, I finally decide to post my question cause there is so many info (236 pages) on the forum and I can't handle all of it.

I have a Macbook mid 2015 with a 370 radeon in it, running on Catalina 10.15.2 (19C57)

I have switch for a Sabrent SSD 1to with both short and long sintech adapter (try it alternatively with same result) the Mac boot up quickly, he's fast and consumption is ok ! but I have a lot of kernel panic after a close up time of 5 min to 1 day, when I get it back generally is Kernel crash itself.

I've tried all the hibernation mode with the same issue
I've deactivate Filevault with the same issue
And A fresh macOS install

I want to try the nVmepatch but its look more Hackintoch oriented ?

Someone have found a solution ?

Kind regards

PS: excuse my poor English

 

[BBsan]

Hey there everybody,

I'm using a custom patched ROM for my MBP 13" 2014.
However: Havin installed Windows 10 1803 - is anybody else experiencing weird issues when trying to update to 1903/1909?
During upgrade, the system runs into bluescreen and rolls back the entire upgrade...

 

[daddy-shark]

Hi everyone,

I'm stuck with MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6,2) (BootRom 117.0.0.0.0) upgrade.
I have installed WD Blue WDS500G2B0B 500Гб, M.2 2280, SATA III (key M and B) with the cheapest adapter like this
The result - disk is not visible to the system. I've checked with Catalina installer and lsblk in Linux.
Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM has no effect.

Is it possible that MBA doesn't compatible with SATA drives such as WDS500G2B0B?

 

[Cheesemane]

Hi there,

Thanks all for the very useful (if extremely long!) Thread.

Has anyone had any luck trying any of the pcie 4.0 phison e16 drives in macbooks?

I appreciate it probably wouldn't help the speed much when put in a pcie 2 or 3 host, but they might run cooler and with less battery impact when only running at the lower speeds?

 

[dstyp]

Hi All, I finally decide to post my question cause there is so many info (236 pages) on the forum and I can't handle all of it.

I have a Macbook mid 2015 with a 370 radeon in it, running on Catalina 10.15.2 (19C57)

I have switch for a Sabrent SSD 1to with both short and long sintech adapter (try it alternatively with same result) the Mac boot up quickly, he's fast and consumption is ok ! but I have a lot of kernel panic after a close up time of 5 min to 1 day, when I get it back generally is Kernel crash itself.

I've tried all the hibernation mode with the same issue
I've deactivate Filevault with the same issue
And A fresh macOS install

I want to try the nVmepatch but its look more Hackintoch oriented ?

Someone have found a solution ?

Kind regards

PS: excuse my poor English

I have the same hardware and I was unable to get the system stable without kapton tape . Do you use it?

 

[Audit13]

Hi everyone,

I'm stuck with MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 (MacBookAir6,2) (BootRom 117.0.0.0.0) upgrade.
I have installed WD Blue WDS500G2B0B 500Гб, M.2 2280, SATA III (key M and B) with the cheapest adapter like this
The result - disk is not visible to the system. I've checked with Catalina installer and lsblk in Linux.
Reset SMC and NVRAM/PRAM has no effect.

Is it possible that MBA doesn't compatible with SATA drives such as WDS500G2B0B?

You must use a Nvme drive.

 

[Intenditore]

I went to Amazon and found such picture here

And I'm slightly confused. If I'll use it with WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA (WDS100T2B0B) for example, it would not work? Why, if all the M.2 equipped motherboards DO support M.2 SATA drives in their M.2 PCIE sockets?
And what exactly is AHCI SSD? I pretty much never saw drives labled so

 

[Audit13]

I went to Amazon and found such picture here

And I'm slightly confused. If I'll use it with WD BLUE 3D NAND SATA (WDS100T2B0B) for example, it would not work? Why, if all the M.2 equipped motherboards DO support M.2 SATA drives in their M.2 PCIE sockets?
And what exactly is AHCI SSD? I pretty much never saw drives labled so

The mid 2013 to 2017 Air does not support sata, only nvme.

In very simple terms, M.2 a type of physical connector. PCIe is a data bus. Sata, AHCI, and nvme are methods used to read and write data to a drive. AHCI is an acronym for Advanced Host Controller Interface.

The logic board in a mid-2013 MacBook Air supports either an Apple AHCI SSD or nvme SSD.

A SATA drive may plug into a Macbook logic board but the logic board does not support sata.

 

[Intenditore]

The mid 2013 to 2017 Air does not support sata, only nvme

Don't you know in particular, do A1398s 13-14 or 15 support SATA?
I wanted to get SATA drive to lower power consumption, but now I understand AHCI is the only option to get longer battery life 🙄

 

[tabormeister]

Don't you know in particular, do A1398s 13-14 or 15 support SATA?
I wanted to get SATA drive to lower power consumption, but now I understand AHCI is the only option to get longer battery life 🙄

There are a FEW Samsung drives that are pcie ahci in addition to the apple OEM ones, but if you want lower power consumption AND speed too just get an aura n from owc

 

[Audit13]

Don't you know in particular, do A1398s 13-14 or 15 support SATA?
I wanted to get SATA drive to lower power consumption, but now I understand AHCI is the only option to get longer battery life 🙄

No retina MacBooks or mid-2013 to 2017 Airs will support SATA.
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There are a FEW Samsung drives that are pcie ahci in addition to the apple OEM ones, but if you want lower power consumption AND speed too just get an aura n from owc

Even though there are AHCI Samsung drives, they are not supported by Apple's power management and will not have battery life that is close to an original.

With the Aura drives, they don't provide good price to performance ratio IMHO.

 

[dgdosen]

This was a pretty solid upgrade for me - 1TB QLC SSDs are very cheap (although prices recently upticked a bit) and it delivered a 4x write (314MBs to 1350MBs) improvement and 2x read (671MBs to 1347Mbs) improvement over my stock SSD. Sure, the laptop innards can't take full advantage of the SSD, but the laptop feels much zippier. Geekbench 5 single core went from 683(reference) to 756.

IMO, this is a pretty nifty upgrade that makes these machines tolerable while some of us wait to see what kind of butterfly/Ice Lake laptops come out in the next few months (hopefully) - especially considering these disks are easy go reuse (maybe).

FYI - I used:
- Sabrent Rocket 1TB QLC SSD,
- Sintech card on the first page of this post
- Late 2013 13" MBP 2.6GHz i5.

One final thought - I don't notice any heat or battery drain problems...

 

[Jérémie Lolieux]

I have the same hardware and I was unable to get the system stable without kapton tape . Do you use it?

Thanks for answer and no i don't know what is kapton tape

I'm gonna Google it
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Thanks for answer and no i don't know what is kapton tape

I'm gonna Google it

edit : oh did you mean i need to isolate the SSD from the macbook chassis ?

 

[quaresma]

This was a pretty solid upgrade for me - 1TB QLC SSDs are very cheap (although prices recently upticked a bit) and it delivered a 4x write (314MBs to 1350MBs) improvement and 2x read (671MBs to 1347Mbs) improvement over my stock SSD. Sure, the laptop innards can't take full advantage of the SSD, but the laptop feels much zippier. Geekbench 5 single core went from 683(reference) to 756.

IMO, this is a pretty nifty upgrade that makes these machines tolerable while some of us wait to see what kind of butterfly/Ice Lake laptops come out in the next few months (hopefully) - especially considering these disks are easy go reuse (maybe).

FYI - I used:
- Sabrent Rocket 1TB QLC SSD,
- Sintech card on the first page of this post
- Late 2013 13" MBP 2.6GHz i5.

One final thought - I don't notice any heat or battery drain problems...

No battery drain? Are you on Mojave or Catalina? Maybe you just didn’t notice, but battery life IS worse than stock SSD

 

[profcutter]

Kapton is the brand name for Polyimide tape, if that helps at all. I just covered my adaptor with it, didn’t seem to make a difference. I suspect one difference is that I always use FileVault.