Upgrading to SSD by yourself

[ls1dreams]

What are the best options for upgrading to your own SSD?

In the apple store, it costs $200 to go from a 500gb 5400rpm drive to a 128gb SSD.

If you subtract the cost of selling the regular drive, that's about $250 you could use to do it yourself.

On decent deals, I've seen 128gb SSD's go for around $150 (with mail in rebate/etc).

What is involved in swapping hard drives? Do macs include an OSX install disk, or what is the easiest way to clone everything over? (I have a 1.5tb external hard drive - I think time machine could be set up to use this?)

 

[nylon]

It's very easy to swap out the HD in a pro.

1. Take bottom case off
2. Remove one screw
3. Add SSD
4. Boot with Restore Disk and reinstall OSX.

It's best to go with an after market SSD. I prefer Intel Branded SSD's. You should look at OCZ Vertex 2 and 3 as well.

 

[aCondor]

Definitely do NOT upgrade through Apple.

 

[ls1dreams]

Definitely do NOT upgrade through Apple.

Do they use low quality SSD's? Or is it mostly a matter of money?

 

[ECUpirate44]

Do they use low quality SSD's? Or is it mostly a matter of money?

It's basically the fact that their overpriced. Heres a tutorial on how to do it.

 

[KPOM]

Do they use low quality SSD's? Or is it mostly a matter of money?

It's primarily money. As you pointed out, you can get a 128GB SSD for less than $250, and a 256GB SSD for a lot less than $650. Plus, there are faster drives out there than what Apple uses. Apple uses middle-of-the-road SSDs.

 

[vincenz]

It's just a simple swapout. Restore from a time machine backup or use carbon copy cloner.

If only I had the extra money...

 

[mheidt]

In Euro, a 128SSD is between 200 and 280EUR.
And the 500GB 2.5" drive is 50EUR.
Therefore I would BTO with SSD.
Those 30EUR I could save isn't worth the hazzle (selling and screwing) in my opinion.
But I agree when it comes to RAM and higher SSDs.

 

[Weaselboy]

It's basically the fact that their overpriced. Heres a tutorial on how to do it.

I'm not so sure they are overpriced any longer. The new 13 MBP has a 128GB SSD upgrade for $250. The 120GB OWC SSD is $249. Granted, we don't know what brand/quality the Apple SSD is, but based on price alone it is not a bad deal. Plus it comes preinstalled and will have a factory warranty.

 

[southpaw23]

I'm not so sure they are overpriced any longer. The new 13 MBP has a 128GB SSD upgrade for $250. The 120GB OWC SSD is $249. Granted, we don't know what brand/quality the Apple SSD is, but based on price alone it is not a bad deal. Plus it comes preinstalled and will have a factory warranty.

Yeah, I agree. Unless I'm missing something, I see 256gb SSD's for around $500.
For $540, having the convenience of having Apple put it in for me, it might be worth it? Unless there is some incredible difference in quality/speed.

 

[AAPLGeek]

On decent deals, I've seen 128gb SSD's go for around $150 (with mail in rebate/etc).

Link please?

 

[cobalt79]

In a chat, I asked about swapping out a HDD for a SSD. Apparently, it voids your Applecare ENTIRELY!

I can see not covering the SSD, but the rest of the machine?

I want to sell my 2010 MBP for a new one and swap drives. Apparently, I might be asking for trouble...

 

[cobalt79]

In a chat, I asked about swapping out a HDD for a SSD. Apparently, it voids your Applecare ENTIRELY!

I can see not covering the SSD, but the rest of the machine?

I want to sell my 2010 MBP for a new one and swap drives. Apparently, I might be asking for trouble...

Holly just told me differently... depends on who you ask. If the SSD came from Apple/installed by Apple, the Genius Bar should swap it for you.