Used Adaptor to install mSATA in my late-2012 rMBP, it's working great!

[kgvickers]

Newbie here so not sure I'm worthy to post . . . but here goes anyway.

Got a late-2012 rMBP a month or so ago with the lowly 128GB ssd. Been looking for upgrade options.

I found this "mSATA SSD to MacBook Pro Retina" adapter on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261633884564?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Got a smokin' deal on Amazon a few days ago on the Crucial M550 mSATA 512GB drive, $169.99 plus tax.

Installed the mSATA on the adapter a few hours ago. Fits fine and seems to be working great. To make sure TRIM is enabled, I installed Cindori's free Trim Enabler app.

So for a little more $200 I've upgraded to 512GB!

It's a perfect fit and BlackMagic's disk speed test is indicating that it's faster than the stock ssd.

 

[alex0002]

Thanks for sharing. One more option for late 2012/early 2013 rMBP owners. Did you have any problem with the additional height/thickness of the SSD plus adapter, or does it all fit without problems?

What about temperature? There have been some reports of mSATA SSDs running quite hot. Have you looked at the smart data?

There is a new firmware update MU02 available for the M550. The update was just released in the last few days, so I'm guessing you didn't have time to install it before you installed the SSD in your rMBP.

 

[alex0002]

Just looking at the options so far and not including the super cheap price you got for your M550.

OWC 480GB Aura Pro 6G Solid State Drive for 2012-Early 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina display.
-- approx USD $359.00 from OWC.

Transcend JetDrive 720 480GB SATA III SSD Upgrade Kit for Macbook Pro with Retina display (Mid 2012 - Early 2013) TS480GJDM720.
-- approx USD $330.00 on Amazon

Crucial M550 512GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT512M550SSD3.
-- approx USD $268.00 on Amazon, plus allow $20 - $25 for the adaptor.

Other 480GB to 512GB mSATA SSDs can be found for under USD $250 and the number of options should improve when the Crucial MX200 mSATA becomes available soon.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/storage-ssd-mx200

 

[kgvickers]

No firmware update yet, I'll do that over the weekend.

The fit was no issue at all, no clearance problems that I can see. I didn't break out the micrometer but to my old eyeballs it looks fine. There appears to be plenty of tolerance in the holder that goes below the touch pad on the early rMBP so it should be somewhat forgiving of a less than perfect installation height.

I literally loaded this just hours ago so I don't have any real operational experience. I'm a hacker at heart, not an expert at this. If you can suggest some sort of burn-in tool to really exercise the SSD (and monitor temps) I'd be happy to try it. The highest temp I've seen on Trim Enabler so far is about 90F.

After the impulse purchase of the M550 (I caught the low price on Amazon and I knew it would sell out fast since it was already getting attention on Slick Deals) I did some additional research. Seems the M550 is a power hog when compared to other similar SSDs, even at idle, so that's gotta contribute to its higher temps. I'm planning to convert a few windows desktops to SSD so if this M550 runs too hot in my rMBP I'll just move it to a desktop where it should get adequate ventilation.

Speaking of power consumption, is there any freebie software that will tell me how much power the SSD is consuming? I'd like to do a stock to M550 comparison.

Cheers.

 

[kgvickers]

There is a new firmware update MU02 available for the M550. The update was just released in the last few days, so I'm guessing you didn't have time to install it before you installed the SSD in your rMBP.

I just finished applying the update. Seat of the pants says no performance difference and no discernible difference in the Disk Speed Test.

 

[eas]

Sweet! I've been waiting for these for years. I was thinking I might have to find someone to design/manufacture them and start selling them myself, but I decided I should use the Google again.

It looks like there is also an adapter for M.2 SSDs out there for about the same price.

I'm going to order something soon. My original 256GB filled up again, and I'm having more trouble finding stuff to trash to make space.

 

[eas]

So, I bought the same adapter (its also available on Amazon), and 500GB mSATA 840 Evo for my 2012 rMBP. Its working well.

I found a different adapter design on ebay, which looks like it will have a lower profile, so I ordered one of those too, since it was only $10. Its shipping from China though, so it could be a while before it gets delivered. I'll post what I learn on my blog (linked above) when it shows up.

 

[hallux]

Curious, why do you need an adapter if you have a rMBP? I thought the rMBP had MSATA drives in them already, and looking at the exploded view of them, there is no place inside that this module/frame would fit.

 

[saturnotaku]

Curious, why do you need an adapter if you have a rMBP? I thought the rMBP had MSATA drives in them already, and looking at the exploded view of them, there is no place inside that this module/frame would fit.

The rMBP's SSD form factor and connector are proprietary, so there's no way a standard mSATA drive would fit.

 

[MacInTO]

This is a great alternative! Nice hack! Thanks for posting!

 

[Gav2k]

Curious, why do you need an adapter if you have a rMBP? I thought the rMBP had MSATA drives in them already, and looking at the exploded view of them, there is no place inside that this module/frame would fit.

Go to ifixit and look at the ssd replacement guide I'm sure there is one.

As for the why apple use a proprietary connector on there ssd.

 

[hallux]

Go to ifixit and look at the ssd replacement guide I'm sure there is one.

As for the why apple use a proprietary connector on there ssd.

I guess I was confused by the black frame in the 3rd picture of the first post. That frame looks like it would be used to mount in the standard HDD bay of a non-retina.

 

[Gav2k]

I guess I was confused by the black frame in the 3rd picture of the first post. That frame looks like it would be used to mount in the standard HDD bay of a non-retina.

That would be great if it were only true lol