What difference an SSD

[SisterRay]

Hi,

I have recently been tempted by the new MacBook Air. I realise the big difference is the SSD in the Air, but I am concerned by the lack of upgradeability.

So my question is how much of an improvement would you get by choosing the byo option of an SSD in a 13" MacBook Pro. Does anyone have hard benchmarking stats they could post?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eC1990ho]

the difference is huge, check some videos on youtube to compare boot times.
also, the apple options are quite expensive.
Buy an aftermarket ssd and upgrade it yourself, done in 5 minutes

 

[Philflow]

I don't have any benchmarks at hand but...

The Apple SSD in the MBP performs the same as the SSD in the MBA (TSxxx).

The CPU in the MBP is more powerful than the MBA.

Result: MBP is slightly more snappy.

 

[Liquinn]

I don't have any benchmarks at hand but...

The Apple SSD in the MBP performs the same as the SSD in the MBA (TSxxx).

The CPU in the MBP is more powerful than the MBA.

Result: MBP is slightly more snappy.

Would a 64GB or 128GB SSD be good for a MBP?

That way I can't clutter my MBP with files and stuff.

 

[Philflow]

Would a 64GB or 128GB SSD be good for a MBP?

That way I can't clutter my MBP with files and stuff.

Sure a Crucial M4 64GB for example is very snappy.

 

[hehe299792458]

Sure a Crucial M4 64GB for example is very snappy.

But the new Wildfire series from Patriot is even faster

 

[Liquinn]

Sure a Crucial M4 64GB for example is very snappy.

It's 90 quid for that, but I could sell off the 750gb HDD that comes with the laptop I guess? Or should I keep that for warranty reasons?

Hopefully SSD drive prices come down by next year.

 

[iammike1]

For a lot of reasons I won't go into right now, larger drives are faster than smaller drives especially in the writing department. For the cost, I wouldn't get lower than a 120/128GB drive these days.

 

[Liquinn]

An SSD would help the resale value of the machine, unless SSD prices plummet. Hmmmmm

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For a lot of reasons I won't go into right now, larger drives are faster than smaller drives especially in the writing department. For the cost, I wouldn't get lower than a 120/128GB drive these days.

Agreed - the OP will probably find that 64GB would be pretty limiting these days.

An SSD would help the resale value of the machine, unless SSD prices plummet. Hmmmmm

Even if they do plummet in price, it will still help the re-sale value to have a SSD as it is better, faster and more stable than a comparable HDD.

Cheers

 

[Philflow]

It's 90 quid for that, but I could sell off the 750gb HDD that comes with the laptop I guess? Or should I keep that for warranty reasons?

No need to keep it for warranty.

By the way I sold my SSD to get a Seagate Hybrid drive. 75 quid for 500GB of storage + 4GB SSD for your most used apps. Here's how it performs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMldqf5oUZw

 

[Liquinn]

No need to keep it for warranty.

By the way I sold my SSD to get a Seagate Hybrid drive. 75 quid for 500GB of storage + 4GB SSD for your most used apps. Here's how it performs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMldqf5oUZw

Wow, nice stuff. ;D

That's fast. I want one

How long will Photoshop CS5 take to open with the configuration in the YouTube video?

 

[Philflow]

Wow, nice stuff. ;D

That's fast. I want one

How long will Photoshop CS5 take to open with the configuration in the YouTube video?

If Photoshop is fully cached on the 4GB SSD it will open about as fast as a SATA II SSD.

But if you use many applications Photoshop might no be fully cached.

So best case it performs like an SSD, worst case it performs like a 7200rpm HDD.

Lots of real world benchmarks here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6071&p=2

 

[Liquinn]

If Photoshop is fully cached on the 4GB SSD it will open about as fast as a SATA II SSD.

But if you use many applications Photoshop might no be fully cached.

So best case it performs like an SSD, worst case it performs like a 7200rpm HDD.

Lots of real world benchmarks here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6071&p=2

I hope they put a 128GB SSD into the 2012 MBP refresh

That'd be cool. But the odds are of that happening

 

[Philflow]

I hope they put a 128GB SSD into the 2012 MBP refresh

That'd be cool. But the odds are of that happening

Why not? you can already order the MBP with 128GB SSD.

i think the 2012 MBP with a SSD + HDD combo. That's where the market is going.

 

[Bob Coxner]

the difference is huge, check some videos on youtube to compare boot times.
also, the apple options are quite expensive.
Buy an aftermarket ssd and upgrade it yourself, done in 5 minutes

With the Education discount (no proof required) the Apple option is $225 for the 128gb. That's roughly what you would pay aftermarket. These are US prices, YMMV elsewhere.

I'm looking to buy this combination and I definitely will go with Apple. No worries about screwing up the installation (no matter how easy it is) and the SSD is covered by the basic Apple warranty. That's less hassle than dealing with a warranty by a 3rd party manufacturer if there's a failure. The Apple SSD has native TRIM, so again one less hassle. Not to mention that many users here seem to think the quality is very good.