This portable external SSD for Mac and Windows offers 430MB/s sequential read, and 400MB/s write speed. The PNY’s Elite Portable SSD offers fast transfer mode with a built-in USB 3.0 port. This external SSD hard drive is intended to meet the requirements of mainstream PC users, photographers, graphic designers who are always on the go. Upgrade your MacBook Pro to an SSD for up to 6x the capacity and 106x the speed of the original drive. Includes DIY install videos to make upgrading easy. Upgrade your MacBook Pro to an SSD for up to 6x the capacity and 106x the speed of the original drive. Includes DIY install videos to make upgrading easy.
(Note: while some portions of this user tip can be used when installing a new hard drive in your MacBook Pro, it is intended only for those upgrading to a SSD.)
There are, with most MacBook Pros (exclusive of the Retina display models) only two modifications that you can make without voiding your Apple warranty or AppleCare extended warranty – upgrading the RAM and upgrading the drive in the hard drive bay. If you’ve already upgraded your RAM and simply want more speed, you may want to consider upgrading your old hard drive with a SSD (Solid State Drive). Many people come to the MacBook Pro forum asking about SSD upgrades, so this user tip is applicable to those, primarily, who have already made the decision to upgrade. Note that I only recommend using a SSD in 2009 and later MacBook Pros with a 3.0Gbps to 6.0Gbps interface speed – and I recommend buying a 6.0Gbps SSD regardless of the fact that models with a SATA II interface won’t be able to use the full-negotiated speed of 6.0Gbps. Why? Because you may want to upgrade your Mac sometime in the future… although you'd likely be upgrading to a Retina model these days. But you may still want to use the SSD in an enclosure or in another machine.
Before you buy…
Before you purchase a SSD, there are a few questions that you need to ask:
What capacity do you need?
It’s just my opinion, but the bigger the better. Now you may want to install a 120-128GB SSD and simply use it as a boot device and as a place to store your most frequently used applications. This is certainly the least expensive approach. But most people will want to store much more than that on an internal drive save, perhaps, for large iTunes libraries and large photo/movie libraries. There are numerous advantages to a larger drive, however. If you do photo or video editing, the SSD makes a super-fast scratch/working drive for individual projects. You can always store your hefty data on an external drive, of course, but for working projects I recommend using your fast internal SSD. Currently, SSDs come in basically three usable sizes: 120-128GB, 240-256GB and 480-512GB. But Crucial is now shipping a 960GB M500 drive that sells for under $600. So decide, first, how much storage you can actually utilize before making any buying decisions. And Samsung now has a 1 Terabyte EVO drive - priced at about $800+ but which can be found for under $650. Decisions, decisions! See here for an excellent review of the Samsung 840 EVO 1TB drive. Crucial also has two high-capacity SSDs - the older 960GB M500 and the recently released 1 Terabyte M550, which sports faster speeds than the M500 series but is still available at a reasonable price. I would recommend any of these three drives, now, for those wanting the higher capacity. See a review of the M550 series here.
Which drive should I buy?
Unfortunately, there are no Consumer Reports articles out for SSDs on MacBook Pros. There is, however, a very good “information and buyers guide” website - Sean’s SSD Buyer’s Guide and Information Thread. It’s chock-full of information about how SSDs work, what technology individual manufacturers employ, and includes not only a ‘buyer’s guide’ but an almost endless thread containing users experiences. Beware, though, as it is primarily geared towards Windows users. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from reading much of the information there. One thing that I always look for in an SSD, too, is the “Mac-friendliness” of the drive – e.g., can the firmware be upgraded using a Mac or must it be upgraded on a Windows machine? Unfortunately, the majority of SSDs fall in the latter category. That, alone, may not be a showstopper for you in determining which brand of SSD to purchase, but it should at least give you pause.
Getting everything in place…
Before you begin your MacBook Pro surgery, here is a checklist of things you should have on hand:
- SSD of choice
- Enclosure for external drive (can be found at Amazon or OWC, prices range from $8-20, usually, for a USB 2.0 kit will all cables)
- Toolkit that includes a Phillips #00 screwdriver, a Torx T6 screwdriver, and, possibly, a spudger – I recommend this kit - http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/TOOLKIT11/ - from OWC
- Carbon Copy Cloner (we’ll get into how to use this in a moment)
Start the process…
There are two ways to go about getting the data from your old drive to your SSD. The first is to install the SSD into your enclosure and make your clone before installing the SSD. The second is simply to install the SSD into your hard drive bay and your old hard drive into your enclosure and boot from the enclosure. No one way is better than the other. We’ll examine both ways here:
Install the SSD into your USB enclosure and plug it up. Use Disk Utility (Applications>Utilities folder) to format the SSD, erasing it and formatting as “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” with a single GUID partition. Then use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your hard drive to the SSD. If you are running Lion or Mountain Lion, choose the option to copy the Recovery Partition to the SSD. After the clone is complete, restart your computer whilst holding down the option key and select the SSD as the boot drive. You’ll know in a few seconds if your clone was successful.
Alternately, you can just go ahead and install your SSD into your MacBook Pro (endless number of DIY videos online – see OWC’s Installation Videos - http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/) and put your hard drive into the USB enclosure and boot from it. Then just boot from the enclosed drive and use Disk Utility to format the SSD and clone the contents of your hard drive onto your SSD as noted above.
Either method should work just fine. Be sure to visit the OWC video installation page, or the numerous videos on YouTube, about installing the drive into your MacBook Pro.
You’re almost finished…
Now that you have your cloned SSD in your hard drive bay, you should be able to hold down the option key and boot from the SSD. The first thing you’ll want to do is to go to System Preferences>Startup Disk and select your new SSD as your startup drive.
I would also recommend using Trim Enabler to enable TRIM on your new SSD. Not sure what TRIM does? See this Wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIM. Note that with every .1 upgrade to OS X you will have to enable TRIM once again. I just make it a habit when I update my system. Some may ask of TRIM is necessary these days since most SSDs use proprietary garbage collection. I can only say that I still enable TRIM just in case... and Apple's SSDs utilize TRIM as well.
Up and running…
You should be up and running now, enjoying the many benefits of a SSD – particularly speed. You shouldn’t have any problems if you’ve followed these instructions.
The only problem that some people have run into, in my experience, has been with a faulty SATA cable (affecting 2009 models more than any other). If you’re having problems such a ‘beachballing,’ slow speeds, etc., look at replacing your SATA cable first – it’s the most likely culprit. You’ll also want to make certain that you stay up to date with SSD firmware updates – these cannot only eliminate ‘bugs’ in the firmware, but may also make your SSD operate more efficiently.
Retina model?
The newest MacBook Pros, of course - the Retina models - already come with a SSD installed. Until recently, though, you really couldn't upgrade your flash storage. Now, on certain models, you can upgrade the flash storage (although you'll void your warranty if you crack the case, so buyer beware). Both Other World Computing and Transcend produce flash storage modules so that you can upgrade your storage to up to 1 terabyte. Note that both the OWC and the Transcend modules will only work with 'older' Retina models or MacBook Pro Airs - not the newer models that have a PCIe interface. Still, having these options available is more than you could have hoped for previously. Will there ever be PCIe based flash storage available? Only time will tell. Not much else to say about Retina models.
Final note…
I do not recommend placing your SSD into the optical bay of your MacBook Pro – your start-up drive is meant to be in the hard drive bay and that’s where you want to install your SSD. Installing another SSD or a hard drive into your optical bay is beyond the scope of this user tip. And also note that this tip covers only one method – my preferred method – for getting your data to your SSD.
SSD is the new way to add more power and storage to your MacBook Pro. Not only does it provide extra storage capacity but also powers up your computer through the technology. The space provided by Apple to its devices has always been disparaged. It becomes a hassle when you try to accommodate your precious information on your MacBook. To deal with this problem, you can consider MacBook Pro SSD (Solid State Drive).
SSD is more of a conventional hard disk that doesn’t have a disk in it. It is robust, light-weighted and spacious. However, it is important that you check if your device supports the SSD or not. In this blog, we’re going to suggest the best SSD for MacBook Pro that you can buy:
Best SSD For MacBook Pro
1. Samsung 850 Evo:
Samsung 850 Evo is one of the best SSD for MacBook Pro that has been designed with state of the art SSD including 3D V-NAND technology to provide faster speed. The benchmark speed of the item has been recorded at 524.4MBps reading and 512.1MBps of writing speed. With AES 256-bit encryption, Samsung 850 is available in the 120 GB, 250 GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB variants. One thing that you must know is that the Samsung 850 is an internal SSD. It means, you need to make sure about the size and the supported port prior to the purchase.
2. Buffalo Ministation Thunderbolt:
This external SSD is an easy method to add more storage to your machine. Buffalo Ministation Thunderbolt is a plug-and-play storage device that comes with a Thunderbolt connectivity to power your MacBook Pro with an unmatchable transfer speed. The USB 3.0 is also provided in order to let you connect it undersaly to other machines. With a speed of upto 10Gbps, Buffalo Ministation Thunderbolt is available from 1TB to 2TB storage space that you can choose accordingly.
3. Toshiba Q300:
Toshiba Q300 is an internal SSD that is counted among the best in class read & write speed for MacBook Pro. It is a perfect pick for gamers due to its robust speed.The device delivers high precision data readout with Toshiba’s propriety Quadruple Swing-by Code ECC error correction technology. The SSD is equipped with a 2-bit-per-cell NAND flash technology that boosts the speed exceptionally. With a high endurance rating, Toshiba Q300 is available from 128GB to 512GB.
4. Samsung Portable SSD T3:
Samsung Portable SSD T3 is an external SSD but with a performance level of an internal SSD. The device has a metal body which is shock-resistant and offers a secure AES 256-bit encryption. The Samsung Portable SSD T3 is small in size, lightweight and compact that makes it handy to carry anywhere without any risk of damage. The SSD also supports multiple operating systems and machines.
5. Adata SE730:
Adata SE730 is one of the most affordable MacBook Pro SSDs that provides you with a rapid transfer speed. In just $139, you’re offered a 250GB space on the device, which is shockproof and waterproof too. The SSD weighs only 33g (1.1oz) and comes with 3 year limited warranty.
6. Transcend ESD400K SuperSpeed:
Transcend is among the best SSD for MacBook Pro that you can add to accommodate your extra data. Although, it is a bit expensive device that costs $360 for a 512GB, it provides you with a one-touch backup button and UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) support. It is a fast, durable and lightweight device that comes with a 3 year warranty.
Ssd For Macbook Pro 2011
7. WD My Passport SSD Portable Storage:
If you’re looking for a low-cost high performing MacBook Pro SSD then WD My Passport SSD Portable Storage is for you. With a robust data transfer speed, it is provided with automatic backup. To support both Mac and Windows, this SSD is designed to support a USB Type-C and USB Type A ports. This easy to carry lightweight SSD is also shockproof that adds an extra layer of security to your data.
Ssd For Macbook Air
8. Transcend StoreJet:
Transcend StoreJet is amongst the few best MacBook Pro SSD for MacBook Pro, which meets the U.S. Military drop-test standards. However, being strong doesn’t adversely affect the sleek look of the device. With a rugged design, it is available from 500GB to 2TB variants. WIth a single touch backup button, it is amongst the fastest SSDs available that transmits the data over USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.
9. SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD:
SanDisk Extreme SSD is another great choice when it comes to cost-effective device with higher performance. It is sleek, easy to carry and shock-resistant that comes with three year warranty. The Secure Access tool that helps you encrypt the private files with 128-bit AES. With less power requirement, it reads at the 430MB/s for fast transfers.
10. Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA:
Crucial MX500 is a popular name among high performing SSDs for MacBook Pro. This device offers read and write speed of 560 MB/x and/510 MB/s respectively with Micron 3D NAND technology. The best part of Crucial MX500 is the Power Loss Immunity that saves your work if a sudden power fail happens. The SSD comes with a whopping five year warranty and a higher level of reliability.
Ssd For Macbook Pro
Overall, this is the list of best SSD for MacBook Pro to enhance the storage. If you’re confused over buying an external or internal SSD, the latter, that is internal SSD should be your choice. MacBook Pro SSD offers limited speed due to Thunderbolt or USB limitation, internal SSD has dedicated memory controllers to maximise reading/writing speed. If you know some more MacBook Pro SSD, do let us know in the comments section below.