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SSD for Macbook Pro 2011

J

jenuster

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Messages
154
I'm looking to replace my stock hard drive on my Macbook Pro (Spring 2011) with an SSD. Does anyone have recommendations or can tell me which SSD they use for their macbook pro?
 
I have used Intel and Kingston drives. The Samsung 830 is a very popular choice.

The OWC drives are Sandforced-based and very popular. If you do not enable TRIM, the Sandforce drives have built-in garbage collection and will help stabilize performance as time goes on.
 
Crucial m4 512GB in mine. Running OS X and Windows 7. Could not get a C300 256GB to work at all, so I'd avoid that route.
 
I'm using a Crucial M4 in my iMac, and I love it. Based upon my current experience, I'd buy another again in a heart beat. Samsung 830 would be my second choice.

OWC makes drives that have excellent over-provisioning, and their "works with Mac's guarantee." I'd probably be willing to buy one if they weren't so darn expensive. Since OWC sells their own drives exclusively, it's virtually impossible to get one at a discount, and the competition has drives that are just as good or better for less.
 
Previously was using a OCZ Vertex 2 Extended and it worked fine. Now running with a M4 512GB and I'm happy, though the first M4 I received was DOA. Lots of warnings in the Crucial forums about problems with the M4s and early 15" 2011 MBPs, but apparently moving to the 0309 FW fixes most problems.
 
I wanna get myself a nice OCZ Agility 4 512GB, but they're not available yet. Anyone have one of these already? If I have to wait longer, I'll get the M4.
 
If you can, grab an m4.

I had previously used a 120gb Intel 320 drive in my 2011 mbp without any issue.
 
I put an M4 256gb in my daughter's Spring 2011 MBP and it's operating just fine.
 
Ive got a sandforce controlled OCZ Vertex 3 90GB SSD. best investment ever. I have had ZERO issues. OCZ and OWC have the fastest drives under benchmark to date. Corsair and Intel follow suit closely behind. However the OCZ's generally cost less and can get more GB for the buck. the new AGILITY 4 128GB (sata3) is $99 online it has the Indilinx controller vs the sandforce. either way you cant go wrong. Im upgrading my Late2011 MBP to a 256GB Agility 4 and going to use the data doubler from OWC to throw my stock 500gb 5400rpm drive in the DVDRW bay for storage.

I mean as far as reliability goes, there are some low end OCZ models (petrol and octane) that have had mixed reviews. If you got the bucks, go for the Intel, samsung or OWC 6G Extreme drives. But for all of us other users, the OCZ will perform just as good if not better for less.
 
I used Intel X-25 and 320, and 64GB Kingston SSDNow drives in my two old Macbook Pros. I have an 120GB OCZ Agility 3 in my Macbook and a Mushkin Chronos Deluxe 240GB in my iMac.

Haven't had any issues so far with any of the drives.
 
I have the same MacBook Pro you have, and I have a Samsung 830. It really flies, especially in ML now, as the machine wakes up instantly when you open the lid, and safari is just icing on the cake.
 
I have a M4 running in my spring mbp too. With ML this thing is a breast. I took out the optical drive and slapped the 750gb hdd in that bay. Over all I have not missed the optical drive.
 
Crucial M4 for sure. I've used the OCZ Vertex/Agility/Petrol drives with luck as well.
 
shyboi said:
I have a M4 running in my spring mbp too. With ML this thing is a breast. I took out the optical drive and slapped the 750gb hdd in that bay. Over all I have not missed the optical drive.
Click to expand...

If that isn't a ringing endorsement to purchase and fondle a MBR, I don't know what is :D
 
jenuster said:
I'm looking to replace my stock hard drive on my Macbook Pro (Spring 2011) with an SSD. Does anyone have recommendations or can tell me which SSD they use for their macbook pro?
Click to expand...

I use a patriot wildfire 120 gb sdd, been great haven't had any problems and generally boots in 7 sec or under.
 
I have had both the c400 128GB and 256GB models in my MBP (Fall 2011). They are both great drives. I took the smaller one out, that one is being used in my desktop.
 
I came across this when I was searching about upgrading to an SSD on my late 2011 MacBook Pro.

http://lifehacker.com/5541774/how-to-install-a-solid+state-drive-in-your-macbook

Definitely think I'm going to get like a 128GB SSD and primarily use it for just the OS and apps. Really not worried about anything else.

Also it said in that article that when you run both the regular HD and the SSD, to put the SSD in the main drive location and put the old HD in the secondary optical drive location. Apparently when the computer sleeps and you go to wake it up it has some problems if your main drive is in the secondary drive location as it doesn't activate the optical drive SATA or whatever till you login.

Oh yeah and if you use the Carbon Copy you don't have to start over with a whole new OSX installation...unless you want to of course.
 
that's an old article from 2010

I don't want to speak about the older macbooks but if you have a 2011 or newer run the ssd in the secondary slot and the spinner in the original bay. that's the only way you'll have sudden motion protection and there are no issues. that's how I've been using mine for the past five or so months. I believe I gave links for the best products I found to do the conversion (least expensive and highest quality--I did a ton of research) and also check out some of the tips I wrote about to make sure you turn off atime and enable trim support to maximize the speed and life of your ssd.
 
Still an accurate article. OWC macsales.com sells a data doubler kit to add a hdd or ssd to the optical bay. I'm going to do that for my late 2011 MBP. 240-256GB ssd and put the 500 HDD in the optical bay for storage.

It'll be pimp!
 
No, it's not an accurate article for your model. There are no problems with waking from sleep when using an SSD in the optical bay on any models after 2010. The article's information is regarding issues with 2009 macbooks.

Futhermore, you're welcome to spend your money how you want but I posted earlier in the thread how and where to purchase the same components for a fraction of OWC's cost.
The links to the ebay listings are in post #5 in this thread:
mope54 said:
I put an intel ssd x25-m 80gb where my optical drive goes with this http://www.ebay.com/itm/29059101641...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2415wt_986. Then I put the optical drive in this http://www.ebay.com/itm/30069458428...NX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_3175wt_986
Click to expand...


and the tips I gave about setting it up are actually in a different thread:

You'll need Trim Enabler from here:
http://www.cindori.se/en#3

then follow these directions to optimize your setup:
mope54 said:
Here are my OSX tweaks that I have done after getting my SSD:
RAM powered, no sleep image
sudo pmset hibernatemode 0
Click to expand...
delete the old sleep image--osx' equivalent to hiberfil.sys
sudo rm -rf /var/vm/sleepimage
Click to expand...

mounts the ssd noatime
echo "echo mount_hfs -o noatime /dev/disk[location: use 'diskutil list'] / > /etc/rc.local" | sudo bash
Click to expand...

I also only keep the data folders on my hard disk via symlinks instead of using the system preferences - accounts - change user home method. If you use the change home function it also uses the hard disk for the applications and libraries from the user directory. Those should be left on the SSD for best performance.
Click to expand...
 
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Epic fail on my part, I was looking at a different article.

Yes there are cheaper drive bays rather than the $59 (I believe) naked kit. But with a 256GB ssd its still under $250 so that's still less than 1$ per GB with kit.

There are so many options out there, for a little more bucks just do a thunderbolt drive for data and a single SSD for OS. (Without the data doubler)

It comes down to budget
 
mazdaboi said:
It comes down to budget
Click to expand...
if it comes down to budget why would you recommend OWC's overpriced kit (the OWC 240gb is $240 and the kit is $280 so I'm not sure where you're getting your pricing from
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/Mercury+Electra+3G+240GB) instead of getting the optical bay caddy ($9.98) and external dvd case for $20 dollars that I provided and picking up one of the 120gb ssd's for $80 or 240gb for $120 that are linked in the hot deals section?

where are you seeing thunderbolt enclosures and 240gb ssd's for a combined total of $150 max?

:confused:
 
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Budget meaning...the amount you have to spend. ie - Cheap or least money possible, or you have a "budget" of $300 to spend. But by OP's original message, it was simply "What do you all have in your Macbooks for an SSD"

I was like WOW ~$250 for an SSD and data doubler (256GB), WOW thats Expensive, but when you add the $59 + a 179 OCZ or 199 crucial or $214 Samsung, then your almost at the same price if not more. Their benchmark speeds are great (real world probabbly no difference)

Thunderbolt enclosures are expensive (right now), you have to lug it around when a data doubler will keep your storage and speed in one unit.

Keep in mind a USB drive caddy is at 420Mbits/sec (52.5MB/s) transfer speed when you throw a 3Gb/s or 6GB/s drive in there capable of pushing 375-750MB/s you limiting the drive to the USB 2.0 speed. NOT IDEAL for an external SSD. using it for the original HDD....still not going to run apps off it, music and backup mainly. Thunderbolt OR dual internal drives to keep at the drive speed (max transfer/read/write rates) is the better solution.

Id love to get a 240GB SSD for $120...Wtf you see that?
 
mazdaboi said:
Id love to get a 240GB SSD for $120...Wtf you see that?
Click to expand...

Keep your eyes on Slickdeals...

OWC makes great stuff, but you can find similar products cheaper. But there are a lot of really crappy optibays on eBay/Amazon, so do your research before you buy the cheapest one you can find.
 
I've been running an Intel 320 in my 13" MBP for about 6 months now. Updated to ML, reran the TRIM Enabler and have been flying. I've thought about getting a caddy for the old Seagate Momentus XT but I just haven't found myself needing that much storage in my laptop though I can certainly see the appeal for those who do, especially given how little I've used optical drives in recent years. Putting that in and upgrading to 8GB of RAM have made that little machine quite the little beast, given that it is 2 years old.
 
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