Considering buying 128GB PATA SSD for 12" PowerBook G4

I have obtained some technical information about the Transcend TS128GPSD320 128GB PATA 2.5 Inch SSD. It uses the Silicon Motion SM2236 controller and supports garbage collection with wear leveling. Please visit the product page for more details:

http://www.siliconmotion.com/A3.2_Partnumber_Detail.php?sn=35

Hi Geishaslave,

I appreciate your thorough write up above. A few questions directed at you, or anyone really, as I'm about to pick up the Kingspec PATA SSD:

1) Any Trim-similar solution for Leopard 10.5.8?

2) Multi-task bog and startup times, are they a common occurance? Any tips to overcome?

3) Are you still satisfied with your modified G4?

Thanks ahead,

Thanks.

I could not find any TRIM utils for Leopard, but it is a moot point with PATA SSD. The PATA SSD controller is compliant with CF6, which does not support the TRIM command. Instead garbage collection and wear leveling are the tactical algorithms deployed for speed and endurance. There are at least two TRIM apps for 10.6 and 10.7, however. Actually, I believe Lion supports TRIM for Apple installed SSD, thus the apps serve as enablers for all makes of SSD.

Yes, you could use a SATA SSD through a SATA to PATA adapter then install the .kextfile to enable the TRIM command within 10.5.8. Serial ATA SSD controllers support the TRIM command.

There was no apparent speed up for boot and shutdown lengths, but with Leopard shutdown has always been fast. The recommendation to improve start up speed was to highlight the SSD in the Startup Disk preference pane. I also tried disabling all startup items. Neither worked for me.

I chose Transcend over Kingspec for controller type, price, availability and published performance specs.

I am very satisfied with my modded PB G4. The major issue right now is with Adobe Flash Player. Power PC systems were orphaned beyond version 10.1. Now I am coming across .swf and .flv that won't play in Safari, Firefox, or Camino. Something to do with the version of Flash used to create the source file.

On the TRIM topic I'm not sure the performance impact is really significant. Using a PATA SSD here for some month and nothing noticeable yet.

If you can't use flash, you can also consider using the much fater TenFourFox browser on you g4. It runs great on both 10.4 and 10.5

Okay, thanks for all the help guys, really,

Here's is what I have:

An Ibook G3 (my mistake I thought it was G4, but no)

Waiting for Airport card, 16gb Kingspec Pata, 512 MB RAM, replacement feet, to all arrive this week.

Someone sold me their original discs of Tiger OS X 10.4.2 for $5 and, I've already gutted the broken Harddrive from the Ibook.

All that's left is to wait...

Last little outstanding, correct me if I'm wrong, I need to manipulate a bridge over the pins on SSD to make it master. Anyone able to explain specifics on which pin to cover?

With my Transcend 2.5 inch SSD, it came jumpered as master. I left the jumper on to set it as master. With regular spinning hard drives, jumpers are usually left off. Also, there was no need to modify anything at the mounting point in the drive bay, as I have read in other (gruesome) posts. The drive, with jumper on, fit perfectly and totally onto the pins.

@Peter Arnequi: Thanks for your comment. The TRIM issue doesn't matter with IDE SSD because the controller simply does not recognize the command. I do not think TenFourFox will solve my flash video issues, unless it has integrated support for Flash. The PPC platform cannot install Flash player 11 and so the problem is with proprietary players used at sites like WSJ.com, along with .swf and .flv files that were created for Flash player 11 or later.

I have an old G4 PowerBook 17", (V5,3)

With my Transcend 2.5 inch SSD 64GB (TS64GPSD320), it also came jumpered as master, and I left the jumper on. However, I experienced trouble installing a clean Tiger and/or Leopard until I found the error I made! Do remember when doing the partion in DiskTool to choose "Options" and Apple Partition Map (for PowerPC - based Macintosh. If you fail to do so Indstall disk will not recognize SSD as a boot disk!

Hi MKH01,

I am trying to follow your instructions and put an SSD into my beloved Powerbook 12.

Do you confirm it is still working well?

Would you maybe provide also some link for the ssd which seems hard to find (and afraid to pick the wrong one).

Thanks.

Did you notice this thread started four years ago? One of the helpers has since passed away. Please start a new thread--it is the one sure way to get fast help, as many experienced users here avoid old threads that have been reopened.

Thank you Allan, and yes, a did notice that, but I don't need a new thread, a need that guy advice.

I installed a 32GB Zheino PATA SSD in my 12" PowerBook G4 so that I could still use it as a nice PowerPoint presentation machine 10 years after I originally bought it.

32GB is more than enough for Leopard + Office + PPTs, and the speed is roughly double than what I had before when navigating anything. Since it's PATA, there's no TRIM, but haven't had any issues with the regular garbage collection the SSD controller does.

So yes, throw in an SSD into an old PowerBook and you'll get some more use out of it for sure!