Best SSD for MacBook Pro

Karel B wrote:

I'd think twice before investing in a Samsung SSD http://www.anandtech.com/show/2829/19

To anyone out there googling for advice on which SSD to buy (like myself). This much more recent link suggests that Karel B's link is outdated and no longer relevant. That article was written Aug 2009. This one is from May 2011. It's a longevity/performance test of the Samsung 470 series:

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1618/1/

Hi

Try this link.

http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/CRUCIAL-M4-SSD-256GB-on-Macbo ok-Pro-early-2010-EXPERIENCE/td-p/59732

Regards

One thing: I found our MacBooks (don't know about the latest models) should have SATA1 interface.

For sure my MacBook aluminum late 2008 (the first aluminum model), has SATA1 interface. I see almost all new SSD models feature SATA2 or SATA3 interfaces (2x and 4x faster than SATA1).

I think I can replace my hdd with a ssd, since SATA interfaces should be backward compatible, but I wonder whether I can have a real advantage making the change (or if it's worth the money at least...).

As far as I could understand SATA1 features 150MB/s max throughput, not so much. And much less than the 250MB/s throughput SSDs can easly reach roday (as far as I know).

I wouldn't waste money for a device my MacBook wouldn't be able to benefit from.

One other thing...I read in other forums people stating that moder SSDs do not need trim support by OS, since they already "manage" empty space in authonomy, basically performing something like this:

1 - kind of "auto-trim"

2 - write "intelligent-buffering" (ie: a 120Gb ssd is really a 128Gb BUT keeps 8Gb hidden for performing some kind of internal write optimization)

Sorry I was wrong (fortunately): I realized that ALL MacBooks unibody feature SATA2 interface (3Gb/s).

Also checking with system profile app in my MacBook5.1, I found out a supported rate of 3Gb/s (and 1.5Gb/s negotiated actually).

By the way, I found some related threads in discussions with people stating that thay found the negotiated throughput to remain 1.5Gb/s (instead of rising to 3Gb/s) even after switching to a SATA3 SSD, which suggests further investigation...

I have a MBA 2011 with the 256 SSD and it has TRIM support...just fyi...

Any news on the negotiatied throughput in the '08 MBP? I have one myself and after checking it also has SATA II (3Gb/s) but a SATA I negotiated rate of only 1.5 Gb/s. Is there any way to change this? Just like OP I'm also planning on buying an SSD very soon and have just recently read about this issue.

Have you come across any solution to this negotiated speed problem?

It's probably limited by the controller or some other thing in the motherboard, which can be just about anything. If you're only getting 1.5 Gb/s negotiations, then that's probably what you're going to end up with in the end.

I highly recommend either one of these two SSDs:

Crucial m4

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2JL3Y

OCZ Vertex

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MIJOTK

These are both the best value for the money IMHO! 😉

Cheers,

Scott

Does anyone know a good SSD bigger than 512GB? My HDD now is 750GB and I'm already using 490GB, I heard that the SDD is getting very slow if running almost full so I must buy a big one.

Any suggestion?

if you can get it in China - have a look here - 960GB Mercury Electra MAX

or, if you have money to burn - have a look at OCZ Octane 1TB

I've just tried a Crucial M4 256gb in my 2011 Macbook Pro. It works fine until I push it hard and then (consistently) hangs the machine, forcing me to power it off. Looking at Crucial's forums a lot of MBpro owners are having similar problems. So I'm probably going to send it back and get one from a different manufacturer.

I've put the same drive in a Sony Vaio with no issues, but it doesn't play nicely with the Mac. 😟

Check your firmare version - I had problems with 000f (which is likely the shipping firmware now) and had to downgrade to 0309. No problems after that.

Clinton

Of the reviews that I have read the Samsung 830 gets the best reviews consistently

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077CR6B0

After further investigation it turned out that the problem was not the SSD after all, but the "experimental" version of DirectX 10 in Parallels. I put the original hard drive back in and the machine hung in the same way (starting the game Lord Of The Rings Online in Windows Vista under Parallels). Putting the SSD back in and turning DirectX10 off solved the problem.

So I'm now quite happy with my M4 (firmware 000f) and have had no problems with it at all (and I'm glad I found out the real problem before sending it back).