Best SSD for MacBook Pro

Glad that the drive is working out for you in your 2009 model - and I'll be checking out the Chameleon SSD Optimizer - haven't heard of that one.

One tip - whenever there's an update to OSX - any .1 update, for example - you'll have to use Trim Enable to enable Trim again. Not a big deal, I do it now out of routine.

Have a great time with your SSD - I'm sure glad that I bought mine!

Clinton

I recently upgraded my Mac Book Pro with an Angelbird Crest Mac SSD. The difference is speed is amazing, once you use SSD you would never go back. This is a great product as it comes TRIM enabled from the box, I don't think any other SSD do this for Mac.

I'm so impressed I'm thinking of getting the Crest Mac Pro SSD for my Mac Pro Desktop. This looks good as it should mount straight into my existing bay drive, also it is TRIM enabled for Mac.

Hello everyone. I have a macbook a1342 7,1 (the last year they made the white unibody MacBooks)

I am interested in getting an SSD to replace my 750gb HDD, and I want to put my HDD in the opti-drive and run dual drives.

My question is: I want the ssd as my boot drive and have OSX stores there as well as some other apps that I use, what do I need to do, configuration wise to the HDD that will be replacing the opti-drive? I have a large library of movies and music that I want to keep stored in my HDD because I use Apple TV for all of my movies.

Sorry for the novice question, I'm just getting started on upgrading my macbook.

Thanks in advance!

How do you put 16 GB RAM on a 2011 MBP? I understood that the "innards" won't allow more than the 8GB max that Apple sells. I just bought a 2013 MBP -- probably the last available before the line becomes Retina-only. I tried to buy 16GB like they offer on the Retina model, but was told 8 is the max that the machine accommodates. ??

8GB is the maximum RAM available for a 13" Retina. Both the 2011 and 2012 non-Retina MacBook Pros can use up to 16GB of RAM (2 x 8GB sticks).

That's just one more reason I stay away from Retina machines - nothing in it is user upgradeable.

Clinton

@atrin1 Just install OSX onto the SSD and it will default everything new onto the SSD. As for the old drive, you can still access all your documents, music, movies, pics on it as long as you didn't delete anything off of it. You can set your iTunes' default music folder to the one on your HDD too so that you wouldn't have to re-import anything. I will say that accessing apps from the HDD may not work, those must be installed on the SSD to work properly (so you would have to reinstall most apps, don't forget to deactivate apps so you can reactivate later).

Sorry, my terminology was confusing. I am talking about a (year) 2013, non-Retina, MacBook Pro with the 15-inch display. Not a 13-inch. The max RAM Apple offers is 8GB and I was told this was the max the machine could fit. I didn't realize you could even open up these one-piece aluminum machines and self-install RAM. I need some education!

Installing RAM in a 2011-2012 MacBook Pro

There is really only one way to install RAM into a 2011-2012 MacBook Pro and while there are hundreds of DIY videos online, I just like this one, found on YouTube, by “macmixing”.

Note that there is a difference in the RAM that should be used in 2011 and 2012 models.

2011 models must use:

•204-pin PC-10600 (1333 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

And 2012 models must use:

•204-pin PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

So here's the video:

Remember that the 13", 15" and 17" 2011 models (early or late) and the 13" and 15" mid-2012 non-Retina models can handle 4GB, 8GB or (unofficially, but, believe me, it works) 16GB of RAM. There are, in my opinion, only three 100% Mac-compatible vendors out there: Corsair, Crucial and OWC. I really can't recommend any other brands, even though it may work, as these are the only brands that I've personally used in quite a while. Also remember to stay away from any RAM that is a “value” brand - Macs are picky about RAM and often these value RAM modules just don’t work very well.

Good luck,

Clinton

Thank you lisdavid. I'm buying a 120GB SSD so I think that'll be enough for apps and osx

Thanks Clinton, that video and information are great. Do you happen to know if Apple takes the position that replacement of their RAM with compatibles like Corsair, Crucial and OWC void Apple's warranty and extended protection plans?

memory and HD are yser-upgradeable parts and changing them will NOT woid the warranty (exept mechanical problems)

I installed the Samsung 840 drive to replace the HDD that came with my MacBook. I have been using it for a week. I installed the trim enabler after extensive web search. Note that the SSD comes with autogarbage collector program but message from Samsung clearly states that even if there is an autogarbage collector, definitely use the trim support for long-term speed of the SSD.

The drive really changed the way my Mac operates. Boot time decreased from 1 min 40 sec to 38 secs. Aperture and aperture libraries open much faster. Actually all apps ofter faster but I noticed the most dramatic difference with Aperture.

There is no hard drive related sounds, etc. The computer has become super quiet. In addition, the fans don't work now. So it is really quiet. So quiet that sometimes I hear the basal high-pitched noise coming from the motherboard. I only notice iti at night when it is very very quiet.

I am very happy with this upgrade. Glad I did the switch. Use the right screwdriver and installation instructions. Swap took less than 10 mins. I installed from a USB installation drive which I had prepared earlier on. Installed Mountain lion from scratch and then used time machine to restore my info to the new drive.

I can't recommend this upgrade strongly enough!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NB8WTI

Question.. not really on exactly the "who" part of the OP's subject., but I am searching, and it appears there are some of the brightest reports on here.. I have a macbookpro, 15" early 2008. It's got the core 2 dou, 6GB ram.

still does ok. seems like It gets slower. I imagine all junked up! Was thinking about a new SSD in here maybe a big un. Yet I still will have the old processor. What do ya think? Waste o money on this one? Just get a new one? I figure I could drop 5-600 in here and it should scream and storage would be at LEAST as high as I now have, compared to 3-4 grand on a new one. Opinions ARE apreciated! dan

Your HDD is the slowest part of your Mac, an SSD will make a large improvement.

I procured this Samsung SDD after doing a lot of research on SSD and the current state of the market. I primarily wanted an SSD to replace the physical drive my OS and Applications resided on my MBP. Reliability and longevity were the primary factors I was looking for as these are the only things that differentiate the market for memory. For this reason I decided to spend a bit more a good with a major name brand instead of the discount brands.

Setup was straight forward if you have ever opened up a PC case. Its important to verify that you have an open 2.5" bay or you are procuring a drive that has an adapter bracket to fit one of your open bay.

Samsung did provide some data migration software. It looked to be the easiest way to go if you were not comfortable doing a clean install. I did not use it but did install to view its contents.

Overall I've been very satisfied with the increased performance in boot time and application run-times. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to upgrade their PC components.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NB8WTI