Which SSD is best to put in the latest MacBookPro (non-retinal display) ?

Get the one from OWC.

In the end you'll end up with 2 drives. The one that came with your MBPro and the one from OWC.

Use one as a backup for just in case purposes.

For higher performance, go with the extreme. That's just $37 extra from the one Apple is selling you.

I have a Crucial m4 512GB SSD that I love. Check them out here. I've heard of no problems with either OWC or Crucial SSDs. The m4 512GB is about $400 - just a fraction more than what you'd pay for Apple's 256GB SSD.

Just my 2¢...

Clinton

Hey Clinton;

Need your input regarding the Dear Bimmer7series message. See if you can help the lady out...

Cheers..

Got it!

Clinton

Thank you sir.....Owe you one..

OWC also sells enclosures for those 'old' internal drives - I'm getting one but haven't settled on which, yet... the USB powered adapter or the USB/Firewire enclosure with power adapter (I have Firewire 800 drives out the wazoo... and another seems like the obvious choice, but it sure would be nice to tote a small enclosure with no power adapter).

OWC or Crucial - you can't go wrong with either.

Clinton

OK, I'll take a stab at this...

Which one gives the fastest transfer rate with the largest space and longest warranty.

It's my understanding that the Samsung 830 has the fastest transfer rate. The 'largest space' drives are the Samsung and Crucial (512GB vs 480GB for OWC). The OWC Mercury Extreme Pro's have a 5-year warranty while others have 3 year.

Are any of them going to have that "TRIM" problem ?

Probably not. My TRIM support is on - via TRIM Enabler, although the same thing can be accomplished manually.

Are both Crucial and OWC better than Apple's SSD ?

It's hard to say - rumor has it that Apple's using the Samsung 830. Some who have purchased a similar drive have had problems with it, some have it up and running. But the 512GB is almost $275 more expensive than the Crucial 512GB. The OWC Mercury Extreme is $730 - the most expensive of the lot. Is it worth it in 'real world' performance? Probably not.

Does 512GB transfer faster than the 200" GB ?

Haven't seen any specs. There shouldn't be any noticeable differences, I would think.

How is the battery drain by the SSD ? The same or less than the 5400 rpm platter drive ?

Less.

Does Apple use Intel 3G ? Are the other brands faster than Apple's ?

No, it's my understanding that Apple uses Samsung. Again, haven't seen 'genuine' Apple specs, but, as I said, I don't think that there would be any 'real world' performance issues.

I'm looking at a Firewire 800 enclosure from OWC - so I can daisy-chain my other FW800 drives. It, and the power adapter, are about $70, I think.

Couldn't answer all the questions, I know - there are some things that are just unknown at this time.

Clinton

Apple uses the Samsung 830 Series drive in the Retina Version. Part number: SM512SE.

For the other MB Pro and Macbook Air, they use Toshiba SSD. Part number starts with: TS.

Not that I'm saying Crucial or OWC is better, they're just one of the best options out there.

For the battery drain, the Samsung is the best when it comes to low power usage and high transfer rate. That's why they're rated the best.

In any event, have a look at this link. Then maybe you can decide.

For the Samsung:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6005/apples-new-ssd-its-fast

For the Toshiba:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6003/the-new-macbook-air-uses-toshibas-sata-6gbs-s sds

Hope that clears a few things for you.

Bimmer-

The OP was asking about the non-Retina MBP: do you know what SSDs they're using?

Curious, again,

Clinton

Toshiba. Is being used on the Air and non-retina MB P to my understanding. TS is prefix for the part number.

True - OP is asking for non-Retina. But he can buy the same SSD as what Apple uses on the Retina version which is the Samsung 830.

I believe that's Samsung.

Clinton