Apple: SSD questions

I plan on using my new MBP with 256 GB SSD for 6+ years

Good luck with that, as that's not likely to happen.

s TRIM automatically enabled if I purchased a SSD with my Macbook pro (E.g. it comes with the Apple SSD, it's not a 3rd party SSD)?

All SSDs are third parrty. Apple does not make their own.

If not, how do I enable TRIM?

Download and install Trim Enabler

I heard that when it goes to sleep, by default the computer saves everything in RAM to disk

You heard wrong. It writes the contents of the RAM into a SleepImage file.

Is it recommended to disable this feature?

Personal preference.

I also heard that turning off sudden motion sensor and hard drive sleep is recommended; should I do either?

Since you're not planning on using a hard drive, the SMS doesn't apply.

should I create a RAM disk for temporary/cache files to increase my SSD's longevity, how big should it be, and how would I do this?

Its your computer, your usage will be different than everyone else on the planet, so it's your call.

And how long can I expect my SSD to last?

Nobody can say.

(E.g. it comes with the Apple SSD, it's not a 3rd party SSD)?

It's a third party. Samsung - your model is SM256E for 256GB or SM512E for 512GB.

SM - Samsung.

TS - Toshiba

Not even estimate?

Here you go....

http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/14/make-a-ram-disk-easily-with-tmpdisk-for-mac-os-x/

"All SSDs are third parrty. Apple does not make their own." "Download and install Trim enabler"

I know that, but I meant that it would be Apple-Installed, because I heard that TRIM must be manually installed if you get your own SSD (aftermarket). However, I cannot find any information as to whether it is already installed if you get an SSD at the time of purchase.

On the 'older' Apple SSD/flash drive, TRIM was enabled from the factory. You shouldn't need to use TRIM Enabler. Just check when you get it - and don't use Trim Enabler if TRIM support is already on (which I suspect it will be).

Clinton

Hey Clinton - Did you get the pictures?

Got em - I've already selected a few to print - I'll reply via email and let you see my faves. Just beautiful...

Clinton

Just go to "About This Mac" under the Apple menu, select "More Info" and then "System Report." Under System Report>Hardware, you'll see an item named "Serial ATA". Your SSD info will be listed here, e.g.;

M4-CT512M4SSD2:

Capacity: 512.11 GB (512,110,190,592 bytes)

Model: M4-CT512M4SSD2

Revision: 309

Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Native Command Queuing: Yes

Queue Depth: 32

Removable Media: No

Detachable Drive: No

BSD Name: disk0

Medium Type: Solid State

TRIM Support: Yes

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified

If it's enabled, there's nothing left to do. If it isn't an Apple supplied drive (you can see that mine is a Crucial m4 series) just use TRIM Enabler. But I'm 99% certain that all Apple SSD/flash drives come with TRIM support enabled.

Clinton

TRIM is automatically enabled when there is a Apple branded SSD, sold, installed and marked as coming from Apple, installed in an Apple computer.

Good Luck on that 6 year plan. I have never made it more then 3-4 years with my primary system which are desktops. Not that they wear out but technology changes so much in those 3-4 years that I feel compelled to build a new system. My notebooks are my secondary systems and have made them last upwards of 10+ years. But in that time I have upgrade most parts in them and had to change some parts that are not really user accessable.

Mind you this is with Windows notebook computers, Dells, and getting parts for them is very easy. Mac's are more a closed system and harder to find parts for and are more expensive even if you do find parts.

I am still use a Dell Inspiron 8200 that I bought in 2002. Still runs like the day I bought it. Ran a Dell Latitude C610 for about 9+ years until I gave it away but I think the person I gave it to is still using it. That is not to say all Dells last that long or that any notebook will.

RAM disk. Don't bother, Not needed, Waist of RAM with SSD installed.

You can expect any SSD to last until it fails, just like anything else it could be 1 day to 1 year to 10+ years.

At this time SSD have not been around that long so there is no way of telling how long any of them will last. Even if there are reports of them lasting 3-4-5-6 years that does not mean the one you have in your computer will last the same amount of time, it may last longer or die the day after you get the computer.

If you are going to use Windows for most of your work on a computer why not just buy a Windows notebook computer. You will get a lot more for your money and it will be easier to upgrade it in the future. Just sayin.

Yes, the cache is independent of the hard drive - it's bulit into the CPU or GPU. I wouldn't create a RAM disk if you have an SSD for any reason. Photoshop CS6 clears the cache once you've quit and the history files created are quite fast on an SSD.

Clinton