Apple: SSD questions

I plan on using my new MBP with 256 GB SSD for 6+ years, preferably without replacing the drive. I also plan to install Windows on a partition. First: Is 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)? If not, how do I enable TRIM? Also, I heard that when it goes to sleep, by default the computer saves everything in RAM to disk, and that you can disable this. Is it recommended to disable this feature? I also heard that turning off sudden motion sensor and hard drive sleep is recommended; should I do either? Finally, I am getting 8 GB of RAM and I doubt I will need more than 5 GB; 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? (I am not very computer-savvy so a detailed walkthrough would be helpful). And assuming I do make a RAM disk, can I ever delete it and make the RAM just go back to being normal RAM, if I want to, and will the RAM disk also work when I am using windows (bootcamp, not VM) or will I have to make one for each OS? And how long can I expect my SSD to last?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jul 3, 2012 8:01 PM

21 replies

Shootist007

Level 6

16,709 points

Jul 3, 2012 10:54 PM in response to ns180

It does not matter how much it costs or what make or model it is. Just read these forums, or any computer forums, and you will see that Apple, Dell, HP, whatever and whoever computers die daily.

BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Zion cars fail every day. Doesn't matter what they cost at some point they will stop working.

Caveat Emptor. You put your money down and you take your chances.

There is a reason Apple only gives a one year warranty and only sells a warranty for 2 more years of coverage.

Jul 3, 2012 10:57 PM in response to ns180

I don't know of any MTBF tests that have realistically given a life-span with SSDs. I have had (and still have one) HD that has lasted 7 years (an external LaCie) but the high-average lifespan on an HD is about 5 years. I would expect, at least, the same of SSDs.

I did find the website you spoke of http://www.ssd-life.com/ - it's a Windows file so I might try it under Parallels when I'm plugged back up to mains.

If you're only going to be using Windows for a few things, you might want to look at Parallels Desktop or VMFusion: Virtual Machines that will support just about any OS you throw at them.

My 6 1/2 year MBP is still going strong in a remote corner of MN. So they can last more than 3-5 years. I just needed a new machine to run the latest OSs and software.

Good luck,

Clinton

Jul 3, 2012 11:04 PM in response to ns180

Here is an article that talks about a little utility for creating a RAM disk without having to mess with Terminal.

I'm assuming that, as you can set a scratch disk up for Photoshop, other apps that rely heavily on cache files, could use it as well.

However, with an SSD, I don't see the point.

Clinton

ns180 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 3, 2012 11:32 PM in response to ns180

Well, I've done more research and I think the jury seems to be still out on this issue. Some people are saying to expect an SSD to live for as little as 1 year, while others say it could last for 51 years. I'm going to remain optimistic and cross my fingers that mine lasts over 5 years at least, but back up consistently (I only really need to back up my work documents - which there aren't too many of, so I could zip them up and store them in dropbox or similar - and downloaded paid games, and perhaps store my browser bookmarks in text format; my music is already in an external hard drive). When it does fail, hopefully there will be a newer, better, and cheaper SSD by then and I'll deal with that when the time comes. I think whoever gets only 1-2 years of use is either unlucky - which could of course happen to anyone - using a lower-end SSD than the one Apple currently has in its Macbooks, or using some programs that do a serious amount of writing to disk and not doing anything to mitigate that, which I will not be doing either of.

Jul 4, 2012 7:37 AM in response to ns180

You are way over thinking this whole thing.

Forget about the RAM disk and use the SSD as anyone else would. If it dies within 3 years, then it will be replaced via AppleCare. If it fails after that, then just buy a new one at which times prices will be much lower and you'll get more for your money.

ns180 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 4, 2012 2:20 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Oh yes I forgot about AppleCare covering it. Good thing I got coverage.

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Apple: SSD questions