I'm looking at a couple SSD's for a MacPro, any thoughts on which are OK with updating firmware on a Mac? Probably better to ask now before I need to..
Crucial M500 or Samsung 840 Pro? I'm assuming that OWC's offerings are probably the best for Mac compatiblity, any others?
thanks in advance.
OWC's Updater creates a bootable ISOLinux-on-a-CD with the firmware ready to install after booting from the CD to ISOLinux.
Kingston is similar, but they are not clever enough to put it all together with a bootable CD.
I dunno what anybody else does.
Thanks, I was under impression that OWC ran a native Mac update. I think... but not sure that the CD route is the same for the Crucial and Samsung. I wonder if they use a similar updater.
after doing a little searching it appears that Crucial and Samsung use a bootable DOS cd to update their firmware. Samsung seems to do a little better job with documentation than does Crucial:
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads.html
The latest Crucial SSD M500 don't seem to have any firmware updates yet. So the only info that I could find was for older M4 SSDs.
There are o updates for Sammy and Apple uses their devices. Use TRIM Enaber with it
Looks like Apple might be moving away from Samsung in this area too:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6727/apple-is-using-sandisk-ssds-in-retina-macbook -pro-as-well
Sandisk have Mac ISO's available, not sure if it's linux or DOS boot.
The current PCIe SSD in the MacBook Air 2013 are Samsung and Apple has used them, maybe they cut a deal, but Samsung work great - I have three.
That info is not the most current. Look for the reviews of the Air and new Samsung 840 / 840 Pro.
And you do not need to worry or be concerned with firmware. They have not needed to since engineering and pre-production prototypes (sometimes sent out for reviewers last October).
thanks.
I just noticed that the older Sandisk needed a special firmware for MBP to be Sata II compatible. Have you heard of any problems with other SSD's and Mac Pro 2010 (not MBP) Sata issues?
I could go with the OWC 3G version but I would wonder if these are older designs?
thanks again,
stick with 6G the $120GB Samsung 840 was the best $95 I spent - on disks, on SSDs (have 5 others) or on my Mac Pro. And I now have Samsungs in my PC.
If you read and look around any new Mac has trouble. If you look back at 2011 Apple had a lot of trouble with SATA III and MBP and SSDs. This forum is about Mac Pro not those.
Yes, Crucial was still shipping old firmware.
We've been seeing and using SSDs since summer 2008.
I won't touch a 3G. Plus you may want to use Sonnet Tempo SSD card, if not today then tomorrow.
sorry to bother you again, I really appreciate the help.
Do you have a preference between the Samsung 840 and the 840 Pro?
I need to put 2 SSDs into a MacPro 2010, one for a scratch disk (probably 250GB) and another for working files (no apps and files offloaded to spinning HD's when after they are not longer current projects), this will likely be a 500GB SSD.
It seems that the 840 would suite my needs since I am limited to the SATA II throughput.
840's or 840's pro?
thanks
j
Firstly there is a near identical question about setup of just days ago that hopefully you found and looked at in your research.
System on SSD / scratch for CS6 / projects
Lloyd's blog is full of tips: http://www.macperformanceguide.com
Start with what SSD (single) then get into multiple and setup and apps and how they are used, which really might be first thing to ask?
The Pro uses highest quality but both have much of the same controller and firmware - and it was just reviewed as to what the diference is. Find and read that.
Rick over on MacGurus setup an old working model for PS: a scratch disk + working project files is the fastest - was done with SCSI and then the first 10K SATA Raptor. Probably still holds true.
No you are not limited - I strongly suggest you set it up on Sonnet Tempo Pro RAID card and then use one 250GB 840 to start with, then add 2nd. Use one of the PCIe slots for your SSD(s). Maybe start with a 500GB.
Maybe use JBOD to combine two but not in RAID0.
The system can go on SATA II drive bay or optical bay.
Is there a one size fits all or to say this is the only way? of course not, you can though test and try and work with your budget, your Mac and move SSD to where it does the most good.
Samsung starts mass producing PCIe SSDs with 1400MB/s read speeds
When the new MacBook Air got the teardown treatment... a new SSD.
The new drive is known as the XP941 and Samsung will offer it in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations. It achieves read speeds of 1,400MB/s, which clocks it at 2.5x faster than a SATA SSD. It also only weighs 6 grams and measures 80 x 22mm. Samsung claims it only takes up a 7th of the space occupied by a typical 2.5-inch SSD.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5012276
Samsung 840 Pro and Samsung 840 Solid State Drives Reviewhttp://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/storage/display/samsung-840-pro.html [06/07/13 | Storage ]
Samsung currently offers very interesting solid state drives. Some boast outstanding performance, others – are built with inexpensive TLC NAND and come with a very appealing price tag. And our tests prove all of this: we are ready to discuss what we saw when we got our hands on a Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB and Samsung 840 250 GB drives.
From last September, StorageReview article 840 vs 840 Pro - they were my favorite review site for storage for years.
http://www.storagereview.com/samsung_ssd_840_pro_review
Second only to TechReport
http://techreport.com/review/23990/samsung-840-pro-series-ssd-reviewed
X-bitlabs is also one of my popular stops and they look at Sandisk
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/storage/display/sandisk-ultra-plus.html
I am sold on Samsung though and feel the 840 will do fine for me, but I would use $$ to get Sonnet Tempo SSD or Pro from OWC.
I am sold on Samsung though and feel the 840 will do fine for me, but I would use $$ to get Sonnet Tempo SSD or Pro from OWC.
NICE! I wasn't considering the Tempo SSD, didn't actually know about it. thanks!
.... and somehow I left out a link to it, I tend to overwhelm or the links get lost, but they are very much useful for performance and to free up your drive bays. And it is bootable in 4,1 2009.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technologies/TSATA6SSDE/
Look for the Pro model, that is the lower end, save some, whether you will be needing RAID or not or the higher performance... or whether cost is critcal factor.
Ok I'm confused...
If the Pro version does RAID and the non-Pro doesn't, then why is the performance better for 2 drives in the non-pro compared to 1 drive in the same non-pro version? It looks like the non-pro has only one controller.
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/tempossdpro.html
any thoughts?
It looks like the non-pro has only one controller.
Bingo!
Bingo!
But the specs for the non-pro single controller version with a single drive read is 450MB/s and with 2 drives in the same non-drive is 660 MB/s... .if it's not RAID, how are they getting a speed bump?
SSD's which are OK for updating firmware on a Mac?
