Q: PCIe-SSD for New Mac Pro 2013

HI wanted to upgrade the ssd on my macbook pro 2013 .. I m super confused with all the compatibility stuff . till before reading your post I thought t would be only possible to upgrade by removing the ssd from a same year model laptop . but seems like you have gotten this samsung ssd which is working .. you think its possible for it to work on a macbook pro 2013. want to upgrade from 256gb to 512gb or higher .. thanks

The original poster i.e. aa33002 has it appears an Apple Mac Pro 2013 model, this is a desktop computer not a laptop. It appears you have a MacBook Pro 2013 model laptop.

Note: There are two versions of MacBook Pro Retina 2013, an 'early' 2013, and a 'late' 2013.

As it happens both computers will use the same type of PCIe SSD, both also require an SSD with Apple's proprietary and unique connector. A standard Samsung SSD as used for example in a Windows PC would not fit in Apple's proprietary connector. Samsung do actually make SSDs for Apple but then they would have Apple's proprietary connector. You cannot buy this SSDs normally because they are made specifically for and shipped to Apple and not sold in shops.

There are two ways to get a replacement genuine Apple SSD either buy a secondhand one that someone else has removed from another Mac, these are sometimes listed on eBay for example, or there are now some third-party one that also have the special Apple connector.

Here is an example of a brand new SSD which has the correct connector. (Choose the one that matches your model MacBook Pro.)

Early - https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2012-2013

Late - https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2013-2014-201 5

Thank for your reply .  I have a late 2013 model .Are the Apple Macbook Pro 2015 PCIe 3.0 SSD's compatible with late 2013 laptops which have PCIe 2.0 . from what I understand I wouldnt get the same speeds as what you see in the 2015 models . but is it compatible at all to work on the same speeds as a 2013 model is capable of.

According to the second link for the MacBook Pro Retina late 2013, the same upgrade works in that as the 2015 model.

I have used a similar SSD in an old 2010 Mac Pro which is only PCIe 2.0 and I do get the full expected speed of around 1500MBps.

The speed limitation is more to do with the number of PCIe 'lanes' which is only four rather than 2.0 vs. 3.0.

You are certainly not going to find anything faster for your MacBook.

oh Awesome! so if were to use a PCIe 3.0 SSD pulled from a 2015 Macbook pro retina I would see faster speeds than the stock SSD in my 2013 late macbook pro even though it comes with/uses PCIe 2.0 .. Craaazzzy . Thanks for your replies . So the PCIe 2.0 specification vs PCIe 3.0 is got more to do with the ssd than the logicboard/interface of the laptop .. its all making sense now

now,you only need small adapter,then SAMSUNG MZ-JPU512T/0A2 SSD can work as MBA SSD.

What does "MBA SSD" mean?

With the adopter the Samsung SSD will work in a MacBook Air?

Where does one get the adaptor?

it mean SSD for 2013-2015 Macbook Air/PRO. You can read use manual first and you can buy it from here: http://eshop.sintech.cn/ngff-m2-pcie-ssd-card-as-2013-2014-2015-macbook-ssd-p-11 43.html