Advice on 512 SSD for mid-2010 MBP

Question

Advice on 512 SSD for mid-2010 MBP

I have an i7, mid-2010 MBP with self-upgraded 8GB and I'd like to replace the HD with an SSD. I think now prices have come down enough for me to afford this and I would like advice on doing this, please. I am running Mavericks but will upgrade to Yosemite well before doing the swap. I've read that some firmware needs to be updated/patched before replacing an MBP's HD with an SSD and that Mavericks might have trouble with them. I do not understand the details, I'm afraid. I have found a couple of SSDs on eBuyer and would like advice on the right drive:

http://www.ebuyer.com/629703-crucial-m550-512gb-2-5inch-sataiii-ssd-ct512m550ssd 1

http://www.ebuyer.com/644025-crucial-mx100-512gb-sata-6gbps-2-5inch-7mm-with-9-5 mm-adapter-ssd-ct512mx100ssd1

TL;DR: Is there anything I need to know before I go ahead and order an equivalent SSD to replace my MBP's HD and are there any gotcha's I should know about regarding firmware/drivers etc?

Thanks,

Matt

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Dec 5, 2014 6:01 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 5, 2014 6:06 AM in response to matthewfromnew malden

I love Crucial SSDs - I've four now. If I were you, I would go for the M550 512GB. It's the latest Crucial technology and a bit faster than the MX100 series. Flashing new firmware is pretty straight-forward, although you usually need access to an optical drive to burn a disc to boot from.

See my one and only user tip -> Upgrading Your MacBook Pro with a Solid State Drive.

Good luck,

Clinton

MacBook Pro (15” Late 2011), OS X Yosemite 10.10.1, 16GB Crucial RAM, 960GB M500 Crucial SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

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Answer 2

Dec 5, 2014 6:15 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

Thank you very much, that's amazingly helpful 🙂

Could you clarify if I need to be concerned about the firmware and Yosemite, please? I can't remember where I read it now, but I'm sure I've read that there are issues with using SSDs with Yosemite.

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Answer 3

Dec 5, 2014 6:26 AM in response to matthewfromnew malden

I use crucial memory for my RAM and hard drive upgrades/replacements. Download their system scanner and run it. The scanner will pull up available RAM kits and hard drive upgrades. They're pretty cheap but pretty reliable. I haven't had any issues with any of their products.

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Answer 4

Dec 5, 2014 7:40 AM in response to matthewfromnew malden

I would guess that the issue with Yosemite and third party SSD drives that you heard about is the following: One can no longer turn on trim support for third party SSD drives in Yosemite because of a new security measure Apple put in place in Yosemite called kext signing. There are ways around this, which basically involve undoing the new Apple security measure and re-applying trim support. I would forgo trim support in Yosemite and leave the security measures in place, the SSD will still be killer faster than any spinning hard disk. Others my make different trade offs.

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Answer 5

Dec 5, 2014 8:18 AM in response to rumpledoll

Thank you - you're right, that's what I'd read about. This sort of issue is the first time I've heard about TRIM or anything like it; I'm much more a software person.

Are there any links that you would recommend reading prior to taking on this project?

I have also thought about putting in a 1024 GB SSD rather than the 512 - is this advisable or would old MBPs not support it?

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Answer 6

Dec 8, 2014 12:52 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

So, I've been looking about and I think I'm going to save a bit longer and go for a ~1TB SSD. I've got my eye on these:

http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/macbook-pro-%2815-inch%2C-mid-2010%29/CT4782943

http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/macbook-pro-%2815-inch%2C-mid-2010%29/CT3873957

Would you recommend for/against either of those?

Thanks for all your help,

Matt

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Answer 7

Dec 8, 2014 1:01 AM in response to matthewfromnew malden

Matthew-

I have the 960GB M500 and have had no problems with it whatsoever. I do wish, though, that I had waited for the 1TB M550: it uses a newer technology that makes it a wee bit faster (plus you get those other 65GB).

Either of the M500 or the M550 would suit your needs.

Good luck,

Clinton

MacBook Pro (15” Late 2011), OS X Yosemite 10.10.1, 16GB Crucial RAM, 960GB M500 Crucial SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

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