Upgrading SSD in Macbook Pro (Mid-2012) running Yosemite OS X 10.10.3

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Upgrading SSD in Macbook Pro (Mid-2012) running Yosemite OS X 10.10.3

Hi Folks

Please help me understand how I can simply, in the easiest way possible, upgrade a Crucial SSD 250 GB in my Macbook Pro (15-inch, Mid-2012) with 2.3 Ghz i7 processor running Yosemite OS X 10.10.3.

I have seen good number of posts at several places on line including the links posted by experts in the Apple community as well, however, none of them seem to incorporate Yosemite in their tutorial. I have pasted few links which i found most useful and simplified:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4741

(My personal favorite, very simply explained and comprehensible)

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/upgrade-your-macbook-install-ssd-hard-drive/

Could somebody please help me do this maintenance on my MBP whilst i run Yosemite on my system? I would like to keep the old data as is and then transfer this data from old HDD to the new SSD after doing a clean install of OS X on SSD. I currently have everything required to hand viz. MBP, Crucial SSD along with the spacing (Brand new, unboxed), Screwdriver set (both the types required for this maintenance), External hard drive casing (USB 3.0), a Transcend USB thumb drive 8GB (unformatted, if so required) and of course working internet.

I would really appreciate a simplified tutorial and if at all, please also share your advice on using or not using TRIM on this SSD to ensure efficient and speedy performance for a longer duration.

Cheers!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), 2.3 GHz i7 Processor, 4GB Ram, 15"

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 12:43 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 10, 2015 4:29 AM in response to MohakiPhone

Install the SSD into the enclosure and connect it to the MBP via USB.

Boot the MBP and open Disk Utility>Erase. Format the external SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

Open Disk Utility>Restore. The internal HHD will be the SOURCE and the SSD will be the DESTINATION.

Click on ERASE and this will copy all of the information to the SSD from the HDD. This may take a couple of hours depending upon the amount of data involved.

When finished, restart the MBP via startup manager and select the SSD:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204417

If it boots the MBP, perform the physical swap.

Crucial says that TRIM is not necessary and you can rely on Garbage Collection. Set in System Preferences>Energy saver to NEVER put the hard drive to sleep when possible. If you do want to use trim, update the OSX to 10.10.4 first.

You will not need the spacer.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

MohakiPhone Author

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Jul 10, 2015 11:59 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thank you OGELTHORPE.

Appreciate the way you have simplified the process. A couple of simple questions:

1) I honestly would like to do a clean install of the OS X Yosemite and then manually transfer data from my HDD to SSD, once the SSD is properly installed in the MBP. I just downloaded the OS X 10.10.4 from App store.

2) Are you sure that I don't need the spacer because i ordered my SSD thru Crucial UK website after running a compatibility test in the package i have an SSD and a spacer.

3) For Trim, do you mean if the OS X 10.10.4 is installed on my SSD the Trim application would start working? Because I already have OS X 10.10.4 installed on my system.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 10, 2015 12:24 PM in response to MohakiPhone

MohakiPhone wrote:

1) I honestly would like to do a clean install of the OS X Yosemite and then manually transfer data from my HDD to SSD, once the SSD is properly installed in the MBP. I just downloaded the OS X 10.10.4 from App store.

You still will have to format the SSD in Disk Utility>Erase. After that, download Yosemite and chose the SSD as the installation destination. Then test the SSD if it can boot the MBP and swap it in the MBP if it does. Then install the user data from the original HDD (drag and drop will work).

2) Are you sure that I don't need the spacer because i ordered my SSD thru Crucial UK website after running a compatibility test in the package i have an SSD and a spacer.

I have installed three Crucial SSDs in my MBPs and I have the spacers in a separate box. You will note that the Torx screw fastener holes are slightly offset in the body of the SSD. They will mount just fine in the MBP without the spacer.

3) For Trim, do you mean if the OS X 10.10.4 is installed on my SSD the Trim application would start working? Because I already have OS X 10.10.4 installed on my system.

In my discussions with Crucial technical support, they told me that Garbage Collection was all that was necessary with their SSDs. With Yosemite 10.10.4, problems with TRIM appears to have been resolved so that if you want to install same and use it, it can be done. Whether it is worth doing or not, I do not know.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

MohakiPhone Author

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Jul 15, 2015 1:46 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thank you Ogelthorpe.

I recently managed to install Yosemite onto SSD and finally physically installed it internally too. A couple of quick questions:

1) I downloaded Black Magic tool to test the performance of the SSD, however, it is giving me lower speeds than what Crucial claims for the same model SSD on their website. Any idea what could be the reason and how i can fix it? Any other suggestion for Speed testing apps?

2) Can i now connect my HDD in external casing through USB with my MBP and boot from it and then Erase the internal SSD and install Yosemite once again? It somehow pushes me to believe that clean-installing Yosemite after erasing the SSD (while its internally connected) and then installing OS through Bootable Yosemite USB thumb drive, might provide me full performance of my SSD.

3) The bootup time is now 24 secs for my MBP after installing SSD. Do you believe this to be normal as I have noticed people claiming 15 secs boot up time on the internet.

4) Can i go ahead and install Trim in Yosemite OS X 10.10.4 and will it work absolutely fine without having to turn Kex signing off? Again, in an attempt to boost the performance of the SSD.

Regards

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 15, 2015 2:40 AM in response to MohakiPhone

MohakiPhone wrote:

1) I downloaded Black Magic tool to test the performance of the SSD, however, it is giving me lower speeds than what Crucial claims for the same model SSD on their website. Any idea what could be the reason and how i can fix it? Any other suggestion for Speed testing apps?

I do not know and I am not aware of any other applications than Black Magic.

2) Can i now connect my HDD in external casing through USB with my MBP and boot from it and then Erase the internal SSD and install Yosemite once again? It somehow pushes me to believe that clean-installing Yosemite after erasing the SSD (while its internally connected) and then installing OS through Bootable Yosemite USB thumb drive, might provide me full performance of my SSD.

Yes, that configuration will work, but reinstalling Yosemite using that procedure will offer no additional benefits.

3) The bootup time is now 24 secs for my MBP after installing SSD. Do you believe this to be normal as I have noticed people claiming 15 secs boot up time on the internet.

That is hard to say. On my 2011 MBPs I do get ~14 second boot times. There may be reasons for the difference such as the number and types of applications are being opened at startup.

4) Can i go ahead and install Trim in Yosemite OS X 10.10.4 and will it work absolutely fine without having to turn Kex signing off? Again, in an attempt to boost the performance of the SSD.

I would hold off on TRIM for now (I do not use iTRIM). First contact Crucial and get their thoughts on the matter. I was advised by them that Garbage Collection was sufficient and I do have unchecked 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible' in System Preferences>Energy Saver. Also determine if you have the latest firmware for your model.

What you might try is install Yosemite and NO user data and then test the performance. The objective is to eliminate user data having any influence on performance.

Ciao.

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Answer 6

MohakiPhone Author

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Jul 15, 2015 8:36 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yeah, I just randomly found that BlackMagic was one of the tools to test the SSD performance/speed. What application do you use to test the speed of SSD?

Honestly, my MBP is clean at the moment, I have not even transferred my data from old HDD so I dont think the startup is slow because of application being opened at startup.

I noticed that 'put the hard disks to sleep' was currently checked on my MBP, which i just unchecked. Hoping this should make a difference in the performance. And I am def going to try and install Yosemite again, like a fresh clean install using the HDD as an external booting device.

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Answer 7

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 15, 2015 10:14 AM in response to MohakiPhone

MohakiPhone wrote:

Yeah, I just randomly found that BlackMagic was one of the tools to test the SSD performance/speed. What application do you use to test the speed of SSD?

I use that as well but I pay little attention to it. I find the general performance to my liking and I am not very interested to get the maximum MB/s possible.

I noticed that 'put the hard disks to sleep' was currently checked on my MBP, which i just unchecked.

What that does is facilitate Garbage Collection which indirectly aids performance. You will not see any quantum jump in performance because of that.

Ciao.

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Answer 8

MohakiPhone Author

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Jul 16, 2015 12:49 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Cheers Ogelthorpe.

I am honestly not happy with the bootup time considering I spent a huge amount on the SSD. Rest of the performance of my system as well seems good, but you know your expectations rise very high after hearing/seeing other people's experiences.

Could you advise how can i check the firmware update for the SSD and update to the latest firmware, as you mentioned previously?

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Answer 9

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 16, 2015 2:50 AM in response to MohakiPhone

MohakiPhone wrote:

Could you advise how can i check the firmware update for the SSD and update to the latest firmware, as you mentioned previously?

The Crucial web site has that information. Check the model No. of the SSD and see what the latest firmware no. is. Then open System Information>Serial-ATA and check 'Revision', If the numbers are the same, nothing has to be done. If they are different, then you should install the latest firmware:

Ciao.

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