What is largest SSD I can install in 15" mid-2009 MacBook Pro?

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Level 1

89 points

What is largest SSD I can install in 15" mid-2009 MacBook Pro?

I'm confused.

I spoke with our local APPLE-authorized store the a couple weeks ago about installing an SSD in my sluggish mid-2009 15" Macbook Pro (2.53Ghz, 8GB Ram and currently running El Capital 10.11.6 and 630GB HD). "No problem," he says, and we talk about also getting a new battery (it's dead), so I'm excited about getting everything "under the hood" for around $600 or so (including the swap out, backups, etc).

The current 630GB HD only has about 215GB used, and we use it for travel, emails, word, that that sort of thing, so I'm thinking "320" or "500" would be fine.

So, two days ago, I call the same store to get started with this process and a different tech tells me the largest SSD I can put in the laptop is 256GB SSD because "the mid-2009 isn't designed to take a larger SSD."

I watch a CNET demo that shows a woman installing a 500gb into her 2009 15" ...

So, naturally, I'm confused. I would like more than 256GB, but can be 320 or 500 ... so what gives? Was he trying to sell me a new computer? Or was he misinformed? Or is it they only carry that size? (meaning PHYSICAL size 9.5mm vs. GB size.)

If I can't do this, I have to do a MacMini and an ipad because the budget is the thing. And I don't care whether I can run on Sierra. El Capitan is fine if I can get a few more years out of this laptop. So, any help?

MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.53 GHz), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 5, 2017 8:39 AM

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Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,192 points

Aug 5, 2017 9:53 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Hi,

As Macsales/OWC shows, you can put any size (currently 2GBs is available in a 2.5" SATA SSD) in your Mac: OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For MacBook Pro (2008 - 2009) They guarantee it is 100% compatible. Contact their excellent tech support as needed.

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Answer 2

Rysz

Level 8

44,455 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:50 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Not to pour cold water on your plans, but... Personally, I would think twice about making such a major investment in an eight year old computer. Also, with your usage, the only things that will truly benefit from an SSD will be reduced startup and app launch times.

If you're experiencing "sluggishness" in using web and email, it might be due to other factors, such as a slow internet or network. Could also be malware. Download and run these two utilities and see if they find anything.

Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes for Mac

https://etrecheck.com/

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Answer 3

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:43 AM in response to Rysz

I would never download Malwarebytes to my computer. In fact, since posting this question I've had 48 new spam messages to my email. I had the free trial once before and talk about slowing to a crawl :-)

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Answer 4

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:45 AM in response to Rysz

Same internet I'm using. Actually closer to the router, about 20 feet away. Connection very fast. Computer takes about 3 mins to load, takes about 2 mins to launch a word doc, pauses about 60 seconds to open anything. Not spinning, just takes a long time ... like the "olden days" when you had the setting for Finder and spring loading.

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Answer 5

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:48 AM in response to Csound1

Not really talking about safe (though I did see an uptick on spam today and of course it doesn't have anything to do with that software ... I just get tired of throwing money at everything that is awesome and super and marvelously awesome and I still get three calls a week for a $275000 business loan from some spammer :-)

But, all kidding aside, I did use it once during the trial and it made everything extremely slow; I may do it again, just on that MacBookPro to see if it can find anything. It could be the Ad Block Plus, Ghostery and maybe even SOPHOS is still on it.

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Answer 6

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:51 AM in response to Rysz

Not a major investment. Under $500 for a new battery, the SSD, the transfer of information from the old HD to the new, warrantied. From what I understand, this will be faster than a MacMini low end at $500, plus I would need to purchase another iPAD (this is so two people can travel and use one device).

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Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:52 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Malwarebytes can not "make everything slow" once it has finished scanning it removes itself from memory, Something else is causing the problem. Sophos is the most likely culprit of the ones you mentioned.

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Answer 8

Rysz

Level 8

44,455 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:59 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Malwarebytes for Mac is free. The paid versions are for businesses. It also doesn't slow anything down, as it only works when you lpunch it and start a scan. Unlike useless anti-virus apps, Malwarebytes doesn't run in the background and doesn't remove files that will mess up your computer.

Your choice...

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Answer 9

Aug 6, 2017 11:36 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Technically, the largest drive you can install in any Mac is currently limited by HFS+ to about 8 Exabytes (8 million Terabytes). There are no drives that large at this writing.

Anyone who suggests that you are somehow limited to a certain mundane size is basing this on 'what Apple sells' not on technical limits of what your Mac can actually support.

At this writing, every 2.5-in form factor SATA SSD drive readily available for sale will fit inside a MacBook Pro that accepts 2.5-in form factor drives This includes drive up to about 2TB, but if a larger one is released tomorrow, it is extremely likely to fit as well. (Later models do not use this form factor, and current models do not have ANY User expansion capability).

Drives of 256GB and 512GB or larger take advantage of multiple storage arrays inside, so they provide the best practical, usable speeds at the lowest costs. There is no technical need to go higher than 512GB in a drive bay (whose speed is limited by SATA speeds) unless you expect a real need for more storage.

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Answer 10

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:50 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Nonsense, the largest you can fit is the largest that will fit (currently around 2TB I think)

Whoever told you 256GB needs a refresher course.

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Answer 11

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:41 AM in response to Csound1

Thanks. I should print these out but then you never know what type (A or B) personality you're dealing with when they are offered "facts." :-)

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Answer 12

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:43 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Well, now you will know when to ignore the 'facts' 🙂

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Answer 13

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:45 AM in response to TuckerdogAVL

Malwarebytes is a well respected utility. written by one of the contributors here. It is both useful and completely safe (assuming you download from the vendor, nowhere else)

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Answer 14

TuckerdogAVL Author

Level 1

89 points

Aug 6, 2017 10:50 AM in response to Csound1

Not ignoring the "facts." The tech is.

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