Author Topic: SSD for Macbook Pro (Read 2964 times)

dplank · « **on:** July 11, 2013, 01:30:26 PM »

Dear Sirs or Ms,

I have a late 2008 Macbook Pro whose drive I suspect is on it's last legs. I am wondering if the old hard drive can be replaced with a new SSD. I know the optical drive can be relaced a la OWC data doubler, but the hard drive is what I'm concerned with.

Thanks

gunug · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2013, 01:39:11 PM »

The guy who taught our Apple Certification class last summer had an Macbook Pro that he had done this in. I'm not sure what year his model was but I think it was older by a year or two than the one I have (summer 2012 model). I don't know if anyone here at TS has done this but I would think it should be possible!

Later I was poking around the iFixit website and found this page which talks about putting SSD's into late 2011 15" Macbook Pro:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac...lacement/7513/1

RNKIII · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2013, 02:27:48 PM »

You might contact OWC. I'm positive they could help you figure out if it is possible or not..

Bob K. rnkiii

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2013, 03:02:59 PM »

While it may be possible, is it worth the expense?

dplank · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:01:26 PM »

Thanks everyone for your comments.

To Xairbusdriver: That's a good question, but wouldn't a no-moving-parts drive be much more reliable than the standard hard drivea and thus prolong the life of a Macbook Pro?

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2013, 07:27:42 PM »

I'm not sure a new drive, of either kind, will make the rest of the machine last any longer. They are really not directly related.

If the mother board ( or the display or the CPU or... whatever) dies, it won't be because of the type of drive you have. I'm just playing 'devil's advocate.' SSDs are still quite expensive and I'm just suggesting you might put those funds toward a new (or newer) laptop. I just love to watch people second guess themselves!! I like company!!

rgray · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2013, 09:02:06 PM »

OWC does have SSD upgrades and advice starting here.

The hot ticket around these parts seems to be to replace the hard drive with a smallish and hence cheaper SSD big enough for the OS and main apps, etc and replace the optical drive with a honking big 7200rpm drive for all data, media files etc.... This is a recipe that works on almost any configuration of laptop (even on PCs).

You'll have to be the judge of whether your MacBook Pro is in good enough shape to be worthy of the investment although the particular model you quote seems to be pretty robust.

gunug · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2013, 10:00:09 PM »

SSD's have a lifespan just like all other electronic devices. Making allowances for that it's a trade off of speed for money that's worth it to some people!

rgray · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2013, 07:29:54 AM »

QUOTE(gunug @ Jul 11 2013, 11:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

SSD's have a lifespan just like all other electronic devices.

Indeed. The parameter is called "mean cycles before failure".

But I think the point is that a hard disk is not only an electronic device, more importantly it is a mechanical device not all that different from an old fashioned phonograph or stereo turntable. All things considered being equal, the electronic device will have a longer life than the mechanical - where the motor, the arms that carry the read/write heads are all subject to wear and failure independent of and in addition to the electronic components - in particular, in the case of laptop computers, gravitational shocks.

dplank · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2013, 10:43:10 AM »

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts. I guess I'll have to rethink the SSD thing.

Another thought on this same topic. Which is more likely to fail: mother board or hard drive?

rgray · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:34:32 AM »

QUOTE(dplank @ Jul 12 2013, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts. I guess I'll have to rethink the SSD thing.

Another thought on this same topic. Which is more likely to fail: mother board or hard drive?

The hard drive. No question about it.

gunug · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:56:11 AM »

I work for a school district and we retire computers after 5 years. Our iMacs seem to have had about 5% failure rate at that point, MacBooks closer to 10% but the kids, especially those in jail, are kind of harder on them! Unless they've been dropped the laptop drives don't fail all that much!

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2013, 04:33:07 PM »

I agree with the plan rgray described. The extreme speed difference of SSDs makes the start up process (for the OS and/or an app) well worth the extra cost for many people. This method works because the SSD is mainly used for nothing but reading; it is accessed to install the OS/app as opposed to writing data to it. SSDs have two basic types and you may not even know which you are getting when you buy; try to find out Single Layer Cell (SLC) types are longer lasting than Multi-Layer Cell (MLC) types. Worse, as new devices come out with higher and higher GB sizes, their lifetimes are actually getting shorter; to increase the GBs, the usual method is to make smaller cells, smaller cells means more problems in maintaining the state of the bits, voltage leakage, etc. Mind you, your SSD will no doubt outlast your laptop! And it will probably outlast the new HD you're thinking about installing in place of the optical drive. But SSDs should be used for reading as opposed to writing to make them last as long as possible.

Here are a few links for your enjoyment:
<SSD Myths and Legends, Storage Research.com>
<SSD vs HDD - life span, Tom's Hardware.com> Many additional links in this forum
<How Much I Write to Disk Per Day, interesting and comforting info and a link to the next site/source>
<Samsung SSD 840 (250GB) Review>

dplank · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2013, 08:52:07 PM »

Thanks again guys.

You've just made my decision even more complicated, although I may just go with a new hard drive.

rgray · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2013, 09:04:56 PM »

QUOTE(dplank @ Jul 12 2013, 09:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks again guys.

You've just made my decision even more complicated, although I may just go with a new hard drive.

I know SSDs can give speed and I have helped with install and setup as I have a small Mac consultancy, but it is not clear to me the most efficient method of use. I tend to think as dplank that I would go with a big fast hard drive and keep the optical which I use quite a lot - my local library loans DVDs.....

I am interested in the Seagate hybrid drives which can now be had in 1T size.

News:

Author Topic: SSD for Macbook Pro (Read 2964 times)

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