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    Macbook SSD question/upgrade

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by WhiteFireDragon, May 1, 2012.

  1. WhiteFireDragon

    WhiteFireDragon Notebook Evangelist

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    I was trying to look for info on the SSD's that either came with the MBP or MBA, but couldn't find any info on them other than "128gb" or "256gb". Does anyone know what the OEM is? Is it SATA2 or SATA3 speeds? And I'm assuming MBP uses a standard 2.5" form factor, while the MBA uses a mSATA port?
     
    WhiteFireDragon, May 1, 2012
    #1
  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The OEM Apple SSD in the MacBook Pro is a proprietary Toshiba unit. It's the only one that allows TRIM functionality in OS X without a hack. The drive's controller is the same as the now-discontinued Kingston SSDNow V+100, which itself uses a very aggressive idle-time garbage collection algorithm. It essentially renders TRIM unnecessary, at a cost of much higher power consumption when compared with similar SSDs. In any case, a MBP will be able to use any standard 2.5" SATA SSD. Sandy Bridge models can use SATA 3 drives to their full capacity, but the stock OEM Apple drive is SATA 2.

    The MBA has a proprietary SSD that's very difficult to upgrade. OWC is the only company I know of that makes aftermarket units with higher capacity.
     
    saturnotaku, May 2, 2012
    #2
  3. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    I upgraded my 2010 MacBook Air's SSD drive with one from OWC, and it was exceedingly easy. No more difficult than upgrading memory on a MacBook Pro.

    Maybe you are referring to the difficulty in getting Apple to upgrade it. :)
     
    SP Forsythe, May 2, 2012
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  4. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

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    Right. Upgrading the MBA is actually easier (though more expensive) than the MBP. Both require taking off the same series of screws on the bottom cover but after that, the MBA's SSD can be replaced by simply popping the old one out and sliding a new one in (similar to installing RAM). The MBP requires additional steps of unplugging a cable, taking out the assembly, putting a new SSD in, plugging everything back in (carefully), and putting the assembly back in.
     
    kornchild2002, May 2, 2012
    #4