But most people will want to store much more than that on an internal drive save, perhaps, for large iTunes libraries and large photo/movie libraries. This is certainly the least expensive approach.
Now you may want to install a 120-128GB SSD and simply use it as a boot device and as a place to store your most frequently used applications.
It’s just my opinion, but the bigger the better. But you may still want to use the SSD in an enclosure or in another machine.īefore you purchase a SSD, there are a few questions that you need to ask:
Why? Because you may want to upgrade your Mac sometime in the future… although you'd likely be upgrading to a Retina model these days. Note that I only recommend using a SSD in 2009 and later MacBook Pros with a 3.0Gbps to 6.0Gbps interface speed – and I recommend buying a 6.0Gbps SSD regardless of the fact that models with a SATA II interface won’t be able to use the full-negotiated speed of 6.0Gbps. Many people come to the MacBook Pro forum asking about SSD upgrades, so this user tip is applicable to those, primarily, who have already made the decision to upgrade. If you’ve already upgraded your RAM and simply want more speed, you may want to consider upgrading your old hard drive with a SSD (Solid State Drive). There are, with most MacBook Pros (exclusive of the Retina display models) only two modifications that you can make without voiding your Apple warranty or AppleCare extended warranty – upgrading the RAM and upgrading the drive in the hard drive bay. The PCle SSDs are more expensive, especially the ones designed for Macbook Pro.(Note: while some portions of this user tip can be used when installing a new hard drive in your MacBook Pro, it is intended only for those upgrading to a SSD.) After all, you’re going to choose an SSD flash drive only because you want to increase the capacity of your Macbook Pro. There are transfer speed limits for flash drives, such as the 2.5’’ one, and the more the MB/s the more expensive it is.Ĭapacity is one of the most important factors to consider before you choose an SSD flash drive. The read and write speeds are very important factors as they will determine the tangible speed of your Macbook Pro. The connection type and form factor of the SSD flash drive determine the overall speed of the device. In older Macbook pros (before late 2012), the installation of 2.5 ‘’ SATA III is very easy you just have to change the hard drive for the SSD and your work is done.
The OWC Aura SSD flash drives need formatting too before installation.
You must also look for the compatibility of the drivers before installing the SSD drive.
If your Macbook Pro is equipped with an m.2 SSD type, follow the instructions of the manual provided with the SSD you’ve bought. It is always a good idea to follow the instructions of the device. To access the internal components of your machine, you’ll need special screwdrivers that could remove the plate. The installation of the SSD flash drive depends on the version of the Macbook Pro you own. Installation:Ĭhanging SSD or installing it is a daunting task and thus it is important that you do it only when you’re an expert and have some prior knowledge. Thus, it is imperative that you do some research and look for the requirements of the Macbook Pro according to its version. The Macbook Pros prior to 2014 are compatible with SATA III interface 2.4 inch SSDs. These devices are compatible with m.2 SSD that runs through PCle slot and not SATA. Macbook Pros (Retinas) starting from the version 2013 to the early 2016 are compatible with advanced and compact memory types. All of the versions of Macbook Pro are compatible with particular interfaces. Before you choose the best compatible SSD for your Macbook Pro, here are some factors you should consider: Macbook Pro version and SSD type:īefore choosing the type of SSD, you must first consider the version of Macbook Pro you have.