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The MacBook Pro we will install the SSD into.
Robert came up with the idea of replacing the MacBook Pro’s drive with an SSD and using the old drive for Time Machine in a new USB enclosure. The advantage would be a boost in speed as well as a backup solution. With the prices of memory coming down, I picked up a 128 GB SSD at CompUSA for a good price.
The Patriot SSD with mounting brackets.
The new drive has the following specs:
- Interface: SATA II
- Dimensions: 99.88 x 69.63x 9.3 mm
- Weight: 91g
- Sequential Read: up to 175MB/s
- Sequential Write: up to 100MB/s
- Shock Resistant: 1500G/0.5ms
- Vibration Resistant: 20G/20~2000Hz with 3 Axis
- Operating Voltage: DC 5V
- Power Consumption: 280mA~330mA
- Operating Temperature: -10ºC~70ºC
- Storage Temperature: -55ºC~125ºC
- MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): >1,500,000 Hours
- Data Retention: > 5 years at 25ºC
- Data Reliability: Built in 15-bit ECC
- O/S Support: 2000/XP/Vista, Linux and MAC OS
First a thorough backup on the old firewire drive and Mobile Me’s sync. Out came the screwdrivers and we tore into the MacBook Pro.
The new SSD outside of the MacBook Pro compared to the old hard drive installed in the MacBook Pro.
After installation we did a new install of Leopard from disk. My contacts, bookmarks, and mail accounts were restored easily from Mobile Me. Music and photos came from the firewire disk. With only 128 GB, I have to keep the MacBook Pro lean and mean. If I haven’t used something within six months it’s not going to be installed. My movies are stored on the firewire disk and a other networked computers for now.
The SSD installed into the MacBook Pro.
Here’s what System Profiler has to say about the drive:
- PATRIOT MEMORY 128GB SSD:
- Capacity: 119.42 GB
- Model: PATRIOT MEMORY 128GB SSD
- Revision: 02.10104
- Native Command Queuing: No
- Removable Media: No
- Detachable Drive: No
- Mac OS 9 Drivers: No
- S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Ok, how does it perform?
Boot time is less than 25 seconds from pushing the power button! I didn’t measure the boot up time with the old drive, but it feels at least twice as fast. It boots up a few seconds quicker than an SSD-powered MacBook Air.
I upgraded the original drive a while ago to a Hitachi 200 GB 7200 RPM SATA drive (its covered in a previous article on this blog which can be read here).
Old vs. SSD performance.
Here are the Xbench scores from the original 5400 RPM stock Apple drive:
- Drive test average: 29.66 (best: 35.29, worst: 14.57)
- Total score average: 97.79 (best: 110.03, worst: 66.27)
Here are the Xbench scores from the 7200 RPM Hitachi drive:
- Drive test average: 41.74 (best: 43.07, worst: 39.97)
- Total score average: 116.62 (best: 118.68, worst: 112.55)
With the new SSD the Xbench scores are:
- Drive test average: 71.45 (best: 72.19, worst: 70.69)
- Total score average: 146.11 (best: 149.39, worst 142.68)
The scores reveal a significant performance boost. Subjectively, the computer seems a lot faster, programs load quicker, images scroll and render faster, and the only moving part is the fan! So far, battery life seems to be unaffected to marginally improved.
Update 1:
After two days of use with the new SSD, the MacBook Pro became very sluggish. The first indication was that it took over 20 minutes to boot up. Once running, apps slowed to a crawl. The computer was unusable.
Suspecting the new SSD, we removed it and ran diagnostics. The write speed was almost zero, and there were damaged blocks. Defective! The drive was returned and replaced under warranty. After reinstalling everything from Time Machine backups, everything is running smoothly (and quickly) on the new drive. It’s only been a week-my fingers are crossed. Hopefully it’s a random event and not a sign of an unreliable manufacturer. My confidence is shaken, but that’s the price you pay sometimes to be an early adopter. At least everything was backed up.
Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed.
Bob
Written by Bob Hodgen, posted by Robert Hodgen.
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