SSD or not to SSD, that's the question

Zoolook · Zoolook #1 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 01:24 PM

Watch my 2 YouTube videos and let me know.

YouTube - Black Vs White 1

YouTube - Black Vs White 2

I bought both Macs in 2006 - the white one for my wife and the black one for myself. Earlier this year, they were both struggling in terms of speed and boot up time.

I upgraded my wife's HDD from a 60GB 5200rpm to a 320GB 7200rpm from OWC and my own HDD from a 100GB 5200rpm to a 128GB SSD - a Crucial RealSSD 6GB/sec SATA. Note that the MacBook can only use 1/3rd of that speed because it's a 1.5GB interface. Just imagine how quick it would be in a 2010 MacBook pro.

Incidentally, the SSDs that Apple tend to ship with the MBA, are Samsung and tend to get extremely poor reviews.

RiDE · RiDE #2 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 02:32 PM

I just got a new MBP… and now you are making me think about getting an SSD for it..

It's super fast now (with the 500gb 7200rpm), but the SSD would be amazing I would think.

I may have to look into moving my media to my wife's iMac, to not need so much space.

Thanks for the vid!!

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #3 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 06:29 PM

At this stage stick with a HDD as Mac OS X has no support for TRIM. When an update is released for this, sure.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/...mportant-.aspx

Zoolook · Zoolook #4 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryb2448

At this stage stick with a HDD as Mac OS X has no support for TRIM. When an update is released for this, sure.

Q. What is the TRIM function for solid state disks (SSDs) and why is it important?

TRIM is a great feature, but by no means a make or break necessity. There is still garbage collection and an SSD will still blow away a spindle based HDD.

bargsbeer · bargsbeer #5 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 07:05 PM

I didn't think much of SSD's until I got my hands on a 1.83 MBA with a SSD , I could definitely see an improvement. Just wish the prices would come down a bit.

chscag · chscag #6 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 08:16 PM

I agree with harry. SSDs right now are not IMO ready for prime time for two reasons: TRIM (yes it matters) and Price. If I had a Windows machine running Win 7, I might lean toward a SSD from OWC (Win 7 supports TRIM), but until OS X supports it, the best bang for the buck is a good quality 7200 RPM drive.

XJ-linux · XJ-linux #7 (**permalink**)

09-26-2010, 11:19 PM

My 2 cents... I've been running OS X on SSDs for two years with zero issues. I still enjoy those 20 second shutdown>restart>active desktop hops. Lack of TRIM hasn't effected me in the least thus far. If it is effecting me, I haven't noticed on either my laptop which is sleeping and awake all day long, or my Mini which only reboots when Apple tells me to reboot it.

Zoolook #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 24, 2006 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 2,743 Mac Specs: 15" MacBook Pro, i7 2.66Ghz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD; iPad 32GB, iPhone 3GS	09-26-2010, 01:24 PM Watch my 2 YouTube videos and let me know. YouTube - Black Vs White 1 YouTube - Black Vs White 2 I bought both Macs in 2006 - the white one for my wife and the black one for myself. Earlier this year, they were both struggling in terms of speed and boot up time. I upgraded my wife's HDD from a 60GB 5200rpm to a 320GB 7200rpm from OWC and my own HDD from a 100GB 5200rpm to a 128GB SSD - a Crucial RealSSD 6GB/sec SATA. Note that the MacBook can only use 1/3rd of that speed because it's a 1.5GB interface. Just imagine how quick it would be in a 2010 MacBook pro. Incidentally, the SSDs that Apple tend to ship with the MBA, are Samsung and tend to get extremely poor reviews. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is stoned to death. - Joan D. Vinge
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,025 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	09-26-2010, 08:16 PM I agree with harry. SSDs right now are not IMO ready for prime time for two reasons: TRIM (yes it matters) and Price. If I had a Windows machine running Win 7, I might lean toward a SSD from OWC (Win 7 supports TRIM), but until OS X supports it, the best bang for the buck is a good quality 7200 RPM drive. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

XJ-linux #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2007 Location: Going Galt... Posts: 3,125 Mac Specs: MacBookAir5,2:10.8.3-MacMini3,1:10.8.3-iPhone3,1:6.1.3	09-26-2010, 11:19 PM My 2 cents... I've been running OS X on SSDs for two years with zero issues. I still enjoy those 20 second shutdown>restart>active desktop hops. Lack of TRIM hasn't effected me in the least thus far. If it is effecting me, I haven't noticed on either my laptop which is sleeping and awake all day long, or my Mini which only reboots when Apple tells me to reboot it. ,_____o00o _ //___l__,\____\,__ l_--- \___l---OlllllllO (o)_)-o- (o)_)--o-)_)
	QUOTE Thanks

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SSD or not to SSD, that's the question

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RiDE #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 13, 2006 Location: Deep in the heart of Texas! Posts: 3,558 Mac Specs: Mac's	09-26-2010, 02:32 PM I just got a new MBP… and now you are making me think about getting an SSD for it.. It's super fast now (with the 500gb 7200rpm), but the SSD would be amazing I would think. I may have to look into moving my media to my wife's iMac, to not need so much space. Thanks for the vid!!
	QUOTE Thanks

bargsbeer #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: Tampa , FL Posts: 1,957 Mac Specs: 15" MBP Unibody 2.53Ghz 4GB RAM 250GB HD,VERIZON iPhone 4,SIG P238 ,iPad,6th Gen iPod NANO	09-26-2010, 07:05 PM I didn't think much of SSD's until I got my hands on a 1.83 MBA with a SSD , I could definitely see an improvement. Just wish the prices would come down a bit.
	QUOTE Thanks

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