Installed OWC SSD, Now Beachballing Like Crazy!

[pokermaniac]

I have a 2011 MBP. I purchased a brand new Mercury Extreme 6gb/s OWC SSD, and had it installed by a Certified Mac Specialist. He reloaded a fresh 10.6.6 OS, and I updated it to 10.6.7 along with the other updates.

After he left, I started using it, and all it was doing was beachballing, and was almost unusable. I tried OnyX, I reset the PRAM, didn't work. I then went into Disk Utility and repaired the Permissions, and it started working well for a while.

Now it's beachballing all of the time again. What would you suggest?

 

[iggibar]

I would suggest you try installing a clean OS on your own. If you can, erase the disk data by zeroing it multiple times(time consuming, but you know all the space on the ssd will be leveled). Zeroing out data on ssd's apparently does a better job of getting rid of small bytes that can be left behind. Make sure to format it as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled) afterwards. Something had to of been installed or upgraded improperly, because that isn't a problem normally seen with OCZ SSD's unless you backed it up.

When I mean clean install, I mean it! Don't backup to an ssd from an older hdd. The sdd does not save or read data the same way as a hdd. If you are backing up from an hdd, the ssd is not meant to read in the order than an hdd store is. From your post, it kind of sounds like you did a clean install, but this is a problem that typically arrises from hdd to ssd backups. If this isn't the case, I would call OWC. They are pretty darn good with customer service!

 

[harryb2448]

Another vote for this suggestion of format and clean install. OWC techs were adamant when purchased 60GB SSD a clean install from retail version of Snow Leopard, use Migration Assistant only if you have an external drive, then download the OS X.6.7, and shortly 8, Combo updater.

 

[pokermaniac]

Thanks for your replies. I talked to OWC, and they told me they are having very serious issues with their 6g SSD's working with a 17" 2011 MBP. They sent me a Shielding Kit overnight and it "may" work (I get it on Saturday). The 6g cable is getting too much interference from the Battery for the drive to work properly. I may even have to return it for a 3g unit. Here is a Blog on their site about it:

MacBook Pro 2011 Models and SATA 3.0 (6.0Gb/s) - Update - 5/27/2011 | Other World Computing Blog

 

[iggibar]

Thanks for the update. I was actually never aware that apple was shipping inconsistent dual 6gb/s along with single 3/6gb/s models. I hope that shielding resolves your issue!

 

[wheelguy12]

Thanks for your replies. I talked to OWC, and they told me they are having very serious issues with their 6g SSD's working with a 17" 2011 MBP. They sent me a Shielding Kit overnight and it "may" work (I get it on Saturday). The 6g cable is getting too much interference from the Battery for the drive to work properly. I may even have to return it for a 3g unit. Here is a Blog on their site about it:

MacBook Pro 2011 Models and SATA 3.0 (6.0Gb/s) - Update - 5/27/2011 | Other World Computing Blog

Thanks a bunch for that link - sure gives me something to think about before plunking down extra $ for a 6gig per second SSD.

They say that 13" and 15" are not affected. Also, newer 13" even have two 6gig connections that work - giving an awesome 1,000 megabytes per second throughput in RAID-0. I don't have that much $, but it's nice to know that such a beast exists.

 

[pokermaniac]

Shielding did not resolve the issue....As a matter of fact, the MBP won't even boot to the Desktop. I left it with a Major Consultant in my area, and he is going to have his Technician have a go at it on Tuesday. His Technician has a good working relationship with Apple, so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. If it doesn't work after that, the SSD is going back to OWC.

 

[iggibar]

If your original hdd worked fine, I wouldn't let any technician, besides Apple one's, get into my mbp. I would just return the SSD, and be done with it.

 

[pokermaniac]

Thanks a bunch for that link - sure gives me something to think about before plunking down extra $ for a 6gig per second SSD.

They say that 13" and 15" are not affected. Also, newer 13" even have two 6gig connections that work - giving an awesome 1,000 megabytes per second throughput in RAID-0. I don't have that much $, but it's nice to know that such a beast exists.

Yea, if it cannot be fixed, I'm going for the OWC 3g drive. What really gets me upset is that the Salesperson over the phone assured me that the 6g would have no problems with my 17" MBP. Either he didn't know, which is pretty hard to believe (that's what OWC told me when I asked them), or he knew and didn't tell me. I did not know of the issue, or I wouldn't have purchased the 6g. All I know is that it's costing me lots of extra $$$ (that I don't really have) because I was sold that drive.

 

[kdyarb2002]

Yea, if it cannot be fixed, I'm going for the OWC 3g drive. What really gets me upset is that the Salesperson over the phone assured me that the 6g would have no problems with my 17" MBP. Either he didn't know, which is pretty hard to believe (that's what OWC told me when I asked them), or he knew and didn't tell me. I did not know of the issue, or I wouldn't have purchased the 6g. All I know is that it's costing me lots of extra $$$ (that I don't really have) because I was sold that drive.

Keyword in your statement is "salesperson" I dont buy OWC drives anymore for the exact reason your going thru, poor quality control. I have switched to Intel and my trouble disappeared.

 

[pokermaniac]

If your original hdd worked fine, I wouldn't let any technician, besides Apple one's, get into my mbp. I would just return the SSD, and be done with it.

Original HDD did work fine. I wanted to upgrade to an SSD, and the Apple Store near me told me they do not do it. They referred me to consultants.apple.com, and told me that I could find someone to do it on that site. That is where I found the Consultant who I am working with.

I may end up returning the SSD to OWC, however, I will still get one, whether it's from OWC, Crucial, or an Intel one.

 

[iggibar]

Keyword in your statement is "salesperson" I dont buy OWC drives anymore for the exact reason your going thru, poor quality control. I have switched to Intel and my trouble disappeared.

You switched to intel for "poor quality control" at OWC? That makes no sense.

 

[Stretch]

You switched to intel for "poor quality control" at OWC? That makes no sense.

Agreed. OWC has some of the best support and quality in the industry. I wouldn't think twice about buying from them again.

 

[kdyarb2002]

You switched to intel for "poor quality control" at OWC? That makes no sense.

Ok let me clarify....After 3 SSD installs (each one a replacement of the other as well as hours wasted on phone calls and installs) from OWC and none, i repeat none, worked for more than 1 week without crashing my macbook. I switched to Intel, amazingly it has worked flawlessly. Hope that makes.... umm.... sense?....

 

[iggibar]

Ok let me clarify....After 3 SSD installs (each one a replacement of the other as well as hours wasted on phone calls and installs) from OWC and none, i repeat none, worked for more than 1 week without crashing my macbook. I switched to Intel, amazingly it has worked flawlessly. Hope that makes.... umm.... sense?....

Intel uses the same ssd chips as OWC. Literally, there is, technically, very little difference for something to not work, especially with 3 ssd's. Intel has not implemented the new SandForce SF-2281(Best chip a consumer can get!) that OWC uses, because it is actually pretty new, and not many companies have upgraded their drives to it. It has to be a compatibility problem! 3 ssd errors in a row is almost as impossible to get as guessing the right lottery ticket numbers! That doesn't mean there is a problem with the ssd. So, saying that this ssd, or the company is bad, or has bad costumer service, is just WRONG! I just want to make that clear so that new people don't come on here reading all this false stuff and think their rep is bad, when in fact, it's the opposite. There are always some forms of compatibility issues, especially when something new introduced that outpaces everything in the current market! The Intel ssd you got is nowhere near what the offering from OWC is. You might think it's fast, but it's not!

 

[kdyarb2002]

Intel uses the same ssd chips as OWC. Literally, there is, technically, very little difference for something to not work, especially with 3 ssd's. Intel has not implemented the new SandForce SF-2281(Best chip a consumer can get!) that OWC uses, because it is actually pretty new, and not many companies have upgraded their drives to it. It has to be a compatibility problem! 3 ssd errors in a row is almost as impossible to get as guessing the right lottery ticket numbers! That doesn't mean there is a problem with the ssd. So, saying that this ssd, or the company is bad, or has bad costumer service, is just WRONG! I just want to make that clear so that new people don't come on here reading all this false stuff and think their rep is bad, when in fact, it's the opposite. There are always some forms of compatibility issues, especially when something new introduced that outpaces everything in the current market! The Intel ssd you got is nowhere near what the offering from OWC is. You might think it's fast, but it's not!

All i did was state the facts about my experience with OWC SSD's I never said they were a bad company. Are you just making things up for the sake of argument? Im glad you have had a great experience with them and your SSD is faster than mine. Actually i could care less. My macbook is everything i want it to be, even if the SSd is slow (takes almost 13 secs to boot, sucks...) and if you think someone is not going to buy OWC products just because i think they suck, well now your just going to give me a God complex...Im done with this thread

 

[iggibar]

You said it-

Keyword in your statement is "salesperson" I dont buy OWC drives anymore for the exact reason your going thru, poor quality control. I have switched to Intel and my trouble disappeared.

Ok let me clarify....After 3 SSD installs (each one a replacement of the other as well as hours wasted on phone calls and installs) from OWC and none, i repeat none, worked for more than 1 week without crashing my macbook. I switched to Intel, amazingly it has worked flawlessly. Hope that makes.... umm.... sense?....

I guess I must have misunderstood the meaning...
If you would've switched to intel for the same kind of drive, everything would make more sense.
That's like me buying a Ferarri, having a problem with it, and switching to a Camaro.

 

[pokermaniac]

You said it-




I guess I must have misunderstood the meaning...
If you would've switched to intel for the same kind of drive, everything would make more sense.
That's like me buying a Ferarri, having a problem with it, and switching to a Camaro.

idrinorbarsaku.....If I were to return my OWC SSD, and purchase an OCZ SSD, which one would you recommend for my MBP (2011, 17", Core i7)? I only need about a 250GB one. Don't worry, if it is not compatible or does not work well with it, I won't blame you. I just feel that since you have one, that you are knowledgeable about them. Thanks.

 

[iggibar]

idrinorbarsaku.....If I were to return my OWC SSD, and purchase an OCZ SSD, which one would you recommend for my MBP (2011, 17", Core i7)? I only need about a 250GB one. Don't worry, if it is not compatible or does not work well with it, I won't blame you. I just feel that since you have one, that you are knowledgeable about them. Thanks.

I truly don't have enough experience with a 200gb or larger ssd from OCZ. I only installed a 240gb "Value Series" on my friends M11X, and enjoyed doing it. It felt like dropping in a 427 big block into a mustang. I could do it everyday.
With that said, if I wanted to buy another ssd from OCZ, it would be this in the 240gb version: OCZ VERTEX 3 MAX IOPS SATA III 2.5" SSD
or this: OCZ VERTEX 3 SATA III 2.5" SSD If I remember correctly, this was a bit cheaper.
A 200gb+ ssd from anyone is going to be expensive. That's why I only bought a 60gb(250read/200write) one and stored only the OS and core programs along with their folders(which take up a lot of space for me). I use the standard 250gb for the rest of programs/files that aren't really important, or don't get used enough for me to care much about its speed.
From the reviews I've been reading, it seems that the OCZ 120gb Vertex 2 is the most reliable, and gives the most consistent performance. However, you don't get 500+MB/s read/write times found in the Vertex 3.

This is where I would buy them from, again the price is expected:
Newegg: OCZ SSD's 240gb

Honestly, people have been getting issues with the newer 6gb/s have been having compatibility issues(as seen on reviews and forums), as opposed to the older 3gb/s ssd's. If I had to get an ssd right now, I wouldn't pay $500 for a 6 when I can pay 250 for a 3, and still get the speeds that I enjoy.

 

[pokermaniac]

I truly don't have enough experience with a 200gb or larger ssd from OCZ.
With that said, if I wanted to buy another ssd from OCZ, it would be this in the 240gb version: OCZ VERTEX 3 MAX IOPS SATA III 2.5" SSD
or this: OCZ VERTEX 3 SATA III 2.5" SSD If I remember correctly, this was a bit cheaper.
A 200gb+ ssd from anyone is going to be expensive. That's why I only bought a 60gb(250read/200write) one and stored only the OS and core programs along with their folders(which take up a lot of space for me). I use the standard 250gb for the rest of programs/files that aren't really important, or don't get used enough for me to care much about its speed.
From the reviews I've been reading, it seems that the OCZ 120gb Vertex 2 is the most reliable, and gives the most consistent performance. However, you don't get 500+MB/s read/write times found in the Vertex 3.

This is where I would buy them from, again the price is expected:
Newegg: OCZ SSD's 240gb

Thank you very much for your suggestions.