Can I update 2015 HDD to SSD

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I just bought a used 2015 Macbook pro from the college campus (teachers turn in their computers, they're wiped and then sold for super cheap...seems like a good deal) OF COURSE....there's always something, and this computer is SLOWER than my 2010. Then I remembered I updated that computer with an SSD. I assume it such an update would drastically improve the performance of this machine.

When looking about, I found one site that mentioned post 2012 macbook pro, the hard drive was soddered in and not possible to remove. I've heard differently from others. The image below is "about" my macbook Pro. anyone have any knowledge or better specific experience? would love to hear...

Screen Shot 2020-02-13 at 1.36.18 PM.png
 

Raz0rEdge

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Your title says 2015 and the About says 2012, and obviously that is more right than your title. :)

First, how do you know you have a HDD? There are both Retina and non-Retina 2012 MBPs. The former came with SSDs, the latter might not have. In the About This Mac dialog, click on System Report and under Hardware, click on Storage and show us what it shows and we can go from there.
 
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While I'm at it, I'm also thinking about the battery...the below screen shot is battery info.

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: 9G8491YSHD3MF
Manufacturer: DP
Device Name: bq20z451
Pack Lot Code: 0
PCB Lot Code: 0
Firmware Version: 201
Hardware Revision: 2
Cell Revision: 158
Charge Information:
Charge Remaining (mAh): 5654
Fully Charged: Yes
Charging: No
Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 5820
Health Information:
Cycle Count: 122
Condition: Normal
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12425

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Wake on AC Change: No
Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake on LAN: Yes
AutoPowerOff Delay: 14400
AutoPowerOff Enabled: 1
Current Power Source: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Hibernate Mode: 3
High Standby Delay: 4200
PrioritizeNetworkReachabilityOverSleep: 0
Standby Battery Threshold: 50
Standby Delay: 4200
Standby Enabled: 0
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 0
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Wake on AC Change: No
Wake on Clamshell Open: Yes
AutoPowerOff Delay: 14400
AutoPowerOff Enabled: 1
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Hibernate Mode: 3
High Standby Delay: 4200
Reduce Brightness: Yes
Standby Battery Threshold: 50
Standby Delay: 4200
Standby Enabled: 0

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes
ID: 0x0100
Wattage (W): 60
Revision: 0x0000
Family: 0x0085
Serial Number: 0x00d12528
Charging: No
 
M

MBAmtloin

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Do you have a pentalobe screw driver?
I would pop the back cover off to see what can be upgraded, ifixit has great tutorials on how to fix Mac books


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pigoo3

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If your MacBook Pro currently has a "spinner" HD in it...yes...it can be upgraded to an SSD.

As far as the battery...the info posted indicates that the battery has 122 cycles on it...which is pretty low. But at the same time the battery is 7-8 years old (if it's the original battery)...and sometimes age can be bad for a battery as well.

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to open things up...and inspect the battery for any visible issues or bulging. If all looks good...and the MacBook Pro works fine when on battery power...then the battery is probably ok.

- Nick
 
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Does "rotational" mean "spinner"?

Free: 26.02 GB (26,023,333,888 bytes)
Capacity: 499.76 GB (499,763,888,128 bytes)
Mount Point: /
File System: APFS
Writable: No
Ignore Ownership: No
BSD Name: disk1s5
Volume UUID: 03D5014C-3EC1-4C5A-AC60-41E1023F390C
Physical Drive:
Device Name: APPLE HDD ST500LM012
Media Name: AppleAPFSMedia
Medium Type: Rotational
Protocol: SATA
Internal: Yes
Partition Map Type: Unknown
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
 
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Your MacBook Pro, looks like a 2012 model year. You will be able to replace the hard drive-in probably the ram, if needed. See here, Mac Laptop Repair - iFixit and find your specific model and year. They have great repair guides.
 

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The hard drive seems to be a 5400rpm hard drive that is slow as get out. You need to pop in an SSD. Also having only 26GB free space will slow it down enormously. If the 570+GB is all your installs on the hard drive, you need a 1TB SSD. You will need an operating system on a thumb drive or be able to use Recovery after you pop the SSD in. Whenever you get a used computer always erase and format the drive.

Memory is soldered in, the hard is is not and is replaceable.
 
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Harry,

Thanks. The computer was erased and formatted before I received it by the college campus. It behaved like a new computer. Problem is I have already put a few apps on the computer (Office, Lightroom...etc.) If I put in a new SSD, can I back-up or Recover using the old HDD and Time Machine to put everything, i.e. all the programs on the new drive? Essentially, to make it a clone without dealing with key codes and re-loading all those programs?

Some other questions I have after watching a few videos:

1) Is the Samsung 860 EVO my best option?

2) Ripjaws for RAM? 16GB 1600 DDR3L?

thanks!
 
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anyone other than Harry have any thoughts about the above questions?

1) Time Machine Recovery, for all the apps and purchase programs

2) SSD Choice?

3) RAM?
 
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See Post #16 - some strange editing issue - cannot explain? Dave
 
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MBAmtloin

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using the migration app can import selected programs from a time machine hd.
my last upgrade i only imported CS4.
 
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anyone other than Harry have any thoughts about the above questions?

1) Time Machine Recovery, for all the apps and purchase programs

2) SSD Choice?

3) RAM?

Hi Pothypine - coming in late to your thread and after many posts from some of our most experienced hardware experts - but, just wanted to add some thoughts for your consideration: 1) first pic below appears to be your 2012 MBPro showing the 500 GB HDD (spinner) - more details HERE; and 2) RAM may not be upgraded if soldered - don't know - others can confirm.

As to your Apps/Programs, suggestions have been given, but let to throw out an option that others may help to confirm, i.e. a bootable clone of your present HDD - I use CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) for backups - may be a consideration, so let's see how our experts respond?

For checking your battery, download Coconut Battery - see 2nd pic below of the app showing my MBAir's battery stats - cycle count and battery life (percent ratio of current full charge capacity over design capacity) are the important factors. Now, I'm not adding much already suggested but the pics and links may help you better understand.

Finally, OWC (Other World Computing) is a great place for Apple equipment - check the website and give them a call as to your possible drive and RAM updates. Dave :)

.
Pro1.png
.
Pro2.png
 
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Thank you all so much for the advice and input...i'm getting down to the wire here and looking at SSD's and Memory

is there much quality and performance difference between:

1)Samsung - 860 EVO 1TB Internal SATA Solid State Drive AND OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (1TB) (the latter is $80 more expensive)

and for Memory

2) Ripjaws or any other brand? AND OWC 16 GB 1600MHz DDR3 PC3-12800
 
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I like OWCSSDs and OWC and Criucial memory. Plus xit is cheaper to buy direct and have air mailed to Australia and still comes in much cheaper than local purchasing.
 
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sounds good...if i upgrade with the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (1TB) and 16 GB RAM, and new Hard Drive Cable would there be much difference in performance if I ALSO upgraded the processor? I haven't watched any DIY videos on that, so don't know if it's technical or not...
 

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