Will putting an SSD in my 2009 macbook pro solve the following issue?

[canadianjameson]

Hi all,

I have a 2009 Macbook Pro 13 inch which had been on its last legs for a while - running slowly, and most annoying websites & programs not running because the OSX was too old and the OX refusing to upgrade because the machine was 'too old'.

A friend recommended putting an SSD in to fix all of these issues. I just wanted to reach out and inquire, because while I'm sure it will speed things up I need to be sure I'll be able to install a newer OSX version ... or else it just might not be worth it =\

Thoughts?


Thanks,


Jay

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The SSD will definitely not fix the problem of the machine being too old. You are still going to have the inability to upgrade issue. The SSD, will however, speed up loading of the applications and so on. Depending on what CPU you have and how much memory, that might give you some life.

Please specify the exact specs of the machine (hardware and software).

Realistically, that machine is approaching 10 years of service and if you feel it isn't meeting your needs, it's going to take more than a SSD to fix that. You might need to get a new machine.

 

[pm-r]

Thoughts?
Thanks,
Jay

As Ashwin has stated, also adding a SSD would be an overkill and probably wouldn't fix your problem.

For a lot less, you could try installing a WD Black 2.5" SATA HDD 7200RPM. They are fast and reliable and run cool.

Here's the specs on it or similar MBPro:
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...3-mid-2009-sd-firewire-800-unibody-specs.html

Notice it can run OS X 10.11.x as the latest which should still work well if everything else is as well, ie: HD not too full, 4GB RAM minumum, decent internet connection etc.:
Pre-Installed MacOS: X 10.5.7 (9J3050) Maximum MacOS: X 10.11.x*

The original HDD is already ten years old so certainly due for replacement.




- Patrick
======

 

[canadianjameson]

Hi all,

I suspect that you two are right - the model is this: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.8-aluminum-17-mid-2009-unibody-specs.html

I did notice that it could (in theory) run MacOSX 10.11.x* - so, i theory, does that mean that I would stop running into the problem of not being able to upgrade the OS, and therefore not being able to access websites / software that require a newer OS? For some reason it wouldn't let me upgrade the OS beyond a certain version (Snow Leopard...). Any idea why that might have happened?

If I were to replace the drive, would this work? https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N6JQS8C/ I don't see it getting cheaper than that. I'm actually trying to repurpose the computer as a homework laptop for my son or as a media box to be permanently connected to our not-smart TV for netflix / movie purposes.

Let me know, and thanks again!


Jay

 

[pm-r]

I suspect that you two are right - the model is this: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...ody-specs.html

That model is for Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 17" Mid-2009 Specs
You said

I have a 2009 Macbook Pro 13 inch which had been on its last legs for a while

What Mac OS X version are you currently running??

What shows for any OS upgrade in your Apple Update???

How much RAM does it have installed???

That's a pretty cheap price for a SSD but it's also only a 128GB capacity unit. That's not much and how much are you currently using???

BTW: You might be interested in this Apple upgrade site:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886






- Patrick
======

 

[canadianjameson]

Hey - sorry i sent a slightly different link =\

So I tried to make my problem simple to explain but i'll expand it for clarity:

I have two 2009 macbook pro's. A 13 inch and a 15 inch. Both have 8gig (maxed). The HD on the 13 inch completely died (the machine doesn't detect it anymore - which happened randomly... maybe it's just loose?). the 15 inch works (slowly) but won't upgrade beyond Snow Leopard and has a crack across the screen. I was going to buy the SSD as a replacement for the dead drive in the 13 inch and then throw Office on it and give it to my son as his first laptop. Or use it as the default box from which Netflix is played...

I suppose the major question is should it be able to upgrade beyond Snow Leopard once I install the SSD? Or am I just installing the SSD for it to be a functional paperweight?

Thanks,



Ja

 

[ferrarr]

Hey - sorry i sent a slightly different link =\

So I tried to make my problem simple to explain but i'll expand it for clarity:

I have two 2009 macbook pro's. A 13 inch and a 15 inch. Both have 8gig (maxed). The HD on the 13 inch completely died (the machine doesn't detect it anymore - which happened randomly... maybe it's just loose?). the 15 inch works (slowly) but won't upgrade beyond Snow Leopard and has a crack across the screen. I was going to buy the SSD as a replacement for the dead drive in the 13 inch and then throw Office on it and give it to my son as his first laptop. Or use it as the default box from which Netflix is played...

I suppose the major question is should it be able to upgrade beyond Snow Leopard once I install the SSD? Or am I just installing the SSD for it to be a functional paperweight?

Thanks,



Ja

What I would do is, use the 15” with the TV, as you mentioned above for Netflix. And, give the 13” to your son.

Here’s the link for El Capitan, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886. Install it on both. That drive should be fine for that 13” model MBP.

 

[canadianjameson]

Amazing - thanks so much. Is El Capitaine the most recent i can go with or is it just what's recommended to stop at?

Also, i think the $20 extra might be worth it for this: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N5IB20Q/

Thoughts?

 

[ferrarr]

El Capitan is 10.11, which is the highest that model year will accept.

The drive, really depends on if your son will need the space, your call.

Edit: I forgot to mention this, you should also look at replacing the hard drive cable as well. They’ve been known to go, and it may be what caused your drive issue already.

See here for repair guides, https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_13"_Unibody_Mid_2010.

 

[canadianjameson]

Hey Ferrarr - would I be able to test the cable by switching the one out from the functional laptop to the non-functional one? They are the model year, after all =)

Thanks,


Jay

 

[ferrarr]

Yes, that should work. Again you can look at ifixit.com as they have repair guides for just about all Mac models.

 

[Cr00zng]

Knowing that the SATA revision 3.0 (6 Gbit/s, 600 MB/s, Serial ATA-600) had been released in May 2009, it's doubtful that the mid-2009 Macbook has SATA 3.0 internal hard drive interface. The chances are that this laptop has SATA revision 2.0 (3 Gbit/s, 300 MB/s, Serial ATA-300).

Replacing the HDD with an SSD still going to speed up the SATA 2.0 system, mainly in response time and some transfer speed increase, but not as substantially as the SATA 3.0 would.

In my view, getting a 120GBs SSD is shortsighted, getting a 500GBs/1TB SSD makes more sense in the long term. The almost 10 years old system will have other issues sooner or later and when it inevitably breaks for other reason, you can reuse the SSD somewhere else. If nothing else, just get an external drive enclosure and used it as a backup drive.

PS: I routinely add Samsung SSDs to older MacBook with good results, as long as it has a SATA 3.0 internal interface...

 

[harryb2448]

Don't waste money buying a spinner, go SSD. If you go this way suggest steering clear of Samsung drives.

 

[pm-r]

PS: I routinely add Samsung SSDs to older MacBook with good results, as long as it has a SATA 3.0 internal interface...

Don't waste money buying a spinner, go SSD. If you go this way suggest steering clear of Samsung drives.

Hmmm… I sure don't want to start a war on this topic, but are there some important features or reasons that go with either statement, for or against???

I thought it was just some certain Samsung models that didn't always agree with some particular Macs. Or is/was that just an unfounded or pissed off users rumor???


PS: I thought it was the Seagate SSDs that some didn't recommend.






- Patrick
======

 

[Cr00zng]

I thought it was just some certain Samsung models that didn't always agree with some particular Macs. Or is/was that just an unfounded or pissed off users rumor???

- Patrick
======

While I do like to blame Mac users, in all fairness...

Years ego, the Samsung SSDs firmare TRIM support didn't work well on the Mac. Since Apple started to support TRIM for third-party SSDs, this issue is no longer in place.

 

[pm-r]

Years ego, the Samsung SSDs firmare TRIM support didn't work well on the Mac. Since Apple started to support TRIM for third-party SSDs, this issue is no longer in place.

My understanding is wasn't related to TRIM with some units but some just didn't work well, especially some Samsung EVO units for some reason. But maybe that's all sorted out by now…





- Patrick
======

 

[Cr00zng]

My understanding is wasn't related to TRIM with some units but some just didn't work well, especially some Samsung EVO units for some reason. But maybe that's all sorted out by now…

Patrick
======

Well, it's question of viewpoint... The Samsung SSDs with its own firmware did some funky things for all platforms and so did Apple's initial support for the TRIM command. Maybe Apple's implementation had kept the revenue stream in mind too. In either case, both the SSD manufacturers and the OSs matured to a point that this is no longer an issue...

 

[chscag]

Since Apple uses Samsung SSDs branded as an Apple SSD, I imagine that whatever support for TRIM that they now use should work for other manufacturer's as well.

 

[pm-r]

Since Apple uses Samsung SSDs branded as an Apple SSD, I imagine that whatever support for TRIM that they now use should work for other manufacturer's as well.

Makes one wonder if Apple has them specially built or some custom implementation used.





- Patrick
======

 

[Cr00zng]

Makes one wonder if Apple has them specially built or some custom implementation used.

- Patrick
======

The PC world utilizes the standard M.2 2280 interface:



Apple utilizes a proprietary interface, the actual drive might be SSD to indicate that these cards are the same size:



AFAIK, this is the only customization; my Macbook from late 2013's flash drive is made by Samsung.

On the SATA interface side, I've added Samsung SSDs to a number of older MacBooks and they are still working without performance degradation; the TRIM is working just fine. It's doubtful that the macOS has different TRIM command that depending on the type of storage, but that's just my guess.

The attached image is an actual NVMe flasdrive. not SSD, for MacBook from OWC...