I need an SSD for my macbook. Which are compatible?

[AndroidMac]

I have a late 2008 unibody macbook aluminum. i want to upgrade its ram and i want to put in a solid state drive. I need it for the speed increase. Not so much for the storage factor (I have everything stored on a 1TB external hard drive.) so the storage on the ssd isnt important. I would like to spend as less as possible. Any ideas? Which ones are compatible? I am going to be using E-Bay to find these items.

 

[chscag]

I would avoid eBay if possible unless you're a seasoned eBay buyer and know what to buy. I recommend using an on line supplier such as Amazon or even better, Mac Sales - known as Other World Computing. Their web site is here. They sell a complete line of SSDs for your MacBook.

Your 2008 Aluminum MacBook can take 8 GB of memory and can be upgraded to Mavericks.

 

[AndroidMac]

are you sure it can handle 8gb of ram? i think the mac website said it could only do 4gb?

also, i really dont want to spend 100 bucks on an SSD. I was looking on ebay and they have plenty of 64gb drives for around 40 bucks. i just need one that will be compatible with my particular mac.

 

[pigoo3]

are you sure it can handle 8gb of ram? i think the mac website said it could only do 4gb?

Yes it can handle 8gig. Some models are found to be able to handle more ram AFTER the computer is released.

also, i really dont want to spend 100 bucks on an SSD. I was looking on ebay and they have plenty of 64gb drives for around 40 bucks. i just need one that will be compatible with my particular mac.

There aren't "Mac specific" SSD's. Just about anything will work. But as chscag mentioned…there are lots of "stuff" being sold on eBay…so who knows. Sometimes it's better to purchase from a reputable online store (OWC). But for $40 bucks…just go for it.

- Nick

 

[AndroidMac]

I have bought a ton of stuff on e-bay. I know my way around it fairly well. I am asking because I have read a ton of people that have had issues with their macs after installing a solid state drive. also, there are 3.5 in drives and 2.5 in drives. which do I go with?

I am a total newbie as you can imagine. I just want to get the right RAM and SSD.

as I said, I have the aluminum macbook from 2008. not the macbook pro. just a regular aluminum macbook.

 

[dtravis7]

3.5" is a Desktop drive. You want a 2.5" Form Factor.

And Nick is right, 8-GB RAM. I almost bought that machine when the Apple store opened in my city but was short some $$$. Nice machine still and should even run Yosemite when it comes out later in the year!

http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...-2.0-aluminum-13-late-2008-unibody-specs.html

Nick, it's actually 6GB Ram which OWC has but you can put 8GB in but only 6 will be used. Both Every Mac and Low end Mac say thåt.

 

[chscag]

I have the aluminum macbook from 2008. not the macbook pro. just a regular aluminum macbook.

I read your post correctly the first time... Here's what Mactracker says about your MacBook:

Maximum Memory 8.0 GB (Actual) 4.0 GB (Apple)
Memory Slots 2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

I advise against buy a 64 GB SSD. MacWorld reports that the smaller SSDs are slow and have a higher rate of failure. Do not buy anything less than 128 GB if possible. And the size of the SSD you need is 2.5". Anything larger will not fit in your machine.

Nick, it's actually 6GB Ram which OWC has but you can put 8GB in but only 6 will be used. Both Every Mac and Low end Mac say thåt.

You're looking at the wrong model! You have a late 2008 Aluminum MacBook not a late 2008 MacBook.

 

[AndroidMac]

SanDisk 128 GB Internal 2 5" SDSSDP 128G G25 SSD Solid State Drive 619659084141 | eBay

will this drive work?

 

[pigoo3]

will this drive work?

As I mentioned above. Just about any SSD drive will work (2.5" drive).

If you are so super concerned about compatibility…then purchase from a reputable online store like macsales.com or crucial.com…that has a return policy. Of course you will pay more…since they are possibly not selling such small SSD's any longer (64 gig).

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

You're looking at the wrong model! You have a late 2008 Aluminum MacBook not a late 2008 MacBook.

Both SAID flat out Aluminum Late 2008. I do know the difference.

http://lowendmac.com/2008/aluminum-macbook-late-2008/

Check the description and the Astrix by 6GB.

In fact look closely at the other URL I originally posted, It also says Aluminum on the 2nd line.

 

[pigoo3]

Both SAID flat out Aluminum Late 2008. I do know the difference.

Dennis. OP mentioned that this is a 2008 Unibody Aluminum MacBook (one like this):

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) Specs (Late 2008 Aluminum, MB466LL/A, MacBook5,1, A1278, 2254) @ EveryMac.com

Which lists max. ram as 8gig. The "regular/plastic" (non-Unibody) 2008 MacBooks have the 6gig ram max.

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

Dennis. OP mentioned that this is a 2008 Unibody Aluminum MacBook (one like this):

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) Specs (Late 2008 Aluminum, MB466LL/A, MacBook5,1, A1278, 2254) @ EveryMac.com

Which lists max. ram as 8gig. The "regular/plastic" (non-Unibody) 2008 MacBooks have the 6gig ram max.

- Nick

Both URLs I gave say Aluminum Unibody. They say it will do 8GB but have a note.

I went to the opening of my Apple Store in late 2008. Only the Aluminum was available at that time.

Your URL you just gave is the one in my original post.

From your URL and what I was saying:

2 GB of RAM is installed as two 1 GB modules, no slots free.

*Apple officially supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM. Originally, this model was only unofficially capable of stably supporting 6 GB of RAM, but as confirmed by site sponsor OWC, it is capable of supporting 8 GB of RAM if updated to Boot ROM Version MB51.007D.B03 and running MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" or higher."

So if you update the bootrom, yes 8 is stable. Just warning so the OP will not have issues.

 

[pigoo3]

So if you update the bootrom, yes 8 is stable. Just warning so the OP will not have issues.

Yes…OP needs to update the bootrom (if it hasn't been done already).

As we both know…there are a number of computer models that have increased max. ram after they've been released. In some situations there are some some special details (like with this computer).

In my post earlier in this thread…I mentioned that this model MacBook had a max. ram of 8gig…you disagreed…and said it was 6gig…and this is where the difference of opinion started.

We recently had another thread where this same detail was discussed. The MacBook 4,1's (White/Black) do have a true max. ram of 6gig. The MacBook 5,1 (Aluminum Unibody)…has a true max. ram of 8gig (after the bootrom update).

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

Nick, all I did was point out that both sites said it would take 8 but use 6. The one does not mention the updated firmware.

And I know about the white Macbooks. I should as I own one. If you want the truth I did NOT get the Aluminum one due to no firewire port and many people did the same as I and not get that model due to that port being missing.

I would have said nothing more except I was told by another poster I was posting a late 2008 White Macbook which I was not.

 

[brutfood]

I just want to tag onto this conversation - as I'm about to upgrade a Unibody Aluminium MacBook in the exact same way. It is running Mavericks, and it's very very slow - hence the upgrade. Just like the OP - I need the speed, not the storage.

(This MacBook came out when other Unibody Aluminium MacBook Pros were FIRST introduced - but this smallest screen size wasn't called "Pro")

So, any SSD will do - preferably 128Gb or more. I intend to buy one in an enclosure - so I can install the O/S to the new drive - then swap, and use my original as an external drive.

Is there anything special I need to know about formatting or making the SSD bootable?

About the memory... It currently only has 2GB. Does this machine have more than one slot? So if I bought 4GB - that would take me up to 6? (It's not like the old days where they need to match?).

As I'm running Mavericks - can I assume that the bootrom is ALREADY updated?

 

[harryb2448]

If it is the same model as above earlier, read the link which shows it will ahdnle 8GB of memory 2 x 4GB modules. By today's standards 2GB is miniscule.

 

[brutfood]

If it is the same model as above earlier, read the link which shows it will ahdnle 8GB of memory 2 x 4GB modules. By today's standards 2GB is miniscule.

I'm aware its the same model. That's why I tagged on to this discussion. I'm also aware that 2GB is too small. I'm asking about upgrading. But it took me a while to find the assumption that was hidden in your answer. Sorry - I'm not up-to-date with the hardware nowadays.

I didn't realise that the original 2GB occupied both slots. (1GB + 1GB). That was the assumption I wasn't getting. And I assume that 8GB is going to be noticeably faster than 5GB (just replacing one). So I get your point now.

 

[twizzard]

re SSD and memory in Macbook

OWC (Other World Computing (OWC) - Performance Upgrades For Your Mac) has superb support, on the web site, for free presales consultation via chat or telephone (which SDD's work, how much memory can your Mac support, which memory to buy), and post sale support (installation). Apple said my Macbook Pro could support only 8GB; OWC said 16 GB would work fine with my particular model, and it has been running quite happily with 16 GB from OWC for over a year. I used OWC's disk doubler to swap the optical drive in the Macbook for a second hard drive. OWC cautioned me that in my particular Mac, the main drive bay could handle a 6 GB/sec interface but the connection used for the optical drive could only handle a 3 GB/sec link. They were right, and the Macbook is now happy with a 6 GB/sec drive in the main bay and a 3 GB/sec drive in the optical bay. I'm not associated with OWC (or any other company), just a satisfied customer.

 

[John F]

I have a 500GB SSD in my mid 2009 15" MacBook. The speed increase has been incredible to the point that my iMac with the same processor speed and a conventional HDD is frustratingly slow.

 

[dtmatsuno]

I agree with chscag. OWC is great. I got a 500MB and a 1TB SSD from there — faaaast!