upgrade MBA 2015 storage - does this adapter works and which new M2 NVMe SSD is suitable

[RoboMcD]

New on this forum here.

I just upgraded my "early 2015" (bought in 2017) MBA from Mojave to Monterey. Clean install. Had to remove bootcamp partition because I did not have enough free space.

It is time to get a bigger SSD. The main work (amateur video editing etc) for our non-profit will be done on a new Intel desktop. So my MBA is only for working at our two centers and during other travel and holidays, and as dedicated web design laptop. Mostly used as Windows machine but occasionally also as real Mac . I now have 128 GB, so a 500 GB or even a 250 GB SSD would definitely be enough.

I just bought this Sintech M.2 NGFF NVMe SSD Adapter Card for upgrade SSD for Macbook Air 2013 - 2017 Macbook Pro Late 2013 - 2015 iMac 2013 - 2017 (ST-NGFF2013C).



This was the only adapter still quickly available here in the Czech Republic and already down to the last 3 pieces. The last set with the nice screwdrivers sold out while I was filling the purchase details, so I quickly switched to this set without the screwdrivers and pulled the trigger before it would be out of stock as well.

It did not click to me earlier but is this the so-called "long adapter"?

I saw some YouTubes with only the actual adapter section (presumably the short adapter), but I could not find it here anywhere close (both in location and in delivery time).

This adapter card mentions a basic list of compatible M2 NVMe SSDs, but it looks to me that this is an older list of SSDs, with several more budget-friendly options no longer available or never sold here in the Czech Republic.

Does anybody has an updated list of M2 SSDs that fit or can I just put in the regular top brands as long as they are only one-sided?



Or is there a good reason to send this card back and really wait for the short adapter?

 

[pm-r]

This adapter card mentions a basic list of compatible M2 NVMe SSDs, but it looks to me that this is an older list of SSDs, with several more budget-friendly options no longer available or never sold here in the Czech Republic.

Does anybody has an updated list of M2 SSDs that fit or can I just put in the regular top brands as long as they are only one-sided?

If I were to do such a switch I would check with macsales.com and see what they have to offer or say about compatibility and any needed adapter cards and replacing any hard drive in that Mac model.

You could always attach and external SSD with double-sided velcro tape and a short USB cable as many users have done.




- Patrick
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[RoboMcD]

OWC Aura Pro X2 gen 4 NVMe SSD for upgrade: heard some good and several bad things about updating with OWC the same as good and bad things mentioned about updating with adapter.

Let's not get into that discussion because
1) here in the Czech republic that OWC SSD costs $ 160 and
2) I already have the adapter home.

So I can try to get the still existing more expensive (still cheaper than OWC) compatible SSDs or try to find out which good and current SSDs also fit.

 

[RoboMcD]

To be clear, if the new M series still had Bootcamp, I would buy an M1 right now, which are dirt cheap (for an Apple) here. Unfortunately, we have several Windows versions of stand-alone software programs (Like Adobe CS6 etc) and also 10 licenses for Windows. So more or less stuck with Windows for most things.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

To be clear, if the new M series still had Bootcamp, I would buy an M1 right now, which are dirt cheap (for an Apple) here. Unfortunately, we have several Windows versions of stand-alone software programs (Like Adobe CS6 etc) and also 10 licenses for Windows. So more or less stuck with Windows for most things.

There are virtualization programs that will allow you to run Windows (and Windows apps) on an Apple Silicon Macintosh. This one is free:

UTM (free from GitHub, $10 from Mac App Store)
https://mac.getutm.app/
https://github.com/utmapp/UTM
Direct download:
https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/releases/latest/download/UTM.dmg
Instructions:
https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/76602-microsoft-windows-11-on-an-m1-mac/

 

[MacBiter]

To be clear, if the new M series still had Bootcamp, I would buy an M1 right now, which are dirt cheap (for an Apple) here. Unfortunately, we have several Windows versions of stand-alone software programs (Like Adobe CS6 etc) and also 10 licenses for Windows. So more or less stuck with Windows for most things.

M series Macs can run Parallels (or other) VMs that can install any version of Windows ARM - which I think is 10 upwards?

 

[RoboMcD]

I had Parallels on this MBA when we bought it, but it was slowing everything down. I do not need to switch between Windows and Mac every five minutes, and using bootcamp, both MAC OS and Windows ran like a dream.

The new Mac M series run Parallels ($$), not sure about the UTM free version, how they now work, but probably it is still the same problem since you are sharing one CPU for two programs.

Since my main applications are windows-based non-cloud versions (adobe CS6, Chief Architect etc) there is no urgent reason to buy a Mac M-series desktop and then hoping a VM will work nicely. .

 

[ferrarr]

Personally, I see no reason for Apple to support the running of winOS on their M-series devices. winOS may run, but it seems like both Micro$oft and Apple will not offer support for it.