Upgraded my Late 2011 MacBook Pro from a 500GB spinning hard drive to this. Instead of taking a solid minute or so to boot up, it takes ten seconds and it's more responsive than my old HDD. My computer is faster than it ever was before and feels brand new. The battery is also better too.
This was my first time upgrading a Hard Drive, and it was incredibly easy. I used a StarTech.com USB 3.0 to 2.5" SATA III Hard Drive Adapter Cable & the TEKTON 2830 Everybit Tool Kit (both sold on Amazon) to help me with this. Here's how I did it:
1. Plug SSD into USB to SATA cable.
2. Use Disk Utility to format the SSD. > http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-SSDs/How-to-initialize-your-SSD-Mac/ta-p/111 490
- Erase Disk:
- Name: Macintosh SSD
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
- Partition Disk
- 1 Partition
- Name: Macintosh SSD
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
- Options: GUID Partition Table
3. Downloaded Yosemite onto the Mac directly. Clicked on 'Yosemite Install' application and installed it on the SSD. Go through installation process until it reboots, then the configuration process. Once complete, turn off the Macbook.
4. Remove old HD and install new SSD. > http://guides.crucial.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Early+2011+SSD+Insta llation/419
5. Install iLife apps, Chrome & Skype
6. Update Yosemite using App Store.
7. Disabled:
- Sudden Motion Sensor > http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201666
- 'Put Hard Disc to sleep when possible' > Since TRIM isn't supported this will help the Active Garbage Collection built into the SSD
8. Reset SMC & PRAM/VRAM > http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063 & http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
9. Move items manually from External HD to SSD.
If you're looking to upgrade your Mac and don't want to break the bank too hard - this is the way to do it.
| Hard Drive | 500 GB 1x500GB |
|---|
