MacBook Pro + SSD

thor · 23 Jul 2011 at 16:11

I'll finally be taking the plunge and buying my first Apple hardware this week by getting the base 13" MacBook Pro. Once I get it, I'd like to boost the performance a bit by sticking in a small SSD but I have a couple of questions around that..

Does it matter which HDD bay I get? I've heard of the OptiBay but I've also heard several people recommending to just get a cheap alternative off Ebay.

I don't have a huge amount to spend on the SSD so I was planning on just getting the 60GB Agility 3. Will this be sufficient to run OSX + apps, then have all other data, such as downloads, photos etc on the secondary HDD (stock drive which will be installed in the bay)?

Cheers

Shadowness · 23 Jul 2011 at 16:15

I bought a cheap bay off ebay, did the trick for me.

I'm running a Vertex 2E

Skyboat · 23 Jul 2011 at 16:19

An alternative might be the Seagate Momentus XT hybrid, mine should be coming this week and I'm curious to see the speed benefits over the base 5400rpm drive.

AbsenceJam · 23 Jul 2011 at 17:47

Have a read at macrumours as some ebay ones are good, others not so much.

FreeStream · 23 Jul 2011 at 18:52

Bought one off ebay for the Unibody MBP, fits and works perfectly. (In fact the 320Gb Apple HD is in the bay at the moment!) 80Gb Intel SSD in the normal slot.

£20 for the bay adapter
£10 for the superdrive USB enclosure.

£30 + 80 = £110 for a SSD + 5400RPM drive. Sorted

KiiYzOo · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:12

no it shouldn't affect your warranty

Dr Delphi · 25 Jul 2011 at 19:47

I'm using the cheap ebay drive caddy and a plastic external drive case from china for the super drive. The SSD is an intel 320 series 80GB, I've had no problems and it runs like a dream!

Royal Chewn · 26 Jul 2011 at 10:18

Yes it's SATA III so make sure you get an SSD that can meet that controllers ceiling..

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-071-OC

Vertex 3.. I'm running a Vertex 2 in my older MBP, so far so good!

iMacMart · 27 Jul 2011 at 07:34

I had a Vertex 2E 60GB in my MBP 13" and I have just picked up a Vertex 120GB for my 15" MBP as the 60GB wasn't big enough...

Looking forward to installing it today

thor · 27 Jul 2011 at 10:56

iMacMart said:
I had a Vertex 2E 60GB in my MBP 13" and I have just picked up a Vertex 120GB for my 15" MBP as the 60GB wasn't big enough...

Looking forward to installing it today

What sort of stuff were you storing on the 60GB? I'm in two minds whether to get the 60GB or 120GB Agility 3. I could really do with not spending the extra 70 quid or so at the moment..

Dr Delphi · 27 Jul 2011 at 12:05

I'm only using an 80GB SSD with a 500GB HDD, having moved my home account to the HDD and only keeping OS X Lion with the applications on the SSD I have 29GB free on SSD. Personally anything larger than 80GB on a SSD is currently too much when you compare the prices, especially if you keep your home on the HDD.

willyg · 27 Jul 2011 at 13:42

When buying a Macbook you get the option to add on a 128GB SSD when you spec it, is it worth adding this one or putting in your own afterwards?

KiiYzOo · 27 Jul 2011 at 13:48

buy one yourself afterwards, as apple mark up their prices way too much, and you'll get better performance if you choose your own

Marky · 27 Jul 2011 at 13:48

willyg said:
When buying a Macbook you get the option to add on a 128GB SSD when you spec it, is it worth adding this one or putting in your own afterwards?

Buying one and putting it in yourself is usually the cheapest option when it comes to Apple products.

iMacMart · 27 Jul 2011 at 16:25

thor said:
What sort of stuff were you storing on the 60GB? I'm in two minds whether to get the 60GB or 120GB Agility 3. I could really do with not spending the extra 70 quid or so at the moment..

Think I had office products, a few source games, I remember getting everything install and having 19GB free... I don't like to be too close to the mark... Can't wait to pop it in as going back to a 5400rpm is like pulling teeth after an SSD on OS X :rolleyes:

willyg · 27 Jul 2011 at 21:16

Mmm it just seemed that an extra £140 for a 128gb ssd wasn't that bad and would save the hassle? Mind you no sure what model it would be...