2011 MacbookPro SSD upgrade?

Youstolemyname · 26 Jun 2014 at 21:06

As the thread title really, am looking to upgrade the ageing slow HDD in here and wondering what to go for? I want at least 320GB and am curious what to go for.

Also, I want to do a clean install of Mavericks and keep the old image to just import my iPhoto and Lightroom libraries. The rest of the data on here can be archived.

Any tips?

shine · 26 Jun 2014 at 23:39

I have an M500 in 2011 MBP - upgraded to the latest firmware and no issues.

I made a USB installer of mavericks so I could so a clean install on the new SSD.

shiver · 27 Jun 2014 at 10:39

I have had no issues at all with Samsung SSDs in my Macs.

The Samsung 840 EVOs are pretty darn cheap now! http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-169-SA

I'd recommend what shine said, USB install of Mavericks on the SSD, then pop your old HDD in a USB caddy (or similar) and transfer your docs.

MagicBoy · 27 Jun 2014 at 10:45

If it's a 2011 15" I'd save your money and buy a new laptop before the dGPU fails.

Otherwise .... Crucial and Samsung 840 series work well. I'm using an older M4. I'd expect the M550/MX100 to work fine as well.

As above - install the OS, then use Migration assistant to import everything via the existing drive in a caddy or from a Time Machine backup.