SSD Swap
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The current SSD in my MacBook Pro 15″ late 2008 model
Almost two years ago, I upgraded the hard drive in my current MacBook Pro 15″ late 2008 model from a 500gb SATA to a 256gb SSD. I researched all sorts models and decided on the Crucial M4 brand. It literally was plug and play – no trim settings to make or anything. The total replacement time [not including reinstalling OSX and my apps] was under 20 mins. This included removing the DVD Superdrive and moving my 500gb SATA drive in its place, using a custom made tray for this purpose.
Space Is Tight
Since then, I’ve had to manage my space on a regular basis, as I watch it shrink to just above 20gb free. This included me moving just about every extra piece of data off to the 500gb SATA drive. So it’s still on my MacBook Pro, just not taking up space on the SSD.
I started counting all of the time I waste managing space and that I will most likely be using this MacBook Pro for at least the next year and made the decision to double my SSD space. I purchased a Crucial m500 480gb SSD from Amazon. For $220, I felt it was a good deal. If my MacBook Pro was newer, I would have went with the 960gb SSD, which added another $240 to the cost. And even though I’m sure I would love to have even more space available, the cost factor was just not worth it to me for this almost 5 year old laptop.
Having almost a terabyte of space on this MacBook Pro [between two drives] will be nice, given I use it a good 12 hours a day. Now I can take that time I was using to worry about low space and use it being more productive.
This reminds me that I need to take my macbook pro in to get serviced. The mousepad sticks terribly and sometimes doesn’t respond to my fingers. I should go make an appointment now while I think of it.
Glad I could help with the reminder. Have to keep those MacBook Pros in working order.
I’ve been wanting to do this for ages as I never ever use the optical drive in my Mac. Having the OS & apps on a SSD will be a killer upgrade.
It really helps a lot to have that second drive. And I rarely used the internal optical drive (I ended up buying a USB external for $25 from Newegg.com) so it made total sense.