I upgraded my 500GB hard drive on my MacBook with a new 120GB Intel SSD last week. I got this unit over at PC Image Saberkas, price below RM360. Installation was easy; you need a Phillips and Pentalobe screwdriver.
Check out my unboxing photos and how-to install Intel SSD 330 series on my MacBook, but, read about my thoughts first.
My thoughts and Conclusion — expensive but worth the upgrade
- SSD is still very expensive. For the same price I pay for 120GB Intel SSD 330 series I can easily purchase a 2TB hard drive.
- Is having higher capacity better? In my case, I realize it is not. Most of the files I store on my 500GB hard drive are mostly junk. Junk like print screen, outdated apps and files, and many other things that was not important, not necessarily to keep but it remained on the hard drive without direction.
- This is where the Cloud come in handy. You can store your unimportant files that you don’t want to delete on a Cloud without clustering your local storage.
- I have learned to be more sharp thinking; what to do with the files I downloaded, what app that matter to me, and delete what’s not necessary to keep to save SSD space.
- I have enjoyed faster boot time, faster shutdown time, opening apps time and I have specially felt satisfied when editing, exporting, converting and saving images.
- I learned that using a SSD needs a special feature call Trim. “Trim is must-have feature for most Solid State Drives. It not only increases data writing speeds, but it increases the lifetime of the SSD itself. — Trim Enabler”
- Apple disable Trim support by default. They only allow support for SSD that was sold by them. Luckily we have a free solution provided by Cindori.se but I suspect a new update of the app for Intel SSD 330 series is needed.
- Expensive but totally worth it. I gave a new life to my MacBook 13-inch Aluminum late 2008 that I bought in 2009.
Unboxing 120GB Intel SSD 330 series
Installation
Open the battery cover of your MacBook and it will review your battery and hard drive bay.
MacBook – lift up to open the battery cover.
A single screw secures your old hard drive you can take it out with the use of a Phillips screwdriver.
Your new Intel SSD 330 series need Pentalobe leg on all four corners of the SSD. Use the Pentalobe screwdriver; remove the Pentalobe screw from your old hard drive and use it on your new Intel SSD.
Unscrew the Pentalobe leg from old hard drive
Secured the Pentalobe screws onto new new Intel SSD 330 series
Put every parts back together and you are done. I have done clean installed my Mountain Lion and I’m happy to report that everything was running smoothly right out of the box. I highly recommend that you download and install Trim Enabler for SDD.
Intel SSD 330 Series installed on MacBook
at least you ‘be been ready for evil pentalobe screws now 🙂
I was about to ask you about a bigger pic of that, but http://www.gadgetmac.com/storage/product-images/iPhone%204%20White%20Back%20Replacement%20pentalobe%20screws.jpg
google has the answers .. as usual ) evil screws to prevent people do service things by themselves
Yes, I am ready! Well, I install my SSD at the shop. Since they have the kits ready, I borrow and DIY on the spot.
It’s nice to be friend with tech guy all over the shop in town. You can DIY anytime by borrowing their tools after your purchase 🙂
Have you tried SSD yet? I highly recommend you do. You will not believe how fast this sucker can be! I am blown away by the SSD speed. It’s like comparing to a normal bicycle to a light weight Superbike. it’s fast!
i’d prefer more capacity for data storage, after all.. more RAM = more speed, even with slower HDD
This Fast!
photo: http://s633.photobucket.com/user/gabbriell-photos/media/For%20Fun/roadrunner-fast.gif.html