Transcend JetDrive 725 SSD Review for MacBook Pro Retina Upgrade
Almost a miracle happened! Not long ago I wrote about a small storage upgrade for my MacBook Pro Retina 15, and today I’ll tell you about the full replacement of the SSD drive in this wonderful device. The reason for the upgrade is simple - I got a Transcend JetDrive 725 with a volume of 480 gigabytes. In this connection, I want to please the details of the process and the final results (because Transcend announces a performance boost after replacing the SSD drive). Under the cut photo, video and text.
So, the movie starts with popcorn. The box evokes strong associations with Apple products. The same style, so what, however, and logical, the disk is designed for the MacBook. ')
The package includes everything you need to install the SSD and transfer the OS, of course an experienced user understands that this is not free, but you don’t need to run anywhere and buy a separate screwdriver or an external SSD box. The kit itself includes: a Pentalobe P5 screwdriver, a Torxx T5 screwdriver, an external box with an Apple SSD adapter - USB 3.0, a box holder, screws, a thermal pad, a USB 3.0 cable.
Below the photo is a comparison of M.2, mSATA and Apple SSD - obviously the connectors are different, and not interchangeable.
It looks like a box before the assembly, everything is on the shelves, everything is ready for installation. First you need to collect the drive from Transcend in the box and after connecting to the MacBook, transfer the operating system there.
Step 1. Boot through the Recovery mode (to do this, turn on the Option)
Step 2. Run the Disk Utility.
Step 3. We erase the external drive (it is of course new, but just in case). We formatted in Mac OS Extended (journal). I immediately named the drive as Transcend JetDrive 725.
Step 4. Select the item to restore. Specify the original MacBook Pro disc as the source disk, Transcend JetDrive 725 as the target
Step 5. After the process is complete, turn off your MacBook and remove the cover. Screws unscrew the screwdriver Pentalobe P5.
Step 6. Only one Torxx T5 screw will release the native SSD, and it will also fix the newly installed SSD Transcend inside the laptop.
So it was:
And so it became:
Step 7. After the first boot of Mac OS X, go to the system settings and just in case, select the new disk as the main boot disk.
I attach a video instruction from the manufacturer.
Next, install the original software. JetDrive Toolbox was already living on my Mac after adding JetDrive Lite, so he immediately picked up the new SSD.
In the process of crawling on the points revealed the absence of the item TRIM and the switch, which would include support for this technology. Since the manual was written explicitly for version 10.9, or even earlier, and I installed straight from the tin 10.10 Yosemite had problems with TRIM ... Known trouble with disabling kext signing was not spared Transcend either. Even turning off the mandatory signature of kekstov, the cherished item did not appear, apparently Apple had a strong influence on third-party manufacturers, depriving them of even the possibility of using TRIM. However, not those frightened. TRIM Enabler (completely third-party software) perfectly able to use the function and improve my mood.
In addition, Transcend claims the advantage in speed of its drives over the original Apple. “Now we will compare them ...” (C) Golden Antelope.
The difference is generally insignificant, but there is, and it is really in favor of Transcend. It should be noted that on any other computer the indicators can be higher, since the measurement result directly depends on the disk capacity, software and system configuration.
Regular SSD disk after 2 years of work
Transcend JetDrive 725
To the stated maximum speed characteristics a little less than the result, but the original Apple is slower by about 10 percent.
The external drive that came out of the “old” SSD is also quite useful in the household to a skilled user. The speeds when working via USB 3.0 are very high, the dimensions are modest, the appearance, I’m not afraid of this word, is attractive.
Chic drive for everyday and ubiquitous use. Let me remind you that the NTFS format will allow you to communicate with any OS without problems, so even if there are not only Apple users around, you can safely work and transfer data with this disk.
The test results of the "old" drive via USB 3.0
Summing up this modest research, not without regret, I would like to note that now it has become very expensive to buy such disks, otherwise there are no complaints and complaints about it, only joyful emotions. And what is also important, Transcend is available for purchase in Russia, in contrast to the same OWC. In addition, the SSD line includes options for a large number of different MacBooks. Each JetDrive drive is provided with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. The current price tag on Amazon is 300 USD .