What does ssd sg mean in apple laptops. Installing an SSD and a second HDD

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Now there is a large selection of external hard drives on the market. When choosing, you should consider speed, strength, size and much more. We have collected for you the best HDD and SSD drives for Mac and PC.

Before buying a hard drive, you should understand what you will use it for and what characteristics are more important to you. Let's look at the main ones.

SSDorHDD

SSDs or solid state drives are very popular. They do not have removable parts, unlike HDDs (hard drives) with a rotating plate inside.

SSDs will last longer due to the lack of moving parts, but you'll get less storage unless you're willing to pay a premium.

SSDs are also significantly faster than traditional hard drives.

Ports

It is very important which ports your computer has - Micro USB, USB-C or Thunderbolt 3. Data transfer speed is also important.

The new hard drives include a USB-C port and a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable included to work with virtually any computer.

Thunderbolt 3 is the newest and fastest technology, but drives with this connector are more expensive than others.

RAID

There are several different types of RAID hard drives, but the most popular is RAID 0.

If there are two disks inside the device, it reads and writes to both at once, almost doubling the speed. RAID 0 drives are fast and efficient.

Now let's move on to the list itself.

Western Digital My Passport SSD

The Western Digital My Passport is one of the most popular options, and also one of the most affordable.

The new version has a USB-C connector, and comes with an adapter for older computers.

It's an SSD, so the drive is fast. The only negative is that fingerprints remain on the case.

Small size, simple design
Fingerprints remain
USB-C cord and adapter
From 256GB to 1TB, price from $99 to $296

OWC Envoy

OWC is famous for its huge selection of memory options. The company has a unique product – Envoy.

You can buy a ready-made hard drive or a Mac modification kit. They both allow you to expand your Mac's internal storage.

There is no USB-C support yet, but you can always buy a cord separately.

If you buy a modification kit, choose the right model and be confident in your skills.

Separately or as a set
Aluminium case
Lots of different options, including a $279 Pro model.

Samsung T5

We couldn't help but include the Samsung T5 in the list. This hard drive is very small, fast and popular.

It supports USB-C and comes with a USB-A cable.

Great design
USB-C and USB-A support
Fast Samsung V-NAND memory
Available in options from 250GB to 2TB for 8800-18000 rubles.

Satechi USB-C Enclosure

You can create your own external hard drive by purchasing a Satechi case. It is metal and very easy to assemble.

The speed depends on the type of drive you're using, but the case supports USB-C anyway.

Made from aluminum
Easy to assemble
Any disk can be used
Available in space grey, silver and gold
Available on Amazon for $34.99

Seagate Ultra Slim+

Seagate is another popular company. The Ultra Slim+ drive is quite thin, and inside there is a traditional HDD. The design is quite modern and has a nice logo at the bottom.

The model has not yet been updated for USB-C, but as usual you can buy an additional cord. Due to the HDD inside, this disk is accessible in price. The 2TB model can be purchased for just $79.

Silver or gold color
Affordable price

G|Drive R-Series SSD

G|Drive is considered a more premium brand. This hard drive looks absolutely amazing.

This hard drive is IP67 certified and can withstand 450kg weight and a 3m drop. It is very fast, speed reaches 560Mb/s. This is faster than the 540Mb/s of the Samsung T5.

Good protection, incl. and from water
Great design
5 year warranty
500GB, 1TB and 2TB options available

Oyen Digital Raid Enclosure

The Oyen Digital drive is similar to the Satechi, but allows you to add additional drives. There are several types of RAID available, but the best one is RAID 0.

Instead of buying a 1TB SSD, you can buy two 500GB ones for much less and put them together. This drive will bring them together, and you will get an excellent hard drive.

The body, although large, is durable. It is made of aluminum and is easy to assemble.

An affordable option for creating a fast SSD
Good quality
Space for two SSDs (or HDDs)
USB-C support
Available on Amazon for $99

Crucial SSD

If you are going to buy just an external case, then you will need disks for it. You may already have them.

If not, you can buy a Crucial SSD, it's reliable and fast, but not too expensive.

Collect your drives
Affordable price and high speed
Can be purchased from 256GB to 2TB

Glyph Raid Atom SSD

Glyph has the fastest portable SSD. There are two V-NAND memory blocks inside, which means the speed is really high.

This drive can reach speeds of 770MB/s, which is much faster than others.

The case is quite reliable, the aluminum is covered with an anti-slip lining. There is USB-C support. If speed is your top priority, choose Glyph.

Speed 770Mb/s
Anti-slip
USB-C

LaCie Porsche Design

LaCie produces premium wheels with a simple design. This drive is thin, beautiful, and supports USB-C. He does a great job. This drive will look great next to any Mac.

Porsche Design available in gold, copper-gold and silver
Chrome corners
USB-C
1TB for 5290 rub.

CalDigit Tuff

CalDigit's Tuff is one of the most durable drives on the list. The set includes a case in which you can carry additional discs.

The aluminum drive is covered in a neon green casing that should protect it from drops. The ports are protected from dust and water. The disc can be immersed for 30 minutes in water to a depth of 1 m.

There are SSD and HDD versions, all with USB-C support.

Lasting
Case
Water, dust and drop protection
The 2TB version is available on Amazon for $179

LaCie Rugged

Over the years, this company's discs have changed. The version with USB-C has a detachable cord, which is very convenient. If it ever stops working, you won't have to change everything.

The drives are available in SSD and HDD variants and with different amounts of memory.

Protection against falls and rain
USB-C
Unique design
Available with 2 TB RUB 13,110.

LaCie 2Big Thunderbolt 3

The LaCie 2Big Thunderbolt 3 has 20TB of storage and supports Thunderbolt 3 charging.

On the front there is a USB-A connector, a slot for CompactFlash flash cards, as well as SD. At the back there is an additional Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort and USB-C connector.

It has two compartments that can be removed or changed, which is very convenient.

Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C
Removable drives
Memory from 8TB to 20TB
Prices vary from 43,000 rubles. up to 83,000 rub.

CalDigit AV Pro 2

CalDigit AV Pro 2 is similar to the LaCie 2Big Dock. There are two USB ports on the back. This drive will be slightly faster than others due to data optimization.

It works both vertically and horizontally.

USB 3.0 or USB-C
Vertical and horizontal position
Removable drives
USB connectors
Charging 30W
1TB to 6TB for $199-$399 on Amazon

OWC Thunderblade V4

The fastest drive on our list is the OWC Thunderblade V4. It's just a beast.

The drive is well made and works only via Thunderbolt 3. The kit includes a case for more reliable protection.

The maximum speed that was achieved is 2067 MB/s write and 1722 MB/s read. This drive is many times faster than all the others.

OWC tries to make its drives as portable as possible, but this one still requires a power source.

The fastest hard drive in the world
Additional Thunderbolt 3 port
Case included
Reliable strong case
You can buy with 1, 2, 4, 8 TB of memory

If you don’t know how to buy on Amazon from Russia, you can read our instructions:

5.00 / 5 (Total 1)
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Let us immediately note that the information will not be useful for owners of the most modern laptops, since, firstly, they only come with pre-installed solid-state drives, and secondly, the installed drives have an unconventional form factor and interface.
But for owners of laptops with a 2.5” form factor and a SATA interface, the presented instructions will help improve the performance of the laptop without significant costs.

You can, of course, ask for a replacement drive at an official Apple service center, but the service may turn out to be quite expensive, and besides, you will probably be offered some kind of Solit-State Drive Kit - “official, from the manufacturer,” the price of which, to put it mildly, is will not match performance.

We, in turn, offer you to replace the HDD with an excellent SSD yourself and are ready to provide.

In the photos below you can see the SanDisk SSD. It was this solid-state drive that ended up in our laboratory at the time of writing this article. This SSD instance is based on the SandForse SF-2281 controller, which has proven itself in other solid-state drives. They are distinguished by high read/write speeds and increased fault tolerance.

So what do we need?

This whole procedure will not take you even 30 minutes, but the performance of the laptop will increase quite seriously - the operating system and applications will load almost instantly and in general the laptop will “respond” to your requests much faster. This is because the system will have instant access to data, and this is exactly what is simply necessary to increase the speed of operation.
In addition, it does not make any sounds even when actively working with data, so your MacBook will become even quieter.
In addition, due to the significantly lower power consumption of SSDs, compared to any 2.5" HDD, the MacBook will be able to work slightly longer on a single battery charge - this is another undeniable advantage of using solid-state drives in laptops.
The only thing that yours will lose is a couple of grams of weight, because an SSD is also a little lighter than a hard drive.

Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and concise as possible.

If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.

Warranty and responsibility

A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.

Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.

Free diagnostics

This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.

Service repairs and delivery

A good service values your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: they can be done correctly and according to technology only in a prepared place.

Convenient schedule

If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00

The reputation of professionals consists of several points

Company age and experience

Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.

How many masters in areas

If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices

Technical literacy

If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.

Solid state drives in MacBooks are gradually replacing hard drives. Today, Apple puts them not only in laptops, but also in desktop computers.

The company's desire to occupy a leading position in the market is reflected in the development of all its products, including MacBooks. Once upon a time, the Cupertino team introduced the USB standard, then they were the first in the world to try to approach ultrabooks and removed optical drives. And finally, they placed it in their laptops on SSD drives. The latter turned out to be super productive, compared to everything else that the market offers.

Below we discuss the features of the SSD for the MacBook Pro, the differences between the models of solid-state drives, and the method of changing the HDD to an SSD.

In the new Pro line of MacBooks, solid-state drives have phenomenal speed compared to their competitors. Its values reach 3.1 GB/s and 2.1 GB/s for reading and writing. The volume of the element does not affect the result in any way. Experts from the Computerworld resource came to these results after a series of tests. Based on the test results, it was revealed that the new MacBook Pros show a 200% increase in performance compared to last year’s representatives.

Such results were made possible thanks to the use of the NVMe interface. It provides drives with high throughput. The technology was first introduced into a 12-inch MacBook. However, in this device its capabilities could not be fully revealed due to the weak “filling”.

According to Jeff Yanukovych, an expert at the IDC group that owns the Computerworld resource, the Apple company’s competitors will achieve similar results no earlier than 2017. This only emphasizes the position of the new laptops from Apple as close to ideal.

Types of SSD for Macbook Pro

Let's look at the variations of drives for current versions of MacBooks. Let's see what their differences are and which Pro model each element fits.

An SSD is a solid-state drive, which is an “advanced” version of a hard drive. Compared to the latter, the SSD weighs much less, but has increased speed. The cost of the new product is significantly higher than that of a hard drive. But despite this, the upgrade to install a solid-state drive on the MacBook Pro is definitely worth doing.

SSD for MacBook Pro

The list of elements for this device includes variations of MacBooks 13”, 15” and 17” until 2012. The SSD has a 2.5 form factor, that is, the dimensions are similar to the main drive of a MacBook.

It is possible to install an SSD instead of a HDD, but is it worth taking such a step? The hard drive must have a large capacity, and the price for an SSD of the same capacity is quite high. Here you can resort to the most suitable method.

SSDs are mainly used to increase the speed of the device. Therefore, the best solution would be to install a solid-state element instead of a DVD, which almost no one needs today. To do this you will need a special adapter. This is an optibay adapter. In this situation, a small SSD, for example, up to 240 GB, is sufficient. You don't have to buy a 512 GB SSD. The main disk will be responsible for saving data, and the drive will ensure high speed operation of the MacBook.

SSD for MacBook Pro Retina

The new Apple laptops have drives of a completely different type. They are small but highly powerful. These facts also affected the cost of the elements.

In addition, SSD dies in MacBooks with a Retina display are placed in place of the main disk, which representatives of this line do not have. By the way, they don’t have a DVD drive either. So you don’t have to dream about an additional hard drive.

Changing HDD to SSD

The instructions below tell you step by step how to replace an HDD with an SSD in a MacBook Pro. For MacBook Pro Retina, the information is not suitable, because they already come with such drives.

But for owners of Pro laptops released in mid-2012 and earlier, this manual will help improve the performance of the device without extra expenses.

Replacing a MacBook Pro SSD involves the following steps:

We turn the MacBook over and place it on a smooth tabletop without unnecessary things so that they do not scratch the lid of the device. Unscrew the 10 screws that hold the bottom cover using a Phillips-type screwdriver. Carefully remove the lid and set it aside.
At the bottom left, near the battery, we will find a hard drive attached with brackets (with two screws each). We remove one bracket - this is quite enough. We are talking about an element located as close as possible to the optical drive. Unscrew both screws and remove the bracket. Lift the disk slightly by the tongue and remove the fasteners from under the other bracket.
Carefully disconnect the SATA connector from the hard drive. The cable from the motherboard to the SATA connector is thin, so all actions must be slow and careful.
We unscrew the fastening screws from the “filling” of the hard drive.
We fasten the mounting screws to the SSD. We glue a plastic tab from the HDD to the SSD so that later you can easily remove the drive from the MacBook.
The SSD is prepared for placement in the case. But you need to connect a SATA connector to it, after which you can place the element in the compartment.
Install and screw the mounting bracket. The drive is where it is supposed to be - you can attach the cover.

By the way, you can replace the SSD for the MacBook Air in a similar way. But remember that the MacBook Air 13 will require a different adapter. In addition, for models with different encodings, for example, for the MacBook Air A1466, you need to buy a certain type of SSD. Replacing the hard drive in the MacBook Air, as well as in the MacBook Pro 13, with one of the solid-state drives is a more realistic task.

Transferring the operating system to a new SSD

To complete this task you will need a container for a 2.5″ hard drive with USB. There we place the hard drive removed from the MacBook. Afterwards, we connect the resulting element to one of the USB elements on the MacBook.

We launch the MacBook by pressing the Option element (aka Alt). The boot menu will soon pop up.
Select Recovery and press Enter. The OS X Utilities window will immediately appear. You need to select Disk Utility and click on Continue.
In the left section, highlight the newly installed SSD and proceed to the erase section. During the procedure, a section called “New” will be formed. There is no need to change it, because later it will be called Macintosh HD.
Next, go to the recovery tab. We indicate Macintosh HD as the primary source. In the destination field, move the new section to the right side.
Click on the restore button to transfer data from the selected category to the new SSD. An indication of the loading stage will appear.
Upon completion of the download, the new drive will contain a 100% copy of the operating system installed on the MacBook - with all the settings and information.

In the same software, at the end of the operation, you can clean the hard drive connected via USB. Subsequently, the disk can be used as an external portable element.

The operation will take half an hour. But the performance of the device will increase significantly. The operating system and software will load instantly. The laptop will quickly respond to your every action. And all for the reason that the system will have quick access to all data, which is required to increase the speed of the device.

Another advantage of an SSD is that it does not make noise even with high activity. Therefore, the MacBook will become even more silent.

Due to reduced energy consumption, SSD, when compared with any conventional drive, shows longer periods of battery life. This is another important advantage of using such drives in Apple devices.

What the MacBook will lose as a result of such a replacement is a few grams of weight. After all, the SSD element for the MacBook Pro is slightly lighter than the hard drive.

Remember that you can always connect an external element. But in this situation you will need an adapter or special adapters.

Good to know: about preparing and properly configuring the system on SSD-equipped Apple computers.

Long live SSD

In the utility, it is enough to unlock access by entering the system password and activate the TRIM switch. After this, the computer will reboot and we will no longer need the Chameleon SSD Optimizer program.

By the way, having rummaged through the utility settings, you can find disabling the Sudden Motion Sensor, disabling hibernation and prohibiting the creation of a RAM dump. Theoretically, these options extend the life of the drive, but it has long been proven that the impact of these processes on the disk is extremely small and will not greatly affect the overall resource of the solid-state SSD.

2. Connect an external drive

If 128 or 256 GB of SSD disk is not enough for you, and this is really not enough for most active users, you should think about purchasing an external hard drive. A house will be enough, but there will be a financial issue.

You can stop at buying a simpler external drive or. The easiest option is to use a USB flash drive as storage for files that are not very necessary. Now models with 64 and even 128 gigabytes are cheaper than leather cases for iPhone 6. We recommend purchasing them, it won’t be worse.

3. Set up work with NTFS

When working with external drives, sooner or later you will have to deal with the NTFS file system. By default in OS X, files on the NTFS system can be read, but not modified or added. It’s better to prepare for this in advance so that at the most inopportune moment the Mac does not refuse to work normally with an “unfriendly” flash drive created in the Windows ecosystem.

All ways to do this have already been collected and described in a separate section. There are free options.

4. Transfer backups to an external drive

It’s not for nothing that we suggested connecting an external drive or flash drive. Alternatively, you can place a system backup on them.

To do this, go to the Time Machine settings and select a location for backups on removable media. That's it, no need to splurge on a Time Capsule.

5. Transfer Photos and iTunes Libraries

If the size of the connected disk allows, then after the backup copy you should transfer iTunes and Photos data there. Active users of these services sooner or later create a huge media library that takes up a decent amount of space on the hard drive.

To make the transfer correctly and not lose anything, follow our instructions for changing the location and .

6. Monitor free space

To prevent a small SSD drive from turning into a trash heap, you need to regularly clean it. Of course, you can manually open all dubious folders and delete everything unknown at your own peril and risk, but it is better to trust specialized applications.

The utility is perfect for visually displaying occupied space. At first glance, it will become clear what exactly is eating up the precious space.

7. Connect cloud storages

If the capacity of the SSD and external drive is still not enough, cloud storage will come to the rescue. For some, their native iCloud will be enough, others will add Dropbox and Google Drive, and others will not stop and register in the Mail.ru and Yandex clouds.

Each service has a separate client for OS X with the ability to selectively synchronize. You can disable it altogether and only upload data to a remote server, and then delete it from the Mac. Send to the cloud those files that you need least often - if necessary, you can always download them back.

8. Keep an eye on your Downloads folder

This directory most often eats up precious space on the SSD drive. To prevent this from happening, we regularly sort out what we downloaded and put everything in the right place - on external drives or in the cloud. You can entrust this process to the utility.

In this simple way, you can get used to the small size of your hard drive and work comfortably with it. Remember the main principle - the less memory in your computer, the more order it has;)