Sometimes it’s hard to decide whether the SSD upgrade option is worth the extra cost, especially since upgrading to SSD reduces the storage capacity in your computer. In the MacBook Pro test example, upgrading from a 320GB HDD to the 128GB SSD adds $US250 to the price of the entry-level model (raising it from $US1199 to $US1449). Apple’s higher capacity SSD options are even pricier: $US400 for a 256GB SSD or $US1000 for 512GB.
So, is it worth the extra cost? In their testing of several MacBook Pro configurations (one 13-inch with the upgraded 128GB SSD, one with a standard 5400-rpm drive, and a couple of others), MacWorld found that:
- The SSD upgrade made the 13-inch MacBook Pro boot faster, in 20 seconds versus 38 seconds (of note, the 13-inch MacBook Air with flash storage booted in 15 seconds)
- The MacBook with the SSD upgrade was also 20 per cent faster in Speedmark tests — taking less than half the time to copy a file and significantly faster in other file operations.
- SSD also enabled the MacBook Pro to outperform a model with a faster processor, at least in disk-intensive tests: the 13-inch 2.3GHz Core i5 MacBook Pro with SSD was 8 per cent faster than the 2.7GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro with a 500GB 5400-rpm HDD.
There you have some concrete measurements, and something to consider particularly if you’re looking at MacBook Pro configurations. Coupled with the speed boosts, SSD’s greater impact resistance, noiseless operation, battery life, and durability may very well make it worth the upgrade for you — if you can live with the smaller drive capacity.
Note: You can also install a SSD in your MacBook yourself (and possibly save some cash) and we also have a guide to help if you’re still wondering whether solid state drives are worth the money. Photo by gillyberlin
How SSD Affects 13-in 2.3GHz Core i5 MacBook Pro Performance [PCWorld/Macworld]
Republished from Lifehacker
Nodeity
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 8:24 AMNow if you could just find some info on a real computer please :]
gargravarr
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 1:24 PMHa, that’s hilarious. Oh, you were serious. Sucks to be you.
Nodeity
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 1:53 PMAhh,.. Yet another “Applecrap” fanboy takes a swing, and a miss,… :}
Bernhard de Kok
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 2:39 PMTo knock a product or person without qualifying the reasons makes you a dick.
gargravarr
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 2:40 PMI think it’s you who doesn’t get it. But that’s okay. Like I said, your choice. And who said I was an Apple fan? Not me. I’m just someone who can read the financial pages. If Macs are so crap, why are they selling more than ever? Oh, and putting an emoticon at the end of your statement doesn’t alter the tone of your words at all.
Nodeity
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 3:36 PMWhy is it that when anybody gives a negative opinion about Apple the Fanboys lose all sight of civility and their sense of humor. You need to lighten up people!!
Ian Brown
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 4:37 PMYou’ve missed the point. Mac vs PC flamebaiting is so appallingly lame at this stage. That you actually spent the time to post that comment makes me lose just a little more faith in humanity. Sigh. At least the piles of PC’s you must have keeps your parent’s basement warm at night.
Nodeity
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 9:38 AMDamn it!! My original intention had nothing to do with “Flame baiting” at all!! I simply wanted to get a similar forum on regular laptops. If you read my post, it has no inflection other than a fair play slant. NO baiting at all! “gargravarr” was the one that decided to get all bent out of shape, I just rose to the occasion. So get down of your high horse and pull your head in!!
smith
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 3:23 PMYour first two posts in this discussion suggest otherwise.
“some info on a real computer”
Ahh,.. Yet another “Applecrap” fanboy takes a swing, and a miss,… :}
If you can’t see that as baiting, then what is it?
glennc
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9:22 AMit greatly depends on which SSD. OCZ are currently untouchable.
i think by the end of the year they will finally be affordable… from what i have been told
Owen
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9:36 AM60Gb OCZ Vertex 3 for OS, then all your other drives for all your data.
Awwww yeah.
Also of note for MBP; macfixit.com.au currently have an adapter for $29 to remove the optical drive and fit another HDD in, so you can keep your 500gb – 1Tb drive in the MBP and add a fast drive for OS. Or something.
Greg
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 4:26 PMFrom the “bleedingly obvious” column. Good SSD trumps traditional hard disk! Who’d have thought?