Apple is known for making quality and reliable devices such as the Mac. The older Macs came pre-installed with a hard disk drive (HDD), but Apple is slowly switching to solid-state drives known for delivering improved overall performance today. This comes in this age where programs and software need much more computing power to run smoothly. But before jumping the gun, what is SSD storage on a Mac?
An SSD is a newer storage medium that uses flash or non-volatile storage memory to store and access data. This differentiates it from the traditional HDD, which has mechanical moving parts. Since there are no spinning parts, SSDs are much faster than HDDs but come with a heftier price tag.
However, there’s still a lot more you can learn about what SSD storage is on your Mac. Continue reading if you’re searching for this information, as this guide takes an in-depth look at this matter. Let’s get right to it.
What’s an SSD Storage on Your Mac Computer?
Solid-state drives, better known as SSDs, store data on non-volatile or flash memory chips, meaning there are no moving parts. The same can’t be said with traditional HDDs, where data gets stored on spinning disks. SSDs have a compact design and look like a few circuit chips while on the circuit board.
Other appealing attributes of SSD storage include fast processing speed because they don’t have any moving components and come with interconnected flash-memory chips. This means there’s no need for physical movement, unlike HDD storage when reading or writing files. The lack of physical movement considerably reduces your Mac’s loading speeds.
Another advantage of SSD storage on your Mac computer is that they’re lighter, quieter, and run cooler. They also use less power than HDDs because they don’t have moving components. Therefore, less energy is needed to read, write and access data stored in the SSD storage, making them an excellent choice for your Mac computer.
Because SSDs don’t have any moving parts, they’re also much sturdier than HDDs in the event of a fall. This is because the SSD’s memory chips are less prone to damage compared to the moving parts found on HDDs. Therefore, you should get a Mac computer with SSD storage if sensitive data is stored on it.
With that said, SSDs can’t be perfect as anything else in life, with the primary downside being their expensive price tag. According to PCMag, the price of a 1TB HDD averages between $40 and $60, while the starting price for an SSD storage of an identical form factor and capacity is approximately $80.
How Can You Upgrade Your Mac With an SSD Storage?
There are many reasons you should consider switching from HDD to SSD storage, and the main ones include the following.
- System crashes.
- Slow startup.
- Sluggish performance when running resource-intensive apps.
Luckily, you don’t have to own newer Mac computers to enjoy SSD storage’s many benefits. Instead, you can swap the HDD for SSD storage from your Mac PC.
But before you even start, ensure the right tools, including the following.
- T6 Torx screwdriver.
- Spudger tool.
- Philips #00 screwdriver.
- A new SSD.
- SATA-to-USB cable.
Once you have all these tools, follow these steps to install the new SSD into your Mac PC.
Step #1: Format the SSD
You should start by formatting your SSD before doing anything else, and here are the steps to follow.
- Use the SATA to USB cable to connect your SSD storage and Mac computer.
- Go to “Applications” and select “Utilities” to launch the “Disk Utility”.
- Look at the left column to search for “External label” and select “Erase” from the list of options.
- Key in your name and select “GUID Partition Table” and “macOS Extended” from the listed options.
- Format the SSD storage by clicking on “Erase”, and once the process is through, tap “Done”.
Step #2: Remove the HDD and Fit the SSD Storage to Your Mac PC
This is where you replace the internal HDD with your newly acquired SSD storage, and here are the steps to follow.
- Switch off your Mac computer.
- Flip your Mac PC upside down and use the Philips #00 screwdriver to take out all ten screws, followed by the lid. Place these screws on a bowl to avoid losing them.
- Remove your Mac computer’s cover and tap a metal part to discharge the static electricity.
- Find the hard drive and take out the plastic bracket held with two screws holding it in place.
- Remove the HDD and detach the SATA ribbon by gently twisting the connector.
- Disconnect all the Torx screws connected to the HDD and fasten the posts into your SSD.
- Gently connect the SATA ribbon to your SSD storage.
- Lower the SSD into position and fasten the holding bracket.
- Screw in your Mac computer’s cover using the ten small screws.
- Restart your Mac PC.
Summary
Using a Mac with the traditional HDD can be annoying because it often freezes while doing routine tasks. You don’t want to be in such an unfortunate situation when rushing to meet a deadline. You should get a Mac computer with SSD storage to avoid such instances. Alternatively, you can replace the old HDD storage with the SSD drive.
But a Mac computer with SSD storage delivers faster performance and is more dependable, silent, and energy efficient than HDD drives. With these many benefits, the performance of your Mac computer will drastically improve. And if you were unfamiliar with SSD storage on Mac, this guide has enlightened you on everything you need to know.
