{"id":10433,"date":"2011-05-27T18:45:36","date_gmt":"2011-05-27T23:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=10433"},"modified":"2016-01-05T13:10:30","modified_gmt":"2016-01-05T19:10:30","slug":"macbook-pro-2011-models-and-sata-3-0-6-0gbs-update-5272011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/10433-macbook-pro-2011-models-and-sata-3-0-6-0gbs-update-5272011\/","title":{"rendered":"MacBook Pro 2011 Models and SATA 3.0 (6.0Gb\/s) – Update – 5\/27\/2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Since we first looked at a potential fix for problems with SATA 3.0 operation in the main bay of the 2011 MacBook Pros on April 15<\/a>, we’ve learned much more.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not so sweet at this point, but I will at least try to keep it as short as possible.<\/p>\n

Before going any further, I do<\/em> want to be clear that, while I believe the issues noted should be and will be resolved, Apple makes no advertisement\u2014in specification or otherwise\u2014that creates any obligation for them to fix the issues noted. Again, I do believe they will… I also believe it is in everyone\u2019s best interest that they do fix it, with respect to the incredible performance that our SSDs<\/a> unleash in these fantastic MacBook Pro 2011 models. If we\u2019re lucky, it will be a fix handled via some software update; it would seem more likely to require a hardware adjustment, but we\u2019ll see. FWIW, our shielding kit does make a difference for some, but not all, as there is just significant enough variability in the issue which means it ultimately needs to be resolved by Apple themselves.<\/p>\n

Ok… To the details…<\/p>\n

SATA 3.0 6Gb\/s in the Optical Bay?<\/h2>\n

All of the 13-, 15-, and 17-inch 2011 MacBook Pros we purchased right at release shipped with SATA 3.0 6Gb\/s connectivity in the main drive bay and SATA 2.0 3Gb\/s connectivity in the optical bay. (Note:<\/strong> For the remainder of this piece \u2013 I will refer to the two connections as 6Gb\/s and 3Gb\/s)<\/em><\/p>\n

Units we\u2019ve purchased over the past month indicate that Apple seems to be changing over to having 6Gb\/s connectivity in both the main drive bay and<\/em> in the optical bay. That\u2019s good news. I say “seems to,” as we\u2019ve received multiple units with the \u2018dual 6Gb\/s\u2019 setup, but after getting 17″ MacBook Pros with the dual 6Gb\/s setup in multiple deliveries this month, the 17\u201d we received earlier in this week was back to 6Gb\/s in the main bay and 3Gb\/s in the optical.<\/p>\n

Bottom line, it is not a spec Apple includes (what SATA connection will be in each bay) and currently is no correlation we have found to explain why a new unit this week was different than the units received over the past couple. There is no guarantee of a new unit purchased having the 6Gb\/s in the optical bay \u2013 but I can say that the odds seem fairly favorable based on units we\u2019ve been getting and reports in the field. Also, this is only really important to you if you hope to use a 6Gb\/s drive in your optical bay as enabled with our Data Doubler<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Results with SATA 3.0 6Gb\/s SSD in the Main Drive Bay<\/h2>\n

Based on field reports and new units we purchased in May, use of 6Gb\/s SSDs in the 17\u201d MacBook Pro is hit or miss<\/strong>. It\u2019s not our SSD<\/a> (which actually fares better than some others…); it has to do with the \u2018luck of the draw\u2019 in terms of the 17\u201d you get. All the recent 17\u201d models we acquired were flops and we\u2019re now waiting for replacements. The first 17\u201d we received in February also had issues, but were resolvable with our shielding kit. Another 17\u201d we purchased in April works as expected with no issues. Field reports also continue to vary. Apple needs to fix this; based on the issue being present in the units we received this week and last, it is not resolved in units shipping today beyond \u2018hit or miss\u2019 luck.<\/p>\n

There are <\/strong>no issues at all<\/strong><\/em> with any of the MacBook Pro 15\u201d and 13\u201d 2011 Models and 6Gb\/s SSD use in the main bay\u2014<\/strong>rock solid reliable.<\/p>\n

Results with SATA 3.0 6Gb\/s in optical bay with an OWC Data Doubler<\/h2>\n

Apple System Profiler will show you what Link Speed capability are supported up to.<\/p>\n

This shot is from a system with 6Gb\/s in both bays
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For anyone who has 3Gb\/s max supported in the optical bay, the Data Doubler<\/a> is still a great solution to use any 3Gb\/s or<\/em> 6Gb\/s SSD or Hard Drive. The maximum speed will simply be limited to about 300 MB per second, but reliability is 100% in all 13\u201d, 15\u201d, and 17\u201d models for using even the highest performance drive on that 3Gb\/s link connection.<\/p>\n

For MacBook Pro 13\u201d 2011 model owners who have the dual 6Gb\/s connections\u2014score!<\/em> This model works great with a 6Gb\/s SSD in the optical bay. Put two of our 6G SSDs in and set up RAID 0; you can get over 1000MBs per second data rates…sustained! Freaking awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The news is not so good for 15\u201d and 17\u201d models. While the 15\u201d has no problem at all with 6Gb\/s in the main drive bay \u2013 both the 15\u201d and the 17\u201d are a no-go with all the units we\u2019ve tested here when using 6Gb\/s drives in the optical bay. So if you have 6Gb\/s link available in your 15\u201d or 17\u201d optical bay, unless this problem is fixed \u2013 those with the reliable<\/em> 3Gb\/s optical connectivity are actually better off.<\/p>\n

Until\/unless Apple corrects this bay issue for 6Gb\/s, you are best off using a 3Gbp\/s SSDs in that bay. While it\u2019s ok to use a 6Gb\/s SSD in a 3Gb\/s enabled optical bay (it will work at the 3Gb\/s speed just fine); the same drive will want to connect at the 6Gb\/s link speed when 6Gb\/s is available, and in 15\u201d and 17\u201d models we\u2019ve tested so far, that’s been a no-go.<\/p>\n

To this point, we\u2019ve only consistently seen 13\u201d MacBook Pros that, in addition to having the 6Gb\/s in the optical bay, have been reliable using 6Gb\/s SSD with that port connection.<\/p>\n

And since will likely be asked; yes, we did direct-connection testing, Which rules out any possible effect of the Data Doubler with the 15\/17\u201d issues. It isn\u2019t the Data Doubler product, which is fully 6Gb\/s rated and A-Ok for.<\/p>\n

In short \u2013 it\u2019s a mixed bag.<\/h2>\n