Retrofitting an SSD from MacBook 2012 to 2008 desktop mac

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MacBook Air 13" Mid 2012

1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache

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Glenn Riley @rileyseyes

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Retrofitting an SSD from MacBook 2012 to 2008 desktop mac

Hi Guys.

I was recently given an old 2008 Mac Desktop (A1224) with an old storage drive (non ssd). It’s a statement to Mac software about how well it still works for what I need it for (browsing and basic tasks.

I also have an old non working Macbook 2012 (I believe an a1466) with a broken logic board - however the SSD on that laptop is still perfectly fine and contains a bunch of old photos and things that I’ve always wanted to retrieve.

I had the thought that if i could take the SSD from the mac air and somehow install it/replace the old drive in the desktop mac, I’d solve two problems at once for no real cost (other than an adapter perhaps).

Is this possible? Just FYI my daily user is a 2019 mac pro, so I dont want to upgrade or spend any money on newer tech - ilI get that it’s old, but i really love the old desktop and I’m not at all interested in replacing it while it’s still doing everything I need it to. Really just wanting to know if this SSD swap is feasible - and how I would be able to install a working version of apple OS that still works on the old desktop if it is at all possible.

Please include links to guides if they exist!

Thank you very much.

Glenn

I've managed to remove the SSD from the old macbook air - Its a 256gb MZ-EPC2560/0a2. Which connector would i need to adapt this to the old (presumably sata) connectors of the Desktop mac?

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Your MZ-EPC2560/0a2 specs:

Capacity: 256GB

Controller: S4LJ204X01

Connector: Proprietary Apple (7+17 Pin)

Interface: mSATA

Protocol: AHCI

TRIM Support: Yes

由 Dan 完成的 2020年2月20日

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Dan @danj

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While the adapter will convert Apple’s mSATA interface to a standard SATA. You are likely to encounter a secondary issue here which is the system you are planing on installing the drive an older 20” iMac which only has a SATA II (3.0 Gb/s) interface vs the much faster blade SSD which is SATA III (6.0 Gb/s). This drive just won’t work properly in your system. Internally as its just too fast for the system. You also have a mounting issue as the internal frame is not setup to support this smaller drive and I don’t know of any adapter frame.

If you want to recover the data you’ll need a SATA to USB adapter or case. Or a FireWire drive case to install it if you want to gain the most performance this drive can offer using the 800 MBit/s connection (the case needs to be able to support the 6.0 Gb/s).

So if you are still trying to get a new drive internally you’ll need a drive that supports the slower SATA II data I/O which is getting harder as these drives are disappearing! Most systems today offer SATA III so the drive makers have moved on. There are a few auto sense drives which are drives which have special circuits to sense the data flows data rate and match the drives I/O to your system. As an example the Samsung 860 QVO or Samsung 860 EVO both will work in your system. Note in the spec sheet how 3.0 is listed as supported. If the drive you get doesn’t list SATA II or 3.0 Gb/s then it worn’t work in your system.

As your system used a 3.5” drive you’ll need an adapter to fit the 2.5” drive.

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Hi Dan - thank you very much for that clear concise answer - I hadn't considered the difference between SATA speeds as being an issue, so thats very much appreciated!

So the SSD being too quick for the older machine - does this mean that the machine wont read it at all, or simply that the ssd will face a bottleneck/throttle? I’m not very savvy when it comes to hardware compatibility, so it’s a good learning experience for me.

Finally just to clarify - guessing I’d need to buy something like an mSATA to usb case to look at the data? (Noticed you had mentioned SATA to USB which would surely not work with my Mac air SSD?)

If you do know the exact mac air ssd to usb part, would you please be able to link it in description for me, as it seems like that may be the likely route to take.

Thanks for the help :)

Glenn

由 Glenn Riley 完成的 2020年2月20日

This is an over simplification:

Think how you are trying to comprehend what a speed talker is telling you. Giving you directions to get some where which requires quite a few steps. So now think how a system is trying to copy off from one drive to another the failure of getting all of the data is the risk.

You can use this SATA to USB adapter in conjunction with the blade to SATA adapter StarTeck - SATA to USB Cable for the blade SSD you listed.

Different blade SSD's need different solutions. Here's more (which will make your brain hurt!) The Ultimate Guide to Apple’s Proprietary SSDs

I'm not sure what you are asking in your last question.

由 Dan 完成的 2020年2月20日

Thanks Dan - a good analogy that actually made a lot of sense to my tech-illiterate brain. I may have confused myself in my last question, but you've provided a link to the Startek adapter which answers what I think I was trying to ask. Very much appreciate the reply.

由 Glenn Riley 完成的 2020年2月22日

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Your MZ-EPC2560/0a2 specs:

Capacity: 256GB

Controller: S4LJ204X01

Connector: Proprietary Apple (7+17 Pin)

Interface: mSATA

Protocol: AHCI

TRIM Support: Yes — Dan
Hi Dan - thank you very much for that clear concise answer - I hadn't considered the difference between SATA speeds as being an issue, so thats very much appreciated!

So the SSD being too quick for the older machine - does this mean that the machine wont read it at all, or simply that the ssd will face a bottleneck/throttle? I’m not very savvy when it comes to hardware compatibility, so it’s a good learning experience for me.

Finally just to clarify - guessing I’d need to buy something like an mSATA to usb case to look at the data? (Noticed you had mentioned SATA to USB which would surely not work with my Mac air SSD?)

If you do know the exact mac air ssd to usb part, would you please be able to link it in description for me, as it seems like that may be the likely route to take.

Thanks for the help :)

Glenn — Glenn Riley
This is an over simplification:

Think how you are trying to comprehend what a speed talker is telling you. Giving you directions to get some where which requires quite a few steps. So now think how a system is trying to copy off from one drive to another the failure of getting all of the data is the risk.

You can use this SATA to USB adapter in conjunction with the blade to SATA adapter StarTeck - SATA to USB Cable for the blade SSD you listed.

Different blade SSD's need different solutions. Here's more (which will make your brain hurt!) The Ultimate Guide to Apple’s Proprietary SSDs

I'm not sure what you are asking in your last question. — Dan
Thanks Dan - a good analogy that actually made a lot of sense to my tech-illiterate brain. I may have confused myself in my last question, but you've provided a link to the Startek adapter which answers what I think I was trying to ask. Very much appreciate the reply. — Glenn Riley

score 2 · Answer 1 · 2020-02-19T21:37:46-07:00

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mayer @mayer

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Sorry there is no way to adapt that flash storage stick to your 2008.

The 2008 needs the old style 2.5” standard hard drive or SSD 2.5” drive.

The A1466 is a MacBook Air

You can put the stick in an OWC Envoy enclosure to use it as an external drive and recover your data.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MAU3...

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Thanks @mayer.

I spoke with a store that think it might be possible with one of these:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_rQ5SfN

Would you think this would work?

由 Glenn Riley 完成的 2020年2月19日

You would need to secure it.You could glue it down. Yo'd stir be able to remove the stick.

由 mayer 完成的 2020年2月20日

Thanks Mayer - could definitely find a way to glue it, however Dan above mentioned that even with an adapter I might face a drive speed issue, with the newer faster ssd not being able to be read correctly by the slower sata connection. Do you think this might be the case too?

Thanks

Glenn

由 Glenn Riley 完成的 2020年2月20日

You need the Envoy drive to recover your data. Hook it up externally and see if it will boot.

由 mayer 完成的 2020年2月20日

@mayer Thanks very much - I'll look into one of these. Much appreciated and thanks for taking the time to answer me.

由 Glenn Riley 完成的 2020年2月22日

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MacBook Air 13" Mid 2012

Retrofitting an SSD from MacBook 2012 to 2008 desktop mac

Update (02/19/2020)

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