MacBook Pro update rights the wrong, enables 3Gbps SATA transfers

We've seriously no idea why Apple didn't just ship all of the June 2009 MacBook Pro units with the SATA 3Gbps specification enabled, but at least it caved to the chorus of complaints and enabled it today via a firmware update. MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7, as it's called in Software Update, weighs in at just 3.35MB and requires OS X 10.5.7 to be installed. According to Apple, the update "addresses an issue reported by a small number of customers using drives based on the SATA 3Gbps specification with the June 2009 MacBook Pro." Of course, it goes on to say that it still doesn't support the use of drives that can take advantage of such speeds, but at least you have the option now of taking matters into your own hands and upgrading to a non-hamstrung SSD should you choose.

[Via MacRumors]

[Avaviel Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:39PM]

At least it was not a hardware issues, but software. How did lowering it via software help their costs?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:43PM]

Apple only did this because it got around the internet. They wouldn't have been perfectly content screwing their customers over as long as nobody knew about it.

[Rask Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:46PM]

Why is everyone celebrating? Apple just said that while they will remove the software limiter on the chip, they won't support the system if you do choose to use it at the regular speed..

Seems to me like Mac owners that choose to buy those SSD disks are still screwed if their system were to fail with this installed.

[MRCUR Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:57PM]

Actually, I'm really confused by what Apple is saying. I purchased the Aluminum MacBook when it first came out and it came with a 250GB Toshiba HD direct from Apple - with the 3Gb/s enabled. I'm pretty sure that means Apple supports that drive running at 3Gb/s... I just got a new 15" MacBook Pro delivered today with an Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM HD, again direct from Apple. After running the firmware update it's now running at 3Gb/s (was 1.5 out of the box).

So I really don't get what Apple is saying... Am I now using unsupported configs in my MacBooks?

[moo083 Posted Jun 23rd 2009 11:26AM]

They are saying it is no longer limited to 1.5 gbps. They are saying they cannot promise it will work up to the theoretical 3.0 Gbps. This is similar to how no company guarentees WiFi netoworks to actually run at the theoretical maximum even though they state the number on the front of the box. I'm not sure apple is special in that way regarding the SATA speed.

[Nitesh Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:46PM]

Well that was quick, and at least we now know it was not a hardware issue. But why did it happen in the first place?

[MRCUR Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:52PM]

Something probably got overlooked in the EFI firmware. Simply mistake...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:54PM]

Anyone tested High-end SSDs and check if there are speed differences? I don't want to think bad about Apple but as a hackintosher, some developers can easily edit the system profiler and make it look like 3GBPs.

If anyone can make sure that it is the real SATA II, off to the Mac Store ASAP!

[MRCUR Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:58PM]

Actually, I'm really confused by what Apple is saying. I purchased the Aluminum MacBook when it first came out and it came with a 250GB Toshiba HD direct from Apple - with the 3Gb/s enabled. I'm pretty sure that means Apple supports that drive running at 3Gb/s... I just got a new 15" MacBook Pro delivered today with an Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM HD, again direct from Apple. After running the firmware update it's now running at 3Gb/s (was 1.5 out of the box).

So I really don't get what Apple is saying... Am I now using unsupported configs in my MacBooks?

[jsmrekar Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:12PM]

you realize that HDD will not reach 3GB/s - so you need not worry. According to google conversion 3Gbit/s is 384MB/s.

[MRCUR Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:33PM]

I'm not sure where you saw 3GB/s in my comment, Joseph. I was speaking about two different HDs from two different makers with two different capacities. Both drives running at 3Gb/s, as reported by System Profiler.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 11:48PM]

Nobody seems to care about SATA II burst transfers, which - on 7200rpm drives with >10MB cache - do exceed the 170GBps maximum transfer rate that a 1.5Gbps controller is capable of providing.

This was a pointless PITA even for HDD owners doing HD video capture, and a significant performance detriment for people working with high-res RAW images in Photoshop, and should've been caught in pre-release QA if the problem was entirely software/driver related.

All in all, it's just another reminder - don't ever an Apple on Day 1. I don't care if all your friends are in line. Wait for at least the 1st revision, if not the 2nd generation. This is fortunately a patchable bug, but who knows what this MBP's thermal paste issue is going to be?

[CityZen Posted Jun 23rd 2009 1:21AM]

elle, you do realize that the maximum burst transfer speed only applies to the contents of the cache, right? Let's say the drive has a 16MB cache, and that by some stroke of luck, there's 8MB of data that needs to be transferred (very unlikely, btw). That will take place in 8/150 of a second in 1.5 Gbps mode, or 8/300 of a second in 3.0 Gbps mode. In other words, you lost a whole 0.027 seconds due to the wrong setting. The remainder of the data is limited by the maximum sustained transfer rate of the drive, which is limited by the rotational speed and the data density of the platter. This won't be limited by the SATA mode setting.

Like the original article said, only people with fast SSDs would possibly have noticed.

[Leindurstit Posted Jun 22nd 2009 6:58PM]

Hell yeah! The first 256GB SSD I find for under $400 that still maintains a modicum of performance is going in my new 13" Pro.

[ethana2 Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:11PM]

Watch for the new Intel SSDs in Q4. They're going from 50nm to 34nm node lithography with them, and things are going to get intense.

[spin cycle Posted Jun 22nd 2009 9:21PM]

When NAND goes to a smaller lithography it generally gets slower, not faster.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:12PM]

Now i they would enable it on Early 2008 MBPs with ICH8-M Chips

[Saber Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:11PM]

Well, I had already exchanged my MacBook Pro for a MacPro. I like it better although this is a good example how Apple shoots themselves in the foot.
Regards,

[jsmrekar Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:13PM]

howd they shoot themselves in the foot? you bought a mac pro??? was it cheaper?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:12PM]

I know this says 2009, but does anyone know if this firmware will work for older MBP models with compatible SATA drives?

[jsmrekar Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:39PM]

nope.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:47PM]

Thanks Joseph

[hajj3 Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:20PM]

now engadget needs to go public with the story of hp/compaq wireless stopping working on many series' of their laptop, google hp presario 6000 series, theres tons of laptops that have the wireless suddenly die, replacing the mini pci-e card doesnt work, its the board thats at fault and yet this systematic fault in their laptops has never gone public like the seagate 7200.11 and macbook 1.5gbps issues.

So engadget if you're ready this reply investigate what i've just highlighted and make a news story about it because tons of ppl have dead wireless on their laptops

have a look at this link for examples: http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?admit=109447627+1245712766280+28353475&threadId=1136440

[jimmylittle Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:21PM]

everyone in the CE industry, take note. This is the way to operate.

1. Company screws up.
2. Someone finds out, blogs it.
3. People read blog and comment.
4. Company catches wind of said blog.
>>>>This is the point where company usually stops and begins ignoring the problem, possibly to fix it in the next major release.
5. Company admits wrong and fixes problem with a small update.
6. Customers rejoice
(Optional) 7. engadget haters begin conspiracy theories and "shoulda been there since the beginning" talk.

Thanks, Apple. Now, if you could fix that pesky "can't turn the dock off even if you hate it" bug, that'd be awesome.

[cjwild Posted Jun 22nd 2009 7:48PM]

"mat shit a dvd-r"

[Apple patent troll Posted Jun 22nd 2009 8:36PM]

Wow! Apple fix 1 of the hundreds of problems they have with their software/hardware capability and all the fanboys go crazy like they fix everything they make a fuck-up on lol. The funny thing is they so very rarely do this and thats the true reason the fanboys monkeys are so excited. Im supprised they didnt charge you for the update.

[maveric101 Posted Jun 22nd 2009 9:17PM]

stfu. all OS's have lots of problems. people like you are why we can't have civilized discussions on this site.

[Agent007 Posted Jun 22nd 2009 9:13PM]

word

[happyrobot Posted Jun 22nd 2009 9:48PM]

Duh

[bigbosch Posted Jun 22nd 2009 9:51PM]

now they need to fix the bag of hurt...

gimme F'en Blu-ray already Windows Been had it

Didnt Hurt them

i got a 4Grand mac pro. with a 5 dollar burner from the 90's

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 9:45AM]

I'm not even going to bother pointing out everything that's wrong with your statement. But I will ask.. compared to who?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM]

Oops, that reply is for Kailie just blow this post

[s1lph Posted Jun 22nd 2009 11:30PM]

Just another example of how apple doesn't know what to do with hardware.

[Jeff Chen Posted Jun 23rd 2009 12:11AM]

Crying babies now calmed down. I knew it was just a firmware fix away from the very beginning ;-)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 7:24AM]

Look, if Apple had sold black iPods originally, they wouldn't be able to tempt existing consumers to 'upgrade'. This is what they always do and this is why I no longer buy their products. They deliberately cripple stuff and it stays crippled until they get caught, or people miss it and buy the later version with less cripple. It's the consumers who suffer... but you try reasoning with fanboys.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 11:17AM]

Now I want this for my Late 2009 Santa Rosa MBP also!!!

When will Apple listen to me??? Never, I guess...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 11:19AM]

Late 2007*

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 29th 2009 2:13AM]

I would not recommend applying this update if you have upgraded (or plan to upgrade) your hard drive!

I have the 15", and upgraded the hard drive to a Seagate 500GB 5400 rpm drive. It doesn't work! The machine can barely boot under OS X or Bootcamp after installing the update. Note: I ran the 500GB drive for 3 weeks without problem. The minute I installed the update it stopped working.

Re-installing the original hard drive resolves the problems.