SSD compatible with Macbook 2008

Maybe. This Kingston SSD uses a SATA III controller. While SATA III controllers are supposed to be backwards compatible with the SATA II controller in your 2008 laptop, this is not always the case since some SSD controllers are not able to properly negotiate the SATA Link speed.

Personally for a 2008 laptop I would use the OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD which has been made and tested with the older Macs. OWC is a company mainly focused on providing products that are compatible with Macs. Personally I'm not a fan of these OWC SSDs, but I would use them for a 2008 computer to ensure compatibility.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc

I'm not saying the Kingston SSD or any other third party SSD won't work. I'm just saying you are more likely to have compatibility issues with some third party SSDs on a computer this old since the computer uses a SATA II controller. Before I would buy it, I personally would want to know someone who has used that SSD on that same model laptop to ensure it works properly over a period of months.

HW Tech,

Thank you for your thoughtful contribution.

The next problem is the OS. I am currently using El Capitan 10.11.6 which works fine but that is now unsupported by Apple. Microsoft have also warned me that Office 365 may no longer function properly. Can I move to a later OS?

Well I have used those Kingston SSDs in various applications for years. One in my 2012 MBP - 960gb, and a 240gb SSD is connected to my Raspberry Pi 4 in a USB 3 enclosure.

But I haven’t tested them going via a SATA II interface however…

brianfromoxted wrote:

The next problem is the OS. I am currently using El Capitan 10.11.6 which works fine but that is now unsupported by Apple. Microsoft have also warned me that Office 365 may no longer function properly. Can I move to a later OS?

Unfortunately macOS 10.11 is the last OS which Apple supports on a 2008 laptop.

Yes, a 2.5” SATA SSD should fit.

I installed a Samsung SSD 850 EVO a few years ago to replace the hard drive in my 2009 MacBook Pro and it has worked fine.

It wouldn’t run that great since those older Macs don’t have Metal (and 2) capable graphics, and the newer versions of macOS were rewritten to be in Metal.

[Edited by Moderator]