[SOLVED] Upgrading MacBook Pro 13inch mid 2010

[csmith67]

So I have a MacBook Pro 13inch mid 2010 still running 10.6.8 Leopard. It has 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 4GB DDR3. It's not as repsonive as my desktop, but I would like to make it near close with some upgrades.

I want to run the latest OS without slowing it down and possibly speeding it up by adding 8GB ram and an SSD. Would this make a huge difference in performance and is it worth it?

Thanks guys!

 

[TheIcedCanadian]

SSD is definitely worth it - will speed things up a TON - massive improvements when I went from HDD to SSD.
The SSD, however will be expensive.

Here are some upgrades from crucial that will fit your laptop:
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Apple/macbook-pro-%2813-inch%2C-mid-2010%29

 

[kenrivers]

I agree that an SSD would be a good upgrade and yes you will see a difference with the SSD as opposed to the 5400rpm that probably came installed on the system. Depending on your upgrade budget you could go with a Samsung EVO or Samsung Pro SSD (I have one of those in my late 2011 MacBook Pro). That model will support an SSD (it has a Serial ATA (3 Gb/s) connection) and up to 16GB of RAM.

Specs (if this is your model): http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

 

[TheIcedCanadian]

I agree that an SSD would be a good upgrade and yes you will see a difference with the SSD as opposed to the 5400rpm that probably came installed on the system. Depending on your upgrade budget you could go with a Samsung EVO or Samsung Pro SSD (I have one of those in my late 2011 MacBook Pro). That model will support an SSD (it has a Serial ATA (3 Gb/s) connection) and up to 16GB of RAM.

Specs (if this is your model): http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

Only supports upto 8GB of RAM

 

[kenrivers]

I agree that an SSD would be a good upgrade and yes you will see a difference with the SSD as opposed to the 5400rpm that probably came installed on the system. Depending on your upgrade budget you could go with a Samsung EVO or Samsung Pro SSD (I have one of those in my late 2011 MacBook Pro). That model will support an SSD (it has a Serial ATA (3 Gb/s) connection) and up to 16GB of RAM.

Specs (if this is your model): http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

Only supports upto 8GB of RAM

You are correct with the OP still running 10.6.8

"*Originally, both the official and actual maximum RAM was 8 GB. However, as confirmed by site sponsor OWC, if running OS X 10.7.5 or higher, updated with the latest EFI, and equipped with proper specification memory modules, this model can support up to 16 GB of RAM."

Source: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

 

[TheIcedCanadian]

I agree that an SSD would be a good upgrade and yes you will see a difference with the SSD as opposed to the 5400rpm that probably came installed on the system. Depending on your upgrade budget you could go with a Samsung EVO or Samsung Pro SSD (I have one of those in my late 2011 MacBook Pro). That model will support an SSD (it has a Serial ATA (3 Gb/s) connection) and up to 16GB of RAM.

Specs (if this is your model): http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

Only supports upto 8GB of RAM

You are correct with the OP still running 10.6.8

"*Originally, both the official and actual maximum RAM was 8 GB. However, as confirmed by site sponsor OWC, if running OS X 10.7.5 or higher, updated with the latest EFI, and equipped with proper specification memory modules, this model can support up to 16 GB of RAM."

Source: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

Ok - you win 😛
Still 16GB is overkill for gaming and too much money - mac RAM is expensive and 8GB of RAM is more than enough for gaming

 

[Ijack]

Mac RAM is the same as any other RAM, and no more expensive - provided you don't buy it from Apple.

 

[kenrivers]

iJack is right, when I upgraded the RAM in my MacBook Pro I purchased it just as I would for my other laptop but just not from Apple. I don't see the point of 16GB of RAM unless one is doing some heavy video editing, special effects, CAD work, photo editing with RAW files or some other intensive task.

 

[lagalmi]

I got the 16Go of RAM from OWC and it's working really nice... now going to update the HD!

 

[BadAsAl]

Just know that with non-Apple approved SSD's you will not get TRIM support with Yosemite without turning off a key security feature. You will need to install TRIM Enabler to get TRIM on any modern OSX, but with Yosemite it will turn off kext signing. This will cause your hard drive to become unbootable if you ever reset the PRAM or run updates so it is not worth messing with in my opinion when you can buy an Apple compatible SSD for maybe $20 to $30 over non Apple approved ones.