Is it possible to improve the processor in my Macbook (White)

Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I am currently running the original core 2 duo processor and was simply wondering if it is possible or worth improving this and running a i3 or i5 processor? Or is it too complicated and not really worth doing?
Many thanks
 
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
8,967
Reaction score
287
Points
83
Location
London
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini Core i7 2012 | White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz | 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver
Nope, you cannot, its soldered into the motherboard
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Messages
4,695
Reaction score
73
Points
48
Location
houston texas
Your Mac's Specs
09 MBP 8GB ram 500GB HD OS 10.9 32B iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 iOs7 2TB TC Apple TV3
You could however bump the ram up which will usually show a performance improvement.
 
OP
H
Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Yeh, I have got new RAM on the way (doubling it) and will shortly be updating the software too, still running 10.5.8 so thinking of getting lion on it and see how it runs. What are peoples opinions on lion or should i just go with snow leopard? Heard mixed things about lion.
Cheers
 

vansmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
19,924
Reaction score
559
Points
113
Location
Queensland
Your Mac's Specs
Mini (2014, 2018, 2020), MBA (2020), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone 13 Pro Max, Watch (S6)
In my experience, Lion will likely be slower than anything (although more RAM may offset this a bit). How fast is your processor and how much RAM will you have?
 
OP
H
Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I have a 2.13Ghz processor and will be running 4 gig of ram. My laptop is running really pretty slow at the moment hence the upgrade. Would love to run Lion and get iCloud to work with my iPhone but if it is going to slow the laptop down more i mightn't bother.
 

vansmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
19,924
Reaction score
559
Points
113
Location
Queensland
Your Mac's Specs
Mini (2014, 2018, 2020), MBA (2020), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone 13 Pro Max, Watch (S6)
I run Lion on a 2.1 C2D with 4GB of RAM and it runs perfectly fine. It's a touch slower than Snow Leopard but alas, 'tis the cost of keeping up with older hardware.
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Messages
4,695
Reaction score
73
Points
48
Location
houston texas
Your Mac's Specs
09 MBP 8GB ram 500GB HD OS 10.9 32B iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 iOs7 2TB TC Apple TV3
One other thing you did not state size and how full your HD is and as a general rule
IMHO without 15 to 20% free space preferably the latter things start to get real slow.
 
OP
H
Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I only have 33Gb of HD space left from 250GB which may be the result of it going a bit slower. I have everything i need backed up to and external HD. Is it possible to remove everything from the HD or would it be better upgrading that as well?

Thanks for all the help
 
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
8,967
Reaction score
287
Points
83
Location
London
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini Core i7 2012 | White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz | 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver
33 GB free is still in the comfort zone and is plenty of free space. When it gets down below 15 gig then consider a clean up or a hard disk upgrade
 
OP
H
Joined
Jan 11, 2012
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Excellent cheers, looking forward to getting it running a little quicker again. Will see how i get on with snow leopard before upgrading to lion to begin with i reckon.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top