MBP Upgrade HDD and memory

MBP 13 Inch mid 2009
Processor 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256 MB
Serial Number W893396B66E
Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 (11G63b) UPGRADE

Hi all. im new to the site. i cant find any reliable info while searching the net. My MB is getting a bit sluggish and i am constantly battling a full hard drive. I am a sound engineer and i use the laptop for recording primarily (i use fairly heavy programs). I want to know what is the max memory i can put into my laptop and what memory specs should i be looking at to insure compatibility. I have included more info below in case it is needed. I also want to replace my hard dive with a 750 gig-1tb drive. For speed i understand i will need minimum 7200-spin speed. I can see there are drives with quicker spin speed. Can my MB utilise extra spin speed and is it advisable with a larger drive to decrease read time.

Thanks in advance,

Nick


Model Name: Mac Book Pro
Model Identifier: MacBook Pro 5,5
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP55.00AC.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.47f2
Serial Number (system): W893396B66E
Hardware UUID: 277006C2-D506-5C68-93FB-6316D5F9DDFE

Go to this website:

OWC

They have everything you need.

- Nick

Your MBP will run 8GB of memory, 2 x 4GB. Your full hard drive is the main problem causing slowing up etc. Go at least 1TB drive.

thank you. ill be upgradeing to 8gig of ram what hard drive is best suited to my system.

1.0TB 2.5" HGST Travelstar 7K1000 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 9.5mm Notebook Drive 32MB
or
1.0TB 2.5" HGST Travelstar 7K1000 7200RPM SATA 2.0 3Gb/s (1.5Gb/s backwards compatible) \

would i be better getting a 750 gig with a higher spin speed of 1000

Your MBP is 3GB/s so I would go for Option # 2. Assume you mean a 10,000rpm Raptor drive or similar? Have used several and to be honest have not noticed much difference over a 7200rpm drive. They are lot dearer also.

1.0TB 2.5" HGST Travelstar 7K1000 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 9.5mm Notebook Drive 32MB

Click to expand...

You need to go with this one as the other drive is too thick and will cause overheating. Only use a 9.5mm drive for best results.

thank you. ill go with the second opton as my MBP tends to overheat as is