Upgrading to SSD and El Capitan (mid-2010 MBP)

[b92]

Hello,

I have a 13" MacBook Pro (mid-2010, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4gb RAM) that's currently running 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion). Due to declining performance, this computer has more or less become a fancy paperweight over the past year so I just invested a couple hundred dollars into a 500gb SSD, 8gb RAM, and a new battery.

My goal is to install all of these goodies and make the jump to 10.11, the latest OS available for this device. My first question is, in which order should I be performing these upgrades? I have all photos & other important files backed up to an external hard drive, so I am contemplating a full reset of this device so that it's super clean for the new OS. Is this recommended or should I just do a thorough cleanup and then use Carbon Copy to reboot my current OS to the SSD, then upgrade to 10.11?

My last thought is I'm not sure how a full reset will affect my licensed Office 2008 (probably time for an upgrade there..) or Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom, although the latter are subscription-based so I don't think those will be an issue.

 

[ferrarr]

FYI, that MBP will run macOS High Sierra (10.13). https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

I would download El Capitan or High Sierra, and make a bootable USB installer, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372, or using DiskMaker X, https://diskmakerx.com. After the bootable USB installer is made, I would install the SSD. Then boot from the USB, select Disk Utility to erase and partition the drive Mac OS Extended Journaled and GUID. Then install the OS. Set up as you wish.

After everything is working properly, with the new battery and ram, then start bringing over your data.

 

[b92]

FYI, that MBP will run macOS High Sierra (10.13). https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

I would download El Capitan or High Sierra, and make a bootable USB installer, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372, or using DiskMaker X, https://diskmakerx.com. After the bootable USB installer is made, I would install the SSD. Then boot from the USB, select Disk Utility to erase and partition the drive Mac OS Extended Journaled and GUID. Then install the OS. Set up as you wish.

After everything is working properly, with the new battery and ram, then start bringing over your data.

Thanks for the response Bob, I'm actually located in East Providence, small world!

So if I'm understanding this correctly, the USB installer basically houses the Mac OS, so that when I install the new SSD I will have a fresh version of Mac OS? How does this affect paid programs and such?

Also, do you recommend El Capitan or High Sierra?

 

[ferrarr]

Yup, small world indeed.

Exactly. Paid (or any non macOS) apps will still need to be installed

Start with El Capitan, since it's an older OS, then you can try Sierra or High Sierra.

High Sierra, https://support.apple.com/macos/high-sierra.
Sierra, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208202.
El Capitan, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886.

 

[pm-r]

I just invested a couple hundred dollars into a 500gb SSD, 8gb RAM, and a new battery.

Did you get a single 8GB RAM module or two 4GB modules?

Just in case you did not know, that MacBook Pro can utilize 16 GB or memory: Maximum RAM: 16 GB*
See Specs here: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

With a single 8 GB module, you could use one of the original 2GB chips for a total of 10GB memory.






- Patrick
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[b92]

Did you get a single 8GB RAM module or two 4GB modules?

Just in case you did not know, that MacBook Pro can utilize 16 GB or memory: Maximum RAM: 16 GB*
See Specs here: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.4-aluminum-13-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html
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Wow, I did not know that. I got two 4GBs,is 16GB worth returning these and spending the extra $30? I don't use this for gaming or anything like that, mostly internet/email with some Excel and Lightroom/Photoshop here and there.

 

[pm-r]

,is 16GB worth returning these and spending the extra $30?

Personally, I'd say if you can get a total of 16GB for an extra $30.00, I'd say that's a no-brainer and go for it. Especially when the later macOS versions like and use more memory.

Even with the SSD, if it's needed for any memory swaps, real RAM is MUCH faster.

BTW: $30.00 for an 8GB RAM module seems awfully reasonable (cheap) to me, but then again, I'm used to Canadian prices!!!






- Patrick
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[b92]

Won't 16gb be overkill compared to what the rest of my hardware can support? But for an extra $30, might as well get all I can get.

Found this 16gb, the 8gb is the one I ordered from Best Buy:
16gb
8gb

 

[ferrarr]

We recommend Crucial, Crucial US | DRAM, Solid State Drive (SSD) & Memory Upgrades, for OWC, https://www.macsales.com, for ram for Macs. They sell Apple supported memory. Whichever ram you get and install, you may experience kernel panics, although OWC and Crucial will offer more support with their products.

 

[pm-r]

Found this 16gb, the 8gb is the one I ordered from Best Buy:
16gb
8gb

Personally, I'd choose the Corsair RAM over the Crucial, as some Crucial and several Kingston brand modules are the only ones I've ever had problems with over the years.





- Patrick
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[b92]

I went with the Crucial SSD but was able to find the 8gb RAM for cheaper from Best Buy, after confirming compatibility. I'm still in between bumping this up to 16gb or not.

 

[pm-r]

I'm still in between bumping this up to 16gb or not.

Well, if you don't, I'd still consider using at least a single 8GB module that would give you 10GB installed: 8GB chip + 2GB chip = 10GB RAM total.

I went with the Crucial SSD

Their SSDs aren't too bad depending on the model and their price is usually pretty good.





- Patrick
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[hempomatic]

Wow, I did not know that. I got two 4GBs,is 16GB worth returning these and spending the extra $30? I don't use this for gaming or anything like that, mostly internet/email with some Excel and Lightroom/Photoshop here and there.

I don't do gaming either, and I had no idea how big a difference these upgrades would make. I had no choice but to upgrade that hard drive, the 500 gig that I had was filling up quickly. I had more of a performance boost from the SSD than from the additional RAM, but as they say, no one ever said "I wish I had less RAM". Lightroom and Photoshop are pigs for RAM. I did the RAM first because I wanted to know which would give the biggest performance boost. Even Mac Photos is a bit of a RAM pig and that ran WAY better with the additional RAM. IMO, definitely worth the extra $30.

 

[b92]

Thanks @ferrarr, @bm-r, and @hempomatic. I've found the following 16GB options for my MBP, any recommendation?
Nemix - Perfectly compatible.
Corsair - 1300mHz, the proper spec for my MBP is 1066MHz. Does this matter?
CMS - says for Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz MBP, mine is 2.4GHz. Does this matter?

Edit: Unless I can use this one from [URL="https://www.cdw.com/product/Crucial-16-GB-SO-DIMM-204-pin-DDR3L-SDRAM/2530098?cm_cat=GoogleBase&cm_ite=2530098&cm_pla=NA-NA-CTN_LM&cm_ven=acquirgy&ef_id=WBLgPwAABTyOqwed:20181119235233:s&gclid=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFDIDGvS_aTL2SxXa805NwF6BL9qyFqa7knv-YS94Q1Gb7RjNtGsAjoaAgVPEALw_wcB&s_kwcid=AL!4223!3!198550943499!!!g!83864867717!]Crucial[/URL]. Only thing is that it's listed for MBPs with the i5 processor, all 1600MHz. Oh, and costs ~$40 more than the other options.

 

[hempomatic]

I can't help you at all with specifics regarding compatibility. I'm not much of a computer geek. Both my Ram and SSD are Crucial. Their site was pretty specific with regard to compatibility, so I was comfortable with that.

 

[b92]

I can't help you at all with specifics regarding compatibility. I'm not much of a computer geek. Both my Ram and SSD are Crucial. Their site was pretty specific with regard to compatibility, so I was comfortable with that.

Unfortunately Crucial doesn't have a 16GB option listed for my device. I'll try shooting them a message to see what they say.

 

[pm-r]

@b92
JfYI, everymac.com has the specs that your Mac can use and some articles with upgrade solutions and links. But they do work with OWC but you can still find out what RAM works and which modules are backward compatible. i.e.: as per your examples above, and most higher speed chips are but will only run at the designated slower speeds.





- Patrick
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