Increasing Memory -

[billwill]

I have a 13" MacBook Pro purchased new in August of 2010. It has 4GB of memory.

Can I increase the memory and if so, how much?

Also, would I need a tech to install it for me or could I do it myself?

Recommendations of places where I can buy at a good price will be appreciated. TIA.

 

[pigoo3]

Can I increase the memory and if so, how much?

Max. ram is 8gig.

Also, would I need a tech to install it for me or could I do it myself?

It's pretty easy...here's the procedure:

Installing MacBook Unibody Model A1278 RAM - iFixit

Recommendations of places where I can buy at a good price will be appreciated. TIA.

Either of these tow:

Crucial
OWC

HTH,

- Nick

 

[billwill]

Increasing Memory - Is This A Good Deal?

This is the first time I've ever upgraded hardware.

I called my local Apple dealer about doubling my MacBookPro's 4GB memory to 8GB... they'll do it for $85 installed and while I wait. Is $85 a good deal for this? TIA.

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

This is the first time I've ever upgraded hardware.

I called my local Apple dealer about doubling my MacBookPro's 4GB memory to 8GB... they'll do it for $85 installed and while I wait. Is $85 a good deal for this? TIA.

Not for something you can easily do yourself - at least it wouldn't be to me. That's more than the actual RAM costs.

 

[pigoo3]

This is the first time I've ever upgraded hardware.

I called my local Apple dealer about doubling my MacBookPro's 4GB memory to 8GB... they'll do it for $85 installed and while I wait. Is $85 a good deal for this? TIA.

If $85 is the total cost of the ram & installation...about $50-$60 of that is ram cost...and $25-$35 is the install cost.

So you would be saving yourself:

- $25-$35 (the install charge) by doing it yourself
- the hassle, time, and gas cost of driving to your local Apple Store (if it's out of the way)
- and the hassle of dealing with the crowds at the Apple Store if you go at a busy time.

But if the install cost & a trip/visit to the Apple Store is not a big deal...then maybe it's worth it to you.

- Nick

 

[BrianLachoreVPI]

Ahhh - I see I misread the post.

 

[pigoo3]

Ahhh - I see I misread the post.

I sure hope $85 isn't the cost of installation (plus ram cost)!!! Either way...I guessing we both would still do it ourselves...and save whatever $$$ we could.

@billwill: Yes I know...for those of us that have done this before it may seem easy...and for those that haven't...it may seem difficult. But there's a first time for all of us!

Plus you have the really handy step by step procedure I linked above.

Good luck,

- Nick

 

[viezu]

look on youtube, there are loads of videos on doing the job, i did it after watching a clip, it took 10 mins.

 

[billwill]

I'm a biophysicist; very comfortable in the lab but not very "mechanically inclined" and therefore not completely secure in dismantling my laptop. The $85 quoted is complete including tax, for the 8GB RAM kit and installation. Also, it's not an Apple Store but my local Apple dealer that's been here over 25 years. They're only 3 miles from my home. They have most of the school accounts in NC, SC and VA. My closest Apple Store is in Greensboro, NC, about a 40-mile drive each way.

Maybe I don't even need the additional 4GB but I work with a lot of digital medical images and figure they would download faster if I did bulk up the RAM.

Thanks for all your help from a long-time WinDoze user and fairly new Apple convert.

 

[bobtomay]

You will not get any faster download speeds by upping the amount of RAM.

 

[pigoo3]

I'm a biophysicist; very comfortable in the lab but not very "mechanically inclined" and therefore not completely secure in dismantling my laptop.

Regardless of your occupation...there's always a first time for all of us. Whether it be:

- auto-mechanics
- plumbing projects
- baking a cake
- lancing a blister
- hanging curtains
- first aid on a dogs cut paw

...or installing ram into a computer.

I'm a "do-it-yourselfer" thru & thru...and there's almost nothing I won't do...and almost nothing I won't try. Can't be afraid of trying new things.

But I can certainly understand being concerned about damaging an expensive computer...and as a biophysicist...I guess you can afford the $85!

Maybe I don't even need the additional 4GB but I work with a lot of digital medical images and figure they would download faster if I did bulk up the RAM.

Like "bobtomay" mentioned...the ram upgrade won't effect download speeds. Very few users need more than 4 gig of ram these days. In fact 2gig (which is what I have in my MacBook Pro)...is fine for all the tasks I do.

Enjoy the new ram,

- Nick

 

[bobtomay]

And having said that - at the price of RAM these days, I'd be putting 8GB in it whether I needed it or not. Especially with the way Safari uses RAM like there's no tomorrow.

Think I'd rather not have the 2 finger swipe to move back umpteen pages on umpteen different tabs than have my browser using 2GB of memory.

 

[pigoo3]

And having said that - at the price of RAM these days, I'd be putting 8GB in it whether I needed it or not. Especially with the way Safari uses RAM like there's no tomorrow.

Well said...totally agree! For the newer Macintosh computers (probably 2009 & newer)...an 8 gig ram upgrade only costs around $50-$60 bucks (Mac Pro's probably more).

Upgraded my wife's MacBook to 8gig a couple weeks ago...got the ram (2 x 4gig) for $49.99 + tax.

So even without a "dedicated reason" for having 8gig of ram...@ about $50-$60 bucks for the ram...who knows how it may help out in some small other ways!

- Nick