Top products from r/mac

yeah definitely! tons of online videos. i wouldn't consider myself an expert in computer knowledge, but i've built a couple of basic rigs and done work on my macbook. hardest part about replacing the hard drive is making sure you either

a.) have the necessary files to complete a full reinstall or


b.) can work a program like disk utility or carbon copy cloner to make an exact clone of your HDD (this is super simple either way)



I put a kingston SSDnow v300 120gb in my early 2011 macbook pro. it has a 2.7 i7, 16gb of ram (another easy and huge upgrade, technically overkill but i do graphic design and photography for a living) my mbp is great now.

I've read some trouble about the negotiated link speed on older gen MacBooks getting locked at 1.5gb/s instead of the 3 gb/s SATA II standard. This isn't really a problem, you can fix it i believe with a firmware patch, basically it means instead of getting ~200-210mb/s read and write, you'll get more like 128 mb/s and 170 mb/s ish. still A LOT faster than your standard hard drive. boot up time is dramatically reduced, and opening programs becomes a split second ordeal.


Here is the SSD i just installed | $69.99 (very good price for decent 120gb drive)

here is the connector to mount the SSD outside of the macbook to format it and clone your HDD to it. technically this isn't necessary, but its 8 bucks that might save you from pulling the computer apart again when you can't boot from the SSD.

-----------------------------------------------

Here's a good video that shows how straightforward replacing the HDD is in the older macbooks


Helpful video on how to clone an HDD with Carbon Copy Cloner


Great comparison on how drastically this improves your machine

Here's a few useful links:

Crucial.com | Sells RAM and SSD's, high quality and Mac compatible. Another alternative if you want to explore options


Carbon Copy Cloner download site. I used this to copy my HDD, had no issues

Samsun 840 EVO 120gb | Good price for a great SSD

OCZ Vertex 460 | Another great SSD

I'd recommend doing a RAM upgrade if you only have 1gb, that wouldn't run you much either. SSD is more bang-for-your-buck than RAM upgrade is IMO. Hope this helps! Feel free to pm me with any more questions!

Well, first off: OS X 10.11 El Capitan isn't the newest macOS version for your MacBook Pro. Your MacBook pro actually supports macOS 10.13 High Sierra. High Sierra can still be downloaded from the Mac App Store, it is just hidden. Here is the link to it (click this link in Safari only, not in Chrome or Firefox!):

• https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12
  
  OS X El Capitan went out of support in the fall of 2018, so it has been missing out on security for quite some time. Every major macOS version has 1 year of mainstream support (the time frame between its own initial release and the initial release of its successor one year later) and two years of security support immediately after that. Security support includes Safari updates.
  
  Mainstream support for High Sierra has already ended, but its security support only ends in the fall of 2020. So if you update your MacBook Pro to High Sierra, it is still safe to use.
  
  -----
  
  You can speed your machine up by adding more RAM and an SSD to it:
  
  Your MacBook Pro supports up to 16 GB RAM (2 x 8 GB RAM modules). A higher amount than that won't work due to a limitation in the logic board.
  
  You need to buy RAM that matches the following specifications:
  
  PC3-8500 1066 MHz DDR3, 204-pin
  
  Those are some examples of RAM that should work:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/OWC-PC8500-SO-DIMM-MacBook-OWC8566DDR3S16P/dp/B00BKVQFCU
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KFNBP24/ref=twister_B07FSYCMM9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Mushkin-997019-204-pin-DDR3-1066Mhz-PC3-8500/dp/B006E0P1IG
  
  -----
  
  As for the SSD, your MacBook Pro supports every SSD that meets the following criteria:
  
  
• 2.5" form factor
  
• SATA3-compatible
  
  Here are some examples of SSDs that should work:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S
  
• https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-500GB-Ultra-NAND-SATA/dp/B072R78B6Q
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-500GB-SSD-WDS500G2B0A/dp/B073SBZ8YH
  
  Before you install the SSD, it is advisable to create a backup of the files you want to keep. Store them on some external drive.
  
  You can then reinstall macOS either via Internet Recovery or a macOS 10.13 High Sierra installer USB-Stick (which is the last OS your MacBook Pro supports).
  
  -----
  
  As for the battery: The battery is replaceable in MacBook Pros 2010. However, you won't be able to get an OEM battery Apple uses, most likely. Those are sold out by now and no longer available, unless you are extremely lucky. There are third party batteries that work, though, like this one for the 13" version(!):
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/HUSAN-Compatible-661-5229-661-5557-020-6547/dp/B071G53YBQ
  
  -----
  
  > I also heard mixed things about the new butterfly keyboards, but overall it seems once you get used to them they make your typing faster? So that sounds good for me if it's true
  
  The problem is less the feeling of the butterfly keyboard; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The problem is that the butterfly keys sometimes outright fail if small particles - like dust - intrude under them. I have discussed the problem here (last paragraph):
  
  
• https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/b86zvo/macbook_retina_vs_macbook_air_school_me_on_which/ejwayit/

I have a mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro and have done a few upgrades to it recently that have really helped. The options you have available are: upgrading your RAM, swapping out your hard drive, and removing the DVD drive and replacing it with a hard drive caddy and a second hard drive. RAM will increase performance somewhat and allow you to run more things at once with more fluidity. Swapping out your hard drive will give you more storage space and/or faster read/write times, depending on if you put your money towards storage space or an SSD. The hard drive caddy option is a more intense modification, (though in truth it isn't a hard procedure at all), but it gives you the best of both worlds: you can buy an SSD as your boot drive, and still have tons of storage space on the other hard drive. It's a great mod if you don't frequently use your DVD drive, and for about $30, you can buy a USB enclosure to keep using said drive.

If I had to make one change, regardless of price, I would put an SSD in the computer. It will be by far the biggest performance boost.

But depending on your budget, here are the upgrades I would make:

Smallest: Upgrade to 8GB RAM, $60 or so. This G.Skill RAM is a good place to start. Protip: "Mac Memory" is just a sales tactic to mark up prices. As long as you find RAM to the specifications you're looking for, it will work. Just do a bit of research and make sure other MacBook Pro users have used the RAM successfully.

Larger: Upgrade RAM and purchase an SSD, perhaps something like the Samsung 840 250GB. $150-300

Larger still: Upgrade the RAM, purchase an SSD, and buy an optical drive bay caddy to hold your previous hard drive as a data drive. $250-350 if you also buy an enclosure to use the optical drive via USB.

Largest: Upgrade RAM, purchase an SSD, purchase a new HDD such as the 750GB 7200rpm WD drive listed in another comment, and buy a drive bay caddy to hold the new HDD data drive. $325-425.

Should have kept Mojave on it. Mojave is OS just before Catalina got released a few days ago...but Nvm. As a rule of thumb, I don't install the latest & greatest OS immediately. I like to wait & watch. I like to give it 6 months before I install the OS on my laptop.

Yes, if you run El Capitan, your mbp will feel super fast with an SSD & more RAM (way faster than it will on Catalina). But don't run El Capitan on it...simple basic apps like Chrome or Firefox would stop supporting such an old OS pretty soon.

That's about it. You're good to go.

And if you're in the US here's an amazon link to buying more RAM. I'd go for 16gb of ram. Ideally you only really need 10gb or 12gb of ram max. But since you either get to pick from 8gb or 16gb. i'd go for 16gb if it fits your budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12800-SODIMM-204-Pin-Memory/dp/B008LTBJFW/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ZJ4WAV9I0SG0&keywords=16gb+ram+macbook+pro+mid+2012&qid=1570867864&sprefix=16gb+ram+mac%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-5



in the future when apple officially stops supporting this macbook. You can still "unofficially" support the macbook by downloading a patcher that dosdude1 creates at: http://dosdude1.com/software.html

I think he has step by step instructions on youtube at his channel.

16GB is probably overkill for me, but I'm glad your memory bump helped! Are you going to try to set it up as a Fusion Drive? This macsales.com guide seems pretty good, and people in the comments have had some success with it. Mind commenting later to see how your performance changes when you add the SSD (whether or not you run it as a fusion drive)?

I've heard good things about OWC, but I'm probably going to end up saving $20 and go with this tray from amazon haha

Depending on your storage speed requirements, you could partition the drive for MacOS and Windows and then store your media files (mp3s, photos) on an SD card. There are some great products that mount flush.

This Nifty Mini SD card adaptor would allow you to put the new super speed 128GB San Disk microSD in there and use it:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Nifty/887840TNFS/

There are cheaper knockoffs of the same idea.

Also SD cards with the right form-factor to fit nearly flush.

Of course, if you have the money, I love the Haswell based MacBookPro13" retina. The battery lasts all day, the screen is gorgeous and with the 512GB SSD, it has room to breath. It is truly a workhorse that is very light and portable. I run virtual machines on it for all sorts of engineering tasks including Windows and Linux VMs. They run as fast as native installs.

using the exact same model for that kind of work as well, and it works like a charm 👌🏼
The display panel looks great and the size is very comfortable while doing some work on the ride. I would also recommend those SD card expansions for macbooks. It finishes flush with the housing and offeres a cheap storage expansion :)

Transcend JetDrive @ Amazon

Does $500 include the monitor, keyboard and mouse?


For mounting your MacBook Pro properly to desk, you have 3 real options depending on if you want to be able to work from it (unlikely) or just have it closed in clamshell mode and use an external keyboard and mouse to mount vertically to save desk space.
Option 1: Rain Design mStand (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $40. I use this personally when I have my MBP set up next to my 5K iMac and 27" Thunderbolt Display.
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-mStand-Laptop-Silver/dp/B000OOYECC
Option 2: Twelve South BookArc (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $50 - for use in clamshell mode only
https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-Space-Saving-Vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE?th=1
Option 3: General vertical laptop stand (I have it in Silver, unsure how well their space grey matches) - $20. Cheap, minimalist, but does the job. Clamshell mode only.
https://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Adjustable-OMOTON-Aluminum-Chromebook/dp/B074PPGHMC


Next is an external keyboard, I'm going to stick with an Apple aesthetic for this recommendation and not any gamery mechanical ones. Depending on if you want a numeric keypad or not, there's either Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 or a Satechi wireless one with a numeric keypad. I don't think Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 with Numeric Keypad is worth an extra $70 over the Satechi.
Option 1: Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (comes in all colours) $80.
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Bluetooth-Keyboard-3-Device/dp/B07F2SF4RH
Option 2: Apple Magic Keyboard 2 (without numeric keypad - White only) $99.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english


For mice, I'd avoid Apple's Magic Mouse like the plague because words can not describe how bad it is to use.
I'd recommend mouse that you can also use with just your MBP while on the go, not heavy, big mice that only really belong on the desktop at home. No mouse really stands out to me apart from this one, honestly.
Logitech MX Anywhere 2s (unfortunately they stopped making them in white) $50. Can connect via bluetooth so no dongles.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VK5KXN


For monitors, at this price range you won't have a neat 1 cable display and power solution like you'd get from a 23.7" 4K LG UltraFine display for example or HDR10, or Retina. 1440p 27" displays are a bit out of this price range, but I'd personally sacrifice pixel density and get a 1080p display anyways so I still have a 27" display.
Option 1: HP 27es 1080p 27" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $219.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9H3BI4
Option 2: ASUS VZ239H-W 1080p 23" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $139.
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VZ239H-W-1080p-Monitor-White/dp/B07489Q7TY/


Then you need cables to connect your MBP to the display (the keyboards and mice are bluetooth). If you only have 2 TB3 ports, you may want to buy a multiport adaptor or else you will have 0 free ports with my solution (as you need the other port for power).
USB-C to HDMI cable (Black) $12.6. I have it to connect my MBP to my 4K TV and it works flawlessly.
https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook-Chromebook/dp/B06XDMKQKJ/
If you need a multiport adaptor, I'd recommend this Satechi one (comes in all colours) - $60
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Multi-Port-Adapter-Charging/dp/B01J4BO0X8


Total price as configured (BookArc + Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad + MX Anywhere 2s + HP 27es + USB-C to HDMI cable) = $412. If you need a mulitport adaptor and don't have one already, it'll be $472.

The Data Doubler is the name OWC gave to its product to allow you to put a hard drive or ssd into the optical bay. It is just a piece of plastic that holds the drive in place.

It is not optimal for a spinning hard drive to be in the data doubler chassis, as it is not really designed to keep the spinning drive stable. It is really meant for SSDs.

http://www.amazon.com/OWC-Doubler-Optical-Mounting-Solution/dp/B00724W0N2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457537224&sr=8-2&keywords=data+doubler

You can find cheaper versions of this around amazon and ebay, and even get an external enclosure for your optical drive, turning it into a USB super drive, but the OWC version has the best ratings.

If you are going to do only 1 SSD, put it in the data doubler. If you are going to do two SSDs, then put an SSD in both places, and possibly even RAID them together so that you get a single drive with increased performance, BUT MAKE SURE TO BACK UP YOUR DATA!

Let me know if you have more questions.

Edit: This is the one I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody-MacBook-SuperDrive-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457537224&sr=8-3&keywords=data+doubler It is better for holding the spinning standard HDD since it is a bit stronger than plastic, and holds the drive in with four screws.

My gf still uses her 2007 MBP to this day and it works like a champ. Granted I've had to replace the HDD and reinstall OSX a few times, but the hardware will last a long time if you take care of it.

OSX can get a little sluggish after a year or two. I highly recommend reinstalling and restoring from backup instead of upgrading between major versions (and anytime things start to slow down)

I also recommend upgrading to an SSD. We're upgrading all MBPs at my office to Samsung EVOs. Of all the things you can do, this will probably have the most drastic effect on speed... especially on start-up time. If you combine that with a reinstall and restore, you'll practically have a new computer.

We had an old 2006 iMac that took 30 minutes (yes, minutes) to boot.... and was so slow she hadn't used it in years. I was afraid the HDD was about to die, but after some ram and a fresh install of Mavericks, its better than new. If it wasn't such a pain, I'd upgrade it to an SSD too.

If you have another Mac with either FireWire 800 or Thunderbolt 2 (depending on the model of your borked Mac - can't really see from the GIF) you connect the two with an appropriate cable and use Target Disk Mode to grab the files you need from it for safe keeping. From there, you can use recovery mode to reinstall macOS with the peace of mind knowing your files are safe.

Alternatively, if you don't have another Mac, you can simply try reinstalling the OS in recovery without backing up first, as I'm fairly certain that will retain your personal files by default provided you don't format the drive yourself (the installer will not do that).

Or, again depending on your Mac, you might be able to remove its 2.5" drive by removing some screws on the back like this and attach it to a USB to SATA cable like this one to read the files on another Mac. This won't work on Retina MacBook Pros because they use a proprietary drive that can't easily (or at least cheaply) be adapted to an external device. Good luck!

I've installed both an 840 and 850 EVOs in my MBP, a 2009, with no issues.

You shouldn't need any other power cabels, it's built into the SATA ribbon cable.

The install is very easy. Just take the bottom case off the laptop, remote 2 screws over the black bit holding the gard drive in place and then remove the drive. Next, you'll need a Torx 6 to remove 4 pegs from the drive, which you put in the threaded holes on the SSD. Reverse the steps above and you'll be good to go.

Check out iFixit for the best walk throughs around.
13" 2011 MBP
15" 2011 MBP

Only other thing you'll need is a way to connect your old drive to the laptop to clone it to the SSD. I normally recommend an enclosure like this so you can later wipe the drive and use it as a Time Machine backup drive.

For the closing software, I've used Carbon Copy Cloner, the free trial will allow you to do everything you need.

Hope this helps

It's a little more than you might spend for it on eBay or Craigslist, but newegg.com is a reputable site, and you won't have the hassle of dealing with scammers or anything along those lines.

As for wether or not it would be a good upgrade, across the board the answer is yes, with the exception of storage capacity. That said, the SSD will be a much faster internal storage, and if you need more storage, you can always add something like this to your SD card slot.

It will be more than capable of editing HD videos, and should even handle smaller 4k videos just fine. If your budget is under $1,000, this wouldn't be a bad machine to buy.

That said, have you considered looking into selling your current machine and maybe going for something a little newer?

I would not chance putting 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM in your iMac (which only supports 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM) Also if you are buying two sticks that's $100.

I just upgraded my MacMini with 16GB of crucial memory and they were super great and it was less inexpensive than the stuff you are looking at. Looking at buying directly is $80.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/iMac-(21*5-and-27-inch,-Mid-2011)-iMac12,1-12,2/CT3757637?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtri0BRDLoaCF95e7o_sBEiQA_pgRQ958YYh-64Kqjs_glYchc_CN3E9brjsUi27I8QE9IF0aAvoW8P8HAQ&cm_mmc=shopping-_-google-_-null-_-us&ef_id=Vo4DaQAAASdnIwk8:20160107222909:s

Amazon has the same sticks for cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-10600-204-Pin-CT2K8G3S1339M-CT2C8G3S1339M/dp/B008LTBJK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452206086&sr=1-1&keywords=Crucial+16GB+Kit+%288GBx2%29+DDR3L-1333+SODIMM

As I said, very impressed with crucial. Came quick and has been flawless.

I did that with my wifes 2011 MBP too.

​

The 2015 I picked up I got a good deal on I think but it only has a 128GB ssd in it, which is super small and I take a lot of photos with my iphone and Nikon d3200, so I need more space than this.

​

I saw a guide that suggested a samsung 960 evo m.2 NVME drive with an adapter.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-Adapter-Upgrade-2013-2017-ST-NGFF2013-C/dp/B01CWWAENG/ref=pd_ybh_a_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RSQYBBQ008Y2QG3XMKNN

​

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-960-EVO-Internal-MZ-V6E500BW/dp/B01M20VBU7/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RSQYBBQ008Y2QG3XMKNN

​

so for $160 I could get 512GB of space which compared to OWC is super cheap and worth the attempt I think

​

I was able to get this adapter here and an nvme drive like the one you posted and I remember it working well; it was pretty straightforward. I had issues with hibernation, I think it’s a known issue that you just change the sleep settings to avoid. You’d have to google around for specifics but it was really easy to change. Overall though it was a great way to get more storage for way cheaper than the OWC or OEM drives.

Yeah, you're fine.

Increase the RAM in your machine — ideally, completely max it out — and you will notice a major performance increase.

Apple says your machine only supports 8 GB, but 16 GB is the actual limit. Buy and install this. (I have an Early 2011 MBP, which is also listed as 8 GB max, and 16 GB runs perfectly in it.)

While I'm giving you advice, grab a USB hard disk (or a Time Capsule) and use Time Machine, included with OS X, to keep your machine backed up. You never know when it will save your ass (and your data).

He wasn't suggesting that you take an external drive around everywhere, he was suggesting you take out your DVD drive and put your current HD in place of the DVD drive. like this. Ive don't it before, however, you can get the EVO drives pretty cheap now, and they are pretty good on reliability from what I've heard. here's and amazon link

It won't be the fastest machine in the world, but upping the memory would make it somewhat usable. I've recently decommissioned some macs from 2008/2009 and they still worked pretty well, just not fast enough for everyday stuff.

If the imac was free, and you don't need to buy anything else to do what you want, then for $75 you can have a decently useable computer.

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-4GBx2-DDR3L-SODIMM-Memory/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1497968823&sr=8-4&keywords=1066MHz+DDR3

That's awfully expensive for what you get. You could buy any 480GB 2.5" SSD on the market, and replace the HDD with that. I've replaced several unibody MBPs and MBs with standard SSDs with very good results.

Since average SSDs of that size are on average around $130, you're practically paying $90 for an enclosure for the old HDD and some cheap tools. You can get all of those off Amazon if you really wanted to, and also pick up a USB to SATA cable for $10 to transfer your old stuff, and still save money.

As for reliability of SSDs like the Sandisk or Crucial, I have SSDs ranging from a few cheap Sandisks SSDs to Samsung 960 EVOs, and unless you're constantly transferring GBs of files you won't see an appreciable difference, from boot up times to load speeds. Hope this answered any concerns you had.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FCLG65U
This gets read/write speeds of over 400 which is awesome!

And a Samsung 840 250gb SSD to go with it should do the job nicely... If I can set my mind at rest about the TRIM issue this is the perfect solution! I have a £60 amazon voucher too so I can get all this for £30 :D

Hey congrats! Welcome to the cult community.

Get 8 GB of RAM, more if you're planning on running VMs. Here's your caddy!

For software, start with the MacPorts package manager. People will tell you to use the collection of git scripts that is Homebrew, but MacPorts is a true package manager with a repository on part with that of, say, Debian's.

Let us know how you like it!

The fusion drive is probably the root of your problem, I bet you're saturating it causing it to perform like a slow HDD. I'd get a USB 3 sled and an inexpensive SATA 6 SSD from Amazon and run your VMs from there. It'll take the IO off of your Fusion drive. As a bonus, your VMs should perform really really well.

​

This is the sled that I use: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S

​

SSDs are pretty inexpensive right now as well: https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-240GB-Solid-State-SDSSDA-240G-G26/dp/B01F9G43WU

Id probalby just get a usb3 enclosure(there cheap, like less than 20usd on amazon, id get something like this https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541267854&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+3+enclosure+2.5) Its a bit slower than thunderbolt, but much cheaper. You can boot from it just fine, and much faster than any hdd.

Then id get a 2.5 ssd like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-1TB-SSD-WDS100T2B0A/dp/B073SBQMCX/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541267901&sr=8-4&keywords=1tb+wd+blue&dpID=41nJrjRecIL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Put the ssd in the enclosure, clone the os over to the ssd(look at a program like superduper to do this), and boot from the external ssd(can select the boot device with option at bootup) and it will be much faster.

Yes, current drive into optical bay. The SSD should be where your current drive is now since that bay provides more bandwidth which is necessary for the SSD to function at its max potential.

You need a caddy to place a 2.5" hard drive into the optical bay. This is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody-MacBook-SuperDrive-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US

Any SSD will be a great boot drive. Crucial or Samsung drives are solid. Get 256GB or up to whatever you can reasonably afford. I use a 256GB Samsung 840 Pro as a boot drive and my original 500GB mechanical drive for general storage. Hybrid drives (blend of SSD and mechanical technology) like the one you listed aren't so great since they compromise too much IMO.

For you to stay under budget, get a Samsung 850 EVO 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM and put your current drive into the caddy and then into the optical bay.

Make a USB installer thumb drive like above suggested.

Alternatively, I like to use a usb to SATA cable like this: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504536012&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+to+sata

You can connect your old drive to usb and boot into it and then run disk utilities to format the new drive and install the OS on it. Then boot into the new one.

My SOP for installing a new drive is first attach it with that cable, format and install a clean OS on it. Then migrate all the data with migration assistant. Now open up the machine and swap drives. You boot up and are ready to go (after all your sign ins).

Time Machine restores the backup to a fresh install of MacOS, to make it easy to reinstall, and migrate your data to a new computer. The backups are not bootable, so you you need to install the OS before restoring.

If you want to port your disk from you HD to and SSD in one move, you can use Superduper and copy the whole drive to the SSD before installing it using a USB to SATA cable, keep in mind the HD and SSD needs to be the same size if not more as to fit all of the data.

I'm positive I have an SSD (here is the model).

I bought a case and cable that support UASP (here is the case).

I do still have OSX installed on the internal HDD. I was giving it a few days to make sure everything runs smoothly before formatting it. The Mac Mini runs considerably faster off the external SSD than it did with the internal HDD.

To re-iterate, I don't notice any day-to-day difference between my external SSD and my family's internal SSD in a Mac Mini. I do feel by boot time is a bit slower, though.

like this one ? HooToo Shuttle dunno whether it works but looks good and the ratings look good too

Hi, The thermal paste we use at the Apple Authorised Service Provider I work for is this https://www.amazon.fr/ARCTIC-MX-4-2019-Refroidisseur-Dissipateur/dp/B07L9BDY3T/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=mx-4&qid=1567774785&s=gateway&sr=8-4. It is much better than the Apple thermal.

The Samsung EVO 860 you linked is an SSD we use for customers Macs, we also use the Crucial MX500, both are good SSDs.

The ram you linked is fine, we use Crucial ram but Crucial ram is normally more expensive.

u/ThunderAnt advice to make a bootable USB installer before repalcing the drive is a good idea as it won't rely on the internet during the install.

If you have the MacBook Pro 13" 2012 non retina then be extremely careful with the hard drive cable as it easily fails https://beetstech.com/blog/prevent-a1278-mid-2012-hard-drive-cable-failure

Try doing whatever you do that slows your machine while looking at activity monitor so you can see which resources are being used a lot. If it's slow and the CPU is close to 100% that's probably the bottleneck.

If you install something like istat you can also look at GPU usage in real time as well.

You just need ddr3 laptop memory. You probably have 2 open slots so buying 2x4gb would be best. Look at "about this mac" and it should say something like 8gb 1600 mhz ddr3 (maybe lower mhz) but get something that matches that.

Here's some that should work but you might find a better deal somewhere else.

I would do both, assuming your have a Macbook, not an iMac. A SD card similar to this to keep essential files on for when you are away from your work station, but I also would also get an external hard drive to save everything else and to keep a backup at home. Amazon warehouse deals offers 128gb expansion cards for around $56 (cheaper if your can deal with a smaller one), and a whole selection of external hard drives for $50-$60. However, if you want to choose one with the less hassle would be the SD card, assuming you have a model which supports this.

This looks cheap: http://www.amazon.com/IKEA-CLEAR-FANTASTISK-NAPKIN-HOLDER/dp/B0086SFXCS/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-12&keywords=macbook+stand

This doesn't look cheap, but it has intention and aesthetics: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-BookArc-Space-saving-vertical/dp/B0098EYM3A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-2&keywords=macbook+stand

This isn't a slim profile you want, but it's one that I own and love given the right circumstances: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-10032-mStand-Laptop/dp/B000OOYECC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-1&keywords=macbook+stand

I thought that was implied. Sorry. I ended up getting this case : Incase Pathway Folio and this USB 3.0 enclosure : Sabrent Ultra Slim USB 3.0 to 2.5-Inch SATA External Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure. I'm going to store the drive in the lid pocket and run th USB cable out of the pocket to a USB port on the Air. This won't let the zipper close all the way, but it will be good enough for practical purposes. Thanks for the input though.

The 2011 iMacs use DDR3 Laptop RAM. You can find it for pretty cheap on Amazon. I've had good experiences with Crucial, so I'd recommend them, but they should all work equally well. 4x4 kits aren't really common, but two 2x4 works equally well.
RAM

Well, there is a website called www.fixit.com that has walkthroughs and tutorials that can help for almost anything you would want to do.

I got this RAM.

>Pretty easy to install, just follow this guide.

I got this SSD.
>You can replace the old drive you have in your computer with this guide, or you can double your data (see below).

I got this CD drive caddy.

>You can follow this guild to swap out your optical drive with an SSD, so you have two hard drives in your computer.

Then you just install Yosemite on the SSD, and boot into that, use migration assistant to copy your stuff from the first drive. Then you use disk utility to wipe/erase the old drive and boom: you have storage and you have a fast booting SSD without that much more cost. If you can spend more than that, just get a bigger capacity SSD and maybe a new hard drive as well. Or just get 1 SSD and saw the hard drive.

I say, why have one drive when you can have two.

You can use the hard drive from your laptop, after buying a hard drive enclosure (which is basically an adapter to let you connect via usb)

I use this enclosure for my SATA hard drive, but you should check what connector the drive from your old laptop uses.

To install Windows 8.1 with a pre-created usb drive, I would use bootcamp assistant to partition the drive and get the support software. After that, I would boot into the usb and do a manual Windows install (Make sure to select the empty partition!).

For full disclosure, I think this should work, but I've only worked with usb drives created by bootcamp. If something doesn't work here, maybe I can help you figure out what the problem was that caused the "full on stop of progress" when you were trying to do it that way.

Don't bother with all that application stuff- everymac.com is a simple way to look up your machine. Is it the 2013 27" version?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-3.5-27-inch-aluminum-late-2013-specs.html

This gives the exact type of RAM you will need and maximum supported.

the iMac can hold up to 4x8GB chips so 32GB is your maximum memory. It probably comes with 2x4GB chips in it so you can add on in the other slots to upgrade your memory. I would suggest at least another 8GB for your editing work and maybe another 8-16G if you want to dedicate some to Bootcamp or a virtual machine (Parallels Desktop is a good example).

Amazon can beat OWCs prices anyday. This is the type of RAM you need: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008LTBJFW?pc_redir=1409054757&robot_redir=1

That is to add 16GB to the current 8GB it comes with so you will have 24GB in that scenario. Should be plenty!

OWC is $50 more for a 16GB kit...

Yes, you can use either either a SATA 2 or SATA 3 port for your SSD, you may just run into some bottlenecking without SATA 3 (3gbps and 6gbps, respectively).

This is a good place to start looking for SSD's, although I'd recommend the 840 EVO.

(Here's a link to the product,)[http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody-MacBook-SuperDrive-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425582441&sr=8-3&keywords=macbook+pro+cd+adapter] , super easy to install.

samsung 850 pro

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LF10KTE/ref=twister_B00M0QYEWC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

my friend used the 840 evo in his and it works flawless also!

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726

First thing is to format the SSD using Disk Utility. That's already on your Mac.

Use Time Machine to backup your existing drive. Then clean install OS X on the SSD, and restore from Time Machine.

One of these cables will make it all much easier, especially if you don't have a spare external drive. With this cable, you can skip several hops when moving stuff.

I don't believe any 2013 MacBook Pros were offered with a 2.5GHz processor so something here is not right. It would help if you gave more information about the computer like a screenshot of "About this Mac". Based on your claims of 2.5GHz processor, 4GB of ram and 500GB of storage my GUESS is that you have a "mid 2012" 13" MacBook Pro but you really should confirm.

If that's right, you can upgrade both the HDD to an SSD and add more RAM (you can go up to 16GB, but 8 would be a good start).

How slow is it? Finder should not be slow at all.

Assuming that you have a mac that you can open up (not a new iMac), buy an SSD. This will improve program loading times and boot speeds.

You will need a T6 screwdriver, but they are easy to install.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420893928&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung+ssd

You need an adapter to use standard NVMe drives. The best and most reliable one is Sintech. Get the long one, not the short one. It’s like $17 on Amazon. I’ve been using one in a 2019 iMac with an HP 950EX for nearly a year now with no problems. It’ll save you a fortune over the Apple ones and there is no performance penalty. I get close to 3000mbps with it. Make sure the drive you choose is an NVMe drive not just m.2.

Sintech NGFF M.2 nVME SSD Adapter Card for Upgrade 2013-2015 Year Macs(Not Fit Early 2013 MacBook Pro) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CWWAENG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_W3eSDbM2H8SVX

I have this USB-C to HDMI adapter and it works well.

Cable Matters USB-C to HDMI Adapter

Edit: I also have this USB-C to Displayport cable, and it works great too.

Pluggable USB-C to Displayport Cable

Apple's "Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2" adapter states on Apple's web site that it will not work for DisplayPort, it can only be used for Thunderbolt accessories.

"DisplayPort: This display requires a third-party USB-C to DisplayPort adapter. The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter doesn't support this display." from https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT207443

Which was the other adapter you used? Make sure it says USB-C to DisplayPort, even better if it says for MacBook or MacBook Pro, this one for example https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-DisplayPort-1-8m-Chromebook-Thunderbolt/dp/B01EXKDRAC

USB-C supports DisplayPort natively even without thunderbolt

Your machine takes 8 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. Here's a good price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LTBJFM/

Or get it for free here: http://www.downloadmoreram.com

These are pretty sweet.

Depending on your budget, I would recommend to max it out and basically turn it into the server version. Replace the HD with a SSD, and max out the RAM at 16 GB:

120 GB SSD

16 GB RAM

If the RAM is too much money, you can honestly do just fine with 8 GB RAM for half the cost.

The RAM is the easiest to replace, the drive takes a little more time but their are tons of videos and resources on ifixit.com and OWC.

If you want to take it a step further, you can buy the [DIY Dual Drive Kit] (https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/) and use the SSD as your boot drive, while still being able to use the 1TB for storage.

I've done all this myself and use my mini as a server that is on 24/7.

I'll chime in on the movie editing / storage question. My Macbook pro has 256 Gigs of HD space. It's still not enough. When you edit one 15 minute video in FinalCut X it's ends up being 50 Gigs or more. My solution, which works great, was to buy a USB 3.0 external enclosure and put a cheap 250 Gig Samsung SSD inside. This drive and usb connection is so fast, I will never have any issues with transfer speeds or using up all the internal HD space.

Total investment is about $97, a drop in the bucket compared to paying Apple for a larger drive.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E250B-AM/dp/B00OAJ412U/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1451314692&sr=1-1&keywords=samsung+ssd

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FCLG65U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Should be fine as long as it supports uasp like u/Kelsenellenelvial said. I used this enclosure with a Samsung 860 EVO.

I would recommend Crucial for your RAM and Samsung EVO for your SSD. These are what I used on my 2010 MBP before the logic board started acting up and I had to replace it. The SSD is pretty cheap too at $79.99

RAM: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Apple/macbook-pro-%2813-inch%2C-early-2011%29


SSD: https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

You can flip that bad boy over and take the drive out. Best thing to do is get a 2.5” HDD caddy and plug it in to another Mac or a friends Mac to get the data off. This would do fine.

1440p is a massive upgrade in my experience. I got the U2713HM for my 2012 mini and am madly in love with it. There's a huge increase in real estate, often negating the need for my second monitor.

Just remember to get something like this, as the mini-DP adapters generally go the wrong way, DVI needs dual-link (which is expensive) and most HDMI don't go high enough in resolution.

Correct. I just bought an SSD and one of these which screws into the superdrive spot. Super easy to install just make sure you use the right size screwdriver! I stripped on of the screws because I was impatient.

Thanks, I did not see that. Something like this, then

Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable or adapter will help should you ever want to hook it up to a projector or tv. You can usually get a combo one that also includes DVI and sometimes even VGA.

I also recommend a USB 3.0 hub, ideally with ethernet built in to kill two birds with one stone.

Finally, if this is a 13", a slim SD card that doesn't need to be removed is nice for expanding storage.

If you ever need to do a microphone input, I also suggest a cheap USB soundcard.

Thanks - I’ll go with 8 GB: Corsair CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9 Apple Certified 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3 10666) Laptop Memory 1.5V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JRH9V2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uljYBb0DTXMJP

I’m looking at this SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E500B/AM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4cjYBb2A4MCT4

Typing it out.. I think I will end up using my laptop like a desktop (skipping the dock and leaving everything plugged in), and getting a life proof case on a new iPad Pro.

No one here seems to have actually read your post.

Replacing the SSD in a 2012 rMBP isn't an easy swap, and most importantly, NOT COMPATIBLE with a standard laptop SSD or HDD drive, but there are some products out there to upgrade it: http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Upgrade-Macbook-display/dp/B00JKCHMP0

Also, as another poster pointed out, the JetDrive Lite is really good for offloading less intensive stuff such as media and freeing up more space on the SSD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MTHLURE

Edit: Also, I wouldn't trust that store. Not only is that price incredibly low for even a standard 1TB laptop drive, but it's nowhere near the price for the appropriate SSD replacement you'd need for a rMBP, which to me says they don't know what they're talking about.

Some manufacturers make SDXC cards that are flush with the side of the laptop. There are plenty more models than just that one, so shop around. This is a good solution if you don't otherwise use your SD reader.

Samsung Evo 860 is the best for performance and price.

$56 250GB

$87 500GB

I did this myself on my 2012 15" MBP.

I put the SSD in the hard drive bay because the HDD bay supports SATA III 6Gb/s while the Optical bay is only SATA II 3GB/s. I then installed the 500GB HDD in to this: http://amzn.com/B0058AH2US and then installed it in the optical bay.

After that I tried to boot OSX from the HDD but I couldn't get it to work. I eventually said fsck it and did a clean install to the SSD. Been working fantastically since.

I just got one of these for my 2013 MBPr. It has been amazing!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MTHLURE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944579842&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00K73NT0S&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=10Z8HPVJHFFPYEP0QYQQ

It depends on the uses. I got the 128gb rMBP and its fine for me. I pay for Google Music All Access so no music is ever stored on my computer as I stream. Transcend also makes this cool external ssd that is flush with the device. That said if OP does a lot of photo/video edit then maybe opt for the bigger SSD. But depending on his uses you can make the 128gb work really well if you are conservative with it.

*edit can't spelling

As everyone else has said, yes.

Another note to add is that if you rarely or never use your optical drive, you can replace it with a 2nd hard drive! After I replaced my HDD with a 250GB SSD, I got one of these and replaced the optical drive with a 750GB HDD. My OS and apps live on the SSD, and my large music and photo libraries live on the HDD. I've found it to be the best option for me to keep plenty of onboard storage space while benefiting from the speed of the SSD. Grab an external enclosure for your optical drive if you still need to occasionally use it. I manually manage the 2 separate drives in my computer, but I've heard rumors that you can set them up in a way that the computer sees them both as a single apple "fusion" drive and manages them for you. I might go this route when I have some time to sit down and figure it out.

I placed an order via Amazon for http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7RJQPY/ but will definitely keep monoprice.com in mind if delivery time is not a consideration.

This laptop, this RAM, and this hard drive. It's what we run standard as our work machines. They are fast, dependable and straight forward. You could save some money by going with an 8GB RAM install, or splurge and get a 960GB SSD hard drive.

An SSD is a solid state disk that is magnitudes faster than the spinning mechanical drive in your machine right now.

120GB:http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E120B-AM/dp/B00OAJ5N6I/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687028&sr=1-6&keywords=120GB+ssd

Ram:
8GB: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-8500-204-Pin-CT2K4G3S1067M-CT2C4G3S1067M/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687090&sr=1-2&keywords=mac+ram
16GB: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR3L-1600-SODIMM-Memory-CT2K8G3S160BM/dp/B008LTBJFW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687090&sr=1-1&keywords=mac+ram

Ifixit has some guides so you could easily install these yourself. Then just reinstall the OS using internet recovery or a bootable flash drive.

Get one asap, seriously, you won't believe the difference it makes. You'll never be able to go back to a HDD. Prices for SSDs probably aren't going to get significantly lower in the next year.

You can literally buy a 512GB SSD for about $50 on Amazon right now, though the best idea would be to go with a Samsung 860 EVO version at $77.99 as they're far faster and more reliable as well.

With Retina MacBooks, upgrading the RAM/SSD is not as straight forward as with the non-retina MacBook Pro.Currently, you can change your SSD using drives from this company (https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2013-2014-2015), but i'm not entirely sure, it confuses me!

I got the Retina MacBook Pro i5 (like in the listing) but I upgraded the RAM when I was buying to 16 GB RAM, as for my uses it was recommended I would need more RAM than an i7. I didn't bother with the SSD upgrade as I've previously bought these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-JetDrive-Lite-Storage-Expansion/dp/B00K73NT0S) for my MacBook Air. As I store pretty much all of my things in Google Drive/DropBox etc, I use a Transcend JetDrive to store the physical folders (if that makes sense?), so then my main storage is only taken up by programs I install

£650 seems quite decent, considering they are +£999 brand new. I would double check the model number (EMC, found on the underneath of a MacBook Pro) with the seller

Do you have an adapter and do you have it connected to a 5.1 or 7.1 receiver?

A suitable adapter should be something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002MQGRM/

I'm guessing you need to connect it before something happens. Maybe you'll have to change some settings in OS X as well.

It is absolutely worth it. I have an early 2011 MBP and the speed bump from switching to an SSD was enormous. I can't recommend it enough.

If you are looking for hardware suggestions, look at the Samsung 840 Evo. I have it, some people I know have one, we all are satisfied and it seems to give you lots of bang for the buck.

Apple considers the hard drive & RAM user-serviceable, as long as you don't break something in the process. But honestly, as long as you have some patience and a somewhat steady hand, you could do it yourself no problem.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do the replacement.

Read through the whole procedure FIRST! If you find yourself really uneasy about it, take it somewhere to get done. iFixit is a great resource and I use it all the time, they've never failed me.

The only tool you might not have is a T6 Torx bit. In a pinch I have used a pair of pliers to twist off the screws. All you have to do is break the seal and you can use your fingers to do the rest. Or just get a T6 torx screwdriver!

_

Now, if you're thinking of getting an SSD, just remember that they are more expensive, but also much faster. Worth the investment if you can manage. I personally have a 500gb SSD, plenty of space for me.

Here is a great choice for an SSD.

__

EDIT: Just re-read your post... and none of what I wrote is relevant to a Retina display model. Sorry :(

Get a sintech adapter and Samsung 970 pro 512gb


https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-Adapter-Upgrade-2013-2017-ST-NGFF2013-C/dp/B01CWWAENG

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-970-PRO-512GB-MZ-V7P512BW/product-reviews/B07C8Y31G2

If its too expensive, scale down as needed. Preferred 970 pro due to write endurance vs evo and speed hike from 256gb variant.

Note: make sure you have High Sierra installation performed, even to external hdd ( need firmware update for nvme drive to be detected)

Works well on my retina 2015 15” avg 1500MB/s read write

Okay so I used the Inatech method of buying this enclosure to boot from USB3 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FCLG65U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB and the speeds are WAY better than stock. I'm seeing speeds of 400write and 425read, but I wonder if I was to purchase a USB3 to TB adapter, would I get those juicy speeds? This is the adapter I'm looking at: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HGC82ZM/A/kanex-thunderbolt-to-esata-usb-30-adapter?afid=p238%7CsFXUVsoDR-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_52243322050_&cid=aos-us-kwg-pla-btb-slid-

Thoughts?

Yeah if all you’re doing is basic school work, it should work out just fine. You might have to buy a new battery for it down the road but that’s not the end of the world.

The only thing about using an SD card in that fashion is that the card will stick out from the case and has the potential to break either the card, the slot, or both if you accidentally bump/smash it in your bag. There are a lot of options though for finding a flush SD card like this one though. Just keep in mind that any SD card is going to be way slower than the internal drive and in some cases slower than loading from a cloud storage option. But it will work fine.

i didn't mean an external SSD. You can actually put NVMe M.2 SSD in it with an adapter. Here is the most used adapter for it. You can use pretty much every NVMe SSD on 2015 model.

Even better, put an SSD drive in AND a disk drive in place of the cd drive with one of these caddies: https://www.amazon.com/ZXUY-Unibody-Laptop-DVD-ROM-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US

Speed and extra space!

I picked up one of these over the weekend and while I thought it was a gimmick found it to be pretty badass. I can put my external drives underneath it and use my Macbook Pro as a second monitor without it looking dumb.

$50 for a piece of bent aluminum may seem outlandish but for a fanboy it's just right.

The hard drive in your system is hopefully ok and I believe on that model it comes out rather easy, 10 tiny screws removes the bottom plate, two screws removes the little plastic piece that holds the drive in place and disconnect SATA cable - bam, there’s the drive. With a $11 adapter you can then plug that drive in to another system to access your data or setup a new Mac and transfer your entire “digital life” right on to the new system

StarTech.com SATA to USB Cable - USB 3.0 to 2.5” SATA III Hard Drive Adapter - External Converter for SSD/HDD Data Transfer (USB3S2SAT3CB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1nAZCbF7JRW2A

So I got this. Replaced it, my mac was flying but then after a week, it wouldn't turn on anymore :( please help!

I have used this for the same model and it worked well. It appears that it's just rebranded, so I would assume it would work just fine.

What about RAM ?! Is this ok ?

Nope, internal. I just upgraded my 2015, piece of cake. Also check the 2015 serial number against the battery recall. If it qualifies you can get a new battery for it for free.

Drive (note, was $20 off a week or two ago)

Adapter

Cheaper Drive, but don't know enough about it

Transcend makes some specialized SD cards for MacBooks for just such a purpose, but I've never used one.

I keep some 300 GB of photos on my file server at home, and share it out over wireless to Aperture. 802.11ac makes a big difference there, too.

I'd highly recommend this aluminum laptop stand, it acts as a secondary heatsink for the entire base of the laptop. http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-10032-mStand-Laptop/dp/B000OOYECC

For storage expansion, I highly recommend one of these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DC9U2Q8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1406096970&sr=8-1

This one works amazing.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01EXKDRAC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This also seems legit, but I am tempted to just have the Display Port Cable instead.

https://www.amazon.ca/Plugable-USB-C-HDMI-Chromebook-ThunderboltTM/dp/B01FIVSC6Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493836186&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+c+to+hdmi+2

The easiest way to transfer the data from the old macbook is to pull the hard drive out and connect it to an external USB to SATA adapter like this one i've linked below. Bestbuy also has an enclosure that does the same. Also if I'm correct, you wont be able to access the data from the Mac's hard drive on a windows PC and therefore will require the hard drive be plugged into another mac. From there the data can be copied to an exfat formatted USB or external hard drive, then transferred to the Asus.

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493534934&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+to+sata:

Certainly!

These are what I bought.

This is the kit I'm using in my mid 2012 It was the lowest cost one at the time I bought it. It works so I guess i'd give it a good review.

I also put an SSD in mine and that makes a huge difference in speed. If you don't have one you need to get one.

Well I have an external hard drive. I backed up that first. Then I made the swap. Then with the HDD I used a cable like this to do the transfer. Worked just fine.

If you do have a mid 2011 Mac mini then the RAM should fit just fine.

BUT: You found 1600 MHz Ram and the Mac would run them at 1333 MHz so you could buy this instead: http://www.amazon.in/Crucial-PC3-10600-204-Pin-CT2K8G3S1339M-CT2C8G3S1339M/dp/B008LTBJK2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502888210&sr=8-2&keywords=16gb+1333

Both would work but the faster one wouldn't be used at it's full potential.

further info: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP632?viewlocale=en_US

Use an adapter like this and a standard optical audio cable to connect your MBP up to your digital audio amplifier.

https://www.amazon.com/Recoton-Fiber-Optic-Toslink-Adapter/dp/B0002MQGRM

It's not a Toslink connector, if that's what you're thinking.

It's a 3.5mm connector that can be adapted to Toslink, like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002MQGRM/?tag=support-simkl-20&sa-no-redirect=1

I've never in my life seen anybody use a laptop audio port for optical audio though.

It would depend on the computer, for example, the newer Macbook Pros have very small SSDs so that wouldn't work. However, if it does come down to it, you could buy a USB 3.0 to SATA adapter and transfer the data to the new computer that way (something like this may do the trick).

I used something like this before I went to the 2016 https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Storage-Expansion-TS128GJDL130/dp/B00K73NT0S

I just did my 2011 MBP last weekend. I purchased Crucial 2 x 8 for a total of 16gb. Do not fear it runs just fine. Screenshot for fun.

Here's the RAM

They're the same (though I could swear there was another Mini DisplayPort; maybe a n thinking of hdmi)

Cable Matters® Gold Plated Mini DisplayPort (Thunderbolt™ Port Compatible) to DisplayPort Cable in Black 6 Feet - 4K Resolution Ready https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7RJQPY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_6RTEwbZZB3TY6

Don't spend a lot of money, Here is a 120GB for $64
http://amzn.com/B00A1ZTZOG

Do a fresh install of Yosemite when it comes out, transfer only what you need, use web based email and big photo libraries music libraries keep on an external USB

Also max out the RAM EveryMac says you can do 8GB (2x 4GB)

2 x 4gb link here for $79- http://amzn.com/B008LTBJFM

So for $145 you'll have a blazing fast computer

This is what i used and it works well https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR3L-1600-SODIMM-Memory-CT2K8G3S160BM/dp/B008LTBJFW?ie=UTF8&action=add&asin.1=B008I647MA&cache=false&caller=aui&dropdown-selection=qoqjkvpqp&isAddon=0&isMerchantExclusive=0&itemCount=4&merchantID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&nodeID=541966&offerListingID=yOW7witHnsL0yV9pGwLs6sc4lHGBFrq9wlzuxdRE9cqmhU1DSr7uN6tbi8XDzv7Z2wtXF8Fd775pOVFBn5x6yLZh71jhrqQ6GHiqQrbzeh3JXK7C4xaJbQ%253D%253D&qid=1477182314&quantity=1&quantity.1=1&rebateId=&requestedQty=1&rsid=161-7455380-6936117&sellingCustomerID=A2R2RITDJNW1Q6&session-id=161-7455380-6936117&sid=161-7455380-6936117&sourceCustomerOrgListID=pop_3IFPSSR1GMYZN_wishlist&sourceCustomerOrgListItemID=&sourceVendorId=website.wishlist.detail.add&sr=8-1&storeID=pc&streaming=1&tagActionCode=541966&type=wishlist&url=%2Fgp%2Fregistry%2Fhuc%2Fadd-item-ajax.html%3Fie%3DUTF8&viewID=glance&wlPopCommand=pop_3IFPSSR1GMYZN_wishlist

I have two of these (one on my desk, one in my bag) and they work well. doesn't have ethernet or Lightning though.

https://www.amazon.com/HooToo-Shuttle-Delivery-Charging-Output/dp/B019R9ILTG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480360793&sr=1-3&keywords=hootoo%2Busb%2Bc&th=1

I've had a 128GB Transcend Jetdrive in my Air to double the storage & keep my music library on it.

It sits flush so can be left permanently fitted without risk of damage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00K73NT0S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519942000&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=jetdrive+lite+130&dpPl=1&dpID=41BkGv8H3XL&ref=plSrch

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1397609735&sr=8-8&keywords=256GB+SD

Yes, No, Maybe?

You have two main options (that I know of and have used):

FIRST, attach the new drive and format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) via Disk Utility -> select new drive -> Erase -> select format Mac OS Extended (Journaled). OR, if you have already converted your disk to APFS when upgrading to High Sierra or Mojave, choose APFS.

Then:

1. With the new drive attached via a SATA-USB cable (or external enclosure, which you can then put your old HD in), boot in Recovery Mode, use Disk Utility to Restore Macintosh HD (current hard drive - selected as Source) to the new disk (Destination). Once it's done, test boot by option-starting and selecting the USB drive and if it boots, swap it in and you're done.
   
   
2. use Carbon Copy Cloner program to copy everything to new drive while attached to computer via SATA-USB cable or SATA-USB enclosure.

I could be wrong, but I believe all Macs do have an optical audio out, its just a smaller plug than that square thing. Perhaps you just need an adapter? Not sure if that's a thing that can even be done. I've never used optical audio on my Macs.

Edit: To be clear, the optical out is the same plug as the regular audio out.

This is the adapter: http://www.amazon.com/Recoton-Fiber-Optic-Toslink-Adapter/dp/B0002MQGRM/ref=pd_bxgy_pc_img_y

You will need to remove the hard drive and put it in an enclosure or use a USB sata adapte. Here is a link for removing the drive. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Early+2011+Hard+Drive+Replacement/5119

Here is a link for a cheap USB sata adapter for $12. StarTech USB 3.0 to 2.5" SATA III Hard Drive Adapter Cable w/ UASP - SATA to USB 3.0 Converter for SSD/HDD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QFKPybZWC5D1P

You could also buy this external drive for $80. It is fairly easy to open and remove the drive. Then when you have recovered your files you can reinstall the new disk and continue using it as a backup drive so you don't have this issue in the future. You may have to formate the new drive for mac. Seagate Expansion 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STEA2000400) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TKFEE5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uJKPyb5C9BAPK

I sprung for the Hootoo hub. It seems to score way higher on Amazon reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019R9ILTG

Forget the USB-C dongle you have. Connect the MBP directly to the monitor with a cable like this.

I got this bracket and it seems to be working fine. There was a small screwdriver included. Removing the connections was a bit more tricky since it wasn't always clear whether they lift off straight or slide off. A small magnet was useful to stop screws from dropping into the machine. It wasn't that difficult but was more complicated that a drive swap.

I have the same Mac and bought these a few years ago. https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12800-SODIMM-204-Pin-Memory/dp/B008LTBJFW?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1. Worked great and no complaints.

I use something similar to this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MTHLURE/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SS115&simLd=1
With my MacBook Air and would highly recommend it. No real drawbacks and you can just leave it plugged in as long as 128gb is enough.

Ya it would. I would recommend the following SSD though: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426538134&sr=8-4&keywords=samsung+ssd+840+evo+pro

I have had that one in my 2012 MacBook Pro for about 2 years without any issues. It's crazy fast too.

The 850 is the newer model but I haven't used it before.

The 3.5mm headphone jack on modern MacBooks are analog/digital combo jacks. You can use a Toslink to 3.5mm Adapter to send digital audio from your MacBook.

Here you go. $5.00!
http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody-MacBook-SuperDrive-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1462132234&sr=8-8&keywords=mac+cd+drive+adapter

This is what I bought. http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Unibody-MacBook-SuperDrive-Replacement/dp/B0058AH2US/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334021667&sr=8-1

I ordered this exact product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTBJFM

Whatever you do, do not go to a shop to do it for you, they'll charge you wayyy too much for 20 minutes of work. Here is a tutorial on upgrading your RAM and switching to an SSD. And [here] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_31ATub10CX7FM) is a cheap, reliable RAM upgrade kit.

500GB SSD

8GB RAM

HD Enclosure

HD Replacement Tutorial

RAM Replacement Tutorial

It took me about an hour to complete which involved me forgetting to reconnect the battery cable so I had to reopen it for that.

edit: forgot to link tutorials

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTBJFW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3IVWOAFZ1HRE4

Here RAM for iMac 5k

Just picked up this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LTBJFW/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item

16GB. Here you go: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR3L-1600-PC3-12800-CT2K8G3S160BM-CT2C8G3S160BM/dp/B008LTBJFW/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTBJFW?colid=250NJBN736J8A&coliid=I1EMV8FBIIVWUE&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008LTBJK2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1449519941&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=PC3-10600+DDR3+1333+MHz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7RJQPY?gclid=CjwKEAiAmdXBBRD0hZCVkYHTl20SJACWsZj9TtXG5VI2PNRJbEuVf4YouZBDl3u-SQ8un2QsmulIGBoCdXfw_wcB

if the monitor has a DisplayPort input, use that rather than HDMI (older MacBooks max out at 1920x1080 via HDMI when using adapters). amazon has some that are fairly cheap.

I guess it's something to do with the mdp to hdmi adapter.

try this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7RJQPY?gclid=CjwKEAiAmdXBBRD0hZCVkYHTl20SJACWsZj9TtXG5VI2PNRJbEuVf4YouZBDl3u-SQ8un2QsmulIGBoCdXfw_wcB

I really would try this. Here is the sd card that i have, i just use it for storage.

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8

I would try it for a weekend project, if its to slow just send the card back. But I would give it a shot before buying a new computer.

opps PNY

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-EVO-Series-2-5-Inch-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413907580&sr=8-1&keywords=ssd+256

get this

and plug it into this

This is what I got:

Sabrent 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Yup! USB adapter!

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453365910&

Would getting these two work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SBZ8YH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=psdc_160354011_t1_B071JBGGQ1

I'm using this one: https://www.amazon.com/HooToo-Shuttle-Delivery-Charging-Output/dp/B019R9ILTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481958604&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hootoo+usb-c&psc=1

I'm gonna try this

This is the adapter and this is the SSD I'm using.

https://www.amazon.ca/Plugable-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Supports-Resolutions/dp/B01EXKDRAC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536071873&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+c+displayport

For direct USB-C to Display Port:
https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Supports-3840x2160/dp/B01EXKDRAC