mikejb01
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Upgrading an older macbook

I have an older 2009 Mabook running OS X 10.5.8 The specs listed below.

 

If I upgrade to 4 GB RAM what OS can I realistically install and still expect a decent performance?

 

Model Name: MacBook

  Model Identifier: MacBook5,1

  Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

  Processor Speed: 2 GHz

  Number Of Processors: 1

  Total Number Of Cores: 2

  L2 Cache: 3 MB

  Memory: 2 GB

  Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

  Boot ROM Version: MB51.007D.B03

  SMC Version (system): 1.32f8

  Serial Number (system):

  Hardware UUID: F2F36958-EC6B-5D5E-B3CE-D615B35D3EA2

  Sudden Motion Sensor:

  State: Enabled

Posted on Jun 24, 2015 11:02 AM

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mikejb01

Q: Upgrading an older macbook

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 24, 2015 11:24 AM in response to mikejb01
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 24, 2015 11:24 AM in response to mikejb01

    With at least 4GB of RAM, depending on applications you may have or need the computer may be able to handle

    Mountain Lion 10.8.5 (pay for emailed download code at Apple Store online, get download later) or if you can add

    more chip RAM through upgrade purchase and install of memory, Yosemite 10.10 may be OK.

     

    However in order to upgrade to a later (than 10.5.8 Leopard OS X) you'd need to have the Snow Leopard 10.6.x
    install DVD as available from Apple Store online, cost about $20. and with that installed, you could then go to the

    App Store and other online Apple Store items, such as iTunes Store, and others. And update to 10.6.8 by use of

    a download Combo update file, to complete that system to its final version step; an essential item in addition.

     

    •Snow Leopard Mac OS X 10.6 - DVD:

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

     

    •Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

     

    By the Model Identifier, the model you say you have is not a 2009,

    but yours appears to be an Aluminum Late 2008 13-inch model.

    {according to http://mactracker.ca database}

     

    Introduced    October 2008

    Discontinued    June 2009

    Model Identifier    MacBook5,1

    Model Number    A1278

    EMC    2254

    Order Number    MB466LL/A (2.0 GHz), MB467LL/A (2.4 GHz)

     

    Maximum Memory    8.0 GB (Actual) 4.0 GB (Apple)

    Memory Slots    2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

     

    •MacBook: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

     

    With any older hardware, there are certain limits and I do not have them in front of me at the moment. However

    if you are going to try & sync another iDevice with the Mac, you may need to see what minimal specs are for

    the device(s) that would alter the choices or make consideration for changes in plans, to include a later Mac.

     

    Given the limitations in hardware, it should see more RAM installed, and perhaps a better hard disk drive of

    faster spin-rate (7200-RPM) or maybe an SSD such as OWC macsales shows on their upgrade parts page.

     

    Be sure when upgrading the computer to match specifications and acquire correct parts for the configuration.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

    edited

  • by mikejb01,

    mikejb01 mikejb01 Jun 24, 2015 12:14 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 24, 2015 12:14 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Hi K Shaffer

     

    Thanks for the response. You clearly know your stuff is great except some of what you said and listed confused me a tad

     

    First, you are correct. My Macbook is indeed an aluminium body so I respect your notion it's a 2008 and not a 2009. I had to guess when remembering when I purchased it.

     

    I was aware I would have to load Snow leopard in order to further upgrade, I just did not know how far I could realistically upgrade and still have a usable macbook.

     

    My confusion..... you list Maximum Memory as 8GB (Actual) alongside which it says 4.0 GB Apple. So Ia m none too sure what that means?

     

    Ultimately I do not want to overspend on an older machine but i do want a better browser. I will also sync this older machine with a newer model, one I have back in the UK and of course I use it for syncing with iPod etc

     

    Thanks for your help thus far

     

    Mike

  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Jun 25, 2015 12:06 AM in response to mikejb01
    Level 5 (5,769 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 25, 2015 12:06 AM in response to mikejb01

    Your MacBook is late 2008 aluminum, you can upgrade RAM till 8GB(2X4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMMs)

    Apple says maximum memory upgrade till 4GB, though actually you can upgrade till 8GB as above.

    If you install Snow Leopard, you can upgrade till latest Yosemite.

    Actually I've been using same MacBook as yours with 8GB RAM and Yosemite as sub system and it's OK for performance.

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 25, 2015 2:23 AM in response to mikejb01
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 25, 2015 2:23 AM in response to mikejb01

    The two slots where memory chips reside in the Late 2008 MacBook (Aluminum) 13-inch you have

    can use one each 4GB, for a total of 8GB of the kind & type of RAM specified in my post. To see

    example of quality memory chips from reputable vendor who has tested them per this application:

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/

     

    Once you get the upgrade DVD from Apple for Snow Leopard 10.6.3 and install then update it with

    the download file from the Apple Support site (link given) then you should be able to use a newer

    version of Firefox browser instead of the dated Safari. You can use the included Safari settings to

    choose another browser as system default browser, instead of Safari, Firefox can launch.

     

    Firefox - Mozilla browser download:

    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

     

    The computer should be worth the upgrade, especially if it is in fairly good condition still. And this

    model, if not upgraded past Snow Leopard 10.6.8, could run some older quality software that later

    systems won't, because the 10.6 installer can add "Rosetta" (option in Snow Leopard) and with that

    some of your older applications should still be able to run that were from the older PPC code era.

     

    Anyway, given the cost of a new computer that only allows you forward upgrades, an older one

    gives you an option of a few other choices and hopefully you can make the best of that model.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by mikejb01,

    mikejb01 mikejb01 Jun 25, 2015 7:03 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 25, 2015 7:03 AM in response to K Shaffer

    Many thanks for all the information you have supplied, it's been of great help.,

     

    Prior to submitting my question on this forum I had phoned a computer shop who by all accounts are a recommended apple service/sales outlet. The information I received from them was, to say the least, uninspiring, certainly by comparison to the advice I have since received from this forum

     

    The other factor you pointed out and not considered by me was the use of older software. In that respect, given I have a newer computer back in the UK, I think it makes sense to take your suggestion and upgrade no further than Snow Leopard (already ordered) rather than take the upgrade all the way through to Yosemite.

     

    Once again, many thanks to you both for your assistance

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 25, 2015 10:10 PM in response to mikejb01
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 25, 2015 10:10 PM in response to mikejb01

    You may be able to locate an iLife '09 version install DVD suitable for use with Snow Leopard 10.6.8

    though iLife '11 is the last supported version on DVD, after that the apps are separate parts and on

    the App Store for purchase for later OS X versions. There are no iLife DVDs on sale in Apple Store

    online, so you'd probably need to look into Amazon or other sites where resellers congregate.

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILife

     

    iLife: System requirements - Apple Support (older versions, some missing)

     

    Some older iLife versions had differences in iMovie and other parts, and of them, some users had a

    higher appraisal of their overall usefulness. iLife '09 likely has a better following in some instances.

    But to get a retail iLife '11 DVD would give you some of the applications of that suite. Perhaps also

    look for a deal on iWork version of the same era for use with Snow Leopard. An oddity is that if you

    have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 with Rosetta installed, it can run AppleWorks 6.2 universal version.

     

    iLIfe '11 retail version on DVD

    http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC623Z-A-iLife-VERSION/dp/B003XKRZES

     

    Anyway, if you install these vintage Apple applications some of their updates should be available

    still (or not, going forward) by choosing Software Updates in the running Snow Leopard system.

     

    My older Macs with Leopard 10.5.8 have iLife '06 and AppleWorks 6.2.x, though I have iWorks of

    a suitable timeframe, never installed it; and have both PowerPC + Intel-based Macs w/ 10.5.8.

     

    So, hopefully you can make good and continued use of both older and newer products...

    Good luck & happy computing!