bruce57now
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: I need info about updating my macbook pro

I have a macbook pro 6.1 17 inch mid 2010 2.8Ghz i7. I'm running El Capitan.

I updated it to 8Gb ram four years ago but now need to update it to 16Gb ram. There is a lot of conflicting information on the web. Has anyone done this with a similar model? If so, where did you purchase the upgrade pack?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Apr 19, 2016 2:37 AM

by OGELTHORPE,Solvedanswer
OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE
Level 9 (52,323 points)
Mac OS X
A:

The advice from Crucial is good, a SSD will make a noticeable difference in performance.  I have a Crucial SSD installed in my 2010 MBP.

 

Installation is simple, essentially the same as a conventional HDD.  The problem is the cost and are you willing to spend the money.  I hesitated for a couple of years, but at this point having lived with SSD's, I would not be without one as the main storage in a MBP.  For outboard storage, conventional HDDs are just fine.  (I use an eSATA card in the Express Card slot)

 

Ciao.

Posted on Apr 19, 2016 4:13 AM

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bruce57now

Q: I need info about updating my macbook pro

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  • by thunderzzz,Helpful

    thunderzzz thunderzzz Apr 19, 2016 3:56 AM in response to bruce57now
    Level 6 (8,379 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 19, 2016 3:56 AM in response to bruce57now

    From this article MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support 8 gb is the maximum limit for your Macbook model.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 19, 2016 2:53 AM in response to bruce57now
    Level 9 (52,323 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 19, 2016 2:53 AM in response to bruce57now

    I also have a 17" 2010 MBP and thunderzz is correct, 8 GB is the maximum RAM that MBP will accept.  The confusion may lie in the fact that a firmware update in the 13" 2010 MBP allows for 16 GB of RAM in that model.  That firmware modification has not been done for 15" and 17" 2010 MBPs.

     

    Ciao.

  • by bruce57now,

    bruce57now bruce57now Apr 19, 2016 4:03 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 19, 2016 4:03 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks thunderzzz and OGELTHORPE you have confirmed what I was beginning to believe. Its a shame Apple are not prepared to apply a firmware mod for 2010 MBPs. Is there any way we can get some sort of online partition going to encourage them to do so, or is it just another way of forcing us to dig in for a new machine. Seems a shame, my MBP is like new, just struggles to cope with more than a couple of packages open.

    I did get a response from Crucial.com and they advised the best way of improving my MBPs performance is to change to a SSD as they are faster and more durable, faster boot speeds and use less power. But that seems like a lot of work.

     

    Bruce

  • by OGELTHORPE,Solvedanswer

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Apr 19, 2016 4:13 AM in response to bruce57now
    Level 9 (52,323 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 19, 2016 4:13 AM in response to bruce57now

    The advice from Crucial is good, a SSD will make a noticeable difference in performance.  I have a Crucial SSD installed in my 2010 MBP.

     

    Installation is simple, essentially the same as a conventional HDD.  The problem is the cost and are you willing to spend the money.  I hesitated for a couple of years, but at this point having lived with SSD's, I would not be without one as the main storage in a MBP.  For outboard storage, conventional HDDs are just fine.  (I use an eSATA card in the Express Card slot)

     

    Ciao.

  • by bruce57now,Helpful

    bruce57now bruce57now Apr 19, 2016 5:00 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 19, 2016 5:00 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thanks thats helpful, I will have a look at what deals are available for a SSD

     

    Take care

     

    Bruce