nazthegreat
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: Late 2008 Mac SSD & RAM Upgrade

Hi all,

 

I have a 13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008 Macbook. It's the 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, with 2x2GB Kington DDR3 1067 MHz.

I am currently running OSX 10.9.5. My Boot ROM Version: MB51.007D.B03.

 

I would like to switch the current HDD with a 512GB Crucial SSD. Have any of you experienced issues with Crucial SSD on this particular Mac?

 

When I originally swapped the RAM for the Kington 2GB, I read that 4GB was the max for this particular model at that time. I recently did some more research and came across that 8GB could be supported if you a particular firmware. http://blog.macsales.com/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb

 

I am looking to purchase Crucial 8GB Kit (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1066 SODIMM Memory for Mac. http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct2k4g3s1067m

 

I've read some people have had issues with 2x4GB and have used a config 1x2GB and 1x4GB. However those post were about 3-4 yrs old.

 

Once I upgrade to SSD and Rams I plan to update to the current firmware. Should I face any issues once I update to El Caption with the upgraded Rams and SSD?

 

I appreciate any and all feedback.

Mike

MacBook, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), null

Posted on Jul 12, 2016 4:17 PM

by Limnos,Solvedanswer
Limnos Limnos
Level 9 (53,591 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Read the OWC page. I think the firmware upgrade is so the Mac realizes it can handle 8GB after all.  I installed the firmware first so I don't know if it would give you problems but if you do not you may find not all your RAM is recognized or even none of it at all is recognized and your computer won't boot.

 

Generally when upgrading it is a good idea not to do too much at once. Do not replace both the RAM and the SSD at the same time (particularly if you are not going to install the firmware first). If you do that and find the computer doesn't boot you have no way to isolate the problem.  I would do firmware first. Test. New RAM. Test. New drive. Test.

 

As for the tutorial, as I recommended earlier, go to the MaSales.com web site and look up upgrades for your model computer. They discuss the steps you need to take to do the RAM upgrade and I bet they also have a video on how to do the drive.

 

Your new drive may require formatting first. Use Disk Utility.

Posted on Jul 13, 2016 8:39 AM

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nazthegreat

Q: Late 2008 Mac SSD & RAM Upgrade

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  • Helpful answers

  • by kaz-k,Helpful

    kaz-k kaz-k Jul 13, 2016 8:13 AM in response to nazthegreat
    Level 5 (5,536 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 13, 2016 8:13 AM in response to nazthegreat

    There is no issue occur as far as I understand your plan except it makes much faster MacBook Pro than you expect!

    You should get external 2.5inch HDD enclosure also so that you can make bootable clone drive with Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jul 13, 2016 8:13 AM in response to nazthegreat
    Level 9 (53,591 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 8:13 AM in response to nazthegreat

    I have been running the exact same MacBook with 4GB Crucial RAM and the firmware upgrade since last January with no problems.  I think you need to do the firmware upgrade first, then install the RAM.  There are instructions on OWC Macsales.com web site.

     

    I second the recommendation to buy an external backup drive. Use cloning software or Disk Utility to clone the drive to the external, swap out the internal drives, then boot to the external and use it to clone back to the internal.  Both the recommended software packages are good and have trial modes if you only need to do this once. Their strengths are that you can make later incremental backups where only changed files are copied and it is faster, but for that you will need to purchase a license.

  • by nazthegreat,

    nazthegreat nazthegreat Jul 13, 2016 8:05 AM in response to nazthegreat
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 13, 2016 8:05 AM in response to nazthegreat

    Hi All,

     

    Please excuse my lack of hardware. However, would you recommend the following process:

     

    1) Clone current HDD using Disk Utility to external HDD. I've just purchased a WD 1TB Black My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive.

     

    2) Remove existing HDD and replace with 512GB Crucial SSD.

     

    3) Remove existing 2X2GB Kingston RAM with 8GB Kit (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1066 SODIMM Memory. Does is matter that the new RAM is 1066 and not 1067?

     

    4) Boot laptop (having external HDD plugged) and clone it back into the SSD?

     

    ----------

     

    @Limnos - Do I need to do a firmware update for the crucial RAM?

     

    If you guys know a good and reliable tutorial outlining these steps I would greatly appreciate it.

     

    Overall thank you for your feedback. I was worried if running 8GB RAM would be an issue.

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Jul 13, 2016 8:39 AM in response to nazthegreat
    Level 9 (53,591 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 8:39 AM in response to nazthegreat

    Read the OWC page. I think the firmware upgrade is so the Mac realizes it can handle 8GB after all.  I installed the firmware first so I don't know if it would give you problems but if you do not you may find not all your RAM is recognized or even none of it at all is recognized and your computer won't boot.

     

    Generally when upgrading it is a good idea not to do too much at once. Do not replace both the RAM and the SSD at the same time (particularly if you are not going to install the firmware first). If you do that and find the computer doesn't boot you have no way to isolate the problem.  I would do firmware first. Test. New RAM. Test. New drive. Test.

     

    As for the tutorial, as I recommended earlier, go to the MaSales.com web site and look up upgrades for your model computer. They discuss the steps you need to take to do the RAM upgrade and I bet they also have a video on how to do the drive.

     

    Your new drive may require formatting first. Use Disk Utility.

  • by nazthegreat,

    nazthegreat nazthegreat Jul 13, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 13, 2016 8:49 AM in response to Limnos

    Thank you!!