will new memory cards improve macbook pro performance?

I have macbook pro 15" from 2012, it's been giving me "memory low" messages and I'm at maximum 8G. Will new memory cards improve the performance or it's time for a new laptop?

Posted on Sep 19, 2020 3:16 PM

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Posted on Sep 20, 2020 9:19 AM

The real breakpoint is at 6GB RAM. if less than that your Mac spends far too much time simulating RAM on the drive. If more than that, adding RAM is a diminishing return.


Replacing the Rotating drive (and usually its cable at the same time) with ≥500GB SSD drive makes your Mac feel like "a brand new machine!". If you do not replace the cable, use an external enclosure and set up the new drive and Migrate the files BEFORE you do the "surgery" to move it inside.


MacBook Pro 9,, can support up to an 8GB DIMM is each of its two slots for a total of 16GB. It must be EXACTLY the correct spec, and Faster is not properly supported.

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Sep 20, 2020 9:19 AM in response to Abobo424

The real breakpoint is at 6GB RAM. if less than that your Mac spends far too much time simulating RAM on the drive. If more than that, adding RAM is a diminishing return.


Replacing the Rotating drive (and usually its cable at the same time) with ≥500GB SSD drive makes your Mac feel like "a brand new machine!". If you do not replace the cable, use an external enclosure and set up the new drive and Migrate the files BEFORE you do the "surgery" to move it inside.


MacBook Pro 9,, can support up to an 8GB DIMM is each of its two slots for a total of 16GB. It must be EXACTLY the correct spec, and Faster is not properly supported.

Sep 19, 2020 4:55 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

treCheck version: 5.6 (5212)

Report generated: 2020-09-19 19:32:41

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 9:25

Performance: Poor

Sandbox: Enabled

Full drive access: Disabled


Problem: Computer is too slow

Description: 

keep getting “memory low” message


Major Issues:

    Anything that appears on this list needs immediate attention. 


    Battery failure - Your battery is reporting that it needs to be serviced.

    Failing hard drive - This machine has a hard drive that appears to be failing.

    Adware - Adware detected.

    Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed that could be adware and should be reviewed.

    Gatekeeper disabled - Gatekeeper security protection is disabled. This computer is at risk of malware infection.

    Apple security disabled - Apple security software is disabled. This computer is at risk of malware infection.


Minor Issues:

    These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement. 


    Upgradeable hard drive - This machine’s hard drive could be replaced with an SSD. This would dramatically improve your machine’s performance.

    Clean up - There are orphan files that could be removed.

    Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed. Apple has said that unsigned software will not run by default in a future version of the operating system.

    System modifications - There are a large number of system modifications running in the background.

    32-bit Apps - This machine has 32-bits apps will not work on current versions of the operating system.

    Limited drive access - More information may be available with Full Drive Access.

    Kernel extensions present - This machine has kernel extensions that may not work in the future.


Hardware Information:

    MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

    MacBook Pro Model: MacBookPro9,1

    2.60 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-3720QM) CPU: 4-core

    8 GB RAM - At maximum

        BANK 0/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 

        BANK 1/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1600 

    Battery: Health = Service Battery - Cycle count = 631


Video Information:

    Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 1536 MB

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 1 GB

        Color LCD 1680 x 1050

        SONY TV 1680 x 1050


Drives:

    disk0 - APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E682 1.00 TB (Mechanical - 5400 RPM)

    Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA

        disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB

        disk0s2 [APFS Container] 1000.00 GB

            disk1 [APFS Virtual drive] 1000.00 GB (Shared by 5 volumes)

                disk1s1 - Macintosh HD - Data (APFS) (Shared)

                disk1s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (Shared)

                disk1s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (Shared)

                disk1s4 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (Shared - 6.44 GB used)

                disk1s5 - Macintosh HD (APFS) (Shared - 461.35 GB used)


Mounted Volumes:

    disk1s4 - VM [APFS VM]

        1000.00 GB (Shared - 6.44 GB used, 54.14 GB free)

        APFS

        Mount point: /private/var/vm


    disk1s5 - Macintosh HD

        1000.00 GB (Shared - 461.35 GB used, 96.89 GB available, 54.14 GB free)

        APFS

        Mount point: /


Network:

    Interface SAMSUNG_MDM: SAMSUNG Modem

    Interface en0: Ethernet

    Interface en5: iPad

    Interface en4: iPhone

    Interface fw0: FireWire

    Interface en1: Wi-Fi

        802.11 a/b/g/n

    Interface en2: Bluetooth PAN

    Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge


System Software:

    macOS Mojave 10.14.6 (18G4032) 

    Time since boot: About 6 hours



Sep 20, 2020 8:42 AM in response to Abobo424

That Mac <  MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) > can recognize 16GB of RAM


The mid 2012 is a real work horse...


Best to buy RAM from reliable source with the exact specs.

Usually a lifetime guarantee on RAM from third party source like:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/

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


If you install a SSD,

OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For MacBook Pro 2012

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro/2012


recommended you install a new SATA cable as well.

SATA replacement 15" MBP mid-2012

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/9230084#15_inch


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will new memory cards improve macbook pro performance?

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