upgrade my macbook pro

ironhorsedown wrote:

Hardware Overview:

 Model Name: MacBook Pro

 Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,2

 Processor Name: Intel Core i7

 Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz

 Number of Processors: 1

 Total Number of Cores: 4

 L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

 L3 Cache: 6 MB

 Memory: 4 GB

 Boot ROM Version: MBP81.0050.B00

 SMC Version (system): 1.69f4

This is 15" MBP early 2011

Your best any only option in upgrading the macOS is High Sierra—this is the latest macOS this hardware can support. No further upgrades possible.

macOS 10.13 High Sierra - Technical Specifications:

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP765?locale=en_US

How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra—

verify you are using the Safari browser to download/initiate the macOS links:

older macOS installer backups on this server:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211683

MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)

Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)

iMac (Late 2009 or newer)

Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

Hello ironhorsedown,

There's some conflicting and unclear information in your post.

There isn't a Mid 2011 model MacBook Pro. There's Mid 2010 models and 2012 models.

You say it is "El Capitan" but then you say its operating system is High Sierra. Which is it?

Get more information about your computer choose Apple menu  > 'About This Mac' in the upper left corner of any window, then "More Info..." or "System Report". Copy and paste the information here, but omit the serial number and UUIDs (if present). Please also include the year which may not be provided in this information. More about this in "About System Information [Profiler] on your Mac" - https://support.apple.com/HT203001

I suggest you go to this web page Identify your MacBook Pro model - Apple Support and identify which exact Mac you have. It will also tell you which system versions it can run. Once you know that you can use this information when considering possible upgrades:

Click on this link to read how to get different versions of macOS - https://support.apple.com/HT211683

- This article also has links to system requirements for each OS version which you should check against your exact computer model. Note some of the model identifier articles are outdated. For any model produced in the last 5 years or so you should use the system requirements links for each OS version instead. This web site also has a reliable presentation of model and OS version compatibility: https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility

- Make sure you have more RAM than what is noted as "minimum" for any particular system or your computer may run slowly.

- You may find you need to use Safari to get links for High Sierra and later using the Mac App Store application to open a functioning page.

- Sierra, El Capitan, and Yosemite download as a .pkg. Click on this to have a converted version placed in your Applications folder as an "Install OS..." application. Run the installer and follow the directions.

- Upgrades may take some time (up to an hour or more) to install, with restarts and blank screens.

Back up your data in case something goes wrong --> Back up your Mac with Time Machine - https://support.apple.com/HT201250 or use a cloning tool.

Check if your old apps will still work with with the OS you want to install - https://roaringapps.com/apps This is particularly critical if you are upgrading to Catalina or newer, as older 32 bit apps will no longer work.

Realize that while you can upgrade to High Sierra, you only have 4 GB RAM in that computer. Generally the higher you go in system versions, the more RAM you need. While Apple says you need a minimum of 2 GB for High Sierra, when they say minimum they really mean it. I ran a 4GB RAM computer with an older OS than your current El Capitan and it was slow unless I just ran one or two modest applications at a time.

Newer systems such as High Sierra and later were also designed in an era when Macs had a new style drive called a SSD. Your computer likely has a slow HDD. This will slow down computer performance, particularly a system designed in the SSD era.

You can upgrade both drive and RAM in this computer which would be a modest ($150-$200?) investment if you do it yourself. However, some would then ask if it is worth spending money on a 10 year old computer.

ironhorsedown wrote:

Limnos makes some valid points about SSD and RAM, if it is worth sinking money into the machine.

You will have to be the judge of that, here is a starting point, all things Mac—OWC/Macsales:

— OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For MacBook Pro 2011

— Best to buy RAM from reliable source with the exact specs, usually a lifetime guarantee on RAM:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade

That's what I need to know, too! My MacBook Pro still works perfect for me as a part time DJ and I don't wanna change it - but I want to be up to date. Thanks for letting me know. :-)

And hello again again. Several responses have been posted. Please read them, they answer your question you asked. If you have any questions arising from them then please post them.