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Upgrading USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 (MacBook Pro Mid 2010)

Does anyone know if (1), if it is possible to upgrade the USB 2.0s on the MacBook Pro (2010) to USB 3.0s? I know the new Macbooks are dropping soon with 3.0s on em, and Instead of swapping out computers entirely, I am interested in upgrading my internals as far as I can, just to keep up with the curve and to increase my Macs performance. (2) will the new hardware work with Lion? Im not sure if there would be any type of hardware-recognition issues associated with the upgrade. (3) If not, would it likely work with Mountian Lion?


And Lastly (4), How is it done? Im sure its pretty straitforward after popping off the base plate and getting a look inside the Notebook, but Im actually going to purchace new RAM to increase the speed at which my Mac runs, and new USBs, and possibly even a boosted HDD to throw inside and Instead of taking the back off so many times, I kindof wanna do it all at once.


I cant be the only one who wants to boost the USBs.


Can anyone out there answer my questions? and if so (5) which drivers would perform best with the Mac?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Mid-2010 Model

Posted on Jun 4, 2012 7:50 AM

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16 replies

Jun 4, 2012 8:28 AM in response to TalkTo_Chuck

TalkTo_Chuck wrote:


Does anyone know if (1), if it is possible to upgrade the USB 2.0s on the MacBook Pro (2010) to USB 3.0s?


No, unless you have a PCI Express slot and can use a adapter.



I know the new Macbooks are dropping soon with 3.0s


Speculation only, Apple is currently pushing Thunderbolt which is much faster that USB 3.



I am interested in upgrading my internals as far as I can


Only max the RAM and hard drive can be increased to 7,200 RPM, a SSD for boot and 7,200 RPM for data, nothing much else really in hardware.


Fresh OS X install, software update fully, install programs from fresh sources, user content last to only 50% of the drive filled, that's the best one can do in software performance. (no more than 80% filled)


10.6 is faster than 10.5 or 10.7 in tests.


http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/


How to revert your Mac to Snow Leopard



Firefox + the broadband tweaks, Ad Block Plus, NoScript, Wireless N router on 25mb/ps down, is about the best one can do with browsing, my pages load in about 1 second, even faster than Safari which is the fastest browser on Mac's.


My boot time is a mere 35 seconds on a 5,400 RPM, 10.6.8, Early 2011 17" MBP 4GB RAM.

Jun 4, 2012 8:27 AM in response to TalkTo_Chuck

I don't know too much on this, but I believe you would have to change the motherboard to use USB 3.0s and doing that will cause issues with the OS. The only hardware in a MacBook Pro that can be changed easily are the memory, hard drive, and some people have traded their optical drive for anothe internal hard drive. I believe the only way to have USB 3.0 is to buy a new computer.

Aug 31, 2012 1:01 PM in response to ds store

ds store wrote:


TalkTo_Chuck wrote:


Does anyone know if (1), if it is possible to upgrade the USB 2.0s on the MacBook Pro (2010) to USB 3.0s?


No, unless you have a PCI Express slot and can use a adapter.



I know the new Macbooks are dropping soon with 3.0s


Speculation only, Apple is currently pushing Thunderbolt which is much faster that USB 3.



I am interested in upgrading my internals as far as I can


Only max the RAM and hard drive can be increased to 7,200 RPM, a SSD for boot and 7,200 RPM for data, nothing much else really in hardware.


Fresh OS X install, software update fully, install programs from fresh sources, user content last to only 50% of the drive filled, that's the best one can do in software performance. (no more than 80% filled)


10.6 is faster than 10.5 or 10.7 in tests.


http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/


How to revert your Mac to Snow Leopard



Firefox + the broadband tweaks, Ad Block Plus, NoScript, Wireless N router on 25mb/ps down, is about the best one can do with browsing, my pages load in about 1 second, even faster than Safari which is the fastest browser on Mac's.


My boot time is a mere 35 seconds on a 5,400 RPM, 10.6.8, Early 2011 17" MBP 4GB RAM.

14 seconds button to desktop, 13" mid 2009, Seagate Hybrid (XT750) drive. 17 seconds with Toshiba SSD.

Dec 7, 2012 8:31 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1, I have a 13" mid 2010 and I plan on upgrading my hard drive to a SSD but you're saying you're using a Seagate which is a SATA 6 Gb/s hard drive... I read on a compatibility site that the Macbook Pro's prior to 2011 can only run 3.0 Gb/s SATAII 2.5 inch hard drives versus the latter models which now are compatible for 6.0 Gb/s SATAIII hard drives. Is it not a SATAII or SATAIII but solely a SATA?


Also are you running the Seagate in your optical bay and your Toshiba in the main hard drive slot? Or vice versa?


Message was edited by: TheJonAndrews

Upgrading USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 (MacBook Pro Mid 2010)

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