I have a late 2010 MacBook Pro and was wondering if it was possible to take it to an Apple retail store and possibly have it upgraded. I am aware it's a few years old, but I am also aware that they can upgrade new ones in the store, so I was wondering it it was possible to upgrade mine. Is it?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5
I've got the same model. The only upgrades you can really do are to increase the RAM and change the hard drive. The max RAM is 8GB. Personally, I think the best upgrade you can do is to swap the hard drive for an SSD. Everything loads so much faster it's like having a new machine. As a matter of fact, my 2010 loads much faster than my friend's 2013 13".
I've got the same model. The only upgrades you can really do are to increase the RAM and change the hard drive. The max RAM is 8GB. Personally, I think the best upgrade you can do is to swap the hard drive for an SSD. Everything loads so much faster it's like having a new machine. As a matter of fact, my 2010 loads much faster than my friend's 2013 13".
So simply upgrade the RAM and hard drive to SSD? That doesn't sound too bad. And there is no way to get 16GB RAM in there? And where would I get Apple certified parts?
The 2010 model is a max of 8GB. Trust me, I've looked. You could buy the RAM directly from Apple, but you'd pay a lot more getting it from them. I personally used RAM from Other World Computing and a 500 gig Crucial SSD and just installed the stuff myself. Save the RAM in case you ever do need to have Apple service it for some issue, as they're very picky about having their RAM in it if they do a repair. Other World Computing has videos on their site which explain how to do these things. If you're handy at all, I'd say do it yourself.
Matrix X2,
based on your initial post, you have a 15-inch Mid 2010 MacBook Pro; there were no Late 2010 MacBook Pro models. Among the Mid 2010 MacBook Pros, only the 2.4 GHz 13-inch model can support 16 GB of RAM, and then only if it runs OS X 10.7.5 or later. Both the RAM and the SSDs can be non-Apple, as long as they meet the requirements* of your MacBook Pro, and both are easily self-installable. Note that you’ll need a T6 Torx screwdriver to take the four T6 Torx screws out of your current HD (which keep it in place within your MacBook Pro) and put them into your SSD.
* — Look at Chapter 3 of the little white User Guide that came with your MacBook Pro, or just look for compatibility with your model of MacBook Pro when shopping around.
In response, I have a Mid-2010 13" MacBook Pro. It supports 16GB RAM, but I only have 8GB in it. All of my friends have the 2013 Old Style (Non-Retinas) like mine, and mine is a speed demon with Yosemite. It also has a 750GB Hard Drive. All parts from OWC. Hopes this helps!
Upgrading late 2010 MacBook Pro
