is it possible to have 16 GB RAM configuration and a SSD in a mid '09 MBP.

Appears the RAM, at 8GB, is the maximum capacity it can use.

The hard disk drive can be upgraded to a solid-state-drive, so long

as the data speed is not faster than the computer data specification.

or Hard Drive Interface 3.0 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA)

The SSD models can be backward compatible, but to get one close

to the specs of the computer is best and most effective.

Consider examples of SSD and perhaps even a data doubler kit if

you were to choose to remove the optical drive, or to add another

hard drive or SSD in its place. Even a rotational hard drive of higher

spin rate than the stock 5400 RPM hard drive could make MacBook

run faster. The higher end model of your computer, when new, had

the option for a 7200-RPM larger capacity HDD. Or a costly SSD.

•Portable Mac Laptop Accessories and Upgrades:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook-ibook-macbook/

A place to look for upgrade product, instruction information, and kit

with tools, would be macsales.com aka OWC. They offer a few good

models of OWC solid state drives, plus rotational drives, etc.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

K Shaffer wrote:

The hard disk drive can be upgraded to a solid-state-drive, so long

as the data speed is not faster than the computer data specification.

or Hard Drive Interface 3.0 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA)

The SSD models can be backward compatible, but to get one close

to the specs of the computer is best and most effective.

SATA3 SSDs are backwards compatible to SATA2 installations. The performance level of a SATA3 SDD will be limited by the SATA2 circuitry. There is no reason practical to take that specification into consideration. I suspect there are very little, if any, SATA2 SSDs available on the market today.

Ciao.

"The SSD models can be backward compatible, but to get one close

to the specs of the computer is best and most effective."

An example of an SSD non-rotational drive to replace or upgrade whatever

original equipment spec (likely 5400-RPM, less likely 7200-RPM) would be

this series from OWC that states it has the same data transfer rate as your

computer's hard drive data speed; it need not be double-fast and run only

at half that. Just get one that closely matches your computer, as I'd stated.

If your computer were newer, then you'd look into the 6G instead of this 3G series

SSD. This may be the better choice available for the older MacBook Pros. These

are a good product and affordably priced with above average guaranty. They have

a section of how-to video instructions at the bottom of the previously posted page.

Since you are looking to upgrade past the old HDD spec, with a faster product,

the 3G SSD would be the nearest match, as I'd alluded to previously. Even if

the SSD has a slight bottleneck running through older SATA channels, it will

still be substantially faster than the 5400-RPM or 7200 on the hard drive bus, &

be quiet, also should use less power. However the big plus would be in that

you could see a noticeable gain in speed, due to faster read-writes to SSD in

the absence of more chip RAM.

They also offer a second custom SSD install tray that replaces the optical drive

and that would be a fair place for an SSD if you chose to put a 7200-RPM in the

original HDD location; if you didn't afford or want to do both. OWC also offers

replacement or upgrade optical drives, in case you like to have the original feature.

•mercury electra SSD 3G series:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_Sta te

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Need to know the size of this MBP.

There's a break at "mid '09 MBP"

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC

Later ones can use the 6 G the earlier the 3 G. The 6 G will run in the models that should have the 3 G but will run at a 1.5 G rate.

This information came from Tech Support at OWC. They are very helpful and you should definitely call them that's how I avoided making this mistake in a client's machine.