RAM Upgrade

Yes, it's safe.

(132735)

They are reliable. I have done business with them for years, and I have no complaints.

However, if Apple has not certified your model for 16 GBs of RAM, then even though OWC has tested them with the increased RAM, it may not work reliably with 100% of the those models. Sometimes there is a problem. However, if OWC is unable to resolve the problem for you, then they will return your money.

If your computer can be further identified per these specifications, an upgrade should be feasible:

Introduced May 2010

Discontinued July 2011

Model Identifier MacBook7,1

Model Number A1342

EMC 2395

Order Number MC516LL/A

By replacement of both memory chips with appropriate spec equal capacity RAM, the unit should

be able to support up to 16GB RAM according to MacTracker.ca and everymac.com, when quality

reputable vendor parts tested & guaranteed are used.

There may be an EFI firmware update available, if not already installed some years ago.

The one I found is from 2012 for this model (13-inch, Mid 2010 MacBook)

Maximum Memory 16 GB (Actual) 4 GB (Apple)

Memory Slots 2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

If the computer already has the firmware update from 2012, it would not accept it again.

And if you do not want to upgrade to 16GB, you could buy two 4-GB chips & run 8GB total.

There is (almost) no reason to suspect the unit could not accept 8GB, if not a full 16GB.

The best results are with matching memory chips of exact specification, from reputable

vendors who have tested the RAM they sell in the intended Macintosh computer models.

MacBook Mid 2010 - View Memory Options - OWC macsales

• MacBook: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

I'd call the OWC macsales company (or email, if not in reach of their 800#) and ask if they

could help you to choose the highest amount of memory upgrade; and have the MacBook

serial number and sales order model number handy if they should require an identifier...

You can get the information without any commitment to buy anything from them.

If your MacBook is a MacBook7.1, it should have no problem using up to 16GB RAM, as

indicated by the OWC site, where they say the MacBook6.1 can use 8GB upgrade, and

the MacBook7.1 can use 16GB RAM upgrade. Note processor & other specs to identify:

MacBook "Unibody"
OWC tested to support Maximum Memory of 16.0GB:

MacBook "Unibody" (May 2010) 13.3" 2.4GHz (Model Identifier MacBook7,1)

MacBook "Unibody"
OWC tested to support Maximum Memory of 8.0GB:

• MacBook "Unibody" (October 2009) 13.3" 2.26GHz (Model Identifier MacBook6,1)

On occasion, they may list items at discount and also may have tested good & guaranteed

RAM that have been removed during upgrades, for less. Those deals are very limited.

You should be able to tell what the boot firmware version already in the MacBook7.1

is now, within the System Profiler or system information section, from the OS X.

The MacBook (Mid 2010) EFI Firmware Update 2.1 information & download is here:

• MacBook (Mid 2010) EFI Firmware Update 2.1

There is a chance the firmware was already updated in the past three years, evidence

of the status should be found with info from the Boot ROM version, system information

in the About This Mac under Apple menu, in Finder. Choose system report or profiler,

depending on the OS X version this access button may have a different name.

Check this Everymac.com page about the Macbook7.1 build Mid-2010 to see if it's yours:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/specs/macbook-core-2-duo-2.4-white -13-polycarbonate-unibody-mid-2010-specs.html

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

16GBs in the 2010 all-white 2.4GHz Macbook definitely works (see my attached screeshots).

Upgrade its firmware though, and run at least 10.10.** Yosemite or, better yet, El Capitan which I had on another hard drive that I stupidly (not accidentally) turned into a shiny skipping stone is MUCH better than Yosemite as far as freeing up unused RAM memory is concerned and, it appears to me, better also at prioritizing CPU usage.

The first bootup after installation took a little bit longer than usual, but after that all's well.

Happy Mac'in

Impatiently waiting for Sierra with Siri...

Kevin K

<Edited by Host>

According to everymac.com specs, cited in previous post about this product:

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Mid-2010) 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (P8600)

This product need only be running Mac OS X 10.7.5 (Lion) to upgrade the EFI Firmware

to see & realize use of 16GB RAM upgrade; or 2x over third-party RAM max, under 10.6.8.

An advantage with original Snow Leopard, without firmware update, would be total RAM

could be 8GB instead of the 4GB max. A good reason to knowingly upgrade hardware as

part of the overall configuration for sake of performance and compatibility with later OS X.

To add an SSD upgrade such as the mercury line from macsales.com, can also be advised.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Thanks for your clarification as to which is the earliest OSX that supports RAM upgrades above Apple's still-published "4GB Max RAM" capabilities for the 2010 MB. I'm sure that'll help some MB users, though I'm guessing that most are using an OSX version way above Snow Leopard. Good "back alley" info though, K Shaffer... 😎 Thx again.
KK