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Can I upgrade my prossesor, ram, graphics card and motherboard on my MacBook Air 2008

J

Jack5060

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 21, 2013
1
0
I have a MacBook Air 2008 and I like it very much but it isn't quick enough to do what I want it to. I know your can't upgrade it individually because there all atached but I want to almost replace everything, if so is there any company that can do this for me.
Thank you
 
0007776

0007776

Suspended
Jul 11, 2006
6,473
8,170
Somewhere
You could possibly buy a newer Macbook air with a broken screen and try to put everything from inside it into your current MBA, but that would not save you much money over just buying a fully working used one to replace your current one, and it may not even work.
 
M

Mrbobb

macrumors 603
Aug 27, 2012
5,009
209
How do u guys know a 2008 enclosure has the same exact interior dimension to accommodate a newer MOBO?
 
W

wjlafrance

macrumors 6502
Dec 23, 2009
359
1
Madison, WI
Robyr said:
It doesn't. Members are talking out of their behind by even suggesting it.
Click to expand...

If you're good with a Dremmel, you might be able to do it. The new motherboard may not have the same display adaptor, or may not line up with any of the side ports (but you have a Dremmel, so cut new ports!).

I wouldn't recommend it.
 
pgiguere1

pgiguere1

macrumors 68020
May 28, 2009
2,167
1,200
Montreal, Canada
Just sell it and buy a more recent one. I've been shopping for used MBAs lately and 2008 models sell for around $550 while you can get a 2011 for around $850. The $300 difference isn't too bad, and the performance will be much, much better.
 
W

wjlafrance

macrumors 6502
Dec 23, 2009
359
1
Madison, WI
pgiguere1 said:
Just sell it and buy a more recent one. I've been shopping for used MBAs lately and 2008 models sell for around $550 while you can get a 2011 for around $850. The $300 difference isn't too bad, and the performance will be much, much better.
Click to expand...

This. Your machine is 5 years old.
 
S

Stetrain

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2009
3,550
20
The only thing that you could possibly do would be to replace your logic board with one from a higher-end 2008 model Air. Even the fastest one of those you could find would still be pretty slow by modern standards.


As others have said I would suggest selling yours for as much as you can and looking for a nice used 2010 or 2011 model.
 
T

thei0009

macrumors newbie
Mar 14, 2013
20
0
Kind of off topic here but one question does the 64gb ssd for 2008 MacBook Air beat the 80gb hdd?
 
T

thei0009

macrumors newbie
Mar 14, 2013
20
0
Should i get the 2008 macbook air for portability or the macbook aluminum for power since i am upgrading from a powerbook.
 
simsaladimbamba

simsaladimbamba

Guest
Nov 28, 2010
22,670
31
located
thei0009 said:
I need power but am afraid that the aluminum macbook wont be that much thinner than my powerbook does anybody know how much more thin it is?
Click to expand...

The Aluminium G4 PowerBooks were 30 mm, 28mm and 25.4 mm high (12", 15", 17").
The 2008 MacBook Air is 4mm to 19.3 mm high.
The 2008 Unibody Aluminium MacBook is 24.1 mm high.

I guess your computational needs depend on thinness? Anyway, the 2008 MacBook Air is not as powerful as the 2008 Unibody Aluminium MacBook.

Mac Benchmarks by Geekbench
 
T

thei0009

macrumors newbie
Mar 14, 2013
20
0
simsaladimbamba said:
The Aluminium G4 PowerBooks were 30 mm, 28mm and 25.4 mm high (12", 15", 17").
The 2008 MacBook Air is 4mm to 19.3 mm high.
The 2008 Unibody Aluminium MacBook is 24.1 mm high.

I guess your computational needs depend on thinness? Anyway, the 2008 MacBook Air is not as powerful as the 2008 Unibody Aluminium MacBook.

Mac Benchmarks by Geekbench
Click to expand...

Thanks alot since i am coming from the powerbook i know that the air is my choice because it is still like five times faster than my g4.
 
Last edited:
mgipe

mgipe

macrumors demi-god
Oct 6, 2009
675
145
CA
Apple sells a convenient upgrade kit for your 2008 MBA that takes care of all the parts you want to replace. You can pick one up at any Apple store. Ask for part number MD231LL/A.
 
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