Macbook Mid-2010 Hard Drive Upgrade Question

The biggest hard drive is limited by the biggest 9.5mm tall 2.5" hard drive currently on the market. I think the current biggest is 1.5TB.

As long as the drive has a maximum height of 9.5 mm, it will fit, thus 1 TB will be okay.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Unibody+Model+A1342+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1670

Borja1055 said:

Thank you.

Is it worth installing an SSD drive in there? Or is it the same as a regular drive. Thanks

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I stuck a 240GB Samsung 840 SSD in mine and it was fine. It speeds things up a bit, and the SSD is easier on the battery life than a mechanical hard drive.

You'll see a very nice speed boost from installing a SSD in that machine. So much that it will feel like a new computer.

I recommend you an SSD too, it will be a new machine. 256Gb are very affordable these days, even 500gb. For storage you can always buy a external hd.

Borja1055 said:

Thank you.

Is it worth installing an SSD drive in there? Or is it the same as a regular drive. Thanks

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Yes... my Mini is running Mavericks pretty fast with a SSD and 16GB, but 8GB is fine too.

Borja1055 said:

What is the maximum that it can upgrade to? I currently have 8GB or Ram installed and 500GB hard drive. I would like to install either 750GB or 1TB. Thanks

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You can also upgrade to 16GB of RAM.

16gig of ram

AppleFanatic10 said:

You can also upgrade to 16GB of RAM.

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Will it accept 16gigs of ram?

thanks,
Christian

keema said:

Will it accept 16gigs of ram?



thanks,

Christian

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Yeah...

Borja1055 said:

Mine won't take more than 5 GB. I have a 4 GB stick and a 1GB stick in. Once i replace the 1 GB with a 4 GB it beeps on startup

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Depends on which MacBook you have. If you have the Mid 2010 MB it should take the 16GB of ram with no problem.

Borja1055 said:

Mine won't take more than 5 GB. I have a 4 GB stick and a 1GB stick in. Once i replace the 1 GB with a 4 GB it beeps on startup

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Your 1GB module is probably the only 1066MHz one. The other 4GB sticks may be 1333MHz or more. You need at least one 1066MHz module installed to get your Macbook booting up. You can make some 1333MHz modules to be recognized as 1066MHz, but you must run a paid Windows app to do the trick (search for thaiphoon burner).

Borja1055 said:

Mine won't take more than 5 GB. I have a 4 GB stick and a 1GB stick in. Once i replace the 1 GB with a 4 GB it beeps on startup

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Make sure they are both the 1066, as someone already pointed out. I just upgraded the RAM on my mid 2010 macbook and now have an 8 gig stick and 2 gig stick and it works fine. What brand RAM do you have? I bought OWC because I couldn't find cheaper (but still from reliable brand) sticks for it that were 1066.

synesthesiax said:

Make sure they are both the 1066, as someone already pointed out. I just upgraded the RAM on my mid 2010 macbook and now have an 8 gig stick and 2 gig stick and it works fine. What brand RAM do you have? I bought OWC because I couldn't find cheaper (but still from reliable brand) sticks for it that were 1066.

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It only needs one 1066 MHz module. The other one can be a 1333 one (didn't tested with 1600 MHz modules, but they should work together with a 1066 module too).

RAM modules just inform the system about their maximum speed, but they can work at lower speeds without any problem. The problem is on the Apple side, which needs finding at least one 1066 module.

You can even buy 1333 modules from eligible brands and setup their descriptors as if they were of 1066 MHz. The Macbook chipset will flawlessly accept these "hacked" modules.

Borja1055 said:

How can i change the descriptor so it accepts both 1333 as 1067? Thanks

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I did this procedure to install 8+8GB modules on my MacMini. The modules were Corsair "Value" ones, sold as individual sticks. I found one picture from a dual module kit of the same model:
http://www.cx.com.au/cxProducts/CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9-1.jpg

Then you must install a Windows application called Thaiphoon Burner. You must install one of the modules on a Windows machine capable of accepting 1333MHz modules or even in your Mac if you use Bootcamp. Do not try the procedure if Windows is running in a virtual machine, like VMWare, Parallels or Virtualbox.
http://www.softnology.biz

I followed the tutorial shown below from their site:
http://www.softnology.biz/tips_macbookpro.html

You just have to change the SPD registry to 1066MHz from one module. The other can stay intact.

I upgraded a niece's Macbook 7,1 to 8GB of Crucial memory and a Samsung EVO 840 500GB SSD. It books and runs like a MBA. I will do a second one for her so her 4 kids can share both of them.