Macbook Pro Ram & Hard Drive Upgrade

bruceleeroy · Jun 15, 2009, 01:17 PM

Hey everyone,
I have been posting threads like crazy so I apologize for all the questions but this is the first Mac I have actually owned.

I have a Macbook Pro 15.4 - 2.4GHz - 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM

I know I can upgrade to 4 GB of ram but I wanted to know where you guys recommend and is there any ram that could void my Apple Care Warranty?

Second I have the 250 GB 5400 HD and I wanted to upgrade that as well. Again are there any specific shops you recommend and have had a good experience with and if I upgrade the Hard Drive does that void my Apple Care?

Lastly if I do upgrade my hard drive is it easy to put all the programs I have installed on the new one or do I have to re-install everything?

Sorry for the length.

friareunuch · Jun 15, 2009, 01:48 PM

ram - OWC
hdd - newegg

would be my recommendation.

newegg is running a promo now for the intel x25-m plus an 8gb flash drive for $314 i think. That's a steal.

Dwalls90 · Jun 15, 2009, 01:54 PM

RAM: Crucial
SSD: Newegg

veterator · Jun 15, 2009, 02:01 PM

I got 4GB ram and a 500GB HD and external case for the old internal from OWC for about $200 total.

UrFatMom · Jun 15, 2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friareunuch

ram - OWC
hdd - newegg

would be my recommendation.

newegg is running a promo now for the intel x25-m plus an 8gb flash drive for $314 i think. That's a steal.

If you're willing to pay 314$ for a 80gb drive... To me it's a steal if they sell it for that price... (even if it's the best SSD out there, I can't seem to see a good reason to buy 80gb disk at the price of a 3tb 7200rpm HDD)

bruceleeroy · Jun 15, 2009, 02:28 PM

This is perfect! Thanks a lot and I assume from all the posts that none of this will void my warranty?

Where can I find OWC's website?

iLog.Genius · Jun 15, 2009, 02:42 PM

No, HDD and RAM upgrades do not void your warranty - you just don't get coverage for those parts.

OWC website could be found at www.macsales.com

bruceleeroy · 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLog.Genius

No, HDD and RAM upgrades do not void your warranty - you just don't get coverage for those parts.

OWC website could be found at www.macsales.com

I cant believe how fast you guys reply this is a great board. Thanks for all the help.

One last thing with the Hard Drive is it easy to copy over all my installed programs to the new HD or do I have to reinstall everything?

iLog.Genius · Jun 15, 2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceleeroy

I cant believe how fast you guys reply this is a great board. Thanks for all the help.

One last thing with the Hard Drive is it easy to copy over all my installed programs to the new HD or do I have to reinstall everything?

You have options. You can clone your HDD and after the upgrade you can restore that image. (Try searching for this in the forum as I have not done this). What I did was I like to keep everything clean so I just backed up my important files (documents, pictures) perform a clean install and then restore them. Depending on what you have currently installed you can go either way.

bruceleeroy · 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLog.Genius

You have options. You can clone your HDD and after the upgrade you can restore that image. (Try searching for this in the forum as I have not done this). What I did was I like to keep everything clean so I just backed up my important files (documents, pictures) perform a clean install and then restore them. Depending on what you have currently installed you can go either way.

Okay perfect thanks.

There is something I am confused about on the OWC page they list that the maximum amount of ram for my Macbook
is 4GB yet they have a 6GB package as well. Is upgrading to 6 not recommended or something?

iLog.Genius · Jun 15, 2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceleeroy

Okay perfect thanks.

There is something I am confused about on the OWC page they list that the maximum amount of ram for my Macbook
is 4GB yet they have a 6GB package as well. Is upgrading to 6 not recommended or something?

You could go 6GB but you won't get dual channel. Even without dual channel you shouldn't lose out on performance.

bruceleeroy · Jun 15, 2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLog.Genius

You could go 6GB but you won't get dual channel. Even without dual channel you shouldn't lose out on performance.

Is it worth it then to just get the 6GB?

iLog.Genius · Jun 15, 2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceleeroy

Is it worth it then to just get the 6GB?

If you have the money. I haven't checked the prices but I believe the price of one 4GB DIMM is up there. I think most would agree that 4GB is more than enough if you don't plan to do any virtualization.

bruceleeroy · Jun 15, 2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLog.Genius

If you have the money. I haven't checked the prices but I believe the price of one 4GB DIMM is up there. I think most would agree that 4GB is more than enough if you don't plan to do any virtualization.

I use Cinema 4D quite a bit on my Mac Pro at work so Im sure I would see some gains with that. Its about a $20 difference between the:
4.0GB Upgrade
(4096MB Module)
$167.99

and the

6.0GB Upgrade Kit
(4.0GB + 2.0GB Set)
$189.99

Seems worth it.

Jun 15, 2009, 01:17 PM	#1
bruceleeroy macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009	Macbook Pro Ram & Hard Drive Upgrade Hey everyone, I have been posting threads like crazy so I apologize for all the questions but this is the first Mac I have actually owned. I have a Macbook Pro 15.4 - 2.4GHz - 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM I know I can upgrade to 4 GB of ram but I wanted to know where you guys recommend and is there any ram that could void my Apple Care Warranty? Second I have the 250 GB 5400 HD and I wanted to upgrade that as well. Again are there any specific shops you recommend and have had a good experience with and if I upgrade the Hard Drive does that void my Apple Care? Lastly if I do upgrade my hard drive is it easy to put all the programs I have installed on the new one or do I have to re-install everything? Sorry for the length.
	0

Jun 15, 2009, 02:01 PM	#4
veterator macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma	I got 4GB ram and a 500GB HD and external case for the old internal from OWC for about $200 total. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 8GB/1TB; 13" MacBook Air i7, 1.8 Ghz; 32GB Black iPhone 4 ; iPad 2 BK/64GB/WiFi
	0

Jun 15, 2009, 02:42 PM	#7
iLog.Genius macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario	No, HDD and RAM upgrades do not void your warranty - you just don't get coverage for those parts. OWC website could be found at www.macsales.com __________________ 15.4" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, WD Scorpio Blue 500GB HDD, GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT iPad with Retina Display
	0

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Jun 15, 2009, 01:48 PM	#2
friareunuch macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009	ram - OWC hdd - newegg would be my recommendation. newegg is running a promo now for the intel x25-m plus an 8gb flash drive for $314 i think. That's a steal.
	0

Jun 15, 2009, 01:54 PM	#3
Dwalls90 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2009	RAM: Crucial SSD: Newegg
	0

Jun 15, 2009, 02:28 PM	#6
bruceleeroy Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009	This is perfect! Thanks a lot and I assume from all the posts that none of this will void my warranty? Where can I find OWC's website?
	0