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2009 mbp
- Thread starter Gary86
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If you're having performance issues, this may help:
- Launch Activity Monitor
- Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
- Click on the CPU column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
- Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
- Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
- Post your screenshots.
When is the last time you restarted your Mac? You have significant page outs, which could indicate you need more RAM. Your MBP can use up to 8GB of RAM.
Not sure when the last time she restarted it but I can now. Will installing new RAM cause her to lose any files? Everything is backed up.
Any suggestions for places to get new/more RAM?
To determine if you can benefit from more RAM, launch Activity Monitor and click the System Memory tab at the bottom to check your page outs. Page outs are cumulative since your last restart, so the best way to check is to restart your computer and track page outs under your normal workload (the apps, browser pages and documents you normally would have open). If your page outs are significant (say 1GB or more) under normal use, you may benefit from more RAM. If your page outs are zero or very low during normal use, you probably won't see any performance improvement from adding RAM.
Mac OS X: Reading system memory usage in Activity Monitor
No, RAM isn't storage for files. That's what your hard drive is for. RAM contents are emptied every time you restart your Mac.
- Apple does not manufacture RAM and charges more than you would pay with other reputable RAM providers.
- Some great sources for Mac-compatible RAM are OWC, Crucial and newegg.com.
- Installation of user-installable parts such as RAM does not void the Apple Warranty or the AppleCare Protection Plan, unless you damage something in the process.
- MR Guide to Buying RAM
- MR Guide to Understanding Intel Mac RAM
- MR Guide to Matched RAM on Intel Macs
- MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory
- MacBook: How to remove or install memory
- iMac: How to remove or install memory
- Mac mini: How to remove or install memory
- By visiting EveryMac.com: Actual Maximum RAM
- By selecting your model on the Crucial Memory Advisor™ Tool to find RAM information
- By using Mactracker
- By entering your serial number here to find specs for your model.
(Be aware that some models can use more RAM than Apple shows. Check EveryMac to verify actual usable RAM.)
Amazon and newegg have good deals most of the time. If you live near a Frys, they've got good deals too.
I recently upgraded my mid-2009 13" MBP from 4GB RAM and the 250GB 5200RPM HDD to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. I actually bought both at Frys on sale. There was a noticeable improvement in speed and responsiveness.
Should work well! I didn't know any of the mid 2009 MBP models even came with 2GB of RAM.
Yup. Kinda weak. That was my first MacBook switching from PC and didn't know much about them.