I have a macbook pro 2012 that i would like to upgrade to mac os High Sierra. Currently i am running El Capitan. My mac has 4gb of ram and a 500gb hdd. Do you think these specs could run High Sierra smoothly any without problems? I am a basic user and all i really use it for is to browse the web stream youtube. Eventually i am going to use it for music production. Would these specs be able to take advantage of high sierra's new features and would it be able to do this without freezing and being slow?
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2012 macbook pro upgrade to high sierra
- Thread starter losi11
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TonyK "told you right" in reply 2 above.
My advice is:
Get the MBP upgraded with an SSD and extra RAM -BEFORE- you even think of installing the new OS.
"Get it ready and get it right".
Then think about "new OS".
IMPORTANT:
Upgrading the platter-based hard drive IS GOING TO DO MUCH MORE in terms of performance than upgrading the RAM.
The newest OS's just don't run very fast from old HDD's.
They will run much better from an SSD.
A suggestion:
For the upgrade, also get one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-...478&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=sabremt+usb3+to+ssd
(I have one, cheap and useful accessory).
You can use it to "prep and test" the new SSD BEFORE you install it.
If you do it this way, and there are any difficulties, you will STILL HAVE A BOOTING AND WORKING MACBOOK. Makes problem-solving MUCH easier.
You might even consider installing and test-running High Sierra on the SSD (mounted externally with the adapter/dongle above).
You can see if it will work for you BEFORE you "commit to it".
Regarding the HS upgrade in general:
I VERY STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP on an external drive before you install HS.
If you have a cloned backup, it's easy to "get back to where you once belonged" if the upgrade "doesn't go right" for you.
WITHOUT a cloned backup, getting back IS NOT going to be "easy".
If the upgrade goes well, you can just delete the backup later on.
Also -
I recommend that once you download the High Sierra installer, DON'T run it yet.
Get a USB flashdrive 8gb or 16gb.
Then use one of the following small, free apps
- Diskmaker X
- Boot Buddy
These will create a bootable USB flashdrive version of the installer.
Then, boot from the flashdrive and install that way.
Many folks find it goes much easier if you do this.
My advice is:
Get the MBP upgraded with an SSD and extra RAM -BEFORE- you even think of installing the new OS.
"Get it ready and get it right".
Then think about "new OS".
IMPORTANT:
Upgrading the platter-based hard drive IS GOING TO DO MUCH MORE in terms of performance than upgrading the RAM.
The newest OS's just don't run very fast from old HDD's.
They will run much better from an SSD.
A suggestion:
For the upgrade, also get one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-...478&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=sabremt+usb3+to+ssd
(I have one, cheap and useful accessory).
You can use it to "prep and test" the new SSD BEFORE you install it.
If you do it this way, and there are any difficulties, you will STILL HAVE A BOOTING AND WORKING MACBOOK. Makes problem-solving MUCH easier.
You might even consider installing and test-running High Sierra on the SSD (mounted externally with the adapter/dongle above).
You can see if it will work for you BEFORE you "commit to it".
Regarding the HS upgrade in general:
I VERY STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create a BOOTABLE CLONED BACKUP on an external drive before you install HS.
If you have a cloned backup, it's easy to "get back to where you once belonged" if the upgrade "doesn't go right" for you.
WITHOUT a cloned backup, getting back IS NOT going to be "easy".
If the upgrade goes well, you can just delete the backup later on.
Also -
I recommend that once you download the High Sierra installer, DON'T run it yet.
Get a USB flashdrive 8gb or 16gb.
Then use one of the following small, free apps
- Diskmaker X
- Boot Buddy
These will create a bootable USB flashdrive version of the installer.
Then, boot from the flashdrive and install that way.
Many folks find it goes much easier if you do this.
Last edited:
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Upgrading the machine first like people mentioned above is highly recommended. While an entirely unofficial statement, High Sierra isn't meant to run on a HDD. Sure the official requirements also say you only need 2GB of RAM but lets be real.
Since you have a 2012 model you don't need to go crazy on the most expensive parts. Check this out:
https://www.amazon.com/Mushkin-SOUR...keywords=mushkin+source&psc=1#customerReviews
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-...=UTF8&qid=1523242078&sr=8-13&keywords=mac+ram
For well under 200$ you can get your machine running much faster. Using a bootable installer like suggested above and a SATA to USB adapter to migrate your data and I guarantee you'll be happy and when you move into music production the machine will be ready.
Since you have a 2012 model you don't need to go crazy on the most expensive parts. Check this out:
https://www.amazon.com/Mushkin-SOUR...keywords=mushkin+source&psc=1#customerReviews
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-...=UTF8&qid=1523242078&sr=8-13&keywords=mac+ram
For well under 200$ you can get your machine running much faster. Using a bootable installer like suggested above and a SATA to USB adapter to migrate your data and I guarantee you'll be happy and when you move into music production the machine will be ready.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Thanks for the replies. My hard drive doesn't really have much i need on it so i am going to put the things i do on a usb flash drive. Besides i would rather use the extra storage for other things. When i put the new ssd and ram in it, would i be able to upgrade to High Sierra right away form mac os recovery? Or will i have to boot it to an older OS and update form there?