Advice for memory upgrade?

Always buy RAM from anyplace other than Apple, unless it's soldered in (like on some newer models).

• 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

You can find specs on all Apple products, including maximum RAM:

• 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.)

 

GGJstudios always posts a ton of good info, make sure you read through what he's linked.

It sounds like you've got a MacBook Pro from the same generation as me. I recently upgraded my 13" mid-2009 2.53GHz model with 2 x 4GB of memory. I bought Corsair value-select(or whatever it's called) from a local place while it was on sale.

I went with 1333MHz memory instead of the 1067MHz stuff my laptop originally shipped with. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that my laptop actually ran the memory at full speed and I had SLIGHTLY better performance in Diablo 3(which flat out runs like crap on my laptop, so I'll take what I can get!)

 

Hello from up in Canada.. I had the same computer until I upgraded. I believe the RAM I installed was this one, definitely was Mushkin, as is in my late 2011 MBP..

Worked perfectly, and is only $39.95 w/ Free Delivery, pretty sure mine was well over $200.. Yay!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226021

OWC has also treated my MAC's and me well.. here is the page to look around on for Options:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3



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Apparently the NEWEGG site won't allow a Direct Link.. it appears to 'neuter' it to go to The Main Page only!!

Oh well, here is the Info :

Item#: N82E16820226021

Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory Model 996644

 

Probably not the extra files. Be careful not to confuse storage = your hard drive space and memory = ram.

Take a look at how much hard drive space you are using - if the drive is almost full then your performance may take a hit and your data will be at risk of corruption - otherwise you will be ok. You always want about 10-20% free as a minimum.

8gb ram will be the limit of what you can put in that machine, but if you can do it the best upgrade will be to replace your hard drive for an SSD. That will make your computer seem much snappier regardless of how much ram you have. The problem is that the SSD will likely have lower capacity though so if you have used more than 256gb of your hard drive you'll have to take some data off.

For an SSD shop around for a Samsung 830 or Crucial M4 - both are good so get the cheapest, if less than $50 difference, otherwise the Samsung is marginally preferable but either will do so save the extra $ if you want.

Samsung 830 is around $219 or so at micro center but you should shop around.
Crucial M4 is $209 at Amazon but I've seen it drop to $160 recently (I was paying $380 for this in Nov 2011!!!!!!)

There are also 512gb SSD's available. The M4 is about $399.

For ram, try Crucial.com - enter your details and see what they charge for 8gb of ram - should be in the region of $50

Get both if you can afford it and can make do with 256gb - otherwise SSD then ram in my view.