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jdrepjc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 14, 2020
7
3
Anyone know if I would be able to upgrade my mid-2012 Macbook Pro to run Big Sur and maybe even Monterey?

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Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,057
13,087
This is a "unibody" MBP, is that assumption correct?

If so, you CAN upgrade it.

You can replace the internal platter-based hard drive with a 2.5" SSD.

You could also upgrade the RAM inside, although 8gb is probably "enough" unless YOU KNOW that you "need more". I'd leave it at 8 for now.

Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved in swapping the drive.
IT'S EASY (shouting intentional). Hardest part is taking out all the screws on the back and putting them back in.

You do need THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB:
- Phillips #00 driver
- TORX T-6 driver (for the "nubs" on the side of the drive)

Just about any 2.5" SSD will do.
DO NOT "buy the fastest" -- will be of no importance.
Instead, buy "for price" (I like Crucial and Sandisk).

You might also consider buying a USB3 2.5" external enclosure, like this:

You can use this to "prepare and test" the SSD BEFORE you open the MBP.
That way, you will still have a "working Mac" while you do the prep.

And... after you do the drive swap... you can put the old HDD into the enclosure and use it for a backup, or extra storage.
 

jdrepjc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 14, 2020
7
3
ok, great... so I should expect a faster machine with an SSD???

However, my understanding is that changing to SSD only will not make is compatible with Big Sur or Monterey... yes? other possible upgrades to achieve this?

Thanks.
 

justashooter

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2020
335
194
You can upgrade the 2012 to Catalina directly. The last OS officially supported by the 2012 MBP. There are workarounds I have read about in posts, called patchers, created by dosdude1 that will allow them to run Monterey, Big Sure, etc. I have not used them.

I have two 2012 MBP 13's. Great computers. I have stopped at Mojave, which I find a very stable OS. I also still use some 32 bit programs. Catalina and newer OS's no longer support 32 bit programs.

You will find a much faster computer with an SSD upgrade.
 

jdrepjc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 14, 2020
7
3
I used the dosdude1 Catalina patcher on a mid-2009 MBP for a couple years and it was great. But I'd prefer not to run a patcher on this one. I've heard that with certain GPU upgrades I might be able to run Big Sur and Monterey directly. Just hoping someone out there knows if it's possible and how to do it.
 
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mr_manny

macrumors newbie
Jan 12, 2022
7
4
Switching to an SSD primary drive is night-and-day.
Your going to wonder why you waited to switch.
If you don't need your superdrive, pickup one of those drive caddys and install your old sata for increased internal disk space.
Can't help with OSX, cause I only run linux :cool:
 

jdrepjc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 14, 2020
7
3
At the very least I’ll upgrade to ssd. Sata 3 compatible yes? Wanna make sure I get the right one
 

justashooter

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2020
335
194
Yes, SATA3, 6g. I use Crucial MX500 series, in one of the MBP's and in a 4 SSD RAID, good product. A Samsung 850 EVO in the other. The Crucials are usually cheaper.
 

Adarna

Suspended
Jan 1, 2015
685
429
Nearing 120 months old I'd just sell it and buy a 2020 MBA M1 or this year's model.
 
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