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How to speed my computer up?

K

karboN.6

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 26, 2010
229
0
Ny
I was just wondering if I could and should buy an upgraded Ram chip so that my computer can run a little faster? After making a movie on imovie 10 and being so frustrated that it was so laggy and slow I am wondering if I can upgrade to 6 gb of ram.

I have a MBP 13-inch, Mid 2010 model
Memory: 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

That is the info in my about this mac
Running on: Software OS X 10.9
 
If you upgrade your RAM you should upgrade to 8GB. But, getting an SSD will give you an even bigger speed boost. Getting both might be a good idea too.

What do you use your computer for?
 
simsaladimbamba said:
You can upgrade to 8 GB of 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM.
You could also upgrade the HDD with an SSD to have faster startup times (boot and applications) and just a faster computer overall, since the HDD is the slowest component compared to CPU and RAM.



Click to expand...

Could possibly help but that is seriously old processor good 6-7 years just not up to the task that is the real problem. Probably better off spending that $300-400 on new machine it will run rings around the old..
 
MacUser2525 said:
Could possibly help but that is seriously old processor good 6-7 years just not up to the task that is the real problem. Probably better off spending that $300-400 on new machine it will run rings around the old..
Click to expand...

Yes, but a 2010 model shouldn't be that bad. I upgraded my 2011 15" MBP to 8GB of RAM and that made a huge difference, but I watched Activity Monitor like a hawk and realized I was framing 6GB of work into 4GB.

If the OP isn't using all his RAM it may just be a processor thing. However, I would think an SSD upgrade would do tremendous things, especially if the project was accessing the HD a lot for pictures and video.

If you have the money just begging to spent than new is always nice, but that may not be an option.

----------
DeltaMac said:
According to Mactracker, the mid 2010 13-inch MBPro RAM can be upgraded to 16 GB.
Click to expand...

How does that work? My 2011 can "handle" 16GB, but I thought it would only technically recognize 8GB, or so I was told.
 
Traverse said:
Yes, but a 2010 model shouldn't be that bad. I upgraded my 2011 15" MBP to 8GB of RAM and that made a huge difference, but I watched Activity Monitor like a hawk and realized I was framing 6GB of work into 4GB.

If the OP isn't using all his RAM it may just be a processor thing. However, I would think an SSD upgrade would do tremendous things, especially if the project was accessing the HD a lot for pictures and video.

If you have the money just begging to spent than new is always nice, but that may not be an option.

----------




How does that work? My 2011 can "handle" 16GB, but I thought it would only technically recognize 8GB, or so I was told.
Click to expand...

My early-2011 MBP addresses the full 16GB of RAM installed in my Mac.
 
Traverse said:
Yes, but a 2010 model shouldn't be that bad. I upgraded my 2011 15" MBP to 8GB of RAM and that made a huge difference, but I watched Activity Monitor like a hawk and realized I was framing 6GB of work into 4GB.

If the OP isn't using all his RAM it may just be a processor thing. However, I would think an SSD upgrade would do tremendous things, especially if the project was accessing the HD a lot for pictures and video.

If you have the money just begging to spent than new is always nice, but that may not be an option.

----------



How does that work? My 2011 can "handle" 16GB, but I thought it would only technically recognize 8GB, or so I was told.
Click to expand...

I never recommend spending money lightly I am so tight I squeak as they say. If indeed the OP is ram limited so lots of swap is happening then it can make sense. Some ram smallish SSD as it is limited to SATAII so no sense paying crazy money on it say $200 yeah definitely works. Much more spent than that selling existing machine putting a few more dollars with it for new machine makes sense.
 
I'm not sure on the 2010's but my 2011 recognized all 16 Gb of RAM that I installed, and Apple said it was only upgradeable to 8. At least upgrade to 8. OWC shows it only taking 8, and if it could take 16 they'd be the ones trying to sell it. So I'd say go with 8. And I also recommend getting an SSD if funds allow. The RAM and SSD upgrade will make it feel like a new machine. I've had great luck with Samsung 840 Pro series but those were on a pc. I'd look around and see what the Mac's seem to like best. And if the funds don't allow an SSD in your future check out the hybrid drives. In that same 2011 I upgraded the RAM I put a Seagate Momentus XT in it and it was great. Much faster than the stock hard drive.

Victor
 
Traverse said:
How does that work? My 2011 can "handle" 16GB, but I thought it would only technically recognise 8GB, or so I was told.
Click to expand...
Apple says one thing about the memory, what can be installed and recognised is often a different story. MacTracker is very accurate about that.
You just install the right RAM, type and size in GB, and it "just works".
The 2010 13" MBP can use 16GB or 8GB, 2 slots.
The 2011 13-15" models can use 16GB too.
Typing on a late 2011 with 16GB installed now.
 
davidlv said:
Apple says one thing about the memory, what can be installed and recognised is often a different story. MacTracker is very accurate about that.
You just install the right RAM, type and size in GB, and it "just works".
The 2010 13" MBP can use 16GB or 8GB, 2 slots.
The 2011 13-15" models can use 16GB too.
Typing on a late 2011 with 16GB installed now.
Click to expand...

So, for example, activity monitor will only show 8GB, but the system will run in 16?
 
Looking back at OWC it looks like your mid 2010 13" is the only pre-2011 MBP that will take 16 GB. So I would say max it out and throw an SSD in it if you can. It will be a whole new machine for you.

Victor
 
DeltaMac said:
According to Mactracker, the mid 2010 13-inch MBPro RAM can be upgraded to 16 GB.
Click to expand...

Just because it can done, doesn't always justify the need.

@OP: I would double the RAM to 8GB and invest in an SSD.

I recently upgraded a friend's computer to 8GB and added a 256GB SSD; it's almost like a new computer!
 
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