Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is The Unibody Macbook From 2009/2010 Still Worth It?

M

Mrdjfunkyboy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 10, 2015
11
0
I just ordered a 2010 Unibody Macbook from amazon for £260 and was wondering what I can expect from it?

It has the 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Nvidia Geforce 320m
2GB RAM (Will be upgrading to 4GB when it arrives, limited to 1066Mhz :( )
250GB 5400RPM HDD (Upgrading to 256GB SSD when it arrives)
standard 1280x800 screen

I know the processor is a little dated compared to the latest line up of Apple laptops but I was just wondering if it will still deliver decent performance for light browsing, homework and the odd light game?
 
My mother is a teacher, and has been using that exact same machine since it was released as her primary computer. I have upgraded it for her with an SSD and 6GB RAM, and she is perfectly happy with it - she still reminds me from time to time when I visit her just how happy she still is with it. So, for your described needs, iy should be fine :)

FWIW, I'm a teacher as well and use a 2009 MacBook Air as my primary classroom computer (1.86GHz C2D, 2GB/120GB, 9400M) and it runs Yosemite and all my productivity apps like a champ.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrdjfunkyboy
MultiFinder17 said:
My mother is a teacher, and has been using that exact same machine since it was released as her primary computer. I have upgraded it for her with an SSD and 6GB RAM, and she is perfectly happy with it - she still reminds me from time to time when I visit her just how happy she still is with it. So, for your described needs, iy should be fine :)

FWIW, I'm a teacher as well and use a 2009 MacBook Air as my primary classroom computer (1.86GHz C2D, 2GB/120GB, 9400M) and it runs Yosemite and all my productivity apps like a champ.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Just wanted to make sure I hadn't made a huge mistake lol

Based on your answer, I can assume that I will make it a few years with this laptop :)
 
My girlfriend runs with a 2009 model with an SSD, and she is very happy with it, for those things you mention.

Battery may need replacement, so keep an eye on it, if it hasnt have had any current in it for a long time. Look for track pad issues if it happens, as the battery will bulge.
 
  • Like
Reactions: duervo and Mrdjfunkyboy
I am running a late 2008 Unibody Mac book pro with 2.4 Intel core two duo with yosemite. Quite honestly this machine runs as well as the day I bought it and presently can see no reason to upgrade. I upgraded to an SSD and memory to max out at 8Gig a couple of years ago.

You are getting a great deal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrdjfunkyboy
Yes, it would be fine for basic tasks even today, but once you spend more money on RAM and SSD upgrades, you would have been better off looking for a 2011 model with a much beefier CPU and better graphics.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrdjfunkyboy
z31fanatic said:
Yes, it would be fine for basic tasks even today, but once you spend more money on RAM and SSD upgrades, you would have been better off looking for a 2011 model with a much beefier CPU and better graphics.
Click to expand...

Well the Crucial memory upgrade was £20 from Amazon and I got the SSD last year for my windows laptop... So I'll be re using it :)
 
I find it amazing how much old MacBooks still go for, 5-6 years old and still over £200 is amazing. If you need OS X i think it's worthwhile, but personally I'd be considering the Mac Mini or a Windows PC if on such a budget.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrdjfunkyboy
Mrdjfunkyboy said:
Well the Crucial memory upgrade was £20 from Amazon and I got the SSD last year for my windows laptop... So I'll be re using it :)
Click to expand...

The RAM and SSD upgrades will serve you well. For basic usage, it's still a fine computer. With the upgrades you will be applying, it will be better than when it was new.

One of the things I love about these models is that they are very reliable. I have avoided the models with AMD/ATI GPUs for fears that they will fail prematurely. I have never encountered MacBooks with failed 9400M GPU.
 
Mrdjfunkyboy said:
I just ordered a 2010 Unibody Macbook from amazon for £260 and was wondering what I can expect from it?

It has the 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Nvidia Geforce 320m
2GB RAM (Will be upgrading to 4GB when it arrives, limited to 1066Mhz :( )
250GB 5400RPM HDD (Upgrading to 256GB SSD when it arrives)
standard 1280x800 screen

I know the processor is a little dated compared to the latest line up of Apple laptops but I was just wondering if it will still deliver decent performance for light browsing, homework and the odd light game?
Click to expand...
Just be careful with the battery on those things. It will eventually swell and damage the area around the track pad or push out from the bottom ruining the rubber bottom panel. Keep an eye on how the track pad actually works. If you notice it not working in one area or that it's appearance changes in how it loos in relation to the case, it's likely the battery beginning to swell.

I was using my 2010 up until last year when the battery swelled. I used it mostly for converting movies to use in iTunes for my ATV. It would take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to convert a movie in iFlicks. A movie now on my 13" 2012 MBP takes about 2.5 minutes whereas on my 2015 quad core 15", it takes 30 seconds. That's a huge difference on processing power.

As long as you don't ask too much from the 2010, it will be fine.
 
I used a 2010 MB as my main computer up until a few months ago, it's still a very capable computer once you upgrade the RAM and add an SSD.
 
Mrdjfunkyboy said:
I just ordered a 2010 Unibody Macbook from amazon for £260 and was wondering what I can expect from it?

It has the 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
Nvidia Geforce 320m
2GB RAM (Will be upgrading to 4GB when it arrives, limited to 1066Mhz :( )
250GB 5400RPM HDD (Upgrading to 256GB SSD when it arrives)
standard 1280x800 screen

I know the processor is a little dated compared to the latest line up of Apple laptops but I was just wondering if it will still deliver decent performance for light browsing, homework and the odd light game?
Click to expand...

What you have there is a MBP.

That's exactly my machine, but have the 4GB and 128GB SSD. Performance is decent--applications open quickly. Sometimes scrolling websites with lots of ads (I use Chrome) can be jerky. I don't play games so can't comment on that. But I do want to upgrade, just waiting for the right machine. If my machine broke today, I would probably get the rMB.
 
ghanwani said:
What you have there is a MBP.

That's exactly my machine, but have the 4GB and 128GB SSD. Performance is decent--applications open quickly. Sometimes scrolling websites with lots of ads (I use Chrome) can be jerky. I don't play games so can't comment on that. But I do want to upgrade, just waiting for the right machine. If my machine broke today, I would probably get the rMB.
Click to expand...

Or he has this little fella :)
 
I've got a late 2009 with SSD and 8 GB memory upgrade. 2.93 Ghz Intel Core Duo. I think it has a dual graphics option but I never use it.

I also have a 2015 Macbook 12" with 1.2 Ghz. The 2009 Macbook runs rings around it regarding Finder speed. But then again they are different beasties.

It still works great even with Yosemite. I'm hoping El Capitan is kind to it. We shall see.
 
MultiFinder17 said:
Or he has this little fella :)
Click to expand...
I used that very same MacBook until last year when the battery swelled up breaking the trackpad. I even kept using it when I accidentally closed the MacBook with my magic trackpad sitting on the keyboard which shattered the display. I hooked up an external and went right on using it. I eventually lost my temper with it's spinning wheels and lock ups under Mavericks and threw it across my basement floor breaking it into many pieces. I never saw a hard drive come flying out of a computer like I did that time but it felt good.

I went and bought a MacMini a few days later and now I also own two MacBook Pros.
 
I used the mid 2010 model. I upgraded the ram to 4 GB and put s 256 SSD in it and it FLEW like a new machine. I think the max you can put in that is 6 GB. But even bit helps. <Mine had a 12 second boot from shut down, not bad for 4-year-old model. I loved it until I got the new rMB. I gave my 13-inch to me son. He loves it.
 
Hi guys, I'm new to this forum! but anyway, to threadstarter, i picked mine up in August 2012 as a under-utilized used set and never looked back. I've upgraded mine to 8GB ram (Yes, it works) and a 750gb 7200rpm HDD (SSD was expensive then).

Just updated the OS today and its currently running Yosemite 10.10.5. Probably not as fast in terms of boot up speed and performance as it was on 10.6.8 initially, but it's still bearable, so all is good!

The only downside (but non-critical) is that I have to press down hard on the trackpad for the left click to register (I've adjusted the screw, didn't help, so suspecting that maybe it could be my battery bloating up etc etc; non-critical because you can enable the tab to click function in the trackpad settings) and that i've blown my speaker (gives static crackling sound). Currently waiting for my parts replacement to arrive so I can get that swapped out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back