Late 2011 MBP - Update Advise Pls

[Salty_Dog]

Hello all, i have done some searching already and lots of reading.
I have got to the point where i have 5 pages open and they all tell me something different.

So i thought i'd start another thread, understanding some members are probably rolling their eyes

I have a stock standard Late 2011 13" MBP, still on original battery.

MacBook Pro, Late 2011 13"

Model Identifier: MacBookPro 8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Boot ROM Version: MBP81.0047.B27

Still running Lion 10.7.3 (11D50d)

Goal: Give it a Birthday

I have a New Battery, SSD to fit and update to Mojave 10.14
I would like to do a ground up rebuild with the new HDD, Fresh Install.

I'll keep my old HDD to access files from in a USB case (i'm thinking).

1. Is it a good idea to update my Late 2011 to Mojave?
(Can it be updated to Mojave in 1 go? Be ok on a Fresh Install?)

2. Should i go for 8Gb of RAM or will the 4GB be ok (i don't render)

3. Would anyone kindly offer me the best process to upgrade to Mojave with the new SSD?
(Make a BOOT USB? Or install the OS on the new SSD then install it? Patches?, so on)

4. Any issues with the fan running flat out after update? (i have read)
SSD is a Samsung 860 EVO sata 6GB/s

5. Do i need to upgrade to a 2012 hard drive/IR cable?

Should i do the Battery and SSD at the same time, or do the Battery first and reboot up the old HDD to see there was no issues?

Thank you, i'm sure you all get asked this a lot.

 

[_Kiki_]

This model is not compatible with Mojave

 

[redheeler]

2. Should i go for 8Gb of RAM or will the 4GB be ok (i don't render)

4 GB really isn't enough to avoid slowdowns by today's standards. I'd go with 8 GB.

3. Would anyone kindly offer me the best process to upgrade to Mojave with the new SSD?
(Make a BOOT USB? Or install the OS on the new SSD then install it? Patches?, so on)

You should be able to install Mojave onto the blank SSD using a USB installer. See the macOS 10.14 Mojave on Unsupported Macs Thread for more info on creating the USB installer and patching the OS.

4. Any issues with the fan running flat out after update? (i have read)
SSD is a Samsung 860 EVO sata 6GB/s

I found the 850 EVO to be a reliable choice for Mac SSD upgrades, so the same is probably true with the 860 EVO. I haven't heard about or experienced any issues with fan speed after upgrading a MacBook Pro with an SSD.

5. Do i need to upgrade to a 2012 hard drive/IR cable?

No.

Should i do the Battery and SSD at the same time, or do the Battery first and reboot up the old HDD to see there was no issues?

It's up to you, especially if this is your first time upgrading a Mac, but I would just do both at the same time.

 

[Salty_Dog]

Thanks heaps redheeler

Yes, i have been reading that thread on Mojave for unsupported machines (didn't even realise mine was unsupported)
Maybe i should just go the last supported OS?

My MBP has been running hot, fan comes on a lot, spinning ball often, chews up RAM.
When new, the machine just ripped, everything was so snappy

Im not sure if it is clogged with all different lines of script slowing it down, chrome does a great job of clogging the RAM up.
Or the HDD is starting to fail (it has made some very odd grinding noises at times)

So the whole purpose of this is just to get speed back, reliability also a bonus.
Im not really a "need the latest OS" kind of guy, but if it works with out problems, maybe i should?

 

[Pearl Wisdom]

Thanks heaps redheeler

Yes, i have been reading that thread on Mojave for unsupported machines (didn't even realise mine was unsupported)
Maybe i should just go the last supported OS?

My MBP has been running hot, fan comes on a lot, spinning ball often, chews up RAM.
When new, the machine just ripped, everything was so snappy

Im not sure if it is clogged with all different lines of script slowing it down, chrome does a great job of clogging the RAM up.
Or the HDD is starting to fail (it has made some very odd grinding noises at times)

So the whole purpose of this is just to get speed back, reliability also a bonus.
Im not really a "need the latest OS" kind of guy, but if it works with out problems, maybe i should?

Yes, I guess High Sierra would be your best choice. That runs fine on a 17" 2011 I have. You might want to get 16GB, which is actually the max RAM although Apple says 8GB. The SSD will be a huge improvement. While you have the computer opened up, you can use compressed air to blow out dust which might be contributing to overheating.

 

[Salty_Dog]

Yes, I guess High Sierra would be your best choice. That runs fine on a 17" 2011 I have. You might want to get 16GB, which is actually the max RAM although Apple says 8GB. The SSD will be a huge improvement. While you have the computer opened up, you can use compressed air to blow out dust which might be contributing to overheating.

Yeah, i've done a few fan cleans before, very worth while doing
If i just let my MPB update from the Apple server
Is that what would happen.... High Sierra?

I also thought i might be able to do a Time Machine Back-Up to my NTFS USB drive, seems now
Wanst to be formatted in a Mac Friendly format

Anyway way around this?

 

[CoastalOR]

I also thought i might be able to do a Time Machine Back-Up to my NTFS USB drive, seems now
Wanst to be formatted in a Mac Friendly format
Anyway way around this?

No, for Time Machine, the disk format must be "Mac Os Extended (Journaled)" - HFS+.