MacBook mid 2010

[SKAYVEEZ]

Hello All,
I just recently inherited my wife's' old MacBook as she recently upgraded. I am not the most savvy individual when it comes to this stuff, however, I know enough to get by. My questions are: 1. is there a brand that is better than another for the SDD and the RAM? (I have currently been looking at OWC.com, but I have also been comparing prices on amazon.) I just dont feel comfortable making a decision without seeking wisdom/experience from other users. 2. Is there a benefit or non beneficials to more ram and high SSD (Yes I am aware that the more RAM and Space the More money). Any answers or experiences that any of you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your response! Thanks!

 

[glenthompson]

That model has SATA-2 so that will be your limiting factor for speed. Get the size you need From a major manufacturer. I put Samsung drives in both our Macs. Have worked well for 7 years. For ram you’re limited to 8gb. This is the type you need: 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

For the OS you’re limited to High Sierra.

 

[Jack Neill]

Hello All,
I just recently inherited my wife's' old MacBook as she recently upgraded. I am not the most savvy individual when it comes to this stuff, however, I know enough to get by. My questions are: 1. is there a brand that is better than another for the SDD and the RAM? (I have currently been looking at OWC.com, but I have also been comparing prices on amazon.) I just dont feel comfortable making a decision without seeking wisdom/experience from other users. 2. Is there a benefit or non beneficials to more ram and high SSD (Yes I am aware that the more RAM and Space the More money). Any answers or experiences that any of you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your response! Thanks!

I have 16GB OWC ram in my 2010, it takes 1066. I put 2 Samsung SSDs in mine and Raid 0ed it, I now get sata 3 speeds and have 1TB of storage. It runs 13 very well and with the DosDude patcher can run 14/15 ok as well.
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That model has SATA-2 so that will be your limiting factor for speed. Get the size you need From a major manufacturer. I put Samsung drives in both our Macs. Have worked well for 7 years. For ram you’re limited to 8gb. This is the type you need: 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

For the OS you’re limited to High Sierra.

16GB will work fine, and with DosDudes patcher 14/15 also work fine.

 

[steve1960]

Late 2009 Macbook white. I upgraded the RAM to 8GB and added two SSD's (replacing the optical drive). Its an old laptop so I just picked the cheapest SSD's which tend to be SATA-3. The primary drive runs at SATA-2 speed but the one in the optical drive bay only achieves 1.5Gb/s. If I wanted SATA-2 full speed I would have had to spend more on a SATA-2 SSD which seem to fetch a premium price and are less available at least in my searches. Actually sometimes, if system Report is to be believed the secondary drive sometimes connects at 3Gb/s but its flakey.

 

[Jack Neill]

Late 2009 Macbook white. I upgraded the RAM to 8GB and added two SSD's (replacing the optical drive). Its an old laptop so I just picked the cheapest SSD's which tend to be SATA-3. The primary drive runs at SATA-2 speed but the one in the optical drive bay only achieves 1.5Gb/s. If I wanted SATA-2 full speed I would have had to spend more on a SATA-2 SSD which seem to fetch a premium price and are less available at least in my searches. Actually sometimes, if system Report is to be believed the secondary drive sometimes connects at 3Gb/s but its flakey.

If memory serves the 2009's optical connection was only 1.5. As far as 3.0 being flakey you are probably using a SandForce controlled drive and those did not play nice with the Nvida chipset and it would revert to 1.5 speeds. I used to use some PNY SSD's as they did not use SandForce.

 

[steve1960]

If memory serves the 2009's optical connection was only 1.5. As far as 3.0 being flakey you are probably using a SandForce controlled drive and those did not play nice with the Nvida chipset and it would revert to 1.5 speeds. I used to use some PNY SSD's as they did not use SandForce.

I did read somewhere on the Internet that a SATA-2 drive will run at 3Gb/s but a SATA-3 will only achieve 1.5Gb/s. Firmware maybe? Actually the drive is a PNY in the optical bay. The primary drive is a Kingston.

 

[Jack Neill]

I did read somewhere on the Internet that a SATA-2 drive will run at 3Gb/s but a SATA-3 will only achieve 1.5Gb/s. Firmware maybe? Actually the drive is a PNY in the optical bay. The primary drive is a Kingston.

View attachment 910451

A Sata III should run at 3.0 as well. It looks like your getting 3.0 on the PNY. And that's in your Optical bay? The Kingston is in the main drive? Whats your MacBook model identifier?

 

[MultiFinder17]

Hello All,
I just recently inherited my wife's' old MacBook as she recently upgraded. I am not the most savvy individual when it comes to this stuff, however, I know enough to get by. My questions are: 1. is there a brand that is better than another for the SDD and the RAM? (I have currently been looking at OWC.com, but I have also been comparing prices on amazon.) I just dont feel comfortable making a decision without seeking wisdom/experience from other users. 2. Is there a benefit or non beneficials to more ram and high SSD (Yes I am aware that the more RAM and Space the More money). Any answers or experiences that any of you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your response! Thanks!

Congrats on your ‘new’ MacBook! These are fantastic little machines. I use one daily still for school, and it keeps up with all my needs in my classroom! as for your questions...

1. No, not really. OWC is pretty much guaranteed to work, but they tend to be a tad pricier. For SSDs, you can go with anything. For RAM, same deal, just make sure that it’s the correct speed. Fun fact, the lower stick MUST be PC3-8500, but the upper can be any faster DDR3. At least that’s been my experience on the several dozen of these that I’ve worked on. It’ll take up to 16GB, andif you can get it inexpensively, may as well go for it.

2. Benefits: Store more stuff and keep more running at once. I have 16 GB in mine because I regularly keep 15-20 fairly RAM-heavy apps open at once and want to be able to switch between them quickly. Detriment: As you mentioned, more money.
Enjoy your MacBook mate, and may it serve you well for years to come!

 

[steve1960]

A Sata III should run at 3.0 as well. It looks like your getting 3.0 on the PNY. And that's in your Optical bay? The Kingston is in the main drive? Whats your MacBook model identifier?

Yes PNY in the optical bay and sometimes it shows 3.0 sometimes 1.5. it is a 6,1 A1342 model.
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Here is the quote from Everymac.com

Both White "Unibody" MacBook models can support any 9.5mm tall 2.5" SATA hard drive or SSD. However, for optimal performance, it is important to use a SATA 2.0 (3 Gb/s) drive as a faster SATA 3.0 (6 Gb/s) drive only will run at SATA 1.0 (1.5 Gb/s) in these models.

 

[Jack Neill]

Yes PNY in the optical bay and sometimes it shows 3.0 sometimes 1.5. it is a 6,1 A1342 model.
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Here is the quote from Everymac.com

Both White "Unibody" MacBook models can support any 9.5mm tall 2.5" SATA hard drive or SSD. However, for optimal performance, it is important to use a SATA 2.0 (3 Gb/s) drive as a faster SATA 3.0 (6 Gb/s) drive only will run at SATA 1.0 (1.5 Gb/s) in these models.

Interesting, I have never had that issue, my early 2009 has a Sata III drive running at 3.0. Not a unibody tho, I have a 7,1 that has full 3.0 on both drives.

 

[bunnspecial]

FWIW, I've had great luck with Samsung EVOs(850 and 860 both) running at SATA 3gb/s in these picky controller machines. Off the top of my head, I have Evos deployed now in a 2010 MacBook, 2010 17" MacBook Pro, 2008 Unibody Macbook, and 2008 Unibody MacBook Pro(both of those the removable battery models). At one time these drives carried a significant premium, but how at least in a 256gb or 512gb they may run $5-10 more than a more budget conscious mainstream brand so I just go ahead and grab the Samsung.

Be sure you buy the correct speed of RAM!

 

[steve1960]

The PNY is currently only used for Time Machine backups so its not a big issue and given the age of the laptop I will not tinker with it anymore. I really only have it to run Sierra so that I can rip my films from iTunes for personal use on other devices and for the kids when the Internet goes down (which it does in Philippines). From High Sierra onwards the third party rip software doesn't work.

Yep made sure I bought the correct speed RAM when I upgraded to 8GB.

 

[SKAYVEEZ]

Congrats on your ‘new’ MacBook! These are fantastic little machines. I use one daily still for school, and it keeps up with all my needs in my classroom! as for your questions...

1. No, not really. OWC is pretty much guaranteed to work, but they tend to be a tad pricier. For SSDs, you can go with anything. For RAM, same deal, just make sure that it’s the correct speed. Fun fact, the lower stick MUST be PC3-8500, but the upper can be any faster DDR3. At least that’s been my experience on the several dozen of these that I’ve worked on. It’ll take up to 16GB, andif you can get it inexpensively, may as well go for it.

2. Benefits: Store more stuff and keep more running at once. I have 16 GB in mine because I regularly keep 15-20 fairly RAM-heavy apps open at once and want to be able to switch between them quickly. Detriment: As you mentioned, more money.
Enjoy your MacBook mate, and may it serve you well for years to come!

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Broke the escape key

 

[avz]

Late 2009 Macbook white. I upgraded the RAM to 8GB and added two SSD's (replacing the optical drive). Its an old laptop so I just picked the cheapest SSD's which tend to be SATA-3. The primary drive runs at SATA-2 speed but the one in the optical drive bay only achieves 1.5Gb/s. If I wanted SATA-2 full speed I would have had to spend more on a SATA-2 SSD which seem to fetch a premium price and are less available at least in my searches. Actually sometimes, if system Report is to be believed the secondary drive sometimes connects at 3Gb/s but its flakey.

My Late 2008 unibody MacBook achieves a constant 3GB/s speed in the optical drive with a Kingston UV400 240GB SATA-3 SSD.

 

[steve1960]

Due to this post I have been checking system report more often and the optical bay SSD does seem to be sticking at 3GB/s.

 

[MultiFinder17]

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Broke the escape key

Aww, that’s a bummer. Luckily the keyboards are cheap; you can always get another one, or check with your local electronics recyclers! Often they’ll be happy enough to sell things. Or even just let you pick off a key and jet

Grata on joining the black-on-white club though mate

 

[Jack Neill]

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Broke the escape key

New MacBooks consider that a feature...

 

[steve1960]

Thought I would post the screenshot as it just happened. The negotiated connection for the PNY drive in the optical bay showing 1.5Gbps.

 

[avz]

Thought I would post the screenshot as it just happened. The negotiated connection for the PNY drive in the optical bay showing 1.5Gbps.

View attachment 916210

I just checked my Late 2008 MacBook, 3GB on both SATA's.