MBP mid 2012 upgrade report: RAM + SSD

[pisk]

Yesterday I bought a non-retina Macbook Pro 15", the new "mid 2012" model.

I bought the most basic specs Apple offers: 2x2GB RAM, 500GB rotation HDD etc., intending to upgrade with custom hardware myself. This is how it went:

1. Out of the box
   
   

   MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012)
   Operating System	Mac OS X 10.7.4 (Build 11E2620)
   Model	MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012)
   Processor	 Intel Core i7-3615QM @ 2.30 GHz 
   1 processor, 4 cores, 8 threads
   Processor ID	GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
   L1 Instruction Cache	32 KB x 4
   L1 Data Cache	32 KB x 4
   L2 Cache	256 KB x 4
   L3 Cache	6144 KB
   Motherboard	Apple Inc. Mac-4B7AC7E43945597E MacBookPro9,1
   BIOS	Apple Inc. MBP91.88Z.00D3.B02.1203281326
   Memory	4096 MB 1600 MHz DDR3

   GeekBench score: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/770652
   
   
2. Upgrading RAM
   
   Replaced Apple's 2x2GB CL9 Samsung with Corsair DDR3 16GB kit (2x8GB) 1600Mhz CL10.
   
   GeekBench score: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/770781
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Upgrading Disk
   
   Removed the DVD drive and replaced it with Crucial M4 256GB SSD 7mm. I left the original harddisk at its place, and installed the SSD into optical bay using OWC Data Doubler. It was easier than I thought, the 7mm SSD fits with Data Doubler no problem. OWC have great installation videos online -- I used the one for MBP 2011, as they didn't have a 2012 version yet. The new disk was picked up by OS X immediately, at full Sata III 6Gbs speed.
   
   I then copied Lion over to this SSD and I'm using SSD as the main "boot" disk. This was done using a free program called SuperDuper. I erased the original HDD and put my own stuff there:
   
   
   
   
   

The whole thing was done a bit cowboy style, as I didn't have time for proper component research, just bought whatever was on sale. But all seems to be working fine so far. If you have questions / benchmark suggestions, let me know.

 

[DanApple]

Any chance you could run geekbench post SSD install? Also, what have your thoughts been on using the machine thus far? Thanks for posting all this!

 

[kh3khalid]

Does upgrading the RAM and HDD void the warranty?

 

[Jhowland]

Upgrading the RAM or hard drive dosen't but replacing the optical drive with a hard drive/SSD does. But if the RAM or hard drive you install causes the problem apple will charge you for the repairs (but the manufacturer of the falty part would have to reimburse you).

Also, am I the only one who can't see the pictures?

 

[Count Blah]

Any chance you could run geekbench post SSD install? Also, what have your thoughts been on using the machine thus far? Thanks for posting all this!

I second this.

I've already upgraded the RAM to 16Gigs, and will eventually go the SSD route, but not for a while.