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My MacBook Pro 13-inch mid 2012 - is very slow

RAJESHWAR

RAJESHWAR

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2018
14
4
INDIA
Hi friends,
I bought MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2012, processor 2.5 ghz intel core i5, 4gb Ram. This machine is very slow it takes few seconds to open application, few seconds to save a document. previously I was using MacBook Air mid 2013 with almost same configuration, only major differences is its SSD.

My question is if I upgrade my Mac Pro to 8gb ram will it improve the speed significantly. If so can I buy ram online. Friends please suggest.
 
No computer today should have less than 8 GB of RAM. I would definitely add more. Also considering you came from a Mac with an SSD to what I assume would be a traditional HDD, performance most likely taken a major hit.
 
RAJESHWAR said:
Hi friends,
I bought MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2012, processor 2.5 ghz intel core i5, 4gb Ram. This machine is very slow it takes few seconds to open application, few seconds to save a document. previously I was using MacBook Air mid 2013 with almost same configuration, only major differences is its SSD.

My question is if I upgrade my Mac Pro to 8gb ram will it improve the speed significantly. If so can I buy ram online. Friends please suggest.
Click to expand...

Time to upgrade dude;)

Agree with the fellow poster here, anything less than 8GB RAM in 2018 needs attention;)
 
TMRJIJ said:
No computer today should have less than 8 GB of RAM. I would definitely add more. Also considering you came from a Mac with an SSD to what I assume would be a traditional HDD, performance most likely taken a major hit.
Click to expand...

Is there any specific ram for mac, or can we use windows laptop ram. What brand you suggest.
 
If you are used to an SSD, going back to a mechanical drive will feel like a torture. I would bet that this is your problem. Why did you change your air for the MBP? The Air is a better laptop fir almost all purposes...
 
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OP:

Is this a NON-retina MBP that you have?
If so, does it still have the original platter-based hard drive inside?

If that's true, THAT'S what's causing the slow operation.
More RAM probably won't help much.

If you're going to open the back to add RAM (8gb should be fine for most usage), add a new SSD, too. The hardest part is taking the screws off the back panel, and putting them back on.

BTW -- be aware that the NON-retina 2012 MBP's are known for having ribbon cables (from the motherboard to the drive) that "go bad". When this happens, it seems like the drive isn't working right, but it's often the cable that has failed, not the drive.
The cable is relatively cheap and easy to replace.

I would do things in this order:
1. replace HDD with SSD
2. replace RAM (4 to 8gb)
3. replace cable (if drive performance still seems "slow and poor")
 
What SSD and cable do you recommend?>

Fishrrman said:
OP:

Is this a NON-retina MBP that you have?
If so, does it still have the original platter-based hard drive inside?

If that's true, THAT'S what's causing the slow operation.
More RAM probably won't help much.

If you're going to open the back to add RAM (8gb should be fine for most usage), add a new SSD, too. The hardest part is taking the screws off the back panel, and putting them back on.

BTW -- be aware that the NON-retina 2012 MBP's are known for having ribbon cables (from the motherboard to the drive) that "go bad". When this happens, it seems like the drive isn't working right, but it's often the cable that has failed, not the drive.
The cable is relatively cheap and easy to replace.

I would do things in this order:
1. replace HDD with SSD
2. replace RAM (4 to 8gb)
3. replace cable (if drive performance still seems "slow and poor")
Click to expand...
 
I recommend 16:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=2x8GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-631-_-Product

If you can't afford, then get 8:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=2x4GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-484-_-Product

Hard Disk:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...orebbr=1&cm_re=1TB_SSD-_-20-301-382-_-Product

If you can't afford then 500GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...ebbr=1&cm_re=500GB_SSD-_-20-326-752-_-Product

Should be easy to replace. Don't feel intimidated!
Also you could look at fan dust. Open the back cover and if there's a lot, buy a can of compressed air at your local store (They're like 2-3$) and dust bust it outside.
 
currahee2100 said:
I recommend 16:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231631&Description=2x8GB DDR3 SODIMM&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=2x8GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-631-_-Product

If you can't afford, then get 8:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231484&Description=2x4GB DDR3 SODIMM&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=2x4GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-484-_-Product

Hard Disk:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820301382&Description=1TB SSD&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=1TB_SSD-_-20-301-382-_-Product

If you can't afford then 500GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820326752&Description=500GB SSD&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=500GB_SSD-_-20-326-752-_-Product

Should be easy to replace. Don't feel intimidated!
Also you could look at fan dust. Open the back cover and if there's a lot, buy a can of compressed air at your local store (They're like 2-3$) and dust bust it outside.
Click to expand...


This isn't hard to do? My son has this computer and it's getting slow also. All I've ever done myself is upgrade Ram on an iMac. I think I'd like to try it instead of paying someone to do it.
 
servenvolley said:
This isn't hard to do? My son has this computer and it's getting slow also. All I've ever done myself is upgrade Ram on an iMac. I think I'd like to try it instead of paying someone to do it.
Click to expand...
It's VERY easy. Follow the iFixit guide on it. Just unscrew the back cover. There's your RAM and hard drive. Of course, you will need to reinstall OS X on the new drive so make sure to back your stuff up! If you need some stuff later on, you can always plug your old HD in and it'll be like nothing ever happened.
 
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