Need Advice upgrading my 13" MacBook to make it my Main Computer...

[Alvi]

Until now I had a Core i7 Beast PC and my 2.26GHz 2009 13" MBP, I am planning to Sell or Give my PC to a Relative because I can't live with it anymore.

It's not because it's a PC, I am in love with Windows 7 compared to XP, but It's quite noisy because it's a powerful machine and I feel bothered by it when I try to do something else in my Bedroom, The MacBook almost doesn't exist compared to that thing.
I also don't really use it a lot because most of the time I spend on it is wasted on games which I don't play anymore because I'm more of a casual iPhone / iPad gamer than super intensive graphic games and I also have an XBox.

My MacBook has 2GB of ram and a 160GB HDD, I feel that when I'm browsing and doing some other stuff I really need the ram, but how much should I get?
I was thinking of swapping my 2x1GB sticks to one 4GB one and later add another one if I need it instead of getting two 2GB Chips, does that work? Could I also have a 5 + 1 Config? What brand should I get?

Also, I was thinking about more storage, I currently have like 50GB Available but that's because I try to keep out what I don't need, but If I use it as my main computer I will need some 500GB, I was also thinking about an SSD but It's quite a lot of money for 256GB or even 128GB which would be a downsize, will a 7200RPM be way faster than a 5000RPM one?

 

[maflynn]

Boost your ram to 4gig or better, go to 6gb and throw in a 500gb drive. A 7200rpm preferably.

 

[millerb7]

Until now I had a Core i7 Beast PC and my 2.26GHz 2009 13" MBP, I am planning to Sell or Give my PC to a Relative because I can't live with it anymore.

It's not because it's a PC, I am in love with Windows 7 compared to XP, but It's quite noisy because it's a powerful machine and I feel bothered by it when I try to do something else in my Bedroom, The MacBook almost doesn't exist compared to that thing.
I also don't really use it a lot because most of the time I spend on it is wasted on games which I don't play anymore because I'm more of a casual iPhone / iPad gamer than super intensive graphic games and I also have an XBox.

My MacBook has 2GB of ram and a 160GB HDD, I feel that when I'm browsing and doing some other stuff I really need the ram, but how much should I get?
I was thinking of swapping my 2x1GB sticks to one 4GB one and later add another one if I need it instead of getting two 2GB Chips, does that work? Could I also have a 5 + 1 Config? What brand should I get?

Also, I was thinking about more storage, I currently have like 50GB Available but that's because I try to keep out what I don't need, but If I use it as my main computer I will need some 500GB, I was also thinking about an SSD but It's quite a lot of money for 256GB or even 128GB which would be a downsize, will a 7200RPM be way faster than a 5000RPM one?

Don't do 1 4GB chip. It's more expensive than 2 2GB chips AND you lose pairing. If you want 6GB, again, 4+2GB is cheapest way to achieve that, NOT 5+1 (if you can even find a straight 5).

Get 2 2GB chips and have 4GB and be happy.

for HDD's, there are 5400rpm, 7200rpm, and SSD. SSD is night and day faster. If you want, you could do a SSD in your main spot, then optibay a big hdd for space (IF 13" CAN OPTIBAY). If you like your optical bay, then throw in a 500 or 750gb 7200rpm and it'll be a HUGE improvement from what you have.

Just note that 7200rpm adds heat, noise, and decreases battery life. A SSD, being faster, does none of that.

I personally have the 15" MBP and have a SSD in it right now, runs perfectly silent and cool. I'm going to be doing the optibay route. You just have to pick if you want the optical drive or not. You can also buy a usb enclosure and do the usb optical drive.

for a straight simple upgrade for you, I would:

Buy 2x 2GB sticks RAM to double your ram
Buy a 7200RPM 500GB or 750GB HDD.

Should total you around $150 give or take. Will make the computer feel better than new.

 

[Alvi]

Don't do 1 4GB chip. It's more expensive than 2 2GB chips AND you lose pairing. If you want 6GB, again, 4+2GB is cheapest way to achieve that, NOT 5+1 (if you can even find a straight 5).

Get 2 2GB chips and have 4GB and be happy.

for HDD's, there are 5400rpm, 7200rpm, and SSD. SSD is night and day faster. If you want, you could do a SSD in your main spot, then optibay a big hdd for space (IF 13" CAN OPTIBAY). If you like your optical bay, then throw in a 500 or 750gb 7200rpm and it'll be a HUGE improvement from what you have.

Just note that 7200rpm adds heat, noise, and decreases battery life. A SSD, being faster, does none of that.

I personally have the 15" MBP and have a SSD in it right now, runs perfectly silent and cool. I'm going to be doing the optibay route. You just have to pick if you want the optical drive or not. You can also buy a usb enclosure and do the usb optical drive.

for a straight simple upgrade for you, I would:

Buy 2x 2GB sticks RAM to double your ram
Buy a 7200RPM 500GB or 750GB HDD.

Should total you around $150 give or take. Will make the computer feel better than new.

I have Two 1GB Chips in Right now, I wanted to get a 4GB Chip and leave maybe a 1GB in, I think that even by just having one chip the performance will be much greater anyways.

I think I'll pass on the Storage ideas for now, I have an external 500GB HDD, and I'll probably wait a bit for the SSD Prices to go down or until I have the money and/or find a good offer for a 200GB one, Or maybe I'll just get a bigger 5000RPM one, that way I don't spend so much money and keep the noise thing as it was before

 

[adnoh]

8gb ram and 128gb ssd and it will fly.

 

[millerb7]

I have Two 1GB Chips in Right now, I wanted to get a 4GB Chip and leave maybe a 1GB in, I think that even by just having one chip the performance will be much greater anyways.

I think I'll pass on the Storage ideas for now, I have an external 500GB HDD, and I'll probably wait a bit for the SSD Prices to go down or until I have the money and/or find a good offer for a 200GB one, Or maybe I'll just get a bigger 5000RPM one, that way I don't spend so much money and keep the noise thing as it was before

A new 500GB 5400RPM is like $70.

 

[Bumflake]

Or maybe I'll just get a bigger 5000RPM one

I'd either save up for an SSD or get a 7200RPM disk now.
Price, heat, noise and battery performance differences between a 5400 or 7200RPM HDD are minimal while speed improves.

 

[Gen]

Which Macbook version do you have? It may not support 8GB's ram.
Go for either 2x2 = 4GB, or 4x2= 6GB
Don't do a single stick of 4GB, performance will be worst than 2x2GB sticks.

 

[gdeusthewhizkid]

Boost your ram to 4gig or better, go to 6gb and throw in a 500gb drive. A 7200rpm preferably.

ditto.. got the same macbook pro as you and i did the same. it's a easy upgrade especially with the kits they have @ owc. I will probably also look for the ssd hard drives to drop down in price before i purchase one.

 

[JAG77]

Check out these threads for more information on a 7200 rpm drive in your macbook.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/204120/

Results Discussed:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/205166/

 

[jsilas]

A new 500GB 5400RPM is like $70.

I just bought two 500GB 7,200 RPM 2.5" drives for $49/each with free shipping (Newegg).

 

[sbddude]

Which Macbook version do you have? It may not support 8GB's ram.
Go for either 2x2 = 4GB, or 4x2= 6GB
Don't do a single stick of 4GB, performance will be worst than 2x2GB sticks.

Don't all 13" models support 8GB? Since they all use DDR3?

 

[vant]

With 2x4GB ram going for about $100, why not just upgrade to that?

 

[polaris20]

I'd recommend a Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive, and an OWC 8GB RAM upgrade. Between the two, it will be quite a solid performer for pretty much anything.

 

[fobis]

I'd recommend a Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive

I wouldn't. These drives have substantial issues and Seagate is all but ignoring their customers. Check out the Seagate forums. I own one and suffer from said issues. Get an SSD or a traditional mechanical drive, not some half-assed attempt at something in between.

 

[Stvwndr219]

I wouldn't. These drives have substantial issues and Seagate is all but ignoring their customers. Check out the Seagate forums. I own one and suffer from said issues. Get an SSD or a traditional mechanical drive, not some half-assed attempt at something in between.

This. WD Scorpio Black is pretty good.

 

[sbddude]

I wouldn't. These drives have substantial issues and Seagate is all but ignoring their customers. Check out the Seagate forums. I own one and suffer from said issues. Get an SSD or a traditional mechanical drive, not some half-assed attempt at something in between.

I agree, even if it were $20, i would not buy it. Go big (SSD) or go home.