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Upgrading the 2011 MBA 11" - SATA3 SSD, yes!, but 2013 MBA battery?

JPamplin

JPamplin

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 12, 2009
321
64
Nashville, TN
Folks,

OK, in case I haven't posted this before - if you have a 2011 MBA, your Mac comes with a SATA 2 (3.0 mbps) SSD. You CAN upgrade to the Other World Computing SATA 3 (6.0 mbps) SSD because this particular model COMES WITH SATA 3 on the motherboard. I did this, and it's a nice jump.

However, could I MAYBE order a 2013 MBA 11" battery (which I understood was slightly higher capacity), and replace my aging 2011 battery? Anyone tried this? Results?

I'm desperate for a higher capacity battery - I know 10.9 Mavericks will improve things, but I'm hoping the batteries are interchangeable. Anyone?

JP
 
Last edited:
robvas said:
Even if you did - the Haswell CPU is where all tha gains are
Click to expand...

what he said. it's not the battery, it's the chip. if you're still on the original batt in that 2011 you'd probably see an increase in battery life with a new one though.
 
Thanks, I know Haswell is where it's at - BUT, the 2013 battery is 38 Wh, whereas the stuff on eBay is 35. Anything would be an improvement, but I might as well try to get the most I can.

Two follow ups:

  1. Has anyone been able to find the 2013 batteries on sale?
  2. Are the connections and form factor the same for a 2013 vs 2011?
 
OWC doesn't sell anything cheap, and I wouldn't replace the battery unless it needs it. In any case you're still limited somewhat by the intel hd3000 graphics, depending on your needs and usage.

Unless you've got a top of the line 2011 rig, you may be able to sell it and get a new machine for the proceeds and what you'll be spending on the upgrades.
 
An excellent point, thanks. The 2011 11" 1.6 i5 MBA that I have was a trade for an iPad 3 (I know, right?). So it was basically a sunk cost. The SSD is already been purchased (240GB) a few months ago so I can keep a decent sized Boot Camp partition on it.

Basically the only incremental cost I'm considering at this point is the battery. I'll get a 35Wh unless I can find a 38Wh from the 2013's. To me, this is plenty fast enough - I don't do anything requiring a better video chipset.

clyde2801 said:
OWC doesn't sell anything cheap, and I wouldn't replace the battery unless it needs it. In any case you're still limited somewhat by the intel hd3000 graphics, depending on your needs and usage.

Unless you've got a top of the line 2011 rig, you may be able to sell it and get a new machine for the proceeds and what you'll be spending on the upgrades.
Click to expand...
 
Am a tinkerer myself and I wound't bother with 3WH. Had bad experience with third party batteries (PC, not Mac). But OK, ur Mac$.

While you are in there, change the fan and re-paste the heatsink for cool running and quiet. :)
 
JPamplin said:
An excellent point, thanks. The 2011 11" 1.6 i5 MBA that I have was a trade for an iPad 3 (I know, right?). So it was basically a sunk cost. The SSD is already been purchased (240GB) a few months ago so I can keep a decent sized Boot Camp partition on it.

Basically the only incremental cost I'm considering at this point is the battery. I'll get a 35Wh unless I can find a 38Wh from the 2013's. To me, this is plenty fast enough - I don't do anything requiring a better video chipset.
Click to expand...

Finding a great deal on a used system and then spending so much on upgrades that it would have been cheaper to buy new?

(sigh)Guilty
 
Yeah, well... yeah. I am where I am. I think getting a new battery for this thing now will serve me best since 10.9 will improve things a bit. I can't afford the several hundred dollar cost of upgrading to a 2013. If I did, though, I think I'd get the 13" for the extra real estate.

Dunno. Am I taking crazy pills?

clyde2801 said:
Finding a great deal on a used system and then spending so much on upgrades that it would have been cheaper to buy new?

(sigh)Guilty
Click to expand...


----------

Oooh. Re-paste with Arctic Silver 5? You think that would help? Is it hard?

Mrbobb said:
Am a tinkerer myself and I wound't bother with 3WH. Had bad experience with third party batteries (PC, not Mac). But OK, ur Mac$.

While you are in there, change the fan and re-paste the heatsink for cool running and quiet. :)
Click to expand...
 
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