MAcBook Pro 13" (mid 2012, MD101): Upgrade RAM and HDD to SSD--where to buy these

[Smiley_lauf]

Hi there,

I have a Mid 2012 MBP 13" (MD101); I would like to upgrade RAM to 8GB (currently has 4GB, 1600Mhz DDR3) and the HDD to an SSD (I think this is a 2.5 inch, I may be wrong?). Can you point me to a vendor where I could buy this from?

Thanks in advance.
SL

 

[bwana]

If you don't use the CD/DVD drive you should consider replacing it with a SSD. It's a fairly straightforward process to then combine the SSD and HDD into one large, and most of all fast, logical drive.

Just make sure you get the right speed for the ram. Personally I'd get one 8gb stick and then just swap one of the two 2gb sticks you currently have in there giving you 10gb of ram. Then later on you can always replace that other 2gb with another 8gb.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

Bwana, many thanks for the reply.

1. Do you have instructions on how to remove the CD/DVD drive--this options would definately work for me; I will install the OS on the SSD (at least 128GB) and use the HDD (500GB) for data;
2. I thought the max this machine can take is 8GB according to the Appe specs. But if you say it will take 2+8 or even 8+8 GB of RAM then that's great.

 

[bwana]

Bwana, many thanks for the reply.

1. Do you have instructions on how to remove the CD/DVD drive--this options would definately work for me; I will install the OS on the SSD (at least 128GB) and use the HDD (500GB) for data;
2. I thought the max this machine can take is 8GB according to the Appe specs. But if you say it will take 2+8 or even 8+8 GB of RAM then that's great.

Apple says it officially supports 8gb but if you search around everyone agrees it will take up to 16gb.

To replace the CD/DVD with a SSD you're going to need an enclosure - there are a number of threads in this section you can look at - including http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/535595-Hard-Drive-Caddy-for-MBP

Personally I went for the single fusion drive instead of the one for data one for apps approach - made backing up much easier and it was still very very fast.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

Apple says it officially supports 8gb but if you search around everyone agrees it will take up to 16gb.

To replace the CD/DVD with a SSD you're going to need an enclosure - there are a number of threads in this section you can look at - including http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/535595-Hard-Drive-Caddy-for-MBP

Personally I went for the single fusion drive instead of the one for data one for apps approach - made backing up much easier and it was still very very fast.

thanks--will check out that other thread.

Out of curiosity, what is a fusion drive? is this something like a hybrid drive?

 

[bwana]

thanks--will check out that other thread.

Out of curiosity, what is a fusion drive? is this something like a hybrid drive?

A hybrid drive is a single HDD with a small built in SSD - usually about 8gb.

A fusion drive is two drives, a SSD and a HDD of any sizes, that you marry together into one large drive. The OS manages that single logical drive so that apps and the OS are on the fast SSD as well as whatever regularly used data that will fit - everything else goes on the HDD portion. It's basically what Apple puts in their iMacs.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

A hybrid drive is a single HDD with a small built in SSD - usually about 8gb.

A fusion drive is two drives, a SSD and a HDD of any sizes, that you marry together into one large drive. The OS manages that single logical drive so that apps and the OS are on the fast SSD as well as whatever regularly used data that will fit - everything else goes on the HDD portion. It's basically what Apple puts in their iMacs.

great thanks.

 

[bwana]

I did it on my 2011 MBP and it made one helluva difference.

 

[PostmanPot]

It's basically what Apple puts in their iMacs.

The top of the range one, yes.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

Eish...I just read that thread--any local vendor selling those caddy enclosures? I am sure since 2012/13 there must be a local supplier?

bwana--i see you had wireless/bluetooth malfunction.

 

[PostmanPot]

Eish...I just read that thread--any local vendor selling those caddy enclosures? I am sure since 2012/13 there must be a local supplier?

bwana--i see you had wireless/bluetooth malfunction.

www.bidorbuy.co.za > MacBook Pro caddy.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

www.bidorbuy.co.za > MacBook Pro caddy.

Thanks, PostmanPot.

The creation of fusion drive needs Terminal commands; any GUI app for this?

 

[bwana]

Thanks, PostmanPot.

The creation of fusion drive needs Terminal commands; any GUI app for this?

Don't be put off by the terminal commands. I posted a link to the guide I used in one of the threads and it's straightforward. Unless you want to reinstall everything I suggest cloning your existing drive so you can just put everything back when you're done.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

I found this guide.

Is this the right caddy on bidorbuy? merchant reliable? price seems a bit dodgy. Will they slap all the extra import and shipping duty?

These guys apparently ship to SA for free. Will give them a try.

thanks bwana--I am a newbie to OS X command language, but will give it a try. Seems there may be some disdvantages to fusion drive as mentioned in the guide above; I may opt to keep them separate, as I am also planning to boot camp with Windows.

And whatever happened to Sybaritic online shop--I bought a number of items from there in 2012; I see they have liquidated. Eish...who is now the merchant to buy from?

 

[Cassady]

Not sure about the Buyer – but have seen that Caddy before – as indicated in the other thread, quite a few MyBB users installed that one.

I went for one from OWC – which is better quality, but then you pay significantly more. By all accounts, the one above works as well, so why spend the extra $$ when you can get away for cheaper. You might need to do a bit of fiddling, since I vaguely recall some had issues with screws not being included or something, but I may be wrong.

I have the same MBP. Running 2x8GB Crucials with zero problems. Ok. Of late, I have had a few crashes, with the Report indicating it could be a memory issue, which means one of them might be on the way out, but I've ran it for 2.5 years now without any issues.

I moved my OEM 500GB HDD to the optibay, popped the dvd drive into an OWC external bay, which gets used once in a blue moon, and put a 500GB Crucial SSD into the HDD bay. Never fused them – keep OS and all my Apps on the SSD, used the HDD for iTunes/Photos and iMovie data – so separate disks, with zero issues. Hybrid is nice as well, but either ways, completely depends on you.

Good luck! PS – check out iFixit.com for everything you need, including replacing/upgrading the RAM.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

Not sure about the Buyer – but have seen that Caddy before – as indicated in the other thread, quite a few MyBB users installed that one.

I went for one from OWC – which is better quality, but then you pay significantly more. By all accounts, the one above works as well, so why spend the extra $$ when you can get away for cheaper. You might need to do a bit of fiddling, since I vaguely recall some had issues with screws not being included or something, but I may be wrong.

I have the same MBP. Running 2x8GB Crucials with zero problems. Ok. Of late, I have had a few crashes, with the Report indicating it could be a memory issue, which means one of them might be on the way out, but I've ran it for 2.5 years now without any issues.

I moved my OEM 500GB HDD to the optibay, popped the dvd drive into an OWC external bay, which gets used once in a blue moon, and put a 500GB Crucial SSD into the HDD bay. Never fused them – keep OS and all my Apps on the SSD, used the HDD for iTunes/Photos and iMovie data – so separate disks, with zero issues. Hybrid is nice as well, but either ways, completely depends on you.

Good luck! PS – check out iFixit.com for everything you need, including replacing/upgrading the RAM.

thanks--and lots of video guides on YouTube too.

 

[bwana]

I moved my OEM 500GB HDD to the optibay, popped the dvd drive into an OWC external bay, which gets used once in a blue moon, and put a 500GB Crucial SSD into the HDD bay. Never fused them – keep OS and all my Apps on the SSD, used the HDD for iTunes/Photos and iMovie data – so separate disks, with zero issues. Hybrid is nice as well, but either ways, completely depends on you.

Could be risky if the HDD doesnt have a built on sudden motion sensor. Rather be on the safe side and leave the HDD where it is and put the SSD in the caddy. There's no reason I can think of to move the HDD, both SATA ports are capable of the same speed, so why go through the extra work of moving it.

http://apple.stackexchange.com/ques...ent-sudden-motion-shock-sensor-in-optical-bay

 

[Smiley_lauf]

will boot instruction pick up the secondary drive, assuming ssd is primary boot drive?

 

[bwana]

will boot instruction pick up the secondary drive, assuming ssd is primary boot drive?

Absolutely - worst case you need to select it as the start up drive the first time by holding the option key at boot, then just change the startup drive in system prefs.

 

[Smiley_lauf]

Absolutely - worst case you need to select it as the start up drive the first time by holding the option key at boot, then just change the startup drive in system prefs.

ok kewl!