Hello new MacBook Pro owner I had some questions.

Hi all I just bought my first MacBook Pro 15" from BestBuy the one with the 750gb HD and 6770. I'm pretty excited to own one since I needed a more portable but powerful laptop for work and school. I also own a Alienware M17x but I use that mostly as a desktop replacement in my bedroom I'd probably be having back surgery after trying to lug that thing around for a couple months lol.

Anyways the only thing I have done so far with my MBP is start it up and played with it for about 15min and installed Flash. I want to make a couple upgrades before I really give her more use. My the first upgrades I want to do is upgrading the ram from 4gb to 8gb and replacing the 750gb HD to at least a 120+gb SSD. I was wondering if anyone had brand recommendations?

Right now I was planning on ordering this ram from Amazon.
Amazon.com: Kingston Apple 8GB DDR3 SDRAM Memory Module (KTA-MB1066K2/8G): Computers & Accessories

As for the SSD I have no idea what brand to go with yet. Also would I need any extra parts/special tools to install these upgrades? Also I wanted to install Windows 7 on my MBP how hard is that and do I need to buy a copy of it or could I use my Windows 7 DVD that came with my M17x?

I open to any help/suggestions and would like to say thx in advance. I just want to get my MacBook Pro setup properly before I start putting her to serious use.

 

That's about as good a deal as you can get on 8 gigs of ram! The 120GB SSD will improve data transfer rates, and perhaps help a bit with boot up times too, but at the cost of 630 gigs of storage space. While I definitely understand the logic behind the upgrade, personally I always find that the money spent and the speed-up gained to be sort of an overkill. Are you sure you want to do that? True, you can get an external storage device, but that's one more thing to carry around...

To open up the MBP and install the upgrades you'll need appropriate screwdrivers... try the phillips one. Using the wrong screwdriver can mess up the screw heads, and even scratch your MBP.

As for setting up windows, just use bootcamp. It comes with your MBP and is a great tool! But yes, you will need to buy your copy. The WIN 7 DVD you got with your Alienware is provided by DELL ( unless it's a pre-DELL Alienware ?) and is most likely an OEM. In which case using it in your MBP is not an option. Even if it's a full fledged, non-OEM media, the only way to install it on your MBP without violating the MS EULA would be to completely remove it from your Alienware, and then install it on the MAC.

 

That's about as good a deal as you can get on 8 gigs of ram! The 120GB SSD will improve data transfer rates, and perhaps help a bit with boot up times too, but at the cost of 630 gigs of storage space. While I definitely understand the logic behind the upgrade, personally I always find that the money spent and the speed-up gained to be sort of an overkill. Are you sure you want to do that? True, you can get an external storage device, but that's one more thing to carry around...

To open up the MBP and install the upgrades you'll need appropriate screwdrivers... try the phillips one. Using the wrong screwdriver can mess up the screw heads, and even scratch your MBP.

As for setting up windows, just use bootcamp. It comes with your MBP and is a great tool! But yes, you will need to buy your copy. The WIN 7 DVD you got with your Alienware is provided by DELL ( unless it's a pre-DELL Alienware ?) and is most likely an OEM. In which case using it in your MBP is not an option. Even if it's a full fledged, non-OEM media, the only way to install it on your MBP without violating the MS EULA would be to completely remove it from your Alienware, and then install it on the MAC.

 

If you're absolutely certain you won't need more than 120-256 GB of storage, you can use pretty much any SSD. The top choices from a performance/reliability standpoint are the Samsung 830, Crucial M4, and Intel 510. The Samsung and Crucial are the best from a performance per dollar standpoint.

If you think you might need more space, it would be more cost effective to do one of the following:

1) The stock hard drive in a MacBook Pro is 5400 RPM. You can simply replace the drive with a 7200 RPM unit, which would provide faster booting and application launches at a cost of a bit more heat and power consumption (this is fairly negligible).

2) You can replace the hard drive with an SSD, then replace your optical drive with the stock hard drive. Use the SSD for booting your computer and installing applications, then use the hard drive for movies, music, etc. This procedure is a bit more involved and would require you to spend additional money on a suitable caddy to replace the optical drive. It also requires a bit more technical know-how.

That memory is DDR3-1066, which is designed for older Core2 Macs. You'll want to use this for your particular MacBook.

The two screwdrivers you should have on hand when doing Mac upgrades are a Phillips 00 and a Torx T6.

The Windows disc you received with your Alienware is customized for that specific machine. You would have to purchase a new copy for installation on your Mac.

 

Somehow that never did the trick for me. I did that with my old MBP 15, but it really was more hassle than was worth the increased-booting speed . But I guess, that's a personal preference. I missed the optical drive a bit too much... it comes in really handy, especially when you are stuck without internet access for some reason, or if you don't have sufficient bandwidth.

And yeah... I overlooked the fact that the link provided by the OP was for 1066mhz RAM. They were meant for the older C2D chipset based MBPs.

 

Thank you for the advice guys and catching the older ram. Luckily I didn't order anything as of yet. Guess I'll have to add a copy of windows 7 on my list. I think I'll be going with the 256gb Crucial M4 which is more then enough space for my needs. I'll just keep the 750gb oem hdd for warranty purposes since I like to option of using the DVD drive for movies.

 

Good call... keep that ODD on!

 

I second the option of obtaining an optical drive caddy for your 750 GB harddrive and getting a SSD for booting the OS and installing applications. I have a Thinkpad T410 and that's basically what I did, although it is slightly easier for me since I can just slide my optical drive out instead of having to take apart the entire laptop. If you can go without an optical drive and have the technology know-how, I would highly suggest this as the way to go. This way, you can still get a SSD without paying an insane amount since you can get a smaller size and store all your files on the 750 GB hard drive.

Second, I wouldn't use Bootcamp and install Windows unless I had to use a program that was only available on Windows. Most software are available on both Macs and Windows. Why do you want to use Windows? If you're going to use Office, you can get a Mac version. Plus, running Windows on a Mac really defeats the purpose of getting a Mac in the first place.

 

anything wrong with 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 Memory Module ?? I see this is the "go to" when upgrading.

 

Again... depends on your preferences. The key phrase in the above quote is "If you can go without an optical drive ...". Personally I feel that's giving up on too many advantages for too little gain in terms of boot-up and data transfer. What difference does it make if my MAC boots in 10 seconds instead of taking 17 seconds? The best of windows PCs will take at least a minute to reach a workable state, at the very least anyway . MACs are fast enough.

Agreed! I personally don't see why anyone would want to use windows on a MAC. The whole point behind a MAC, apart from the obviously superior ergonomics and aesthetics, is of course the speed, power and reliability of MAC OS X! Using windows on a MAC is like trying to run a Rolce Royce on kerosene. You would be simply doing injustice to a superior engine that has been designed to work with a much superior fuel type. Most windows programs have a MAC edition today, even the lesser known ones. And those that doesn't, will usually have MAC variant with a different name, or a MAS download available. And in the rare case that you do run into the situation where you need to run a windows program that doesn't have ANY mac alternative, can't you just use an emulator?

 

That seems like a normal 1333 MHZ DDR3 module... should be alright! Check the technical details to ensure you are ordering the right type though...

 

Is there faster ram I should know about? P hehe I still have 20 days to return my 8G for another brand. I got the 8gb upgrade for $29.00 from amazon on black friday.

 

The Mac only supports 1333 MHz RAM. They're all the same - same timings and whatnot. It's merely a matter of finding the cheapest set you can.

 

I really need the DVD drive so won't be taking that out. Mainly because I plan to use this also for a some gaming when I'm away from my Alienware at home. The game I'm planning to play on this is diablo 3 and reason for windows was I didn't want to have to buy a windows version and Mac version but I guess I might just do that if it'll be easier. I didn't really want to install windows unless I had to.

 

Blizzard games going back to Diablo II have Mac and Windows installers on the same disc. I don't see any reason why they would change that now - you should only need one copy for both operating systems.

 

So, the 1600MHZ modules won't work on the MBP then? I suspected as much, but never really bothered to ensure that bit ...

 

Just one off-topic question... how well does Diablo II and/or III run on the MBP 13", just in case you have tried ( specs on my sig)? I have never really gamed on my MAC, but I saw some youtube videos of people playing games like COD: WaW, and Crysis on the MBP 13 with core i5... the settings were pretty much turned down, and while the graphics wasn't mind-blowing. it wasn't unplayable or abhorring either. So, I am sort of curious about how Diablo II/III would run on these machines....

 

Ohh I did not know that, thanks for the info. guess I'll keep my Mac a Mac lol.

 

they do work, 1866mhz modules that are the difficult ones, some work some dont.

Actually for the mbp 13 users it would make some kind of difference, albeit small in terms of fps when using the higher speed ram. However I never saw a mbp 13 that worked with a 1866mhz ram, only 15 and 17, and as I said, its a luck kind of thing, some get it working right, some dont.

 

So 1866MHZ is out... but the 1600 MHZ should work on the MBP 13. Is that what you are saying?

 

It should work, but it doesn't necessarily mean it will work. It's luck of the draw. If you get a set that works perfectly, great. If not, you'll have to spend time, and possibly money, exchanging it.

 

it will work.

 

Hmmmm.... now I am confused Guess I will just stick to the 1333MHZ modules and upgrade to 8gigs...

 

By the way... how well can I expect Diablo III to run on the MBP 13" i5+HD3000 combo?? Any thoughts guys? Diablo2 seems to have worked pretty good even on the older editions with C2D...

 

just roam around the macrumors forum, it simply works.

 

'just works' you mean ?

 

terrible day, and yes I meant that.

 

How to you play Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer without windows on a mac?

 

eh

 

You wait until Aspyr or similar developer ports the game to OS X.

 

Perfect thread for a hi-jack!

Just Ordered a 15" MBP, 2.2ghz, 4GB Ram, Hi-Res Non-Glare display for my wife for Christmas. This will be the first Apple in our family (I couldn't talk her into the Envy 15 ). Any quirks I should know about? Any "must have" accessories recommended? I'll be upgrading to an SSD and 8GB Ram in the future, but other than that, I intend to keep the notebook stock. She will not be gaming but will be doing some stressful graphics work.

Thanks.

 

How about the Magic Mouse? And perhaps the wireless keyboard... and considering it's your first MAC, may be the AppleCare?

 

I went for the 120 SSD from apple and now I wish I had gone for the 250 model. Win 7 in parallels (i guess it is the same in bootcamp) took up about 26 GBs after compressing, while The System, Library, and Application folders themselves take about 34 GBs and that is without your home folder. Though, you have to subtract the 26 GB Parallels from the 56 GB home folder.

I might upgrade later on, but from what I have read is that apple support for SSDs is not great compared to their own? I specifically read about RAID, but I wonder if Apple actually uses RAID, which would mean I might 2 * 60 GB or 4 * 30 GB disks. In my sony, there is a noticeable lag when the system is booting up (pre-windows), which has been chalked up to this.

 

I have some more questions for anyone who can help please? I just received my upgrades I plan to put in my MacBook Pro 15" late 2011 model and needed to know the best way to install them.

8GB Ram - Amazon.com: Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 Memory Module (CT2KIT51264BC1339): Computers & Accessories

SSD - Amazon.com: Crucial 256 GB m4 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SATA 6Gb/s CT256M4SSD2: Electronics

Can I just install both the RAM and SSD at the same time? Also what is the best way to reinstall the OS? I've read somewhere that I could just install the SSD and the OS will reinstall itself via internet after it detects the new SSD. Just want to make sure if this is correct or do I need to make a DVD backup right now with the original HDD? I haven't really installed anything on the original HDD except Adobe Flash so I'm not worried about losing anything.

Finally my last question is what is the easiest way for me to get my songs from my Ipod transferred onto my new MBP/SSD?