Welcome to the Upgradeable Apple model page. You can quickly search our database and find your model and what upgrades you can buy to improve its performance.

Start by clicking on the "find your model series" box. A drop down list of models should appear.

Choose what series your Mac belongs to, such as iMac. Step 2 is clicking in the next box "Select a Model" and all the models in that series will appear. Scroll to choose your model.

When you find your model, selecting it will make all the upgrade options appear.

If you have any problems, please contact us via our online contact form or call our office. We appreciate all feedback, it helps improve our service.

1. Click on the Apple icon on the top left of your screen

2. Click "About this Mac"

3. Click "More Info" or click "System Report" in newer Macs.

4. In "Hardware Overview" look for "Machine Identifier" or "Model Identifier" in newer iMacs

 

An example of a model identifier is iMac7,1.

This is a very hard question to answer as it can be very specific to each user.

If your Mac has a low maximum RAM size like 4GB or 8GB, then upgrade to the maximum. You'll need as much RAM as you can get. Then consider an SSD upgrade, it is like having a huge RAM drive, when the Mac runs out of RAM it will use the hard drive as virtual ram. An SSD speeds up this process as it is almost as fast as the RAM.

If your Mac can be upgraded to 16GB or 32GB, we currently recommend between 12GB and 16GB. Current versions of OSX will use as much RAM as you give it, but performance increase flattens at around 16GB.

However, if you are a high graphic user - playing games, or editing videos and photos you will need between 16G and 20GB. You really should consider 32GB.

We hear this question everyday. A lot of Mac users call us after they have upgraded to the latest OSX and there computer has slowed down. Why?

The simple answer is you need more RAM. When you upgrade your OSX, files get bigger, and the computer want to do more. All this activity needs to go into the RAM before the CPU can process it. When the Mac runs out of RAM it starts using the hard drive as ram. This is called Paging. You'll start to see the spinning wheel on screen and the Mac freeze. Running your computer like this is the equivalent of driving your car in first gear all the time. You wont reach top speed, and your car will wear out fast. Install more RAM, it will fix the immediate bottle neck.

If you have reached your maximum RAM alowed, or you want better performance after a RAM upgrade then consider an SSD. For a lot of models, it is a simple procedure. We can advise on the best way to upgrade.

Yes. In many cases with both iMacs and MacBook Pros you can exceed the official stated maximum RAM Memory amount as initially determined by Apple.

The reason for this is simple.  In most cases the higher density module was release after the iMac or MacBook Pro and Apple never retroactively updates their upgrade information.

One example of this is the 2011 MacBook Pro. Choose any 2011 MacBook Pro; any screen size, any CPU speed, any model identifier for a 2011 MacBook Pro, whether be an early or late 2011, the official stated amount of RAM Memory these devices can take is 8gb (2x4gb module).

However it is well known that the entire range of 2011 MacBook Pros are quite happy to utilise a maximum of 16gb of RAM Memory (via 2x8gb modules). The 8gb module was released after the MacBook Pro and as stated previously, Apple does not update this information. 

We have sold hundreds of 16gb upgrade kits for the 2011 range to many customers who are now more then happy to be able to utilise their MacBook Pro to it's full capacity and extend the life of their laptop.

Another popular system that this applies to is the 27" 2011 iMac. Apple stated official maximum RAM Memory....16gb. Utilising 4x4gb modules.  Another device that is more then happy having individual 8gb modules instead.  Unofficial maximum....32gb. Utilising 4x8gb modules. 

We have sold thousands of 8gb modules into the 2011 iMac range without issue and subsequently making many, many customers very pleased.  Customers are now free to add up to 32gb RAM Memory into these iMacs and continue to utilise them far into the future.

Then you should consider replacing your existing HDD with an SSD(solid state drive)

Upgrading the memory in your computer is usually the first step to increasing it's performance. Additional memory allows you to run more applications simultaneously without the computer slowing down. It also allows you to multi-task to a much greater degree as your applications, email, web browsing, etc. all have more RAM to use to run efficiently.

However additional RAM does not solve all the issues of a "slow" computer. If you find that it takes the latest OS a long time to load or your spreadsheets are taking minutes before they are ready to use, then you should consider swapping out your old spinning HDD for an SSD.  

SSDs will run up to 12 times faster then a HDD and will have the OS loading and ready to use within seconds instead of minutes. All complex programs, high res video, complex audio and other large applications will load, ready to use, within seconds instead of taking several minutes before being ready to utilise.  

In a working environment, waiting minutes each time a new program loads or for your computer to be ready to use, is a time consuming and costly exercise. Added up, wait times increase to hours lost when totaled over the course of just a week. 

None of us here have that kind of time to waste, do you?

What else do I need for installing and cloning to the 1TB OWC Aura
SSD (Part No: UA1838) and reusing the original SSD?

Presumably an external case, but do I also need to order a cloning kit or does the 1TB SSD kit come with a suitable cable (thunderbolt) for cloning?

I would be grateful if you could point me to the item(s) I need to add to my order.

Thanks
Bruce

Answer: Bruce,

The part code you quoted includes everything you need. The SSD, the enclosure, screwdrivers and cabling. The enclosure you use for the cloning and reusing of the SSD you remove. You use a free programme called super duper to clone or you can restore from a time machine backup if you install the new SSD without an OS on it. Either way is really easy.

Just order the UA1838 and you're all set, nothing else required.

Thanks for your inquiry

Keith

Hi, needing only 16Gb 2 upgrade my mid 2011 27" 3.4ghz i7 iMac - can i purchase 4x 4Gb DDR3 PC3 - 10600 1333mhz -204 SODIMM from u 2 make th 16Gb from u?.. Reply & price appreciated, Cheers Ian.


Answer: Ian,

No sense in buying 4x4gb modules, your iMac takes the 16gb kits(2x8gb). Here is the link to your upgrade page. If you don't want to go 32gb, just add a 16gb kit(2x8gb) AND keep your existing 2x2gb and at least run 20gb. You can do that no worries and the system will run great.

http://www.upgradeable.com.au/apple/imac--imac12-2--core-i7-3-4ghz-27-inch.html

Regards

Keith

I would like to upgrade my Macbook Pro.
Details are as follows:
Macbook Pro 15 " Screen
2.2Ghz Intel Core i7
Memory 4Gb 1333 Mhz

Suggestions for upgrade please?

Regards,
Allan


Answer: Allan,

It really depends on what you are doing with it. Obviously Yosemite is slowing it down as 4gb is the minimum recommendation. Your MacBook Pro can go up to at least 8gb of RAM and possibly 16gb. What year is it? I would also suggest you replace the existing HDD with an SSD. SSDs run about 20 times faster then a standard HD and your system will load everything in an instant; the OS, apps, web pages, email, any files, etc. Then of course once you are done withe the Mac in 3 years you can take out the SSD and put it into your next notebook. Here is a link to our MacBook Pro SSD page. If you let me know the year of the notebook, I can tell you if it will take up to 16gb of RAM.

http://www.upgradeable.com.au/macbook-pro-ssd-upgrade-guide.html

Thanks for your inquiry

Keith

I need to add to my current 2x2GB RAM. Considering 2x8GB but need confirmation that this total of 20GB will be supported by OS X, as the Apple stated limit is 16GB.
I plan to run flight simulator programs in my Boot Camp Windows partition. Is 2x8GB an overkill? Would an extra 8GB be sufficient? If so can that be a single 8GB module or must it be 2x4GB modules?


Answer: Brian,

If you are running a flight simulator then the extra RAM will help, the 16gb will definitely not be an overkill. You can install (1) 8gb module by itself also.

Initially the max ram was 16gb via 4x4gb modules as there were no 8gb modules available back then. Apple never updates their info retroactively as they would rather sell you a new computer! The 8gb modules definitely work without issue and will work with your existing RAM allowing you to go to 20gb with no issue. With the extra memory you can run the flight simulator with other stuff in the background without the iMac running out of memory and then using the HDD as the RAM. This is when you get the spinning beach ball of fun!

Regards

Keith

hi I have a 2009 mac book pro and it is starting to run a bit slow. could I please get a quote to upgrade my mac book pro I would like to change my CD ROM drive for a SSD hard drive to run my operating system on & use as start up disk. and a seperate quote to change my two 2gb ram slots for two 4gb ram. Do you think this would solve my problems?

Regards
Shane

Answer: Shane,

No worries, we do this all the time. Here is a link to our Macbook Pro SSD upgrade page.

http://www.upgradeable.com.au/macbook-pro-ssd-upgrade-guide.html

If you would like us do the install, clone and RAM upgrade, that service is $175. Of course then you don't need to buy the tools and cloning kit as if you were doing it yourself, so you actually save $50 there.

The 8gb kit is $134--in stock
The optical bay bracket is $69--in stock
install--$175
SSD? ---depends on size you choose.

Your Macbook will absolutely fly, faster then any Mac worth less then $2500. There will be no delays when loading or running any apps/files/video.pictures/email/web pages etc. All the slowdown issues you are having will disappear.

Thanks for your inquiry. Let me know when you'd like to bring it in and we can go from there.

Regards

Keith Fiertl
Director
Upgradeable.com.au

Hi Guys, I am trying to find out the best SSD 1TB drive to replace the drive in my Macbook Pro 8.2 model serial C02HN78FDV7L late Nov 2011? cheers Tony
Answer: Tony,

The Crucial M550 is the best SSD for your MacBook pro. Crucial is a division of Micron who is the original developer of flash technology and supplies all the flash for Apple worldwide. The Crucial SSDs are the only ones constructed with high density chips which allows them to run cooler and thus last longer. Since Micron is an Apple worldwide partner, they are also the only SSD that works straight out of the box in the Macs.
Here is the link to our MacBook pro SSD upgrade page. It lists all the SSDs available and all the accessories you'll require for the installation. Upgradeable is the only supplier of this equipment who also provides an installation service and tech support should you require it. All SSD upgrades are sold with a complete set of instructions also.

http://www.upgradeable.com.au/macbook-pro-ssd-upgrade-guide.html

1TB are currently in stock, thanks for your inquiry

Regards

Keith Fiertl
Director
Upgradeable.com.au