I've got a MBP 15" Early 2011 with an i7, 4GB RAM, 750 GB 7200RPM HDD. It was slow to the point where clicking anything at all causes rainbow wheel for a few seconds. I did a reset on it recently, and it is improved, but I want to make it usable for school (mostly working with IDEs). Should I have the budget for one upgrade only, do I bump up the RAM to 8 GB or replace the HDD with a SSD to improve performance and prevent rainbow wheeling?
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- Aug 30, 2012
- 6,598
SSD will give it more noticeable boost than RAM upgrade
I believe a SSD will be the more noticeable boost but at this point only 4GB of ram? I don´t know what you use your mac for but anyways if you can only afford one of the upgrades I´d go to the SSD upgrade as well.
Sorry bad english
Sorry bad english
- Jan 8, 2011
- 22,361
Priority: SSD 256GB - 512GB. If possible, RAM, what's the max allowed?
What's your budget?
What's your budget?
8GB RAM is the max it supports. About $120, so it's between the two. Leaning towards SSD based on the comments.
- Jan 8, 2011
- 22,361
$110 for the Samsung 850 EVO 256GB. If I jump the gun and invest in 8GB of RAM too, will it be worth my while? How much of an improvement in performance will I see in the RAM upgrade after upgrading to an SSD?
- Nov 19, 2014
- 2,345
Ram upgrade depends on the programs you use. Assuming you don't max what you have now or come close to maxing benefit will be minimal.
- Aug 30, 2012
- 6,598
Minimal, like @SHvFl said, but it will improve performance if you use a lot of programs simultaneously, additional 4GB stick doesn't cost much
I've gone ahead and made a sacrifice. Purchased 8GB of RAM, and retired the Samsung 840 EVO used on my PC for malware testing in and out of the Hub to be used in my MBP.
- Nov 19, 2014
- 2,345
It causes write amplification in the long run since the fix tries to re-write data to new sectors to avoid slow reads.
- Nov 19, 2014
- 2,345
I see. I am not familiar with that but it should still be fast then. It will just die sooner which in a home ssd than means years. By then we will probably have sata 4 and ssd will be all m.2
No SATA 4 only SATA Express along m.2 and other SFF based flash drives.By then we will probably have sata 4 and ssd will be all m.2
Samsung has Pro Series (example: Samsung 850 Pro) with 10-year limited warranty.
SSD beneficts are: less heat, noise and temps and more autonomy. Like other companions said an SSD will be the best option.
Regards.
SSD beneficts are: less heat, noise and temps and more autonomy. Like other companions said an SSD will be the best option.
Regards.
- Mar 19, 2016
- 128
I upgraded a few of those models a while ago with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD, both from Corsair, made a huge difference, almost as quick as my new MacBook Pro.
Cost was around 150$ for the complete upgrade here in Denmark, so depending where you live you might get it a lot cheaper.
So I would say do both, since more memory also reduced swapping to disk.
I wouldn't go for the fastest SSD, since the controller on the 2011 model can't keep up with it anyway.
If your going to work with a lot of large files you might want more than 128GB though.
We use them for video editing movies recorded on ipads and lighter work tasks., 128GB SSD and 8GB RAM is enough for that.
Cost was around 150$ for the complete upgrade here in Denmark, so depending where you live you might get it a lot cheaper.
So I would say do both, since more memory also reduced swapping to disk.
I wouldn't go for the fastest SSD, since the controller on the 2011 model can't keep up with it anyway.
If your going to work with a lot of large files you might want more than 128GB though.
We use them for video editing movies recorded on ipads and lighter work tasks., 128GB SSD and 8GB RAM is enough for that.
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