New Macbook Pro and wanting to upgrade hardware

pyrotecnix114 · 08-10-2009, 01:10 AM

I just bought a 13" MBP last night and I was wondering if anyone knew where to find a good, but cheap, hard drive. I looked on apple.com and they offered a 250gb hard drive upgrade for $50 more than I paid. Would it be better just to get a hard drive that was around 320gb for a little more money? I was also wanting to upgrade the RAM and was trying to get a good deal on that as well. I won't be going above 4 most likely just because I don't really need anything more.

Mclovin09 · 08-10-2009, 02:47 AM

Newegg.com <-- good site for all your computer needs

aforautumn · 08-10-2009, 10:24 AM

Newegg.com - Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BC1067 - Laptop Memory
Newegg.com - Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD3200BEVT 320GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive - Laptop Hard Drives

4gb ram ($60)/320 gb hdd ($65)
total cost: $125

if you go for a $250, you'd save maybe $5 upgrading after you buy. its a weird in-between size.
another option is to upgrade your ram to 3gb rather than 4, which should save you about $30.
Newegg.com - Crucial 2GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model CT25664BC1067 - Laptop Memory

thats about as cheap as those upgrades get.

pyrotecnix114 · 08-10-2009, 03:42 PM

Thank you very much for your responses. In order to get 3gb, would i need to buy only one 2gb stick? with changing the hard drive, is it a tedious process? the only thing I've ever done to a computer was take the case off a desktop. I'm not experienced in the changing of everything

aforautumn · 08-10-2009, 06:44 PM

yes, just one 2gb stick. macbooks have 2 slots, so you would take one 1gb stick out and replace it with one 2 gb stick.
replacing the hard drive should be even easier than the ram. i haven't done it myself, but from what i've seen of the inside of macbooks are that the harddrive is visible and removable without even taking the whole bottom off.

both are simple processes, and are somewhat less messy than in their desktop equivalents. the manual you get comes with instructions, and i believe instructions are imprinted on the inside of the batter cover as well.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/...ch_Mid2009.pdf
chapter 3

Lergnom · 08-10-2009, 09:01 PM

Why not buy an external drive that's much, much larger and can be used for backup? You can even buy a portable one. Makes more sense.

pyrotecnix114 · 08-10-2009, 09:32 PM

I was thinking an internal hard drive because I wouldn't have to carry around something extra in my backpack all day if I wanted all my music on me at once

OperaDad · 08-17-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Thank you very much for your responses. In order to get 3gb, would i need to buy only one 2gb stick?

If you are going to change out one of the sticks, you might as well change out both at the same time. Then sell the 1 gb sticks on ebay as a set.

Quote:

with changing the hard drive, is it a tedious process?

Changing the hard drive is more tedious because you have to reload the operating system and all your files onto the new drive (page 60 of the manual linked to above).

ALF · 08-17-2009, 05:56 PM

I just replaced the hard drive in my son's Macbook, and it was easy. We bought an upgrade kit from Other World Computing (Find the latest Performance Upgrades, Firewire and USB Hard Drives, SATA, Memory, Laptop Battery, and more at OWC), that included a drive, an external enclosure, cable, and software. You install the new drive into the enclosure, then run the software to 'clone' your current internal drive. Once you have done that, you slip the new drive out of the enclosure and swap it with the internal drive. You end up with a higher-capacity (and possibly faster) internal drive, and the old drive becomes your backup after you put it in the enclosure.

Another_Adam · 08-17-2009, 06:14 PM

For someone who isn't computer-savvy, why didn't you just buy it upgraded? The cost difference is negligible for what you've mentioned, especially taking into consideration the piece-of-mind that comes with factory upgrades, as well as possible warranty issues.

(My advice is if you ever have a problem with the computer that requires Apple's assistance, you should put back the original HDD and RAM before taking it in to get looked at.)

ThisCouldBeHeavn · 08-18-2009, 06:16 AM

^That would make things interesting if the problem is with the hard drive.

zapakovex · 08-19-2009, 11:39 AM

The cost difference is definitely not negligible. Apple upgrades are ridiculously overpriced, and this is coming from a huge mac fan.

Dukefan · 08-23-2009, 03:16 PM

Check with your school for good discount upgrades. My school gives a 4gb ram upgrade with free installation for any Mac for about $80. This is cheaper than just buying it with apple right off the bat, not saying your school will have it, but it is worth a look.