SSD + RAM upgrade check please

Rainmaker

Rainmaker

Rainmaker

Soldato
Joined
18 Aug 2007
Posts
9,921
Location
Liverpool
As title. My mid-2012 13" MBP runs Yosemite and tends to beachball a fair bit. I've tried a fresh install but it's still a little laggy at times, especially when I think back to my slightly older MBP (same specs) running Snow Leopard like a greased whippet.

I tend to multi-task quite heavily; multi-threaded downloads @ 160Mbps, 2048 bit AES VPN (often also over a further SSH or SSL tunnel), Chrome, Flash, heavy 1080p HD movies, mail, SSH connection to my server, Google drive background sync, iStat, and a ton of other open apps... Plus a Linux virtual machine or two running on VMWare at the same time.

Even after a cold boot with only Safari open things can slow down and beachball temporarily when opening new apps, so once all the above is rocking it starts to feel properly slow.

I'm considering a 240GB SSD and 16GB of RAM to make the machine feel fresh again. It's only just over a year old (it was an insurance replacement for the aforementioned older model) and never leaves the house, so it's absolutely immaculate and worth the extra few quid for more speed imho.

Would this RAM kit and this SSD be suitable? I'm thinking especially of the memory here, as I read Macs can be properly fussy even when the specs and speed match Apple's stated requirements.

I went for the Corsair SSD as it's the cheapest one of that size with full 500MB/sec for read and write in the <£100 category (as opposed to more like 500/250). Is it actually worth me paying the extra for 16GB of RAM when 8GB is double what I have, and half the price?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
IceWind said:
16gb isnt really required but an SSD would drastically improve your performance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for replying. I know it's not 'required' but I figured it wouldn't hurt with the VMs etc. I have typical upgrader's dilemma. One option is half the price, but the other option's only £50 more and 'doubles the speedz'... :o I might hedge bets and get 1x 8GB module and see how it goes.

Can anyone please comment on those specific items' compatibility with the MBP before I pull the trigger?
 
SSD compatibility should not be an issue

As for Ram http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_RAM

Have a read through that link to make sure everything matches up nicely to your particular model.

Remember that increasing the ram amount wont necessary make it quicker... it will only stop it slowing down when you exceed 8gb usage which i think you will find hard to do.
 
Last edited:
SSD will make a massive difference. Possibly consider an optibay if you're looking for dual disks (extra capacity) and don't need your optical drive very often? I had 256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD in my 2012 MBP.

Would recommend 16GB if you're regularly using VMs. The linked kit should be compatible with your Mac model.
 
Your HD movies will make mincemeat out of 240GB.

I had a 120GB Vertex SSD back in 2009.. the problem was down to capacity if it's all transported with you.

If you've a NAS etc with HD content stored on that - ignore me :)

16GB works if you're processing heavily (i.e. processing 6GB photo etc) .. but SSD does make things fly - after all that 16GB has to be loaded and stored somewhere.
 
Thanks everyone. :) Yeah storage isn't much of an issue as I stream stuff around the LAN etc. My MBP was up to around 300GB full but that included over 150GB of stuff I just didn't bother deleting. Now I've wiped it and set it up how I'd like it I have about 400GB free... for now.

After some reading up, I've sorted the correct RAM. SSD wise I'm veering towards a Samsung 850 EVO 500GB. It's a decent price looking in the right places (£89) and gets universally decent reviews. The current HD is the same size and hasn't gotten even near full. That plus an 8GB memory module (with space to add an extra 8GB if needed) seems like a plan. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom