Introduction: A Step-by-Step Guide for Upgrading RAM and HD of the Non Retina Macbook Pro

On any device that we possess, there comes a time when we just feel their speeding waning off. The devices start lagging and get hung more and more often. That's when you know that the device has run its course, and it's now time to get a new one.

However, there are things that one can do to preserve the performance, and extend the lives of the device to as much as possible. For the MacBook Pro devices, there are two ways you can achieve this: (a) increase the RAM and (b) install a Solid-State Drive (SSD).

NOTE: You can do these at home yourself because these two procedures would not void the AppleCare warranty on your product in any way. Now, getting down to business, how do you change these yourself and be on your way to even greater system speed?

Step 1: Let's Start With the RAM

Most of the times, the maximum allowed memory for your non-Retina display MacBook Pro models is 8GB which is assuming that you are coming from a base memory of 4GB. You should not try to exceed this for your laptop's safety. So, if you're eligible to upgrade, here's what you do.

  • Completely power down your unit and disconnect any and all cables attached to it. (You have to keep it in isolation from any other external connections throughout the course of this process.)
  • Turn your unit upside down and remove all of the ten screws on the back panel. (Given that these screws are of varying lengths and sizes, it is advised that you keep them arranged in such a way that you remember from which hole you removed them.
  • From there, touch with bare skin any metal surface on the inside of the laptop because you don't want any static electricity flowing from you into any of the components.
  • You would need to push all of the levers on the side of the memory module which should now be visible to you, and it would pop up but not entirely detach itself from the motherboard.
  • Look for the semi-circular notches and make these the points where you'd grip the memory unit while pulling it out.
  • Pull the unit out gently.
  • Remove the other one the same way too and all through, make sure that you are only touching them by the edges and not interacting with the gold connectors at all.

At this point, you are already halfway home.


  • Take the other (new) module and align the notch with the gold edge with that in the lower memory slot.
  • Tilt the card unit and gently slide it into this slot, using your fingers to make sure it has been firmly held in place.
  • If you have had a hitch-free installation, you should hear a "click" as the memory unit latches itself firmly in place.
  • Follow the same procedure to install the second unit on top of the first one.
  • Replace the back cover and screws as they were.Easy as pie, wasn't that?

Easy as pie, wasn't that?

Step 2: Change the HD of Your MacBook Pro

Before you go this way, you must have made the decision of the best SSD to buy based on what your pocket allows and, of course, the kind of speed you hope to generate from your computer unit.

For the sake of information, it is good to know that there are two different ways in which you can install an SSD in your device. One of them is to simply plug it into the enclosure, clone it, then making an installation disk to boot from, while the other requires you to install the SSD into the bay for your hard drive and booting it from the enclosure where your old hard drive was.

Now let's pick an easy one and stick with it. Simply install your SSD into your computer and put your hard drive into the USB enclosure where you boot from. Boot from this enclosed drive and then format your SSD with the Disk Utility feature after which you can clone your hard drive onto it. In less than ten easy steps, you are already up and running and with more speed on your laptop than you have ever seen.

As a concluding note, we'd like to point out that some of the older MacBook might have seven screws instead of the usual ten. The process doesn't get changed in anyway.

We hope this guide will help you achieve your target to speeding up an ageing MacBook Pro. While it might seem a little tedious or expensive, this is certainly something you must do to keep your MacBook in top shape.