I use my Macs mainly for web surfing and web page editing, some light graphics work, and lots of productivity software, text editing, and other tasks that might be marginally faster with newer hardware, but certainly sufficient for me to get by on an older Mac. An alternative method of identifying the correct type of RAM is to use Crucial's free scanner. It's a pretty easy process. From the Retina 2012 Macbook Pro Apple started using a proprietary version of a M.2 SSD. You should feel some resistance pushing them in, and while metal may still be visible, they should mostly be covered when you push them in completely. 3) Gently push down on the DIMM to make it click in place. Ensure that replacement RAM modules are correctly oriented, and then gently slide them into the iMac. The two higher models both come with 8GB of RAM, which again can be increased to 16GB. Because now it’s running quite nicely and will be for a while longer. This is where keeping the screws in a layout approximated to how you took them out comes in handy, because you’ll easily see which holes get the long screws and which ones get the short screws. Bear in mind that this isn’t suitable for Retina Display-equipped MacBooks. The first step will be to find out how much RAM you have inside your Mac. Push the RAM release tab upwards (in the direction of the white arrow). Apple provides an illustrated guide for memory upgrades: just click Apple > About this Mac, and then click the Memory tab and then the Memory Upgrade Instructions link. 1866 MHz DDR3). You’ll find them in precision screwdriver kits like this one at Amazon. This will produce a window showing you how many memory slots your computer has, and what sort of memory module you can use. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Lifetime warranty. What actually comes up at this point will depend upon your OS, but somewhere in the options should be a section called 'Hardware Tests' - in which you'll find the option to test your memory. Now, assuming your Mac's RAM is upgradable, there are a number of technical figures used in the description of RAM, two main pieces of information you need are the 'double data rate' variety (i.e. Even the 2013 Mac Pro had a memory bay, although it is somewhat fiddly to access. Put simply, RAM upgrades are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get new life out of an old Mac. Then carefully lift the stick out. Those replaced the 2 2GB DIMMs Apple installed from the factory. You can find both of these things by clicking on the Apple menu, selecting About this Mac, and clicking on the Memory tab. Having estabilished that some extra RAM may help your Mac the next big question to answer is whether you will actually be able to add RAM to your Mac. 21.5in iMac 2015) so it is impossible to upgrade, and if you tried you would likely damage your Mac. Right now I have more read and write speed than what I had before with original apple ssd. One of the most popular pieces of software for this is Memtest, which is available free from here. So, is it a good idea to upgrade your RAM? Look for half-circle notches you can use to gently remove the DIMM using your fingertips. Now even 21.5in iMacs can be upgraded, but it's a challenge best left to an Apple Authorized Service Provider. 8 GB: 16 GB. They are physically exactly the same physical size. Upgrading an iMac's RAM is, at least in the case of the 27in model, easier than upgrading its other components - as it doesn't generally involve removing the screen. It is usually the most expensive option by far and, considering that there are compatible aftermarket versions that work just as well, and are cheaper - it is not our recommended option. 1. 2) With the screws removed, pull the bottom panel off the bottom of the MacBook Pro and lay it aside. DIMMs should be located in both upper and lower slots. In this example we update the RAM in the mid 21.5in iMac from 2010. If you have one of these models then it's probably fitted with 4GB of RAM, as that was the standard Apple issue. Now pull out the little arms to raise the iMac RAM slots. It's been a long time since Apple sold Macs with anything less than that, although if you have a MacBook Air from 2015,  or a Mac mini from 2014, you may only have 4GB RAM. Apple hasn't currently got a RAM section in its store, so your best bet may be to go to Apple UK or Apple US and run a search for 16GB RAM or 32GB RAM, depending on how much you want to buy. Replace the cover - you need to match up the dots before you can screw it back into the locked position. I am using R and I am running a heavy model, but I can not get a result because of lack of memory. 13-Inch (Touch Bar, 2 TB 3) 2133 MHz. I ended up with 16 GB of PC3-12800 DDR 1600 MHz RAM, two 8 GB DIMMs from Data Memory Systems. Mounted correctly, it will slot in, jigsaw-like - if mounted the wrong way, the protrusion will prevent the RAM from fully connecting. We don't recommend this. We may have you covered in our Mac upgrade guide. The Mac Pro used to be is Apple's most 'upgrade-friendly' product. It might look like the same exterior design in most respects, but the iMac Pro hasn't got the same user-accessible hatch as the iMac, so you can't upgrade its RAM yourself. The software will run on a test sequence in a terminal window. © Copyright 2020 IDG Communications Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The instructions in this guide should be applicable to the following 13-inch MacBook Pro models: Why not just replace the computer altogether? Make the most of your amazing new 2019 Mac Pro with OWC performance upgrades. all about how to tell how much RAM is in your Mac and whether you need more. You’ll find it located about half way down from the top. Up until late 2014 the Mac mini was a very easy device to upgrade yourself. It pops up at an angle. In that case you might be wondering how much to get. Existing RAM DIMMs will be laying parallel to the main logic board, clipped in place by the memory module. Or your Mac freezes. You can also use your Mac's inbuilt memory tests. First, shut down your Mac and wait at least 10 minutes for the internal components to cool. You will need to download the tool and then go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General > Click on Open Anyway to open the tool. Note that the lower DIMM is already clipped in place, while the upper DIMM is at an angle. This is the next challenge. Now click on 'Memory' in the lefthand column. When I can eke out another year or two of life from hardware that’s still working well, I consider that good value, when a few cheap parts and a couple of hours of sweat equity is all it takes to keep it going. If so, contact the vendor you purchased from for an exchange or return. We'll go into more detail about how to add RAM to various Mac models below. Also bear in mind that 2012 is the cutoff for Catalina, so upgrading your older Mac might make it run faster, but it won’t let it run any newer software than what Apple allows. Once you've completed your upgrade, it's a safe bet to run a memory test on your new modules - to ensure that everything actually works. Then make sure they click into place horizontally, parallel to the main logic board. On the other hand, iMacs and MacBook Pro units have offered 8GB or more for much longer. Black screen. 4) Push the levers on the sides of the memory module outward to release the DIMM from its slot. The proper way for MacBook Air expand storage is to upgrade MacBook Air SSD to a larger one. On older models this is actually a very simple procedure, and if you use third-party RAM from companies such as Crucial you'll find the cost quite affordable too. There are plenty of places to buy secondhand - but when it comes to choice, eBay is probably the undisputed champion. There’s no need to extract Pentalobe screws or any other exotic parts to get inside your Mac. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. The biggest problem is that on some models, particularly MacBooks, the RAM is soldered on - making removal near impossible and hazardous to your computer. Before lifting out the memory locate the notches - if you can't find them press out the levers again. And for many models, the only tool you'll need is a small screwdriver. To get this puppy running with Catalina and a suite of applications I depend on, all I needed to do was upgrade the RAM from its stock 4 GB configuration and replace a hard disk drive with an SSD. Push down on the memory to click it into place. In the world of aftermarket Apple hardware, a few names have stood the test of time. When I’m doing this, I like to keep the screws together on a non-skid pad nearby, in the same approximate layout that I’ll put them back in so I remember which screws go where. The arrows show the location of screws to remove. So the same basic procedure applies for installing RAM in any of these devices. 8 GB: 16 GB. Flip over your Mac, plug it in to a power supply if necessary, and power it up. Make sure both ejectors are secured. If you already have a MacBook Pro to work with, you’re going to be looking at a similar expense. Done right, this is usually the cheapest method. As things stand now, you can upgrade the RAM yourself in the following Mac models: MacBook Core 2 Duo; MacBook Unibody; MacBook Pro 13” (Mid 2009-Mid 2012) MacBook Pro 15” (Late 2008-Mid 2012) MacBook Pro 17” (All Models) iMac 17” (All Models) iMac 20” (All Models) iMac 21.5” (All Models) iMac 24” (All Models) iMac 27” (All Models) Our advice would be to always bear this in mind when you are buying a new Mac. Find the RAM access door at the bottom of your Mac. However, if your Mac is a newer models there may be no way to upgrade the RAM, or it might be theoretically possible, but risky. You should hear a click as the ejectors lock the stick in. MacBook Pro 2020 vs MacBook Pro 2019: Speedy RAM upgrade Compared to the other upgrades, the introduction of faster RAM will likely be overshadowed, but it … Now that Apple's late-2019 16-inch MacBook Pro is available to order, AppleInsider breaks down who should and who shouldn't upgrade to the newest portable powerhouse. This causes confusion among customers, in choosing 8GB vs 16GB RAM MacBook Pro. Learn more. It's worth bearing in mind that the memory latches are not very sturdy and prone to bending if you're not careful. That’s certainly one valid approach, depending on your budget and your needs. Align the removed bottom case with the screw holes and gently tighten the ten screws you removed from the bottom case. So no you can’t upgrade your RAM or Storage. Slide the RAM module out of its slot in the bay, and set aside. 16-Inch (Touch Bar) 2666 MHz (DDR4) 16 GB: 64 GB Upgrade. If that's the Mac you own then the upgrade will be tricky or, more likely, impossible. 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