My MacBook Pro 13-inch mid 2012 - is very slow

[RAJESHWAR]

Hi friends,
I bought MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2012, processor 2.5 ghz intel core i5, 4gb Ram. This machine is very slow it takes few seconds to open application, few seconds to save a document. previously I was using MacBook Air mid 2013 with almost same configuration, only major differences is its SSD.

My question is if I upgrade my Mac Pro to 8gb ram will it improve the speed significantly. If so can I buy ram online. Friends please suggest.

 

[TMRJIJ]

No computer today should have less than 8 GB of RAM. I would definitely add more. Also considering you came from a Mac with an SSD to what I assume would be a traditional HDD, performance most likely taken a major hit.

 

[i9inkers]

Hi friends,
I bought MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2012, processor 2.5 ghz intel core i5, 4gb Ram. This machine is very slow it takes few seconds to open application, few seconds to save a document. previously I was using MacBook Air mid 2013 with almost same configuration, only major differences is its SSD.

My question is if I upgrade my Mac Pro to 8gb ram will it improve the speed significantly. If so can I buy ram online. Friends please suggest.

Time to upgrade dude

Agree with the fellow poster here, anything less than 8GB RAM in 2018 needs attention

 

[RAJESHWAR]

No computer today should have less than 8 GB of RAM. I would definitely add more. Also considering you came from a Mac with an SSD to what I assume would be a traditional HDD, performance most likely taken a major hit.

Is there any specific ram for mac, or can we use windows laptop ram. What brand you suggest.

 

[i9inkers]

I would follow this guide, plenty of info out there on the interwebs mate

 

[RAJESHWAR]

@i9inkers thanks

 

[leman]

If you are used to an SSD, going back to a mechanical drive will feel like a torture. I would bet that this is your problem. Why did you change your air for the MBP? The Air is a better laptop fir almost all purposes...

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Is this a NON-retina MBP that you have?
If so, does it still have the original platter-based hard drive inside?

If that's true, THAT'S what's causing the slow operation.
More RAM probably won't help much.

If you're going to open the back to add RAM (8gb should be fine for most usage), add a new SSD, too. The hardest part is taking the screws off the back panel, and putting them back on.

BTW -- be aware that the NON-retina 2012 MBP's are known for having ribbon cables (from the motherboard to the drive) that "go bad". When this happens, it seems like the drive isn't working right, but it's often the cable that has failed, not the drive.
The cable is relatively cheap and easy to replace.

I would do things in this order:
1. replace HDD with SSD
2. replace RAM (4 to 8gb)
3. replace cable (if drive performance still seems "slow and poor")

 

[LCFX]

on Yosemite it runs fast as new
simply reinstall mac os over internet recovery

adding up memory and ssd wont work

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/25/how-to-start-up-your-mac-in-internet-recovery-mode/

enter internet recovery mode
choose wifi
download
format disk in mac os extended journaled guid
choose disk
you will get mac os snow leopard
download yosemite from your app store purchases or else find it

 

[Airboy1466]

@i9inkers thanks

why did you down grade?

 

[PROFESS0R]

Nicely done i9inkers.

I would follow this guide, plenty of info out there on the interwebs mate

 

[ekb1976]

What SSD and cable do you recommend?>

OP:

Is this a NON-retina MBP that you have?
If so, does it still have the original platter-based hard drive inside?

If that's true, THAT'S what's causing the slow operation.
More RAM probably won't help much.

If you're going to open the back to add RAM (8gb should be fine for most usage), add a new SSD, too. The hardest part is taking the screws off the back panel, and putting them back on.

BTW -- be aware that the NON-retina 2012 MBP's are known for having ribbon cables (from the motherboard to the drive) that "go bad". When this happens, it seems like the drive isn't working right, but it's often the cable that has failed, not the drive.
The cable is relatively cheap and easy to replace.

I would do things in this order:
1. replace HDD with SSD
2. replace RAM (4 to 8gb)
3. replace cable (if drive performance still seems "slow and poor")

 

[currahee2100]

I recommend 16:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=2x8GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-631-_-Product

If you can't afford, then get 8:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...m_re=2x4GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-484-_-Product

Hard Disk:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...orebbr=1&cm_re=1TB_SSD-_-20-301-382-_-Product

If you can't afford then 500GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...ebbr=1&cm_re=500GB_SSD-_-20-326-752-_-Product

Should be easy to replace. Don't feel intimidated!
Also you could look at fan dust. Open the back cover and if there's a lot, buy a can of compressed air at your local store (They're like 2-3$) and dust bust it outside.

 

[servenvolley]

I recommend 16:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231631&Description=2x8GB DDR3 SODIMM&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=2x8GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-631-_-Product

If you can't afford, then get 8:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231484&Description=2x4GB DDR3 SODIMM&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=2x4GB_DDR3_SODIMM-_-20-231-484-_-Product

Hard Disk:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820301382&Description=1TB SSD&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=1TB_SSD-_-20-301-382-_-Product

If you can't afford then 500GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820326752&Description=500GB SSD&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=500GB_SSD-_-20-326-752-_-Product

Should be easy to replace. Don't feel intimidated!
Also you could look at fan dust. Open the back cover and if there's a lot, buy a can of compressed air at your local store (They're like 2-3$) and dust bust it outside.

This isn't hard to do? My son has this computer and it's getting slow also. All I've ever done myself is upgrade Ram on an iMac. I think I'd like to try it instead of paying someone to do it.

 

[currahee2100]

This isn't hard to do? My son has this computer and it's getting slow also. All I've ever done myself is upgrade Ram on an iMac. I think I'd like to try it instead of paying someone to do it.

It's VERY easy. Follow the iFixit guide on it. Just unscrew the back cover. There's your RAM and hard drive. Of course, you will need to reinstall OS X on the new drive so make sure to back your stuff up! If you need some stuff later on, you can always plug your old HD in and it'll be like nothing ever happened.