I want to pimp out my macbook pro.

[ag75]

I am getting ready to go on the road and wont have access to a desktop so I really want to pimp out my macbook pro (2.66 core I7) to the max. I have the 4 gig memory currently and the standard 5400 drive. What are my options for upgrading and taking my laptop to the max in terms of performance?

Thanks,

Andrew

[unclejoe]

In the specs it says that the maximum ram is 8gb but infact it will take 16gb. Crucial do a kit for about £200. I have it in my MacBook and confirm that it works great.

[Mixtree Audio]

Head over to macsales dot com and check out their 8GB RAM modules, Solid-state drives (SSD), and Data Doublers (to add a second SSD in place of your internal DVD-R Superdrive. You can get an external bus-powered slim enclosure for your Superdrive.

I'm assuming your MBP is the latest 2011 version? You should be able to get 16GB of OWC RAM (8GB+8GB) in that puppy. Get a small (60GB-120GB) SSD for your OSX+DAW+Plugins+Utility apps and maybe find a used or refurbished (cheaper) slightly larger SSD (160GB-256GB) or 2.5" 7200 HDD for your session folders/audio files & sample libraries.

I use a Mushkin-Advanced Callisto SSD (120GB) for OSX+DAW and an Intel X25-M (160GB) for read/writing audio (session folders) and they have been rock solid and lightning fast.

Also consider a lean OSX install. Skip the languages, fonts, X11, Rosetta, etc, unless you need any of that stuff. I do not need those.

And remember to back up on an external and to the cloud while on the road and get your equipment insured.

peace,
Derek Demulling
Mixtree Audio

[inthere]

16gb of RAM at Newegg for $160:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8G) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 Laptop Memory Model CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9

OWC has the best SSD's, but if you don't want to spend $800+ on an SSD, get a 7200rpm Scorpio Black HD:

Newegg.com - Western Digital Scorpio Black WD7500BPKT 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by inthere

16gb of RAM at Newegg for $160:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8G) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 Laptop Memory Model CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9

I just feel like I need to mention this:
A few months ago I got 8GB Corsair 1333 from Amazon for my 2011 MBP and I was getting kernel panics and some weird behavior,like blue screen crashes upon quitting Chrome.
The thing is that the crashes were rare thus making the diagnosis of the problem quite hard.It was driving me crazy for a while-can you imagine blue screen? on a mac? no way!
Anyway,I recently got a 16GB pair from OWC and all is safe and sound so far.
Needless to say I wont touch Corsair ram anytime soon.


Cheers
P.

[dr_Jezz]

Originally Posted by Phaidon

can you imagine blue screen? on a mac? no way!

I can. I've had plenty. They're just not that much better anymore.

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by dr_Jezz

They're just not that much better anymore.

You dont say!

[dr_Jezz]

Originally Posted by Phaidon

You dont say!

Yeah I'm thinking of starting up an ex fanboy club

[lapsang]

Chinese text anyone? Kernel panic happens more often than years ago...

[JackFlashAudio]

Added 8 Gb of Crucial from Amazon to my 2011 MBP two weeks ago ($38.00!)
No problems, more RAM.

[dr_Jezz]

Originally Posted by lapsang

Chinese text anyone? Kernel panic happens more often than years ago...

Damn right!