(Part 2) Best products from r/mac

yeah definitely! tons of online videos. i wouldn't consider myself an expert in computer knowledge, but i've built a couple of basic rigs and done work on my macbook. hardest part about replacing the hard drive is making sure you either

a.) have the necessary files to complete a full reinstall or


b.) can work a program like disk utility or carbon copy cloner to make an exact clone of your HDD (this is super simple either way)



I put a kingston SSDnow v300 120gb in my early 2011 macbook pro. it has a 2.7 i7, 16gb of ram (another easy and huge upgrade, technically overkill but i do graphic design and photography for a living) my mbp is great now.

I've read some trouble about the negotiated link speed on older gen MacBooks getting locked at 1.5gb/s instead of the 3 gb/s SATA II standard. This isn't really a problem, you can fix it i believe with a firmware patch, basically it means instead of getting ~200-210mb/s read and write, you'll get more like 128 mb/s and 170 mb/s ish. still A LOT faster than your standard hard drive. boot up time is dramatically reduced, and opening programs becomes a split second ordeal.


Here is the SSD i just installed | $69.99 (very good price for decent 120gb drive)

here is the connector to mount the SSD outside of the macbook to format it and clone your HDD to it. technically this isn't necessary, but its 8 bucks that might save you from pulling the computer apart again when you can't boot from the SSD.

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Here's a good video that shows how straightforward replacing the HDD is in the older macbooks


Helpful video on how to clone an HDD with Carbon Copy Cloner


Great comparison on how drastically this improves your machine

Here's a few useful links:

Crucial.com | Sells RAM and SSD's, high quality and Mac compatible. Another alternative if you want to explore options


Carbon Copy Cloner download site. I used this to copy my HDD, had no issues

Samsun 840 EVO 120gb | Good price for a great SSD

OCZ Vertex 460 | Another great SSD

I'd recommend doing a RAM upgrade if you only have 1gb, that wouldn't run you much either. SSD is more bang-for-your-buck than RAM upgrade is IMO. Hope this helps! Feel free to pm me with any more questions!

> I remember buying snow leopard, but I think it needed a different software ?

No, you don't need different software, Snow Leopard is fine. However, you can update the iMac 2008 to OS X 10.11 El Capitan via the Mac App Store. You need to use this link if you want to upgrade it to OS X 10.11 El Capitan:

• https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?ls=1&mt=12
  
  What can you do to breath new life into it?
  
  -----
  
  Next to installing the most recent macOS version it can run, as described above, you can also add more RAM to it and replace the internal HDD with an SSD!
  
  The RAM upgrade is very easy to do. The iMac 2008 supports up to 6 GB RAM (1 x 4 GB RAM module, 1 x 2 GB RAM module). It has two RAM slots, meaning two RAM modules in total will fit in. A higher total amount than 6 GB RAM won't work due to a limitation in the logic board.
  
  The iMac 2008 needs RAM that matches the following specification:
  
  PC2-6400 DDR2 800 MHz, 200-pin
  
  Here are some examples of RAM modules that should work flawlessly in the machine:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Memory-MacBook-PC2-6400-800MHz-MemoryMasters/dp/B07NBV4MVN/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/OWC-PC2-6400-800MHz-SO-DIMM-Upgrade/dp/B00KHZEKS6/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/2048MB-Samsung-Original-PC2-6400-SO-DIMM/dp/B0026SD96G/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Memory-SO-DIMM-PC2-6400S-800MHz-HMP351S6AFR8C-S6/dp/B004RKX5T2/
  
  You can mix different RAM brands without any problem, just make sure that the RAM you buy remains within the specification outlined above.
  
  You may find information online which states that your iMac 2008 supposedly only supports 4 GB RAM (2 x 4 GB RAM modules), but this is outdated information! Back in 2008, 4 GB RAM modules were not commonly available, so Apple could only test with 2 x 2 GB RAM = 4 GB RAM. However, when 4 GB RAM modules became commonly available, users found out that the iMac 2008 can actually recognize and utilize up to 6 GB RAM, so I recommend that you add 6 GB RAM. I recommend that you update to OS X 10.11 El Capitan before you do the RAM upgrade, the reason being that the iMac will run the latest firmware available for it to rule out any possible issues related to an outdated OS.
  
  Before doing the RAM upgrade, check which RAM modules are already in there via the Apple menu at the top left corner of the screen -> "About This Mac" -> "Memory". If a 2 GB RAM module is already in there, you only need to buy 1 x 4 GB RAM module for the upgrade.
  
  This video shows the RAM upgrade procedure (again, extremely easy to do):
  
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBVUp62p2QA
  
  -----
  
  As for the SSD:
  
  The SSD upgrade would give the machine an even greater speed boost (though you should do both the SSD & RAM upgrade, if you can), but is also far more complicated than the RAM upgrade. An SSD improves performance dramatically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9PngoDlD28
  
  Getting an SSD in there requires a partial disassembly of the device, which you should only do personally if you are very much technically inclined, otherwise let someone else do it for you.
  
  You need an SSD that matches the following criteria:
  
  
• 2.5" form factor
  
• SATA3-compatible
  
  Here are some examples of SSDs which should work fine:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-500GB-SSD-WDS500G2B0A/dp/B073SBZ8YH/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SSD-PLUS-Internal-SDSSDA-1T00-G26/dp/B07D998212/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-76E250E/dp/B0793FNNP6/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-250GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B0781VSXBP/
  
  The SSDs have a physical size of 2.5", yet the HDD that is currently in your iMac is 3.5" in size. You will need an adapter like this one to make the SSD fit in:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/NewerTech-AdaptaDrive-Drive-Converter-Bracket/dp/B005PZDVF6/
  
  This video shows the SSD upgrade procedure:
  
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qriduyHGBG8
  
  Again, I recommend that you let someone else do the SSD upgrade for you if you think that you won't be able to perform the upgrade yourself. It's worth it, though, as it's the single greatest update you can add to the machine.

I've used quite a few different chargers with my MacBook and MacBook Pro. Yes, a 3A charger for a phone or Chromebook will work fine to charge it overnight or keep it topped up while you work under most scenarios. If you're running VMs, software builds or video editing, the Pro will eat more than 12W and you'll be at a minor deficit but it I'll get you those extra hours. I've also used the MacBook 30W charger (with a PlugBug for travel) with the Pro.

My favorite chargers now, though, are the Anker USB bricks with a type C port on them for travel and home. I use the 40W for travel. It only drives the 3A/12W on the C port but it is nice to have the other ports to charge a phone, headphones, watch and spare battery. Then I keep the 60W version at my nightstand. The USB port on that drives 30W (verified with the System Information app). I use their USB C cable as well. It doesn't do 3.0 transfer speeds but for charging it is perfectly fine and super durable.

using the exact same model for that kind of work as well, and it works like a charm 👌🏼
The display panel looks great and the size is very comfortable while doing some work on the ride. I would also recommend those SD card expansions for macbooks. It finishes flush with the housing and offeres a cheap storage expansion :)

Transcend JetDrive @ Amazon

Does $500 include the monitor, keyboard and mouse?


For mounting your MacBook Pro properly to desk, you have 3 real options depending on if you want to be able to work from it (unlikely) or just have it closed in clamshell mode and use an external keyboard and mouse to mount vertically to save desk space.
Option 1: Rain Design mStand (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $40. I use this personally when I have my MBP set up next to my 5K iMac and 27" Thunderbolt Display.
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-mStand-Laptop-Silver/dp/B000OOYECC
Option 2: Twelve South BookArc (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $50 - for use in clamshell mode only
https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-Space-Saving-Vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE?th=1
Option 3: General vertical laptop stand (I have it in Silver, unsure how well their space grey matches) - $20. Cheap, minimalist, but does the job. Clamshell mode only.
https://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Adjustable-OMOTON-Aluminum-Chromebook/dp/B074PPGHMC


Next is an external keyboard, I'm going to stick with an Apple aesthetic for this recommendation and not any gamery mechanical ones. Depending on if you want a numeric keypad or not, there's either Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 or a Satechi wireless one with a numeric keypad. I don't think Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 with Numeric Keypad is worth an extra $70 over the Satechi.
Option 1: Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (comes in all colours) $80.
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Bluetooth-Keyboard-3-Device/dp/B07F2SF4RH
Option 2: Apple Magic Keyboard 2 (without numeric keypad - White only) $99.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english


For mice, I'd avoid Apple's Magic Mouse like the plague because words can not describe how bad it is to use.
I'd recommend mouse that you can also use with just your MBP while on the go, not heavy, big mice that only really belong on the desktop at home. No mouse really stands out to me apart from this one, honestly.
Logitech MX Anywhere 2s (unfortunately they stopped making them in white) $50. Can connect via bluetooth so no dongles.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VK5KXN


For monitors, at this price range you won't have a neat 1 cable display and power solution like you'd get from a 23.7" 4K LG UltraFine display for example or HDR10, or Retina. 1440p 27" displays are a bit out of this price range, but I'd personally sacrifice pixel density and get a 1080p display anyways so I still have a 27" display.
Option 1: HP 27es 1080p 27" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $219.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9H3BI4
Option 2: ASUS VZ239H-W 1080p 23" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $139.
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VZ239H-W-1080p-Monitor-White/dp/B07489Q7TY/


Then you need cables to connect your MBP to the display (the keyboards and mice are bluetooth). If you only have 2 TB3 ports, you may want to buy a multiport adaptor or else you will have 0 free ports with my solution (as you need the other port for power).
USB-C to HDMI cable (Black) $12.6. I have it to connect my MBP to my 4K TV and it works flawlessly.
https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook-Chromebook/dp/B06XDMKQKJ/
If you need a multiport adaptor, I'd recommend this Satechi one (comes in all colours) - $60
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Multi-Port-Adapter-Charging/dp/B01J4BO0X8


Total price as configured (BookArc + Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad + MX Anywhere 2s + HP 27es + USB-C to HDMI cable) = $412. If you need a mulitport adaptor and don't have one already, it'll be $472.

My gf still uses her 2007 MBP to this day and it works like a champ. Granted I've had to replace the HDD and reinstall OSX a few times, but the hardware will last a long time if you take care of it.

OSX can get a little sluggish after a year or two. I highly recommend reinstalling and restoring from backup instead of upgrading between major versions (and anytime things start to slow down)

I also recommend upgrading to an SSD. We're upgrading all MBPs at my office to Samsung EVOs. Of all the things you can do, this will probably have the most drastic effect on speed... especially on start-up time. If you combine that with a reinstall and restore, you'll practically have a new computer.

We had an old 2006 iMac that took 30 minutes (yes, minutes) to boot.... and was so slow she hadn't used it in years. I was afraid the HDD was about to die, but after some ram and a fresh install of Mavericks, its better than new. If it wasn't such a pain, I'd upgrade it to an SSD too.

It's a little more than you might spend for it on eBay or Craigslist, but newegg.com is a reputable site, and you won't have the hassle of dealing with scammers or anything along those lines.

As for wether or not it would be a good upgrade, across the board the answer is yes, with the exception of storage capacity. That said, the SSD will be a much faster internal storage, and if you need more storage, you can always add something like this to your SD card slot.

It will be more than capable of editing HD videos, and should even handle smaller 4k videos just fine. If your budget is under $1,000, this wouldn't be a bad machine to buy.

That said, have you considered looking into selling your current machine and maybe going for something a little newer?

He wasn't suggesting that you take an external drive around everywhere, he was suggesting you take out your DVD drive and put your current HD in place of the DVD drive. like this. Ive don't it before, however, you can get the EVO drives pretty cheap now, and they are pretty good on reliability from what I've heard. here's and amazon link

It won't be the fastest machine in the world, but upping the memory would make it somewhat usable. I've recently decommissioned some macs from 2008/2009 and they still worked pretty well, just not fast enough for everyday stuff.

If the imac was free, and you don't need to buy anything else to do what you want, then for $75 you can have a decently useable computer.

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-4GBx2-DDR3L-SODIMM-Memory/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1497968823&sr=8-4&keywords=1066MHz+DDR3

I actually recently purchased the same MacBook Pro as you, except I got the 15". I used the same SSD(250 GB) and HDD caddy, that you linked, when upgrading, as well as this ram. They both worked great, however, some people suggest doing a clean install to an SSD when upgrading. I ended up upgrading everything and then booting into recovery mode by pressing Command + R while booting. I then just reinstalled OS X onto the SSD and erased the HDD to use as storage. It is a rather simple upgrade, just be careful to not strip the screws. Use a #00 philips screwdriver and a T6 Torx driver.

As for apps, there has been a few posts asking for some good ones. This is one that I have on hand. I also get some good app deals from here but there are other sites with deals like these.

the 2012's workly perfect fine. And i will perfectly do for your mentioned needs, given that you upgrade to an SSD and upgrade the RAM to 16gb.

With these upgrades, im telling you, your 2012 will just be fine for a few more years.

Just learn how to do those upgrades and you will save a shit ton of money.

Instructions on replacing on your hard drive to ssd: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Replacement/10378

Instructions on replacing your Ram: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+RAM+Replacement/10374

Amazon link for RAM purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12800-SODIMM-204-Pin-Memory/dp/B008LTBJFW/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ZJ4WAV9I0SG0&keywords=16gb+ram+macbook+pro+mid+2012&qid=1570867864&sprefix=16gb+ram+mac%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-5

Amazon link for SSD:
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2T5P5MNBUE02J&keywords=samsung+evo+860&qid=1572439125&sprefix=samsung+evo+%2Caps%2C417&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FCLG65U
This gets read/write speeds of over 400 which is awesome!

And a Samsung 840 250gb SSD to go with it should do the job nicely... If I can set my mind at rest about the TRIM issue this is the perfect solution! I have a £60 amazon voucher too so I can get all this for £30 :D

I’m not sure what your budget is but there are tons of options. Just make sure it’s IPS if you’ll be editing photos on it. If you do a lot of photography you should think about picking up a calibration device. I’m a photographer and standard practice is to calibrate all your screens regularly to ensure color consistency. It makes a big difference but you sort of need to see the before and after to appreciate it.

This is the monitor I have. It’s great but I really regret not going with the 27”.

Dell Ultra HD 4K Monitor P2415Q 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PC9HFNY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Q6rWBbCTPCM43

There are only two usb-c 3rd party charger that are hightly recommended, fully supports apple 29W power delivery and usb-c specification compliant. Almost all other usb-c charger on the market now cut corners or not within proper specs. Actually, even apple's 29W charger is not fully in spec because it was created before the final spec was made. But, it should charge the macbook fine, just not other devices.

https://www.amazon.com/dodocool-Charger-Foldable-Chromebook-Supported/dp/B01GVDVEMM

I use this one because it is small and light. Able to charge my 29W macbook fully and Nexus 6P at 3A

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Premium-Charger-PowerPort-Delivery/dp/B01D8C6ULO

This one is excellent too, but too heavy and big for my taste. It does have multiple ports.

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Using a USB-A to USB-C cable adapter will not allow you to fully charge a macbook. The spec at best will get you 12W (2.4A5V). Most USB-A output at 7.5W (1.5A5V), . To get full 29W (2A *14.5V) output you need a USB-C to C cable and a charger that can out put in power delivery mode.

The fusion drive is probably the root of your problem, I bet you're saturating it causing it to perform like a slow HDD. I'd get a USB 3 sled and an inexpensive SATA 6 SSD from Amazon and run your VMs from there. It'll take the IO off of your Fusion drive. As a bonus, your VMs should perform really really well.

​

This is the sled that I use: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S

​

SSDs are pretty inexpensive right now as well: https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-240GB-Solid-State-SDSSDA-240G-G26/dp/B01F9G43WU

Id probalby just get a usb3 enclosure(there cheap, like less than 20usd on amazon, id get something like this https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541267854&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+3+enclosure+2.5) Its a bit slower than thunderbolt, but much cheaper. You can boot from it just fine, and much faster than any hdd.

Then id get a 2.5 ssd like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-1TB-SSD-WDS100T2B0A/dp/B073SBQMCX/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541267901&sr=8-4&keywords=1tb+wd+blue&dpID=41nJrjRecIL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Put the ssd in the enclosure, clone the os over to the ssd(look at a program like superduper to do this), and boot from the external ssd(can select the boot device with option at bootup) and it will be much faster.

If it's an official refurb / SSD, then that price is pretty good. Personally find the Air a bit small, but have been spoilt with the 15.4"...
If you're getting the 15.4", of course the movie-watching experience will be better too.
Retina will of course be a bit lighter, but more money...
Thule Gauntlet case would be a good add-on, and personally I've been thinking about one of these - although I haven't yet read any reviews.

Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 1TB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA1T0B/AM), Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073H552FJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BMwjDbF915ATZ

Does something like this work? And would it require a thunderbolt adapter or just AS good to use USB 3.0?

Thanks for your help!

I'm a huge fan of this one. Anker in general is a reputable company that sells great battery and cable products. I don't have any experience with this particular product though, but I imagine it'll be great.

I'm positive I have an SSD (here is the model).

I bought a case and cable that support UASP (here is the case).

I do still have OSX installed on the internal HDD. I was giving it a few days to make sure everything runs smoothly before formatting it. The Mac Mini runs considerably faster off the external SSD than it did with the internal HDD.

To re-iterate, I don't notice any day-to-day difference between my external SSD and my family's internal SSD in a Mac Mini. I do feel by boot time is a bit slower, though.

Here are some links you might find useful:

identify your machine: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-2.8-27-inch-aluminum-late-2009-specs.html

How to for different things on late 2009: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_27%22_EMC_2309_and_2374

Replacing the hard drive: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2309+and+2374+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1634

note that you can also put a hard drive into the optical drive bay and keep 2 hard drives in it. You can then buy a $20 usb external disk drive for when you need to insert a dvd. You need a little caddy so the drive will mount in the superdrive bay. On this 2010 27in iMac I put a 1T SSD into the superdrive bay and kept the internal 1Tb HD. On the 2009 as I mentioned, I replaced it's internal HD with a hybrid 2 Tb SSHD. This one: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Seagate/ST2000DX002/ You can get the 1Tb version for less than $100.

If you want to go full SSD, I like the EVO line http://a.co/d0Hwi7J You can get 500 GB for $105 and when your machine finally goes the way of Steve Jobs, you can take the drive out and put it in another desktop, laptop or use it as an external drive. Note that even though your machine is SATA 2 (the connection type between the disk and motherboard) all later versions of SATA are backward compatable. You will just run at slower (but still way faster than HD) speeds.

You will need a few tools like the suction cups to pull the screen protector off it's magnets. If you just want to buy it all in one place look here: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/YIMAC091Y2.0/

If you put a 2.5in SSD into the 3.5in hard drive bay, you also need a bracket like this: https://www.amazon.com/NewerTech-AdaptaDrive-Drive-Converter-Bracket/dp/B005PZDVF6/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1503800751&sr=1-5&keywords=SATA+2.5+to+3.5+bracket

that gives you the drive and tools and OWC links the install videos from that page. It's really not difficult. I had no experience prior to doing my 2 machines. Just get a work surface and put a towel down and go slow and watch the videos/ read the step by steps.

Try doing whatever you do that slows your machine while looking at activity monitor so you can see which resources are being used a lot. If it's slow and the CPU is close to 100% that's probably the bottleneck.

If you install something like istat you can also look at GPU usage in real time as well.

You just need ddr3 laptop memory. You probably have 2 open slots so buying 2x4gb would be best. Look at "about this mac" and it should say something like 8gb 1600 mhz ddr3 (maybe lower mhz) but get something that matches that.

Here's some that should work but you might find a better deal somewhere else.

I would do both, assuming your have a Macbook, not an iMac. A SD card similar to this to keep essential files on for when you are away from your work station, but I also would also get an external hard drive to save everything else and to keep a backup at home. Amazon warehouse deals offers 128gb expansion cards for around $56 (cheaper if your can deal with a smaller one), and a whole selection of external hard drives for $50-$60. However, if you want to choose one with the less hassle would be the SD card, assuming you have a model which supports this.

This looks cheap: http://www.amazon.com/IKEA-CLEAR-FANTASTISK-NAPKIN-HOLDER/dp/B0086SFXCS/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-12&keywords=macbook+stand

This doesn't look cheap, but it has intention and aesthetics: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-BookArc-Space-saving-vertical/dp/B0098EYM3A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-2&keywords=macbook+stand

This isn't a slim profile you want, but it's one that I own and love given the right circumstances: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-10032-mStand-Laptop/dp/B000OOYECC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648801&sr=8-1&keywords=macbook+stand

The 2011 iMacs use DDR3 Laptop RAM. You can find it for pretty cheap on Amazon. I've had good experiences with Crucial, so I'd recommend them, but they should all work equally well. 4x4 kits aren't really common, but two 2x4 works equally well.
RAM

Awesome, so is something like this what I want to buy? I would have to get a converter, too, from what I understand.

One factor that's nice about the 12" is that you can power it all day from high end external power bricks because of the low power consumption. It's really nice to have guaranteed all day battery life, especially if you like to tether and work outside.

I'd say go to an Apple Store and buy whatever model you like, and if you aren't satisfied return/exchange it within the 14-day window.

Well, there is a website called www.fixit.com that has walkthroughs and tutorials that can help for almost anything you would want to do.

I got this RAM.

>Pretty easy to install, just follow this guide.

I got this SSD.
>You can replace the old drive you have in your computer with this guide, or you can double your data (see below).

I got this CD drive caddy.

>You can follow this guild to swap out your optical drive with an SSD, so you have two hard drives in your computer.

Then you just install Yosemite on the SSD, and boot into that, use migration assistant to copy your stuff from the first drive. Then you use disk utility to wipe/erase the old drive and boom: you have storage and you have a fast booting SSD without that much more cost. If you can spend more than that, just get a bigger capacity SSD and maybe a new hard drive as well. Or just get 1 SSD and saw the hard drive.

I say, why have one drive when you can have two.

You can use the hard drive from your laptop, after buying a hard drive enclosure (which is basically an adapter to let you connect via usb)

I use this enclosure for my SATA hard drive, but you should check what connector the drive from your old laptop uses.

To install Windows 8.1 with a pre-created usb drive, I would use bootcamp assistant to partition the drive and get the support software. After that, I would boot into the usb and do a manual Windows install (Make sure to select the empty partition!).

For full disclosure, I think this should work, but I've only worked with usb drives created by bootcamp. If something doesn't work here, maybe I can help you figure out what the problem was that caused the "full on stop of progress" when you were trying to do it that way.

Yes, you can use either either a SATA 2 or SATA 3 port for your SSD, you may just run into some bottlenecking without SATA 3 (3gbps and 6gbps, respectively).

This is a good place to start looking for SSD's, although I'd recommend the 840 EVO.

samsung 850 pro

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LF10KTE/ref=twister_B00M0QYEWC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

my friend used the 840 evo in his and it works flawless also!

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726

1. 4K: Dell P2415Q (looks amazing in retina mode)
   
2. HD: Dell U2415 (not retina, but very good panel)
   
3. 27-inch: Dell U2715H (if you need bigger screen)
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Dell-Monitor-P2415Q-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B00PC9HFNY
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Dell-U2415-24-Inch-1920-Monitor/dp/B00NZTKOQI
   
   https://smile.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-27-Inch-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B00P0EQD1Q

I don't believe any 2013 MacBook Pros were offered with a 2.5GHz processor so something here is not right. It would help if you gave more information about the computer like a screenshot of "About this Mac". Based on your claims of 2.5GHz processor, 4GB of ram and 500GB of storage my GUESS is that you have a "mid 2012" 13" MacBook Pro but you really should confirm.

If that's right, you can upgrade both the HDD to an SSD and add more RAM (you can go up to 16GB, but 8 would be a good start).

How slow is it? Finder should not be slow at all.

Assuming that you have a mac that you can open up (not a new iMac), buy an SSD. This will improve program loading times and boot speeds.

You will need a T6 screwdriver, but they are easy to install.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420893928&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung+ssd

Your machine takes 8 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. Here's a good price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LTBJFM/

Or get it for free here: http://www.downloadmoreram.com

These are pretty sweet.

Absolutely. I have the same computer and put a 480gb SSD and upgraded from 8gb to 16gb of RAM. Used these cards. Definitely worth it. Feels like a new computer.

I believe Apple doesn’t offer upgrades to different sizes only replacement of the exact size that came with your laptop. Also that SSD May be attached to the logic board meaning it would be an entire logo board replacement to upgrade it. You can get usb-c SSD for a good price on amazon. I recommend the Samsung t5 $180 for 1tb and it’s small and requires only 1 cable.


Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 1TB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA1T0B/AM), Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073H552FJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zqOVDbHM15NK3

I would highly recommend it. The replacement is quite easy and I actually did it myself. I’m not huge on being able to repair computers but the ifixit guide lays it out nicely. You will need a external hard drive that is formatted to a Mac and then back it up using the TimeMachine, but the process was quite simple. Here’s the SSD that I bought that has worked wonders for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B078DPCY3T?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I'll chime in on the movie editing / storage question. My Macbook pro has 256 Gigs of HD space. It's still not enough. When you edit one 15 minute video in FinalCut X it's ends up being 50 Gigs or more. My solution, which works great, was to buy a USB 3.0 external enclosure and put a cheap 250 Gig Samsung SSD inside. This drive and usb connection is so fast, I will never have any issues with transfer speeds or using up all the internal HD space.

Total investment is about $97, a drop in the bucket compared to paying Apple for a larger drive.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E250B-AM/dp/B00OAJ412U/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1451314692&sr=1-1&keywords=samsung+ssd

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FCLG65U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Should be fine as long as it supports uasp like u/Kelsenellenelvial said. I used this enclosure with a Samsung 860 EVO.

I would recommend Crucial for your RAM and Samsung EVO for your SSD. These are what I used on my 2010 MBP before the logic board started acting up and I had to replace it. The SSD is pretty cheap too at $79.99

RAM: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Apple/macbook-pro-%2813-inch%2C-early-2011%29


SSD: https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Dell P2415Q. I bought it before Apple came out with the UltraFine 4K/5K displays. It displays 4K resolution over DisplayPort and 24" size matches the Retina display PPI a lot better that most other 4k displays that are 27" wide.

I also like the matte finish!

You can flip that bad boy over and take the drive out. Best thing to do is get a 2.5” HDD caddy and plug it in to another Mac or a friends Mac to get the data off. This would do fine.

Thanks, I did not see that. Something like this, then

Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable or adapter will help should you ever want to hook it up to a projector or tv. You can usually get a combo one that also includes DVI and sometimes even VGA.

I also recommend a USB 3.0 hub, ideally with ethernet built in to kill two birds with one stone.

Finally, if this is a 13", a slim SD card that doesn't need to be removed is nice for expanding storage.

If you ever need to do a microphone input, I also suggest a cheap USB soundcard.

Thanks - I’ll go with 8 GB: Corsair CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9 Apple Certified 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3 10666) Laptop Memory 1.5V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JRH9V2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uljYBb0DTXMJP

I’m looking at this SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E500B/AM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4cjYBb2A4MCT4

Typing it out.. I think I will end up using my laptop like a desktop (skipping the dock and leaving everything plugged in), and getting a life proof case on a new iPad Pro.

No one here seems to have actually read your post.

Replacing the SSD in a 2012 rMBP isn't an easy swap, and most importantly, NOT COMPATIBLE with a standard laptop SSD or HDD drive, but there are some products out there to upgrade it: http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Upgrade-Macbook-display/dp/B00JKCHMP0

Also, as another poster pointed out, the JetDrive Lite is really good for offloading less intensive stuff such as media and freeing up more space on the SSD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MTHLURE

Edit: Also, I wouldn't trust that store. Not only is that price incredibly low for even a standard 1TB laptop drive, but it's nowhere near the price for the appropriate SSD replacement you'd need for a rMBP, which to me says they don't know what they're talking about.

Some manufacturers make SDXC cards that are flush with the side of the laptop. There are plenty more models than just that one, so shop around. This is a good solution if you don't otherwise use your SD reader.

I have this - https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Ultra-High-Capacity-External-VoltageBoost/dp/B014ZO46LK

works perfectly

Samsung Evo 860 is the best for performance and price.

$56 250GB

$87 500GB

I've upgraded a MacBook Pro 2015 with a Samsung EVO 860. Worked great.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Inch-Internal-MZ-76E1T0B-AM/dp/B078DPCY3T

I just got one of these for my 2013 MBPr. It has been amazing!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MTHLURE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944579842&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00K73NT0S&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=10Z8HPVJHFFPYEP0QYQQ

It depends on the uses. I got the 128gb rMBP and its fine for me. I pay for Google Music All Access so no music is ever stored on my computer as I stream. Transcend also makes this cool external ssd that is flush with the device. That said if OP does a lot of photo/video edit then maybe opt for the bigger SSD. But depending on his uses you can make the 128gb work really well if you are conservative with it.

*edit can't spelling

An SSD is a solid state disk that is magnitudes faster than the spinning mechanical drive in your machine right now.

120GB:http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E120B-AM/dp/B00OAJ5N6I/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687028&sr=1-6&keywords=120GB+ssd

Ram:
8GB: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-8500-204-Pin-CT2K4G3S1067M-CT2C4G3S1067M/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687090&sr=1-2&keywords=mac+ram
16GB: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR3L-1600-SODIMM-Memory-CT2K8G3S160BM/dp/B008LTBJFW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1463687090&sr=1-1&keywords=mac+ram

Ifixit has some guides so you could easily install these yourself. Then just reinstall the OS using internet recovery or a bootable flash drive.

Get one asap, seriously, you won't believe the difference it makes. You'll never be able to go back to a HDD. Prices for SSDs probably aren't going to get significantly lower in the next year.

You can literally buy a 512GB SSD for about $50 on Amazon right now, though the best idea would be to go with a Samsung 860 EVO version at $77.99 as they're far faster and more reliable as well.

With Retina MacBooks, upgrading the RAM/SSD is not as straight forward as with the non-retina MacBook Pro.Currently, you can change your SSD using drives from this company (https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2013-2014-2015), but i'm not entirely sure, it confuses me!

I got the Retina MacBook Pro i5 (like in the listing) but I upgraded the RAM when I was buying to 16 GB RAM, as for my uses it was recommended I would need more RAM than an i7. I didn't bother with the SSD upgrade as I've previously bought these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-JetDrive-Lite-Storage-Expansion/dp/B00K73NT0S) for my MacBook Air. As I store pretty much all of my things in Google Drive/DropBox etc, I use a Transcend JetDrive to store the physical folders (if that makes sense?), so then my main storage is only taken up by programs I install

£650 seems quite decent, considering they are +£999 brand new. I would double check the model number (EMC, found on the underneath of a MacBook Pro) with the seller

It is absolutely worth it. I have an early 2011 MBP and the speed bump from switching to an SSD was enormous. I can't recommend it enough.

If you are looking for hardware suggestions, look at the Samsung 840 Evo. I have it, some people I know have one, we all are satisfied and it seems to give you lots of bang for the buck.

Apple considers the hard drive & RAM user-serviceable, as long as you don't break something in the process. But honestly, as long as you have some patience and a somewhat steady hand, you could do it yourself no problem.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do the replacement.

Read through the whole procedure FIRST! If you find yourself really uneasy about it, take it somewhere to get done. iFixit is a great resource and I use it all the time, they've never failed me.

The only tool you might not have is a T6 Torx bit. In a pinch I have used a pair of pliers to twist off the screws. All you have to do is break the seal and you can use your fingers to do the rest. Or just get a T6 torx screwdriver!

_

Now, if you're thinking of getting an SSD, just remember that they are more expensive, but also much faster. Worth the investment if you can manage. I personally have a 500gb SSD, plenty of space for me.

Here is a great choice for an SSD.

__

EDIT: Just re-read your post... and none of what I wrote is relevant to a Retina display model. Sorry :(

Another popular one is the PNY StorEDGE.

Of course, any standard SD card will work as well, normal ones just don't have the nice MacBook-specific form factor. The Nifty MiniDrive allows you to use a MicroSD card and have it sit flush inside the machine.

Okay so I used the Inatech method of buying this enclosure to boot from USB3 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FCLG65U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB and the speeds are WAY better than stock. I'm seeing speeds of 400write and 425read, but I wonder if I was to purchase a USB3 to TB adapter, would I get those juicy speeds? This is the adapter I'm looking at: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HGC82ZM/A/kanex-thunderbolt-to-esata-usb-30-adapter?afid=p238%7CsFXUVsoDR-dc_mtid_1870765e38482_pcrid_52243322050_&cid=aos-us-kwg-pla-btb-slid-

Thoughts?

Yeah if all you’re doing is basic school work, it should work out just fine. You might have to buy a new battery for it down the road but that’s not the end of the world.

The only thing about using an SD card in that fashion is that the card will stick out from the case and has the potential to break either the card, the slot, or both if you accidentally bump/smash it in your bag. There are a lot of options though for finding a flush SD card like this one though. Just keep in mind that any SD card is going to be way slower than the internal drive and in some cases slower than loading from a cloud storage option. But it will work fine.

I've heard good things about these

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-T5-Portable-SSD-MU-PA1T0B/dp/B073H552FJ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=samsung+t5&qid=1558477854&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I picked up one of these over the weekend and while I thought it was a gimmick found it to be pretty badass. I can put my external drives underneath it and use my Macbook Pro as a second monitor without it looking dumb.

$50 for a piece of bent aluminum may seem outlandish but for a fanboy it's just right.

So I got this. Replaced it, my mac was flying but then after a week, it wouldn't turn on anymore :( please help!

Transcend makes some specialized SD cards for MacBooks for just such a purpose, but I've never used one.

I keep some 300 GB of photos on my file server at home, and share it out over wireless to Aperture. 802.11ac makes a big difference there, too.

I'd highly recommend this aluminum laptop stand, it acts as a secondary heatsink for the entire base of the laptop. http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-10032-mStand-Laptop/dp/B000OOYECC

For storage expansion, I highly recommend one of these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DC9U2Q8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1406096970&sr=8-1

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-i7-2.66-aluminum-15-mid-2010-unibody-specs.html

Looks as if your MBP will only support 8GB.

Here's the RAM you need

This is the kit I'm using in my mid 2012 It was the lowest cost one at the time I bought it. It works so I guess i'd give it a good review.

I also put an SSD in mine and that makes a huge difference in speed. If you don't have one you need to get one.

I used something like this before I went to the 2016 https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Storage-Expansion-TS128GJDL130/dp/B00K73NT0S

Everyone seems to like this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014ZO46LK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1453525465&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=anker+20100

Don't spend a lot of money, Here is a 120GB for $64
http://amzn.com/B00A1ZTZOG

Do a fresh install of Yosemite when it comes out, transfer only what you need, use web based email and big photo libraries music libraries keep on an external USB

Also max out the RAM EveryMac says you can do 8GB (2x 4GB)

2 x 4gb link here for $79- http://amzn.com/B008LTBJFM

So for $145 you'll have a blazing fast computer

> Do you think you'd drop $350 + $250 for SSD + RAM on one, though?

No, not that kind of money. Maybe $250 for SSD (Kingston A400 480GB $139.99) + 16GB of RAM (16GB Kit (2x8GB)). That would make a nice performance boost for an old MBP, and would give it a couple of more years.

I've had a 128GB Transcend Jetdrive in my Air to double the storage & keep my music library on it.

It sits flush so can be left permanently fitted without risk of damage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00K73NT0S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519942000&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=jetdrive+lite+130&dpPl=1&dpID=41BkGv8H3XL&ref=plSrch

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1397609735&sr=8-8&keywords=256GB+SD

Yes, No, Maybe?

You have two main options (that I know of and have used):

FIRST, attach the new drive and format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) via Disk Utility -> select new drive -> Erase -> select format Mac OS Extended (Journaled). OR, if you have already converted your disk to APFS when upgrading to High Sierra or Mojave, choose APFS.

Then:

1. With the new drive attached via a SATA-USB cable (or external enclosure, which you can then put your old HD in), boot in Recovery Mode, use Disk Utility to Restore Macintosh HD (current hard drive - selected as Source) to the new disk (Destination). Once it's done, test boot by option-starting and selecting the USB drive and if it boots, swap it in and you're done.
   
   
2. use Carbon Copy Cloner program to copy everything to new drive while attached to computer via SATA-USB cable or SATA-USB enclosure.

They're all over Amazon.

Samsung 860 EVO 1TB - $168

Crucial MX500 1TB - $160

WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB - $150

SanDisk 1TB Ultra - $160

Any 2.5" SATA SSD will work in your Mac Pro. Though, you need a caddy to fit it into the sled that slides into your Mac Pro. Also, be aware that if you connect a SATA SSD to the onboard SATA, it will be limited to SATA 2 (3Gbps).

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MMP35T25/

OR

http://www.amazon.com/NewerTech-AdaptaDrive-Drive-Converter-Bracket/dp/B005PZDVF6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1459457886&sr=8-6&keywords=2.5%22+to+3.5%22

OR

You can just jirry-rig it with tape

I use something similar to this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MTHLURE/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SS115&simLd=1
With my MacBook Air and would highly recommend it. No real drawbacks and you can just leave it plugged in as long as 128gb is enough.

Ya it would. I would recommend the following SSD though: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426538134&sr=8-4&keywords=samsung+ssd+840+evo+pro

I have had that one in my 2012 MacBook Pro for about 2 years without any issues. It's crazy fast too.

The 850 is the newer model but I haven't used it before.

www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Laptop-Memory-CMSX16GX3M2A1600C10/dp/B0076W9Q5A/

thats the ones i bought, but its gone up about 20 bucks.

I ordered this exact product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTBJFM

Whatever you do, do not go to a shop to do it for you, they'll charge you wayyy too much for 20 minutes of work. Here is a tutorial on upgrading your RAM and switching to an SSD. And [here] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LTBJFM/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_31ATub10CX7FM) is a cheap, reliable RAM upgrade kit.

500GB SSD

8GB RAM

HD Enclosure

HD Replacement Tutorial

RAM Replacement Tutorial

It took me about an hour to complete which involved me forgetting to reconnect the battery cable so I had to reopen it for that.

edit: forgot to link tutorials

I really would try this. Here is the sd card that i have, i just use it for storage.

http://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8

I would try it for a weekend project, if its to slow just send the card back. But I would give it a shot before buying a new computer.

opps PNY

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-StorEDGE-Memory-Expansion-P-MEMEXP128U1-EF/dp/B00DC9U2Q8

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-EVO-Series-2-5-Inch-MZ-7TE250BW/dp/B00E3W1726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413907580&sr=8-1&keywords=ssd+256

This is what I got:

Sabrent 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Yup! USB adapter!

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Tool-free-Enclosure-Optimized-EC-UASP/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453365910&

Would getting these two work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SBZ8YH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

and

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=psdc_160354011_t1_B071JBGGQ1

Have you looked into one of those tiny "leave in" SD card slot drives?

They're reasonably cheap and go up to 256gb.

For example:
https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Storage-Expansion-TS128GJDL130/dp/B00K73NT0S

I bought it originally as an ongoing time machine backup of documents directory only, but then I got two drives (one work, one home) and use those for backups. So now only time files aren't backed up is when I work away from those two places (not often). I'm not really safe from the Oh crap, I just over wrote that file! losses, but otherwise I am good.

So what I use it for now is for those secondary files you want to have access to, but don't really need.

I'd say it's fine for the level of power consumption. My battery lasts for days with my usage level, so it doesn't really suck it down. If there is a way to see how much power it draws let me know and I can check.

One issue: If you let your battery die all the way, you get that "You didn't unmount the drive properly" message when you do power it back up, then you have to log out and back in to get the drive mounted (or use disk utility).

Anyway, I would suggest getting something else if I had to do it over.

I think this is faster memory: PNY StorEDGE 128GB Flash Memory Expansion Module It sits nearly flush and it's easier to take in and out. I actually have both, and I use the nifty more (mostly because once it's in I hate taking it out).

I think I would suggest bringing for the larger drive now unless cost is a factor. I run my VM on an external TB drive at work, but it would be nice to have the space and just use bootcamp.

I don't think it is upgradable. However, you can purchase this and stick it in your SD card slot.

I've been surviving with 128 GB no problem. I use Google Drive and Box for all of my file storage needs. I'll download anything that I need and then delete it later. Though, if you are working with a lot of media files, you may want to upgrade to a larger drive.

USB 3.0 is already faster than the SSD so you won't notice a difference. I would try and find a USB 3.0 enclosure with a regular A connector to avoid the terrible flimsy micro connectors.

Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Inateck-Enclosure-Installation-Compatible/dp/B00FCLG65U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410409152&sr=8-1&keywords=ssd+enclosure

My bad. This is what I meant to have linked.

I'm talking about an internal SSD. The 2.5" models use what's called a SATA connector (the same type your current hard drive should use). Using it through USB will not only be much slower, but also mean that you have to carry around the external storage which is a pain in the ass.

The best way to think about SSDs is that they're basically really fast hard drives with no moving parts. They're just better in every way, and in this day and age it's hard to be without one.

Edit: here is what I'm talking about when I say internal 2.5" SSD.

To clarify what /u/firefly416 said, once you take the hard drive out of the dead macbook pro you will need to install it into an external enclosure such as this one.

Literally any 2.5" SATA drive would work-- HDD, SSD, or SSHD of any brand.


Unless you actually need that 1TB of space at that cheap of a price, definitely get an SSD instead. 500GB for <$90 is a steal for the performance difference.


https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1539620546&sr=1-3&keywords=500gb+ssd


Also, while you're in there... I'd suggest taking the below preventative measure for your SATA cable while you're at it. The 2009-2012 models are bad about cables failing from the bends and/or the ribbon shorting out against the chassis, and replacing drives/moving this cable seems to make it way more temperamental no matter how careful you are.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amg5w0rlwDo