Should i upgrade ram on macbook pro

Learn why people trust wikiHow. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Question 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.

You can get by on 4GB but your laptop is going to be pretty slow when it comes to doing anything beyond basic tasks. The sweet spot for most MacBook users is 16GB. For most folks, 16GB is more than enough to meet your needs. You multitask for work or school and frequently have dozens of web tabs, programs, or documents open all at the same time.

You connect your laptop to multiple external displays to swap between multiple programs and tasks. Question 2. If you do a ton of memory-intensive work, upgrading the RAM may help. How you use your computer determines whether a RAM upgrade is worth it or not.

Think of RAM like a hard drive: your hard drive stores all of your files, and you might need a huge hard drive if you have a ton of photos or videos. Not really. You simply don't need the extra space. Security Tips. AVG News. See all Security articles. IP Address. Social Media. Privacy Tips. See all Privacy articles. Performance Tips. See all Performance articles. Link copied. This article contains:. Touch a metal surface inside the computer to discharge any static electricity from your body. Find the RAM module and eject it by using the ejection levers.

Pull the RAM module out without touching the gold connectors. Repeat for the other RAM module, if present. Push the new module down until it clicks, then insert the second one. Replace the bottom case and screw it back in. Disconnect all cords and cables. Place a soft towel or cloth on your work surface, then gently lay the computer face down on it.

The memory storage door on an iMac. Put the memory compartment door back on and close it. Return your computer to an upright position, then reconnect all your cords and cables. Shut down your iMac and let it cool down completely. Remove the memory access door with a Phillips screwdriver, placing it nearby.

You'll find detailed steps for RAM upgrades here. When buying RAM, compatibility with your system is vital. Not every type of RAM will work in every Mac computer, so it's important to make sure you buy a component that's suitable. Otherwise, you could go through all the effort to upgrade the RAM and end up with an unusable computer.

This is why we recommend buying from a store that specializes in Mac RAM upgrades. You might be able to shop around and get a better price for RAM found on the above sites. If you do so, make sure you search by SKU so you don't end up buying something that's slightly different.

We recommend staying away from cheap, junky RAM with few or poor reviews. The few dollars you save isn't worth the risk of bad RAM bringing down your system. Finally, you'll need to buy the right amount of RAM for your system. In many cases, this exceeds the "maximum" value provided by Apple. This page also details how many memory slots your machine has; most MacBook models have two slots. To take advantage of dual-channel memory, you'll want to buy two sticks that add up to your desired total.

How much RAM you should buy depends on your needs. If you often multitask, and your computer supports it, jumping to 16GB is a good idea. Finally, let's review the general process for the actual RAM upgrade in your machine. As mentioned, we can't go over the instructions for every single Mac model. Check the resources mentioned above for more specific instructions.

Below we'll provide a basic overview of how this looks on a mid MacBook. Most iMac models have a convenient window to access the RAM compartment, making it even easier than on a laptop. You also agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge the data collection and usage practices outlined in our Privacy Policy. How much RAM should I install?

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