The Super MacBook Pro Upgrade That Everyone Should Do

So growing up I always used a Windows computer, but in 2011 I made a spontaneous choice to jump ship to Apple and honestly couldn’t be happier with my Macbook. Surprisingly even after 7 years this thing still runs like a beast and is still my daily driver even after multiple devices in-between. So how the heck can a 7-year-old computer still hold its ground in 2018? I just replaced 3 things all for under $250 Canadian!

This is How I Upgraded My 13 inch 2011 MacBook Pro:

How-To Do The Super MacBook Pro Upgrade

imposter
Difficulty
Medium (11 Steps)
Time
45 Minutes - 1.5 Hours
Cost
~ $250

Tools Required

  • Phillips #00 Screwdriver
  • Tri-Point Y0 Screwdriver
  • T6 Torx Screwdriver
  • Spudger

The kit I used (USA | CAD)

Upgraded Parts

  • MacBook Pro 13″ Unibody Battery (USA | CAD)
  • PC3-10600 8 GB RAM Kit (2x4GB DDR3 1333 MHz) (USA | CAD)
  • Hard Drive Caddy for Optical Drive Replacement (USA | CAD)
  • 2.5″ SATA III SSD 250 GB (USA | CAD)

There’s a total of ten Phillips #00 screws. I like to place them near the sides so I know what order they are in.

  • 3 long screws in the top right
  • 4 shouldered screws at the bottom
  • 3 short screws else where lol
Just simply pull up the bottom off by prying the cover near the back bar.

When touching any parts of your computer/MacBook I ALWAYS recommend disconnecting the battery from the logicboard. You do this by walking out the connector with a spudger or guitar pick.
This connection is pretty fragile so work on both sides slowly

[showhide type=”battery” more_text=”Show me how to replace the battery” less_text=”Hide this” hidden=”yes”]

To take out the battery by simply unscrewing the two Tri-Point Y0 screws.

  • Long one on the right
  • Short one on the left

Now, you can pull on the clear tab to replace the old battery.

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Personally, I find this the funnest part (also the easiest). Release your old ram by pulling both grey arms outwards.
These are released one at a time and kinda pop out so don’t be alarmed.
Then you can simply put in your replacement kit. (longsides on the left)

Release the black bracket holding your hard drive by loosening the two Phillip #00 screws (Note: they stay attached to the bracket).
Take the bracket out and lightly tug on the clear tab so you can remove the hard drive cable.
Take out your hard drive and remove the four T6 Torx screws (we’ll put them on the SSD)

Put those 4 T6 Torx Screws onto your SSD and reverse the steps to secure your SSD in.

Note: If you are not installing your old hard drive into the drive caddy you will need a copy of OSX on a USB

[showhide type=”wire” more_text=”6.1 Disconnect the Wires” less_text=”Hide 6.1 Remove the Wires” hidden=”yes”]
Release (walk out) the 3 black ribbon cables with your spudger.
Lightly tug the red/black camera cable horizontally to avoid breaking it.
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[showhide type=”peel” more_text=”6.2 Carefully Reroute the Cables” less_text=”Hide 6.2″ hidden=”yes”]
Slowly peel the fat black cable to avoid ripping it (it is very fragile)
Now the thinner cable should be free to move out of the way.
Underneath it should be a silver connector that you can release with your spudger.
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[showhide type=”screws” more_text=”6.3 Take out the 5 screws” less_text=”Hide 6.3″ hidden=”yes”]
Remember to keep track of the order

  • Two long ones at the top left of the case
  • Two short ones underneath the sticky ribbon cable
  • One medium one at the right

Now move the speaker and stuff out of the way (I just place it to the side of the laptop.
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[showhide type=”drive” more_text=”6.4 Take out the Optical Drive” less_text=”Hide 6.4″ hidden=”yes”]
With the cables out of the way you be able to take out the 3 Phillip #00 Screws holding the optical drive (one on the right and two on the left)
Take it out by pulling it from the flat part.
Pull the connector out (save this for the replacement caddy)
You will also need to keep the bracket on the optical drive (it is held up by two screws)
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Taking the old hard drive you should be able to slide it into the hard drive caddy. The one I used requires you to unscrew the sides to make space for the drive.
Attach the ribbon cable connector to the hard drive caddy.
Also attach the small metal bracket with the two screws.

With the ribbon cable connected and the bracket on the hard drive caddy just start putting the optical drive back into place.

All you need to do to put everything back is just reverse the steps but incase you forget:

  • The hard drive caddy should be connected with 3 Phillip #00 screws
    • connect its ribbon cable to the mother board
  • You should put the speaker/bluetooth assembly back ontop of that slot in the hard drive caddy (put the black thing on top of the metal thing with your old hard drive)
    • Connect the black thing back together with the 5 screws
      • Two long screws at the left of the case
      • Two short ones where the black things connect
      • One Medium one on the right
    • Reconnect the silver cable
  • Reconnect the other cable
    • Two ribbons
    • One red and black wire
  • Reconnect the battery
  • Close the case
    • 4 shouldered screws at the bottom
    • 3 long screws top right
    • 3 short screws elsewhere (top left, middle left and middle right)

At this point your computer is like brand new and you can use it as is. But the purpose of a SSD is that it’s fast so to make the most of your money what we need to do is put your OS on the SSD and files on your hard drive.

This would probably require another video but for now these words should guide you lol.

macOS Recovery

Get into your recovery by pressing Command-R immediately after turning your computer on.
Go to Disk Utility and format the new SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Mac OS Installation

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