Does my Macbook Pro need a RAM upgrade?

Hi. I own a Late 2011 MBP and its been acting a little slow lately. its not really slow, but the booting does take longer than before. and applications take a little more time to open for the first time than before. since i need to run quite a bit of heavy applications for my college use, i need to make sure it stands up for it.
i just need to know if its time for a RAM upgrade for my MBP? Will it really make a difference?
Also will it support an 8+8 GB RAM upgrade, or should i go for a 4+4 GB RAM upgrade instead?
is it possible if i can do it by myself? or will need to go to a store?
And just to confirm, I'm getting like a 5hr battery backup on this pc. is it normal or lesser than usual?
Current Specs:
Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB
Software OS X 10.9.4

psilovefood wrote:
Hi. I own a Late 2011 MBP and its been acting a little slow lately. its not really slow, but the booting does take longer than before. and applications take a little more time to open for the first time than before. since i need to run quite a bit of heavy applications for my college use,
Ram may not be the problem. Look at this article for possible solutions:
http://www.thesafemac.com/mpg/
i just need to know if its time for a RAM upgrade for my MBP? Will it really make a difference?
Not necessarily.
Also will it support an 8+8 GB RAM upgrade, or should i go for a 4+4 GB RAM upgrade instead?
It will support both configurations. How often do you exceed 4 GB of RAM usage. Ram not used is RAM wasted. 16 GB might be necessary. What are the most resource hungry applications that you use?
is it possible if i can do it by myself? or will need to go to a store?
User installation is easy. No need for the store to do it. Look in your users manual for instructions.
Ciao.

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Does a Macbook Pro need a antivirus software?

does the Macbook Pro need a antivirus software?

OS X doesn't need any antivirus as it already comes with security systems. Also, other antiviruses may slow down your Mac and most of them are useless, because they are only valid for detecting Windows viruses. In this case, it's a good idea to install an antivirus if you have files that you will transfer to PCs, because you can infect other PCs. Note that PC viruses don't affect to Macs (unless you are running Windows). Read > http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg
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Does a Macbook Pro need AV software? If so what brand is recommended?

Does a Macbook Pro need AV software? If so what brand is recommended?

No, it doesn't.
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
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          OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          About file quarantine in OS X
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From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:
The facts are:
1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
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MacBook Pro 1 GB RAM upgrade...which type?

Hi,
I am interested in the MacBook Pro, but need some advice on RAM upgrades.
What is the difference between the 2 types of RAM offered on the Apple site?
1 GB 667 DDR2 2x512 SO-DIMMS
1 GB 667 DDR2 1 SO-DIMMS
I would only be able to afford one of these above options and would appreciate any insight that anyone could offer.
Thanks much!

A Macbook Pro is only upgradable to 2gb and has only two SO-DIMM slots Ram ie. 2 * 1 GB ram modules.
If you opt for - 1 GB 667 DDR2 2x512 SO-DIMMS - you use up both the slots(each with a 512 mb ram)
If you opt for - 1 GB 667 DDR2 1 SO-DIMMS -only one is used up. and one it still free.
and when you got the bucks for an upgrade, or when the OS is calling for one, you can pop one in. And max it to 2GB
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Macbook Pro 4.1 RAM Upgrade Issues

Hello Apple Community. I recently decided to upgrade the RAM on my macbook pro 4.1 (15", early 2008, 2.5 GHz). I purchased and installed 4gb of Mushkin memory (2x2GB PC2-5300 SODIMM), and the computer booted up just fine. When I go to "About this Mac", it still shows 2GB of RAM, 2x1GB. When I click on "More Info" the same holds true while specifically looking at the memory. For some reason my computer is reading each 2GB card as a 1GB card.
Any suggestions as to what may be the issue?
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PS. I've been searching forums and the web for the past 2hrs in hopes of finding an answer.

Okay, I will try this out. Previously I had done something similar to that which you suggested, which leads me to think that the RAM possibly could've been mislabeled and I was given 2GB (2x1GB RAM). I took one stick out and booted up the computer and my mac really took its time starting up. When I checked the "About this Mac" section it now said 1GB of RAM. I'll try again with both cards, but it looks like I will be sending them both back for replacements.

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I'm attempting to upgrade my ram from 2GB to 4GB on an early 2008, 2.5GHz, 6MB L2, MBP. I've purchased 2x2GB, PC-5300, DDR2-667MHz modules and attempted to install them. After installing the two modules my MBP would not boot. I contacted the manufacturer of the ram and they suggested attempting to install one 2 GB module and one of the original 1GB modules. This configuration functions properly. Both 2GB modules have been verified as functional when used with one of the original 1GB modules and have been tried in both slots. Any ideas as to why my MBP will not boot with more than 3GB of memory ?

Hi again,
Response from Centon suggests this: "MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.6 "
http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacBookPro_EFI_Firmware_Update_16.
I don't think it applies.
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 3 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B00
SMC Version: 1.28f1
Still at a loss as to why both modules won't work together. Centon advises that system should boot with only one module installed, I'll give it a try.
Many thanks

Does my macbook pro need a registry cleaner?

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Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
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If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
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OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
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Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
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Does my macbook pro need any antivirus softwares?

Ive recently got a macbook 13inch pro laptop. I've heard that they don't need any antivirus protection programmes but the shop assistant in john lewis said did? some of the basic antivirus softwares are norton and comodo. Thanks

some of the basic antivirus softwares are norton and comodo.
Those are two of the worst examples.
There will always be threats to your information security associated with using any Internet - connected communications tool:
You can mitigate those threats by following commonsense practices
Delegating that responsibility to software is an ineffective defense
Assuming that any product will protect you from those threats is a hazardous attitude that is likely to result in neglecting point #1 above.
... I've heard that they don't need any antivirus protection programmes
OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources.
Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
"Questionable sources" include but are not limited to spontaneously appearing web pages or popups, download hosting sites such as C net dot com, Softonic dot com, Soft pedia dot com, Download dot com, Mac Update dot com, or any other site whose revenue is primarily derived from junk product advertisements.
If you need to install software that isn't available from the Mac App Store, obtain it only from legitimate sources authorized by the software's developer.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iCloud, iTunes, or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Java can be disabled in System Preferences.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Beware spontaneous popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > check "Block popup windows".
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but unsolicited popups are commonly used to deceive people into installing unwanted software they would never intentionally install.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever receive a popup window indicating that your Mac is infected with some ick or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
The same goes for a spontaneously appearing dialog insisting that you upgrade your video player right this instant. Such popups are frequently associated with sites that promise to deliver "free" movies or other copyrighted content that is not normally "free".
The more insistent it is that you upgrade or install something, the more likely it is to be a scam. Close the window or tab and forget it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. Most of these attempts are pathetic and are easily recognized, but that hasn't stopped prominent public figures from recently succumbing to this age-old scam.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

Does a MacBook Pro need an Mac App Store program such as 'CCleaner'?

The older Dell we have was just upgraded to Win7, and suggested Malware and cleaning software. After we downloaded those to the Dell, I noticed one was the same as one in the Mac App Store, CClearer. Is software like this needed for my Mac?

How to maintain a Mac
1. Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off site at all times. One backup is not enough. Don’t back up your backups; make them independent of each other. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine. If you get an indication that a backup has failed, don't ignore it.
2. Keep your software up to date. In the Software Update preference pane, you can configure automatic notifications of updates to OS X and other Mac App Store products. Some third-party applications from other sources have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis. This is especially important for complex software that modifies the operating system, such as device drivers. Before installing any Apple update, you must check that all such modifications that you use are compatible.
3. Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” "haxies," “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers," “optimizers,” “accelerators,” "boosters," “extenders,” “cleaners,” "doctors," "tune-ups," “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” "barriers," “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial "virus scanners,” "disk tools," or "utilities." With very few exceptions, this stuff is useless, or worse than useless.
The more actively promoted the product, the more likely it is to be garbage. The most extreme example is the “MacKeeper” scam.
As a rule, the only software you should install is that which directly enables you to do the things you use a computer for — such as creating, communicating, and playing — and does not modify the way other software works. Use your computer; don't fuss with it.
Never install any third-party software unless you know how to uninstall it. Otherwise you may create problems that are very hard to solve.
The free anti-malware application ClamXav is not crap, and although it’s not routinely needed, it may be useful in some environments, such as a mixed Mac-Windows enterprise network.
4. Beware of trojans. A trojan is malicious software (“malware”) that the user is duped into installing voluntarily. Such attacks were rare on the Mac platform until sometime in 2011, but are now increasingly common, and increasingly dangerous.
There is some built-in protection against downloading malware, but you can’t rely on it — the attackers are always at least one day ahead of the defense. You can’t rely on third-party protection either. What you can rely on is common-sense awareness — not paranoia, which only makes you more vulnerable.
Never install software from an untrustworthy or unknown source. If in doubt, do some research. Any website that prompts you to install a “codec” or “plugin” that comes from the same site, or an unknown site, is untrustworthy. Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be acquired directly from the developer. No intermediary is acceptable, and don’t trust links unless you know how to parse them. Any file that is automatically downloaded from a web page without your having requested it should go straight into the Trash. A website that claims you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, is rogue.
In OS X 10.7.5 or later, downloaded applications and Installer packages that have not been digitally signed by a developer registered with Apple are blocked from loading by default. The block can be overridden, but think carefully before you do so.
Because of recurring security issues in Java, it’s best to disable it in your web browsers, if it’s installed. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This action is mandatory if you’re running any version of OS X older than 10.6.8 with the latest Java update. Note: Java has nothing to do with JavaScript, despite the similar names. Don't install Java unless you're sure you need it. Most people don't.
5. Don't fill up your boot volume. A common mistake is adding more and more large files to your home folder until you start to get warnings that you're out of space, which may be followed in short order by a boot failure. This is more prone to happen on the newer Macs that come with an internal SSD instead of the traditional hard drive. The drive can be very nearly full before you become aware of the problem. While it's not true that you should or must keep any particular percentage of space free, you should monitor your storage consumption and make sure you're not in immediate danger of using it up. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of free space on the startup volume for normal operation.
If storage space is running low, use a tool such as the free application OmniDiskSweeper to explore your volume and find out what's taking up the most space. Move rarely-used large files to secondary storage.
6. Relax, don’t do it. Besides the above, no routine maintenance is necessary or beneficial for the vast majority of users; specifically not “cleaning caches,” “zapping the PRAM,” "resetting the SMC," “rebuilding the directory,” "defragmenting the drive," “running periodic scripts,” “dumping logs,” "deleting temp files," “scanning for viruses,” "purging memory," "checking for bad blocks," "testing the hardware," or “repairing permissions.” Such measures are either completely pointless or are useful only for solving problems, not for prevention.
The very height of futility is running an expensive third-party application called “Disk Warrior” when nothing is wrong, or even when something is wrong and you have backups, which you must have. Disk Warrior is a data-salvage tool, not a maintenance tool, and you will never need it if your backups are adequate. Don’t waste money on it or anything like it.

Brand new Macbook Pro (early 2015) with upgraded ram lagging in the simplest tasks

I received a brand new 13 inch macbook pro (early 2015) with upgraded ram (16 gb) about two weeks ago. I was expecting it to do tasks faster than its predecessors (the macbook pro which came directly before it, which my father owns, and the early 2009 which is now a family computer), but became dissapointed when it began crashing basically as soon as i started using final cut pro, and ever since it has been lagging everywhere else! I have check my activity monitor regulary due to this issue and have noticed "kernel_task" taking a large percentage of CPU (when im not using the computer all that much around 10%) and it uses 1.5gb of ram upwards constantly without fail! I am aware that this is the operating system so i dont really want to fiddle around with it but it does sound a little bit high to me. Originally it was slightly tougher work on final cut that would crash it, hence why i haven't seriously questioned it until now, but currently i cannot even move my curser around without getting the spinning beach ball of death! Please help me!

The warranty entitles you to complimentary phone support for the first 90 days of ownership.
If you bought the product in the U.S. directly from Apple (not from a reseller), you have 14 days from the date of delivery in which to exchange or return it for a refund. In other countries, the return policy may be different. If you bought from a reseller, its return policy applies.

What type of ram does the MacBook Pro 15" use?

What type of ram does the MacBook Pro 15" use? Is it the same as the 13"?

13 and 15-inch MacBooks Pro use the same RAM type, but it depends on the model. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1270

Does the macbook pro 2013 A1425 have a place to plug into ethernet or do I need to buy some sort of adapter?

Does the macbook pro 2013 A1425 have a place to plug into ethernet or do I need to buy some sort of adapter?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-gigabit-ethernet-adap ter.
Clinton

I bought my macbook pro in march 2007. I am currently running osx 10.6.8, but want to upgrade to lion or mtn lion. Apple website says i need a mid 2007 or later macbook pro, how do I tell if my Macbook pro will support this upgrade?

I bought my macbook pro in march 2007. I am currently running osx 10.6.8, but want to upgrade to lion or mtn lion. Apple website says i need a mid 2007 or later macbook pro, how do I tell if my Macbook pro will support this upgrade?

The Mid-2007 model didn't come out until June 2007, so you must have bought an earlier model. It won't run Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8.x), but it might run Lion (10.7.x) if you can get hold of a copy, depending on which earlier model it is.
Lion requires at least a Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The first MacBook Pros came out in January 2006, but they had "Core Duo" processors (no "2"). The Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros came out in October 2006. You could have bought either in March 2007.

Does my Macbook Pro need a RAM upgrade?

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