The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    2011 MBP and Ram/Hard Drive

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by GP-SE, Oct 20, 2011.

  1. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey guys, I recently sold my 2010 15" MBP for a 2011 15" MBP. I have my "old" WD Scorpio Black 750, and 8gb (2x4gb) 1333mhz ram from the 2010 still. I was wondering, should I install these two into the new 2011? I was reading I can use 1600mhz ram with the 2.2 Core i7 in my MBP, but will I notice a speed difference between 1333mhz and 1600mhz? I was thinking if there is a difference I would sell my 1333mhz for the 1600mhz ram. Also whats the best way to setup the hard drive if I swap my Scorpio Black in? This one came with Snow Leopard rather than lion, should I just pop the Scorpio in and use my Lion CD (home made) and install lion fresh?
     
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    650
    Trophy Points:
    181
  3. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have the 2.2Ghz, so I wont notice a difference from 1333mhz to 1600mhz?
     
  4. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    650
    Trophy Points:
    181
    What are you using your Macbook for?
     
  5. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    gaming, and photoshop mostly.
     
  6. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,354
    Messages:
    4,449
    Likes Received:
    476
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Nope.

    RAM speed makes practically zero difference in any real-world scenarios (apps, OS, or games).
     
  7. xfiregrunt

    xfiregrunt Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You would get a higher benchmark if you tested your ram.

    And that is about the extent of the boost from 1333mhz ram to 1600 mhz ram.
     
  8. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks y'all, I don't care about benchmarks, so I'll just use y 1333mhz ram. But what about the hard drive? If I use carbon copy client will it clone the hidden recovery partition?
     
  9. ClearSkies

    ClearSkies Well no, I'm still here..

    Reputations:
    1,059
    Messages:
    2,633
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    No, neither Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper will clone the recovery partition - all you get is the system partition. This has to do with system restrictions preventing access to it.

    To get the benefits of the recovery partition back, just make a Lion Recovery Assistant on any 1GB+ USB flash drive or a full Lion Installer on a 8GB drive or regular DVD. When you boot the notebook using any of these, you access everything that was contained in the partition. Instructions for both of these can be found online - MacWorld has some nice tutorials.
     
  10. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    200
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I installed my old Western Digital Scorpio Black, I used internet recovery to re-download and install Lion on the drive. Everything is much faster now with the 750GB 7200RPM and 8GB 1333mhz DDR3 :)