MacBook Pro 17" Unibody RAM
Replacement
Featured Guide
This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the site's staff.
Introduction
Use this guide to replace your MacBook Pro's RAM.
Tools
Phillips #00 Screwdriver
Available for sale on Crucial
Buy
Parts
PC3-8500 4 GB RAM Chip
PC3-8500 2 GB RAM Chip
PC3-8500 1 GB RAM Chip
1. Step 1 RAM
o Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
Step 2
Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the
clips holding the lower case to the upper case.
Remove the lower case.
Step 3
Whenever working near the logic board, it is always wise to first disconnect the battery to
avoid short circuits.
If present, grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the
front edge of the device. For Late-2011 models the battery connector will not have a tab
and is simply a plug that inserts straight down into the motherboard--to remove pry the
plug straight up.
If the plastic tab is missing, use a spudger to pry the connector up from its socket.
Pull the tab parallel to the face of the logic board.
Step 4
Release the tabs on each side of the RAM chip by simultaneously pushing each tab away
from the RAM.
These tabs lock the chip in place and releasing them will cause the chip to "pop" up.
After the RAM chip has popped up, pull it straight out of its socket.
Repeat this process if a second RAM chip is installed.
MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 RAM
Installation
Lower Case 2 steps
Battery Connector 2 steps
RAM Installation 1 step
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Introduction
Accessing the RAM in this computer is straightforward and requires minimal disassembly.
Tools
Phillips #00 Screwdriver
Parts
RAM Upgrade Kit
For sale from another site
Buy
1. Step 1 Lower Case
o Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
Step 2
Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the
upper case.
Remove the lower case and set it aside.
Step 3 Battery Connector
For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary
but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not
disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be
electrified.
Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the
logic board.
It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its
socket.
Step 4
Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not
accidentally connect itself while you work.
Step 5 RAM Installation
Release the tabs on each side of the RAM chip by simultaneously pushing each tab away
from the RAM module.
These tabs lock the chip in place and releasing them will cause the chip to "pop" up.
After the RAM chip has popped up, pull it straight out of its socket.
Repeat this process if a second RAM chip is installed.
Mac Pro Late 2013 RAM Replacement
Introduction
Adding more RAM to your Mac Pro is easy and requires no tools. Use this guide to soup up your
Pro.
o Slide the lock switch to the right, to the unlocked position.
Step 2
Lift the outer case straight up off the Mac Pro.
It may help to push down on the center of the fan while lifting the case up.
Step 3
Push the RAM release tab up.
The RAM slots will pivot outward to allow access to the RAM modules.
Step 4
Using two hands, pull the desired RAM module straight out of its slot.
To install new RAM modules, insert a new module into the appropriate slot, in the proper
orientation. Press the RAM module into the slot until it is bottomed, then push the RAM
tray back into the side of the Mac Pro.
Mac mini Model A1176 RAM Installation
1. Step 1 Top Housing
o You can skip this step if you bought your putty knife from iFixit.com. Putty
knives purchased from iFixit come with pre-ground edges.
o You'll need a putty knife in order to open the case. A 1.5 inch thin putty knife will
work well, but you'll want to grind the edge down. Rub the putty knife's short
edge back and forth on a sheet of all purpose rough grit sandpaper (100 grit will
work fine) until it attains a beveled edge.
Carefully insert a putty knife into the crevice in between the top cover and bottom
housing. Start on the left side first. Push the blade down until you meet firm resistance
(roughly 3/8 of an inch).
Gently enlarge the existing crevice by prying the handle of the putty knife downward and
away from the mini.
It helps to start in the middle, then work along the edge until the bottom housing pops up
slightly.
Step 3
Next insert the putty knife into the crevice on the optical drive slot side of the computer.
Pry the putty knife downward while working along the edge of the mini until the bottom
housing further separates from the top housing.
Step 4
Repeat the same procedure as the past few steps for the right side of the mini.
At this point, there should be a noticeable gap between the bottom and top housing
around the perimeter of the mini.
Turn the mini over.
Step 5
Gently lift the top housing straight up off the mini and set it aside.
It may be necessary to wiggle the top housing while lifting it off the bottom housing. If
any of the tabs get stuck on the top housing, use the putty knife to free them.
Step 6 Internal Frame
Later in this guide you will remove several recessed Phillips screws. Bit drivers are
generally too large to fit in the recesses, so be sure to have a thin shafted Phillips
screwdriver on hand.
First remove the AirPort antenna (the larger of the two), located near the power button.
Slightly squeeze the two retaining arms toward each other and lift the AirPort antenna off
its post.
Squeezing the two posts excessively will surely break them off the internal frame. Work
delicately.
During reinstallation, you will have to slightly squeeze the two posts together so they fit
into the openings on the AirPort antenna board.
Use the tip of a spudger to slightly lift the left side of the ZIF cable lock up from its
socket.
The ZIF cable lock will lift about 1 mm and stop. Do not try to completely remove the
ZIF cable lock.
Step 8
Lift the audio board ribbon cable up out of its socket.
If it refuses to lift from its socket, the ZIF cable lock is not fully released. Make sure it is
evenly lifted about 1 mm from the socket on the interconnect board.
Rotate the mini so that the SuperDrive slot loading mechanism is facing you.
Use a pair of tweezers to lift the hard drive thermal sensor cable connector up off its
socket on the logic board.
Use tweezers to grab the connector (as seen in the picture), not the wires.
The connector is located under the optical drive opening, next to the PRAM battery.
In the next few steps, you will remove the four Phillips screws securing the internal frame
to the bottom case. Included in each step is an overview picture showing the general
location and a closeup showing the actual screw.
Remove the recessed Phillips screw near the power button securing the internal frame to
the bottom housing.
Remove the recessed Phillips screw near the sleep light securing the internal frame to the
bottom housing.
This screw is the longest of the four screws securing the internal frame to the bottom
case.
Remove the Phillips screw from the internal frame near the Bluetooth antenna.
Remove the Phillips screw near the audio ports securing the internal frame to the bottom
case.
Gently lift the internal frame up from the bottom housing, minding the AirPort antenna
and any other cables that may get caught.
It may be necessary to pull up near the interconnect board to separate it from the logic
board.
Step 15 RAM Installation
Simultaneously pull the tabs on each side of the RAM chip away from the center of the
chip. These tabs lock the chip in place and releasing them will cause the chip to "pop" up.
Step 16
Pull the RAM chip directly out from its connector.
If there are two RAM chips installed, repeat the above procedure for the second chip.
MacBook Core 2 Duo RAM Installation
Battery 2 steps
Memory Cover 2 steps
RAM Installation 1 step
Accessing the RAM in this computer is straightforward and requires minimal disassembly.
The Mid 2009 2.13 GHz model is the only A1181 MacBook that uses PC2-6400 RAM.
Tools
Parts
RAM Upgrade Kit
1. Step 1 Battery
o Use a coin to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.
Step 2
Lift the battery out of the computer.
Step 3 Memory Cover
Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery
compartment.
The screws are captive to the metal memory cover so you cannot lose them.
Step 4
Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift
it up and out of the computer.
Step 5 RAM Installation
Pull back on the metal lever and slide the RAM chip out from its compartment.
Unlike the iBook line, the MacBook has two RAM slots.
When installing RAM, be sure to push the chips in firmly or else the computer will not
register them.