How to turn your old Macbook Pro mid-’12 into a power system

DO YOU HAVE A SLOW MACBOOK PRO? Amplify IT UP!

Hello everyone! For your reading and learning enjoyment, here’s another how-to blog. We supercharged my Macbook Pro (Mid-2012) last week and are extremely happy with the results. The old hard drive was replaced with a Western Digital Green, more Crucial RAM was added to max it out, and the optical disc drive was replaced with a caddy that held the old hard drive.

We upgraded from a single 750GB hard drive with 4GB of RAM to a single 1TB SSD with one 750GB hard drive and 16GB of RAM. It’s incredibly quick, and we’re not sure why we didn’t do it sooner.

This does mean we don’t have a disc drive anymore, but honestly, when was the last time you used your optical drive?!

Now, let’s get to the good stuff.

STEP ONE: MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR SYSTEM.

You’re familiar with the procedure. Obtain a blank hard disc. Open up System Preferences and select “Time Machine.”

Choose which drive to backup your system once you’ve entered “Time Machine.” Because you’ll have to delete the drive, make sure it’s already empty or that you’re okay with deleting.

Allow it to run after that’s done. It may take some time depending on how complete your start-up disc is. When that’s done, you’re ready to go.

STEP TWO: REMOVE THE LAPTOP’S BASE

When you get to this step, you’ll need the following items: Precision tools, a new SSD and an optical drive replacement caddy are all on the list.

After you’ve backed up everything, turn off the computer, unplug the power cable, and flip the laptop over.

Remove the screws that hold the base cover in place. Start with the top three because they are the longest and will make life easier for you. The remaining screws are extremely small, so be careful where you put them. Make sure to use the correct Phillips Head size to avoid stripping the screws.

STEP THREE: PREPARE THE LAPTOP FOR SURGERY

Next up you will need to prepare the computer for the upgrades.

Disconnect the battery first. Locate the battery and slide the top of a clothespin (or other non-conductive piece) under the connection’s side. It should appear fairly quickly.

Next disconnect the three tab connections under the fan, as well as the microphone. The three tabs will pop up easily just using your finger.

Next, gently pull the microphone connection straight out, parallel to the connection (sideways, not up), also located under the fan. Do not disconnect the one with red wires. Do disconnect the smaller connection next to it.

STEP FOUR: INSTALL THE SSD

Unscrew the two screws holding the hard drive in place. Pull the bar out and set it to the side. Next, lift the clear tab to pull the drive out of the bay. Once the drive is free from the bay, pull the SATA connection out of the top of the hard drive.

Once the hard drive is free, you’ll notice four small screws protruding from the hard drive’s two long sides. Remove the four screws and set them aside. Set the hard drive to the side once the screws have been removed. Later on, we’ll use it in the optical drive caddy.

Take your new SSD and replace the four screws from the old drive in the same places on the sides as they were on the old drive. Fit the SATA connection into the top of the SSD after it’s been screwed in, and then place the SSD in the hard drive bay. Finally, screw the support bar (along with the two connected screws) back into place.

NOTE: It’s best to replace the support bar after the optical drive has been replaced. While completing that step, I discovered that I needed a little more space. However, you are free to do as you please.

STEP FIVE: REMOVE THE OPTICAL DRIVE AND REPLACE IT WITH A HARD DRIVE CADDY THAT HAS BEEN OPTIMIZED.

Remove the screws that secure the optical drive. In the image below, they are highlighted in blue. (NOTE: Use extreme caution to avoid stripping the screws.) I managed to strip one, and it took a long time to correct my mistake.)

The drive will be free to lift out once the screws are removed. At the top of the drive, there is a tie (smaller than the SATA connection). Remove and discard that relationship. This is going into the new caddy.

Replace your old hard drive in the new caddy that you removed previously. Your new hard drive optimizer has two different kinds of connections. There will either be a support bar that fits at the bottom (similar to the SSD support bar) or four screws that will screw into the caddy and into the hard drive to keep it in place. Install your hard drive support system in either case.

In the top of your new hard drive caddy, place the small connection piece that was removed from the previous optical bay. Check to see if it’s totally pushed.

After that, place the caddy in the bay where the optical drive was previously removed. Because it’s a tight fit, take your time and make sure no wires are pinched in the process. Reinstall your screws.

Reconnect all of your disconnected ties. Here’s your to-do list:

There are three tabs in a row.
SSD Support Bar with Microphone Connection (if not already in place)
Last but not least, reconnect the battery.
Place your back cover on top. Replace all of the screws, beginning with the longest.

Turn your computer back on by flipping it over.

And now you have a supercharged, super Macbook Pro on your hands!

This was a complete game changer for us. I hope it’s the same for you!