MacBook pro upgrade cpu. 8-Core or 10-Core M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14”

06.09.2023 dakus Article

It’s an exciting time to be a Mac person – particularly if you’d been waiting for the next MacBook Pro redesign to hit the shelves.

Well, now it has. And, as always, there are several choices to be made when it comes to picking the right spec for you.

Unfortunately, this is where that initial rush of excitement often turns into extended periods of frustration, buyer’s remorse, and complete bewilderment.

This time around, it’s made all the more confusing due to the fact there are two versions of Apple’s M1 chip to choose from. I’ve already covered the M1 Pro vs M1 Max shopping conundrum, but I appreciate that if you opt for the former, there’s another question you’ll have on your mind.

Should you go for the 8-core CPU or the 10-core CPU?

Why is there an 8-core version?

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is the only version of Apple’s new laptop that has an 8-core CPU option. Beyond that, it’s 10-cores only, and no choice on the matter if you opt for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

There are two reasons the 8-core option exists. The first is to enable Apple to maximise the profitability of its production lines by avoiding throwing away the 10-core M1 Pro chips that don’t quite make the grade. Known as ‘binning’, this is when the production of a 10-core chip results in something that isn’t quite up to spec and cannot, therefore, be classed as the chip in question.

So, if a couple of cores are lost along the way, rather than chucking the resulting CPU in the trash, Apple places it in a ‘bin’ that denotes it as an 8-core variant of the M1 Pro.

This is all incredibly boring, but it results in a base model version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro which features an 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU. And that’s the second reason an 8-core option exists; Apple needs a base-spec to even out its pricing structure for the new MacBook Pro.

I have one, and it is superb. It’s easily the fastest Mac I’ve ever owned and blows my old Intel-based 16” MacBook Pro out of the water for video editing (a laptop that was nearly double the price).

This is why focusing on the 8-core vs 10-core choice is entirely the wrong thing to do.

Ignore the CPU cores

I’m writing this on the M1 MacBook Air. It’s the base spec with 8GB of unified memory and a 7-core GPU (thanks again to that binning strategy I mentioned earlier).

It’s the best laptop I’ve ever owned, and I have a feeling it’ll remain that way until the next version is released.

When I first published my review of the MacBook Air, one of the main questions I received – beyond the 8GB vs 16GB debate – centred around the 7-core GPU option.

Let me confirm once again: it doesn’t make any difference to anything. No one – bar those who review every tiny detail of benchmark results – will ever notice any performance gains when grabbing one extra GPU core.

The same goes for the M1 Pro. The question isn’t whether or not you need 8 or 10 CPU cores – it’s whether you want the base-level 14-inch MacBook Pro or something that’s more tuned to your requirements.

So, stop worrying about those two CPU cores and read on.

Where to spend the extra cash

Firstly, if the thought of spending more than 1,999 on your new MacBook Pro gives you heart palpitations, just buy the cheapest one. For 90% of people, it will be the perfect laptop, and they’ll never reach into the upper echelons of its performance capabilities.

However, if you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, whacking another 200 down just to get the 10-core CPU doesn’t make any sense. You won’t notice any difference, day-to-day, trust me; it’ll be 200 down the drain.

So, what’s next? Well, adding an extra 300 gets you the 10-core CPU and the 16-core GPU, thus upping the latter by two cores. Again, this doesn’t make any sense; it’ll offer no tangible difference in performance.

If you instead start with the base spec and spend an additional 400, you can upgrade the unified memory to 32GB. And if you work with large files or simply want to further future proof your investment, that does make a tonne of sense.

Similarly, if you’d rather not lay down that much more, you could simply spend 200 and upgrade the 512GB SSD to 1TB, thus equipping your shiny new laptop with more meaningful storage.

See? It’s easy when you ignore that 8-core CPU, isn’t it?

Conclusion

The decision you need to make has nothing to two with those two CPU cores. They’re red herrings; confusing road signs. Nothing more.

Instead, think about the unified memory you may need, or the onboard storage that’ll help you get by without the hassle of relying on multiple external drives.

Oh, and if your work requires more graphical horsepower, then it might be best to bite the bullet and opt for the 24- or 32-core GPU in the considerably more powerful M1 Max.

How to Make MacBook Pro Faster

If you own Apple’s high-end MacBook Pro, you expect high-end performance. But over time, they can slow down either due to hardware or software reasons.

Luckily, you can optimize your MacBook Pro and make it faster before and even after you buy it. All you have to do is some minor software changes and hardware upgrades.

I always strive for the best speed on my Mac, and I put together this guide to show you how to improve yours. Keep reading to learn how to make your MacBook Pro breeze through important tasks and your favorite entertainment again.

Benefits of a Faster MacBook Pro

Let’s face it; if your MacBook Pro is running slow, you’re inefficient. Waiting for items to load, waiting for your text to appear as you type, and being late to important meetings because you couldn’t get into Zoom are just a few of the frustration you might face with a slow MacBook Pro.

On the other hand, if you had a faster MacBook Pro, you could:

Run multiple apps at the same
Handle routine computer tasks swiftly
Keep more Windows and tabs open in your browser
Load multiple web pages at the same time without the others crashing
Switch between apps without issues
Load new apps without having to wait

Imagine your increased productivity when your MacBook Pro is faster– you’ll have fewer frustrations and better productivity.

This increase in speed will even help you with resource-intensive macOS software such as Logic Pro X, Adobe Photoshop, or Final Cut Pro. If you use these programs frequently, you will see an immediate increase in the function of these great programs with a faster Mac.

Basically, if you use your Mac for video editing or similar demanding purposes, you will benefit from a faster machine.

How to Make MacBook Pro Faster Before Buying

There are multiple speed options that you can choose from when purchasing your MacBook Pro. Faster performance comes with a cost, but it is worth it if you need a fast machine.

Here are the options you can choose on your MacBook Pro when you purchase it from Apple.com or your local Apple Store.

Memory (RAM)

Maximizing the RAM is an easy way to make your MacBook Pro faster from the get-go. RAM helps you when you’re running lots of resource-heavy applications.

If you’re buying new, it’s impossible to upgrade the RAM of your MacBook Pro after purchasing it. So it must be done when you place your order.

As of July 2022, the 13-inch MacBook starts with 8 GB of RAM, while the 14-inch and 16-inch start at 16 GB.

But you can pay extra and upgrade the RAM to the following:

13-inch MacBook Pro: 8 GB (standard), 16 GB, or 24 GB
14-inch MacBook Pro: 16 GB (standard), 32 GB, or 64 GB
16-inch MacBook Pro: 16 GB (standard), 32 GB, or 64 GB

Processor (CPU)

Your MacBook Pro’s internal processor is the main component that helps with its operating speed. The CPU is your MacBook Pro’s brain; it processes tasks and gives instructions. The faster it “thinks,” the faster your MacBook Pro operates.

The newest MacBook Pros use Apple’s Silicone M2 and M1 chips. In July of 2022, the 13-inch models use the M2 CPU, and the 14-inch and 16-inch models use the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs.

Various chipsets are available depending on the Mac’s size, but the more cores, the better. For example, on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you can choose a 10-core CPU with a 16-core GPU and 16-core neural engine or a 10-core CPU with a 32-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. And M1 Max is faster than the M1 Pro.

How to Make MacBook Pro Faster After You Buy

If you have an older model MacBook Pro or have purchased a new one and want it to be faster, there are still some things you can do to speed up the machine. In general, older Macs will be slower but trying a few of these tips can get your MacBook Pro back near the speeds it was when it was brand new.

Check Your Activity Monitor

Checking your Activity Monitor will give you a detailed look at all the programs and apps running on your MacBook Pro and how much of your computer’s operating power is being used by each.

This diagnostic window monitors memory, energy, CPU, network, and disk usage. In relation to speed, CPU is very important, so if an app you are not actively using is eating up a lot of CPU, close it.

To access the Activity Monitor, go to the Finder in your Dock.

Then, click on Applications, then on Utilities. In this window, you will see the Activity Monitor.

Double click the Activity Monitor, and a window like this will appear where you can manage apps and programs.

Select a process to close it, then click the octangle with the “x” near the top of the window.

Clean Up Your Desktop

Another thing you can do to speed up your MacBook Pro is to clean up your desktop.

Putting icons in folders instead of having them each on the desktop screen individually can save RAM, which will speed up your computer. Once you have organized your desktop, restart the computer to notice the change in speed.

Uninstall Any Unused Apps

If your computer has a bunch of apps on it, it can slow things down significantly.

Go through all of your apps and delete and uninstall any of them that you do not use. You can always download them again later if you really need them.

You can uninstall apps by accessing finder, clicking on “Applications” in the left pane, then right-click on the app and selecting “Move to Trash.”

Apps can take up a lot of storage and memory, which will slow down your MacBook Pro.

Clean up startup items

If you have a lot of programs running when you start up your MacBook, it will negatively impact its speed. Cleaning up your startup items can help everything run more smoothly and boost performance.

Your MacBook runs many apps upon startup that you might not use or need. Stopping these can increase speed.

To get rid of unneeded items at startup, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above) from the Apple menu
Click on Users Groups
Select your username
Click on Login Items
Select the programs you don’t need at startup and click the – button

Make sure visual effects are turned off

Visual effects on your MacBook may look great and help with a customized user experience, but they can also cause performance issues. By turning visual effects off, you can boost the speed of your MacBook Pro.

To turn off visual effects on your MacBook Pro, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above) from the Apple menu
Select Dock and Menu Bar
Uncheck the boxes Automatically hide and show the Dock and Animate opening applications
Also, click on the Minimize Windows using: box and change it to Scale effect

Remove browser add-ons

Browsers are demanding apps that consume many resources on your MacBook Pro. These browsers are often packed full of add-ons and unneeded or unused extensions you don’t use.

No matter which browser you use, removing browser add-ons can help improve speeds. Each of the three main browsers – Safari, Chrome, and Firefox, can be adjusted similarly. Go to the Extensions or Add-ons section of the settings menu and adjust accordingly.

Spotlight Reindex

Updates to macOS can cause speed issues, which is usually a result of the Spotlight indexing on your MacBook Pro. This process can get stuck, and you might need to reindex things to get everything working normally again.

To perform a spotlight reindex, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above) from the Apple menu
Clock on Spotlight
Click on the Privacy tab
Click and drag your HD into this privacy list.
Click the “–” button

This will start the reindexing process, which can take several hours to complete.

Empty caches

Your MacBook Pro automatically stores specific temporary files, which helps it access things quicker and boosts browsing speeds. These are known as caches and can be convenient until they start to slow down your computer. Emptying these caches can increase speed.

To empty your cache, follow these steps:

Open the Finder
Select Go to Folder
Type in ̴ /Library/Caches
Highlight the caches you want to remove and delete them
Be sure to empty the trash afterward

Manually clearing caches can take a while and you risk deleting wanted items. A third-party cleaning program can help with this.

Clean hard drive

Think of this step as cleaning your entire house to make more space. You can clean up your MacBook hard drive to clear out unused or unneeded files. This can instantly make more room on your hard drive, which can fix many speed issues.

Look for any unused apps, large files, hidden trash, widgets, or anything else that might be clogging up your computer. Once you have located these, delete them, and be sure to clean out the trash afterward to free up space.

Create a new user profile

Creating a new user profile on your MacBook Pro is another effective way to fix slow-down issues. This process can change some settings and bypass your older username that unnecessary files and compromised settings may bog down.

To create a new user profile, follow these steps:

Open System Preferences (System Settings on macOS Ventura and above) from the Apple menu
Select Users Groups
Click on the padlock symbol to Unlock changes
Click the button to add a user

Use Terminal to Free up RAM

Using Terminal to free up RAM is a somewhat complicated fix, but if you are relatively tech-savvy, it’s easily doable and can boost the speed of your MacBook Pro.

This method allows you to enter code directly into the system to help improve issues associated with your system running out of available RAM.

To use the Terminal to free up RAM, follow these steps:

Open the Terminal app either from the finder or via Launchpad
Type this command into the text dialogue window “sudo purge”
Click enter
Enter your system password when asked

The “sudo purge” command clears out your MacBook’s RAM and disk caches without rebooting.

RAM

Adding more physical RAM to your MacBook Pro is another way to increase speeds. This may be your best bet if you have attempted to clear up available RAM and are still running into speed issues.

The more RAM you have, the faster your computer will be. If you can upgrade the RAM on your MacBook Pro, you must purchase an additional RAM stick.

Unfortunately, not all MacBooks can be upgraded. Check out this article for our guide to the best RAM for MacBook Pro upgrade.

SMC PRAM Reset

SMC and PRAM resets can help fix various issues and are good basic skills to take advantage of. You can think of these as a more in-depth reset that will give you a fresh start on critical operations involved with your MacBook.

To reset SMC, follow these steps:

Shut down your MacBook Pro
Hold “Shift Control Option” and press the Power button
Hold all four of these keys down for 10 seconds
Release all of the keys
Turn on your computer

To reset PRAM, follow these steps:

Shut down your computer
Press the power button and then the Command, Option, P, and R keys all at the same time
Hold down all of these until the computer restarts

Replace HDD with SSD

If you are using an old MacBook Pro with hard disk drive (HDD), a complete upgrade of your MacBook’s internal hardware is another option you can use to speed things up. SSD will make your computer generally faster and able to accomplish more demanding tasks at the same time. HDD drives are mechanical and slower by nature of design, especially older ones.

Swapping out an HDD with an SDD is a complicated and somewhat expensive fix but worth it if you don’t want to purchase an entirely new computer. You might need to visit an Apple repair shop or the like to make it happen. Check out the link if you are looking for the best SSD for your MacBook Pro upgrade.

Use third-party Mac cleaning software

Suppose all of these steps seem too complicated, and you want a more straightforward solution to speeding up your MacBook quickly and effectively. In that case, you can use CleanMyMac X. This is a quality piece of software designed specifically for this reason and can help resolve many different issues.

CleanMyMac X can help with other issues on your computer and bundles many of the fixes mentioned here into a straightforward process.

Final Thoughts

If you want your MacBook Pro to stay fast, keep track of how you use it and look at the tips above to help if it starts running slowly.

But remember, making a few upgrades when you purchase the MacBook Pro is the best way to make it fast.

Do you have any tricks to make your MacBook Pro faster?

Lorena holds a 13-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip. Her role involves editorial management from writing to editing and ensuring that the articles are informative, useful, and relevant to readers who are new to Mac.

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Tips and guides for MacBook Pro users. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

M2 MacBook Air or 14″ M2 Pro MacBook Pro: Which should you buy? [Video]

The M2 MacBook Air isn’t too much smaller than 14″ MacBook Pro, so is it worth it to upgrade to the higher priced and newer machine, or should you stick with Apple’s thin-and-light – saving quite a bit along the way?

I’ll specifically be focusing on the 14″ M2 Pro MacBook Pro, as it’s the closer of the two in both size and cost to the Air, but you can check out our full comparison of the M2 lineup of laptops if you’re interested in how the 16″ version stacks up.

M2 Air vs M2 Pro MacBook Pro [Video]

Moving to the speakers, the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a six speaker array compared to the MacBook Air’s four speaker array. The extra two speakers, as well as the additional space in the chassis, really let the MacBook Pros speakers shine. They are loud, but also have much better bass and less tinny highs than the Air’s speakers.

Camera and microphone

On the specs page, both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are listed as having a 1080P FaceTime camera as well as an “Advanced image signal processor with computational video.” Despite this similarity, the two cameras perform very differently. In good lighting, either can create a video acceptable for virtual meetings, but once the lighting is dim the cameras really show their differences. The MacBook Air’s picture becomes far more noisy than the MacBook Pro’s, but the artificial smoothing on the Pro really shows up and eliminates a lot of detail.

Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are listed as having three-mic arrays with directional beam-forming, but Apple specifically calls out the microphones in the MacBook Pro as being “Studio Quality” with a high signal to noise ratio. And there’s a significant difference in the sound between the two. In my brief testing, the microphone of the 14″ MacBook Pro sounded much better, with slightly less Echo and less harsh high pitch than the air. To listen to the microphones for yourself, just head to 6:30 in the video.

Performance

With the switch to 256GB NAND modules with the M2, both the laptops will have slower speed SSDs than their previous generation, but the MacBook Pro starts out with two NAND chips while the MacBook Air starts out with just one. This means the base MacBook Air will have about 1,500MBps read and write speeds, while the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro sees speeds around 3,000MBps. On the MacBook Air this slower SSD could be more noticeable due to the 8GB of RAM and needing to swap out information from RAM into storage during more power-hungry tasks.

As expected, the M2 Pro chip can perform much better than the base M2 chip. Having both more CPU and GPU cores as well as a cooling solution for the chip, benchmarks have shown the M2 Pro chip even outperforming last year’s M1 Max. While single threaded tasks will be just about identical in performance between the M2 MacBook Air and the M2 Pro MacBook Pro, multi-threaded tasks show a greater difference, with multi-core Geek bench scores around 8,900 on the M2 MacBook Air and over 12,000 on the M2 Pro MacBook Pro.

If you’re doing creative work, the GPU improvements going to the MacBook Pro can be even more important, with video export times dropping a fairly significant amount with the jump to the Pro.

Configuration and price

The base level M2 MacBook Air starts at just 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM for its 1,199 price, while the M2 MacBook Pro starts out with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for 1,999. You can upgrade the MacBook Air to 16GB of RAM, matching the base MacBook Pro, for an additional 200, or up to 24GB for 400. The MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip can be upgraded to 32GB of RAM for an additional 400, and you can upgrade to 96GB of RAM if you opt for the M2 Max chip.

Storage wise, the MacBook Air can be upgraded to a maximum of 2TB of storage, with the upgrade to 512GB of storage costing 200. The MacBook Pro can be upgraded to 8TB of storage for 2,400 – but we certainly wouldn’t recommend it. The upgrade to 1TB of storage for 200 or 2TB of storage for 600 is far more reasonable.

Additionally, the CPUs can be configured. On the Air, you can choose between an M2 chip with 8 GPU cores and 8 CPU cores, or you can upgrade to 10 GPU cores for an additional 100. With the MacBook Pro, you have far more options. The M2 Pro chip starts with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. For 300, you can upgrade to a 12-CPU core 19-GPU core M2 Pro, or you can step to the M2 Max chip which will max out with 12 CPU cores and 39 GPU cores.

to5Mac’s Take

The M2 MacBook Air and 14″ MacBook Pro are very different machines. Which you should go with, at the end of the day, comes down to what work you plan to do on your laptop. If you’re rendering, doing lots of video and photo editing, or even just need to have more external monitors connected to your machine for spreadsheets, the MacBook Pro is an easy go-to. If you are already upgrading the CPU, RAM, and storage in your MacBook Air, the jump to the MacBook Pro nets you a much better screen, an HDMI port, improved Wi-Fi, an SD card slot, and an improved cooling system on a faster processor.

For an average user, however, the performance of the M2 MacBook Air remains good enough that the price to upgrade to the MacBook Pro just isn’t justifiable. With the switch to Apple silicon, even Apple thin-and-light machines have become more capable than ever, able to handle impressive amounts of work for such small machines. I’ve used a MacBook Air as my primary computer since its release for my video and photo editing. While I’m excited to switch to the MacBook Pro, there’s no denying that most people don’t need to make that upgrade.

If both of these machines seem a bit small for your taste, be sure to check out our full comparison, including the 16″ MacBook Pro.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Mac Memory — How to Upgrade RAM

A supercharged Mac is just one RAM upgrade away. We’ll help you prep your device and walk you through the steps to add RAM on a range of Mac products. If you need a MacBook Pro RAM upgrade, an iMac RAM upgrade, or a memory upgrade for another Mac model, we’ve got you covered. Then, get a specialized cleanup tool to keep your computer optimized.

How to upgrade your Mac RAM

The process for upgrading Mac memory (RAM) depends on your Mac version — it’s not possible to upgrade RAM on some models, like a MacBook Air. If you can upgrade RAM on your Mac, it’s usually done by removing the case and replacing the old RAM modules with new ones.

Below, you’ll find detailed steps on how to upgrade RAM for the following Mac devices: MacBook Pro and MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro. Although there are differences between specific Mac models, you can use this guide for most devices.

Upgrade RAM on MacBook Pro and MacBook

Unfortunately, not all MacBooks or MacBook Pros allow for a RAM upgrade — it depends on the model and year of your device. After checking if a MacBook Pro RAM upgrade is possible for the model you have, you’ll need to locate the RAM module by opening your device from the bottom part of the case.

Here’s how to upgrade RAM on a MacBook Pro or MacBook:

Turn off your MacBook Pro or MacBook and let it cool down completely. Disconnect all cords, cables, and accessories.
Flip your computer over so it’s lying face down.
Remove the bottom case by unscrewing it. Not all of these screws may match, so note where each screw belongs. The underside of a MacBook Pro.
Touch a metal surface inside the computer to discharge any static electricity from your body.
Find the RAM module and eject it by using the ejection levers.
Gently Pull out the RAM module — avoid touching the gold connectors.
Repeat for the other RAM module, if available.
Insert your new RAM module(s) for your MacBook Pro or MacBook — again, avoid touching the gold connectors.
Push the new module down until it clicks into place, then insert the second one.
Replace the bottom case and screw it back on.

Can I upgrade RAM on my MacBook Pro or MacBook?

A MacBook and MacBook Pro RAM update is only possible with older models, and all 17” MacBookPro models. Unfortunately, you can’t upgrade RAM on any MacBook Air devices.

Here are the MacBook Pro and MacBook models that you can upgrade memory on.

MacBook: all models from 2008-2011.
MacBook Pro: 13” models from 2009 to 2012; 15” models from 2008 to 2012; all 17” models.

Upgrade RAM on iMac

You can install memory on all iMacs, except newer 21.5” models. Depending on your iMac, the location of your RAM ports may vary, so the first step in an iMac RAM upgrade is determining the model and year of your iMac.

Where is RAM located on my iMac?

The location of RAM ports on iMacs varies according to the model. On 27” iMacs from late 2012, RAM is stored behind a door on the back of the device. On pre-2012 27” iMacs, older 21.5” iMacs, and older 20” and 15” iMacs, RAM is stored along the bottom edge.

RAM upgrade on all 27” iMacs from late-2012 and after

27” iMacs from late 2012 and after store RAM behind the door in the back of the unit. Here’s how to do an iMac RAM upgrade:

Shut down your iMac, let it cool down completely, and disconnect all cords and cables.
Place a soft towel or cloth on your work surface, then carefully lay the computer face down.
Press the button under the memory storage door to open and remove the door. An iMac memory storage door.
On the bottom of the door, check the diagram that displays the memory-cage levers and the correct orientation of the RAM modules.
Push the two levers outwards to unlock the memory cage, then pull them up. You can now remove each module by pulling it up.
Insert a new RAM module. All new RAM modules should be oriented the same way as the RAM modules you just removed. Push the new RAM gently into the slot until it clicks into place.
After swapping out your old DIMMs (dual inline memory modules) for new ones, push the memory levers back down until they click into place.
Replace the memory storage door.
Turn your iMac upright again and reconnect all the wires and cables.
Turn on your iMac. It’s normal for your iMac to stay dark for about 30 seconds — it’s initializing the new memory.

RAM upgrade on all other eligible iMacs

Pre-2012 27” iMacs, eligible 21.5” iMacs, and older 20” and 15” iMacs all store RAM along the bottom edge of the device. Here’s how to upgrade memory on these older iMacs:

Shut down your iMac, let it cool down completely, and disconnect all cords and cables.
Place a soft towel or cloth on your work surface, then carefully lay the computer face down.
Remove the memory access door with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
Depending on your iMac model, you’ll see either a set of pull tabs or ejector clips. Untuck and pull the tabs, or open the clips. This will eject the current RAM module so you can remove it.
Insert your new RAM cartridge and gently push it into the slot until it clicks into place.
If your iMac has pull tabs, tuck them back in above the new RAM module. If it has ejector clips, close them.
Reinstall the memory access door with your Phillips-head screwdriver.
Return your computer to an upright position and reconnect all your cords and cables.
Start up your iMac. Some pre-2017 iMacs will beep if they detect RAM problems. If this happens, make sure your new RAM module is compatible with your iMac and try reinstalling it.

Can I upgrade RAM on my iMac?

You can update RAM on any iMac except the following 21.5” models:

Retina 4K, 2017 2019
2017
Late 2015
Mid-2014
Late 2013
Late 2012

Upgrade RAM on Mac mini

The model and year will determine whether your Mac mini allows for RAM upgrades. Once you check your Mac mini model to see if upgrades are possible, you can proceed to the steps.

Here’s how to upgrade RAM on a Mac mini:

Turn off your Mac mini, let it cool down, and disconnect all cords and cables.
Turn the device upside down and rotate the bottom case counterclockwise to unlock it.
Press down on one side of the cover to tip the other side up, then remove it.
Open the clips on either side of the RAM module to pop it out, then remove the RAM module from the slot. Repeat this process for the module underneath.
Insert new memory modules into the bottom slots, ensuring you align the notches. Press down on the raised edge until it clicks into place.
Repeat for the upper module.
Replace the bottom cover and reconnect all cords and accessories.
Restart your Mac mini.

Can I upgrade RAM on my Mac mini?

A Mac mini RAM upgrade is simplest with models between 2010-2012. Mac minis from 2018 and later are more difficult to upgrade. And you can’t add RAM to Mac minis from 2014.

Upgrade RAM on Mac Pro

The Mac Pro has undergone many redesigns. And although our steps are for newer models, the basic procedure for updating memory on Mac Pro can be used for older designs too — including the iconic “trash can” Mac Pro from 2013. And you can upgrade RAM on all Mac Pro devices.

Here’s how to perform a Mac Pro RAM upgrade:

Shut down your computer and let it cool down completely. Disconnect all cords and cables.
Touch the Mac Pro’s metal casing to discharge any static electricity from your body.
Unlock the case by rotating the latch 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Pull up on the latch to remove the case.
Move the RAM cover switch to the left to unlock it, then remove the RAM module covers.
Push your new RAM module gently into the slot until it clicks into place. Hold it by the edges or corners, and avoid touching any of the gold connectors.
Replace the RAM module covers.
Replace the computer case, then return the latch to the locked position by rotating it 90 degrees clockwise.
Plug in all your cords and cables, then turn on your Mac Pro.

Should I upgrade my RAM?

Upgrading your RAM helps to improve performance and speed up your Mac. Adding RAM memory helps your Mac handle more demanding tasks, and improves its multitasking capabilities. A RAM upgrade also helps your Mac keep up with increasing computing and gaming demands.

Coupled with checking Mac storage (including Other storage on Mac) and deleting excess files, a RAM upgrade will reinvigorate your Mac — possibly adding years to its life.

Of course, there’s always a risk when tinkering with your Mac’s components — like voiding your manufacturer warranty or accidentally compromising sensitive hardware. But, a RAM upgrade is much cheaper than buying a new Mac device. For a DIY Mac memory upgrade, you’ll only need to buy RAM modules.

If your Mac is still compatible with your programs and apps, a RAM update might be all you need to revitalize your device. To further improve performance, you can also consider upgrading your Mac with an SSD drive.

How to check my RAM

Not all RAM modules are compatible with all Macs. For instance, MacBook RAM requirements may be different from other Mac devices. So before making upgrades, check your RAM to determine what kind and how much RAM you need.

Here’s how to check your Mac’s RAM:

Open the Apple menu and click About this Mac.
In the Overview tab, you’ll get a basic rundown of your Mac. Next to Memory you’ll see your current amount of RAM.

The amount of RAM you can add depends on your Mac’s model and year. Use Apple Support to check the memory specifications and max RAM capacity for your MacBook or MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro.

While checking your system preferences, use our Mac security guide to optimize your Mac device for more complete protection against threats.

Can you add RAM to any Mac?

No, you can’t upgrade RAM on all Mac modules. While all Mac Pros can be upgraded, you need to look up your Mac device’s model and year to see if you can add RAM to your MacBook Pro. Here’s how to find that info:

Open the Apple menu and click About this Mac.
In the Overview tab, you’ll get a basic rundown of your Mac specs, including the model and year of your Mac device.

Using the Mac specifications from the overview, you can check the memory specifications for your Mac devices on the Apple Support site.

Here’s a chart to help you know if you can upgrade RAM on your Mac:

Models that allow RAM upgrade

All 13” models from 2009-2012

All 15” models from 2008-2012

What’s The Best MacBook Processor?

When you’re about to get a new Mac, you might see that even within a specific model (say, MacBook Air), there are at least two or three options to choose from, and then the possibility to upgrade your Mac even further during checkout. While most of those features and add-ons make intuitive sense — more RAM, more storage, faster SSDs vs. HDDs — processors often confuse many.

What’s the difference between i5 and i7? Should you choose dual core vs quad core? What is a good processor speed in terms of GHz? All these and other questions are answered in the article below.

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What Are The Different MacBook Pro Processors?

As mentioned above, processors vary not only between Mac models but also within the same model too. over, with new technological breakthroughs happening every year, a MacBook Air processor from 2021 is a completely different beast to the one made in 2016.

Here’s a brief overview of all the variable parts that comprise a processor:

GHz measure the raw processing speed of a single CPU unit
Cores denominate the amount of independent CPU units
Intel i5 vs i7 vs i3 vs i9 show the model of the processor itself
Turbo Boost gives occasional acceleration to the processing speed
CPU cache is essentially your processor’s memory
Hyper-threading allows to handle more independent tasks for the cores you have available

To give you a real-life example, currently you can buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro with 2.4 GHz 8‑core 9th‑generation Intel Core i9 processor and Turbo Boost up to 5.0 GHz. Let’s dive in each of those aspects in more detail and see how they compare to your current MacBook setup.

Which processor is in your Mac right now?

Depending on how old your Mac is, its processor could have a completely different performance compared to what’s available in the Apple Store today. You might be even wondering, “What processor do I have?”

Here’s how to find out your Mac’s processor specs:

Click the Apple logo in the menu bar ➙ About This Mac
Select System Report…
Make sure to have the Hardware tab open

Now you can see that your MacBook could be running on a dual-core 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5, for example. You might also notice that the generation of your processor is not specified. There’s a special trick you need to know to find it:

Open Terminal from your Utilities folder in Applications
Type sysctl machdep.cpu.brand_string
Hit Enter
Note the digit after the dash (e.g5). It denotes your processor’s generation.

After you’ve finally found out the exact specs of your Mac’s CPU, let’s break it down into specific details to be able to conduct a proper processor speed comparison.

What’s GHz meaning in CPU?

In general, hertz (Hz) is a measurement of frequency or, as often defined, cycles (of something) per second. All the contemporary CPUs are so fast that they are measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billions of cycles per second. Naturally, the higher the number the more operations your Mac can complete.

So why not always get the highest number possible? Well, first, it’s the cost: in general, you pay more for a processor with more GHz. Second, putting the max GHz processor in your Mac would be more taxing on your battery and in some cases could even lead to overheating. Third, if you often don’t do tasks where billions of processes per second matter (e.g. video games, compositing, virtual reality) then you don’t get any substantial benefit from having them at all.

How many cores should your Mac have?

Once you’ve understood the GHz meaning in CPUs, you might think of yourself as a master in processor speed comparison. But not so fast. For example, which do you think performs better: a 1.5 GHz dual-core Mac or 1.7 GHz single-core one? You’ll be wrong to go for the highest GHz number here — you also need to consider the number of cores.

Cores are essentially independent processors within your CPU. Since each of them has the same capability in terms of GHz, the number of cores in your Mac is basically a multiplier for your processing power. So, in the example above, instead of having a single 1.7 GHz processor, it’s much better to have two 1.5 GHz ones because they can share the load between them and perform tasks faster as a result.

Today, you’re not likely to find any single-core Macs still on the market. Even the most basic MacBook Air now starts with a 1.1 GHz dual-core CPU. So, for most people, the choice is between dual core vs quad core, even though an iMac Pro can take on up to 18 cores and Mac Pro up to 28.

Which processor model to choose?

The next thing you usually see on any Mac after the number of GHz and cores is the type of the CPU chip itself. Throughout the years, Apple has used M, i3, i5, i7, i9, and Xeon. Each of those models is also constantly being updated, with new releases being faster and more efficient, and flagged as generations.

In today’s Mac lineup, Apple is using Intel chips anywhere from the seventh (really old) to M1 (the latest as of 2020) generation. The breakdown for chip models is currently as follows:

MacBook Air and Mac mini use i3, i5, and i7
MacBook Pro 13-inch uses i5 or i7
MacBook Pro 16-inch uses i7 or i9
iMacs offer a choice of i3, i5, and i9
iMac Pros and Mac Pros use Xeon W

Here, you might wonder what’s the best Intel processor? And it’s hard to say — the high end of the spectrum (e.g. i9) definitely excels at performance but is harder on the battery, whereas the lower end (e.g. i3) would allow you to spend all day typing without charge, but might get stuck on more powerful tasks. That’s why people usually find that Intel i5 vs i7 MacBook Pro is a good middle ground. In that case, i7 comes with a benefit of Hyper-threading, which effectively doubles the core count for short periods of time.

What’s Turbo Boost?

To solve the problem of powerful processing chips burning through your battery life, Intel came up with an ingenious solution. Since most of the time your Mac is busy with mundane tasks — sorting mail, browsing the web — that don’t require lots of GHz, it makes sense to keep the GHz low and create a way for your CPU to spike only when it needs to process large chunks of data. Apple called this feature Turbo Boost.

Turbo Boost helps your Mac cope with large amounts of occasional information, so this indicator should definitely go into your processor speed comparison. If you mostly busy yourself with lightweight tasks but occasionally need to edit a short video, there’s no need to go for the top-shelf Mac model — just make sure that Turbo Boost covers your needs.

Why bother with CPU cache?

Just like cache in your web browser is there to save frequently used data (e.g. remember that you’re logged into a web app), cache in your processor serves to make operations more efficient by storing some bits of data used in repetitive processing.

The amount of CPU cache in your Mac processor is usually just a few megabytes — so low that the mention of it is quite hard to come by. Generally, if you pick one of the latest generation CPUs, it would have enough cache for its needs, so you don’t need to worry about it that much at all.

How important is Hyper-threading?

As mentioned above, one of the main differences between Intel i5 vs i7 MacBook Pro is the inclusion of Hyper-threading in the chip of the latter model. Hyper-threading distinguishes best Intel processors and allows the CPU to perform twice as many computations in relation to the number of cores. So a dual-core laptop can behave like a quad-core one for a brief period of time. You could think of it as an additional Turbo Boost, albeit much more powerful.

Which MacBook processor do you need?

With so much choice when it comes to MacBook Pro or MacBook Air processors, how do you make sure you invest in the right one?

Of course, everyone is in a unique situation, but here are some general recommendations:

Avoid i3 chips if you want your MacBook to serve you for a long time. As these are entry level CPUs, they become outdated much faster than others.
Similarly, don’t splurge on i9s unless you do some really CPU-intensive work (e.g. video editing). They are hard on your battery and could heat up your Mac very quickly.
An i5 vs i7 is the real dilemma here. If you think you can benefit from Hyper-threading, get an i7. Otherwise, stick to i5.

Always monitor your Mac’s performance

While most of the advice in this article is based on general assumptions, nothing can substitute you knowing the exact use patterns when it comes to your Mac. Monitoring your usage and the way your Mac is able to handle it should be your top priority to achieve maximum productivity.

iStat Menus is the most advanced Mac monitoring solution you can find. This handy utility lives in your menu bar and offers unbelievable details on every aspect of your Mac, lots of which are next to impossible to dig up any other way. Easily see the state of your CPU, RAM, GPU, disks, network, sensors, and more at a glance.

How to quickly speed up your Mac?

At some point, you’ll feel that your Mac has become slow. And you’ll probably be right. As you use your Mac more and more, you tend to accumulate lots of old files, your cache files grow, user logs take more time to process, etc. What’s important to remember here is that this problem is not with your physical processor slowing down but rather with what’s inside of your macOS, which means it can be cleaned.

CleanMyMac X is the world’s leading optimization software that could effortlessly delete a good dozens of gigabytes of useless data from your hard drive while considerably speeding up your Mac in the process. You can easily free up RAM, flush DNS cache, reindex Spotlight, quit hung apps, and much more, all at the click of a button.

Open CleanMyMac X and go to the Maintenance tab under Speed
Select as many scripts as you wish
Click Run

In the end, observing the facts beats theory every time. So if you’ve been thinking of an upgrade but are still not sure which MacBook processor to pick, monitor your usage with iStat Menus to get more clarity. Maybe you’ll find that all you need to do to have a brand new Mac is just optimize the old one using CleanMyMac X.

Best of all, iStat Menus and CleanMyMac X are both available to you at no cost for seven days through a trial of Setapp, a platform with more than 170 best-in-class Mac apps, from photo retouching (CameraBag Pro) to unlimited clipboard (Paste). Try free for a week and see how much easier your Mac life can be.

Sources:

https://markellisreviews.com/8-core-or-10-core-m1-pro-MacBook-pro-14/amp/
https://www.macbookproslow.com/make-MacBook-pro-faster/
https://9to5mac.com/2023/02/04/MacBook-air-or-14-MacBook-pro/
https://www.avast.com/c-how-to-upgrade-ram-memory-mac
https://setapp.com/how-to/what-is-the-best-MacBook-processor