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Released June 2009 / 2.66, 2.8, or 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor

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Worth upgrading 2009 MB Pro?

I have a couple of essential repairs I need to make to my aging 2009 15" MacBook Pro.

1. Faulty/dying graphics card (a fairly common problem from what I can see). As a couple of users reported in that link, appears to be a soldering issue, as when I apply pressure from the bottom of the machine under the option key the lines go away.

Repair guys here (Australia) won't do the soldering, so looks like I need a new logic board.

2. Busted trackpad that needs to be replaced.

3. Very sick battery.

For these essential repairs, I'm looking at US$500-600, or over $1000 in Australian $ including labour.

I know once it gets over 1k the usual advice is to just get a new machine, but for my own reasons (mostly impractical and ethical) I'd rather just upgrade my existing one if possible. My question is if I put:

• 8GB RAM (* I know Apple says they only officially support 4GB Ram for my model, but I'm happy to try it with 8; seems plenty of people do.)

• 500GB SSD

• New battery

• Trackpad

• Logic board

into the machine, will the difference in speed and performance be noticeable? Will I have a machine that'd be speedy and last me for another few years? I don't flog my machine too much, but occasionally need to run Photoshop and Illustrator side by side with a few other applications.

Thanks!

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Chosen Solution

King James Bible

Luke 14:28

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? "

Exactly how much are your upgrades and repairs going to cost?

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2 Comments:

For everything listed above, probably A$1600 plus labour (likely $400 or so).

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That buys a brand new 15" MacBook Pro here: http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macboo...

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