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Mid 2010 Model A1278 / 2.4 or 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Converting to Linux Machine

Good Folks!

I have a old MBP that I am trying to re-purpose as an experimental programming linux machine. I plan on doing a lot of the standard upgrades I have seen on these forums (upgrading logic board to 2.66ghz model, ssd’s). My question is concerning RAM. A lot of what I have seen says that I should be able to run 16gb of RAM with the caveat that it would require some updating and different OS . Would this still apply if I was going to be running Ubuntu or some similar linux based platform? I am curious because as of right now this is just a nice aluminum paperweight. Any thoughts or insights would be helpful here.

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Directly from EveryMac: “OWC, if running OS X 10.7.5 or higher, updated with the latest EFI, and equipped with proper specification memory modules, this model can support up to 16 GB of RAM.”

So yes! You first need to update your systems firmware (EFI) which the OS installer will do. Make sure you use 10.7.5

As far as your upgrade plans the performance difference between the 2.4GHz Vs the 2.66GHzCPU’s is not that much so I would not waste my limited funds on upgrading the logic board.

The next issue is the SSD you get will need to be a SATA II (3.0 Gb/s) drive as this system can’t support a SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) drive. Now don’t jump on my neck here. I’m talking about the cheaper fixed speed drives. Review the drives spec sheet for the SSD you are looking at. As an example the Samsung 860 EVO SSD is an auto sense drive which will dial in to the correct I/O speed the system needs. Note the Interface line: SATA 6 Gbps Interface, compatible with SATA 3 Gbps & 1.5 Gbps interfaces Make sure the drive you get lists SATA II (3.0 Gb/s) if it doesn’t look for another!

Update (08/22/2020)

Here’s the performance differences:

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Excellent info! I hadn't even considered that with the SSD. If funds were not much of a consideration you still don't think that the upgraded logic board is THAT much of an upgrade? I had considered upgrading to maybe a 2012 board but a lot of what I was reading had to do with compatibility issues with some of the other components and just isn't feasible. Any thoughts here?

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You are limited to what the case and display can support. In this case there is only two versions MacBookPro7,1 I posted a performance breakdown above as you can see its not really worth it.

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