Upgrading Your MacBook Pro Late 2012 to an SSD: A Worthwhile Investment

The new M series processors are a harbinger that the time for upgrading our hardware is approaching sooner than later. As someone who has been using their late 2012 MacBook Pro (MBP) for several years, I have witnessed the evolution of technology and have learned to appreciate the value of my machine.

While new MBPs may be lighter and boast longer battery life, they do not necessarily offer a significant performance boost over this machine in my day-to-day use. Intel's advancements in processor design since 2012 have been minimal, making it clear that there is no pressing need to upgrade to a newer model just yet.

My trusty MacBook Pro has never failed me, with its logic board and display remaining faultless throughout the years. I've upgraded my machine to Big Sur using a reliable patching program and installed the latest Broadcom WiFi/BT card, courtesy of an enterprising young man. Currently running macOS 11.2, I have encountered no issues outside of those plaguing even the newest MBPs.

To keep my machine in top shape, I've replaced both fans and recently swapped out the right side speakers due to a rattling woofer section. The keyboard has been replaced only once since its purchase, and the 1TB hard drive remains as an internal Time Machine backup for Big Sur.

In 2019, I upgraded to a 1TB SSD and a 1TB HDD, migrating to APFS when Catalina was released. The HDD now serves as an in-machine daily clone backup drive using SuperDuper. Later, I replaced the smaller SSD with a larger one and created a Fusion Drive using Apple's command-line tools, which I executed without encountering any issues.

I also swapped out the superdrive for an SSD initially holding only the OS. Throughout its life, the HDD has been upgraded several times, starting with 256GB. My MacBook Pro boasts a full complement of ports, eliminating the need for dongles.

To maximize its performance potential, I've added up to 16GB of RAM over time, making it a worthy investment in my opinion. What's more, this machine was one of the last totally user-repairable notebooks Apple designed, showcasing solid engineering and reliability.

In conclusion, upgrading your MacBook Pro late 2012 to an SSD is a worthwhile investment, offering improved performance, reliability, and peace of mind. With its robust design, user-friendly repairability, and impressive specs, this machine has proven itself as a reliable companion for years to come.

Macbook pro late 2012 ssd upgrade