MacUpgrades.co.uk offers a wide range of fixed price upgrades and repairs for your Apple computers. You can drop in to our offices in Sawston, Cambridge or if you are not local you can either have us collect or send in your computer yourself. Sameday fitting is available for most items, contact us for details. We also offer on site installation services and training on your premises.
Macupgrades offers a wide range of on-site services for your Apple equipment. We offer all of our upgrade services, and most of our repair services too.
All our engineers have at least 15 years of experience with Apple hardware and software
Enter your serial number into the box below for specific upgrades for your machine. Each upgrade has been tested in the machine we list it for. Compatability is 100% guaranteed or your money back.
How to find your serial number in software
You can find your Mac's serial number in Apple System Profiler: Select the Apple Menu > About This Mac, then (depending on the version of OSX you are running) click the System Report button or the More Info button. This brings up System Profiler, and on the Hardware Overview that is displayed by default you should see your serial number, and be able to copy/paste it. The procedure does vary slightly between different versions of OSX.
If you can't boot your Mac
If your Mac is not working, the serial number is printed on the computer casing but the location varies. Here are the main locations of serial numbers on Apple computers.
Unibody MacBook Pro - Laser etched onto the base.
MacBook, Early MacBook Pro, PowerBook G4 - Inside the main battery bay. Remove battery to locate.
iBook (White) - Under the keyboard. To lift keyboard, pull back on the release tabs between the F-keys.
Intel iMac, iMac G5 - Underside of the foot/stand.
iMac G4, iMac G3 - Underside of the iMac.
Mac mini - On the underside of the Mac mini.
Mac Pro 2006-2012 - On rear of machine near graphics card ports.
PowerMac G5 - On lower chassis under side panel. To remove side panel, lift lever on rear of Mac.
PowerMac G3, PowerMac G4 - Label on the back of the Mac.
Your Mac's Model Identifier can be found in System Profiler. You can use the drop-down menus above to be taken to a page that displays upgrades specifically for your exact model.
COVID Update (Jan 2021): Online orders and mail-in repairs/upgrades are happening as normal. Collection and drop-off are operating by appointment - please call us on 01223 833 412 to book a slot.
MacBook (White or Black) Upgrades
This page covers all the upgrades we sell for the white and black MacBook
laptops, made between 2006 and 2010. Choose the type of upgrade you
are looking for from the tabs below. (Not
the right Mac? See here for
more MacBooks and MacBook Pros, or here for
all Macs.)
If you want specific upgrades for your exact model, choose it from the Model ID links below, or enter your serial number here:
This page deals with the White and the Black MacBooks. The Aluminium MacBooks released October 2008 are covered here.
The MacBook was introduced in May 2006, and completed the
transition of Apple's laptop lineup from PowerPC to Intel CPUs,
following the MacBook
Pro 17" in April and the MacBook
Pro 15.4" in January. The last revision was made in
May 2010.
The MacBook succeeded the iBook G4 as Apple's consumer focused laptop. Unlike the iBook however the MacBook has optical audio in/out, gigabit ethernet and is capable of true dual monitor support (spanning as opposed to mirroring), leaving the main differentiations between the consumer and professional models as screen size, expansion slots (none on the MacBook), graphics subsystem (the MacBook uses Intel integrated graphics) and FireWire 800 (not present on the first revision of the 15" MacBook Pro).
Apple specs for the original MacBook can be found here.
In November 2006 Apple upgraded the MacBook to use the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Apple specs here. A speed bump up to 2.16GHz on the high end models was introduced in May 2007. Apple specs here.
In November 2007 the MacBook moved to the Santa Rosa chipset.
These MacBooks have a marginal CPU speedbump, use an improved
Intel integrated graphics card and an increase of the front
side bus from 667MHz to 800MHz. Importantly these MacBooks
can take a maximum of 6GB RAM rather than the 2GB on all previous
models. Apple specs here.
In February 2008 the MacBook moved to the Penryn processor running at 2.1GHz or 2.4GHz, with the default RAM increased to 2GB and default hard drives increased on the black model. Compatibility for upgrades was unchanged. Apple specs here.
In October 2008 Apple released the MacBook Aluminium, while continuing to sell the then current generation of the white MacBook along side it. White MacBooks purchased after this date are dealt with on this page, for the Aluminium MacBooks please go here.
In January 2009 the White MacBook was updated, and continued to be sold
alongside the Aluminium model. The major change in this revision
was the replacement of the integrated Intel graphics chipset
with an NVidia GeForce 9400M and a change in the front side bus to 1066MHz.
Apple specs here.
An update in May 2009 increased the memory bus to 800MHz (from 667MHz), this model changes the RAM type used from DDR2 PC5300 to DDR2 PC6400. Apple specs here.
In October 2009 the range was updated with the white Unibody MacBook.
This model has a redesigned case and the
memory bus upgraded to 1066Mhz taking up to 8GB of DDR3 PC8500
memory. The battery was changed to a non-removable type and
the FireWire port was dropped. Apple specs here.
In May 2010 a minor update increased the processor speed and upgraded
the graphics card to the NVidia 320M. Upgrade compatibility
remained unchanged in its stock configuration, however models
running 10.7.5 or later with the latest EFI update can run
16GB in 2 x 8GB modules. Apple specs here.
The MacBook name was reused for the MacBook Retina ranges in Early 2015 and Early 2016, but these machines are a single totally unupgradeable board, and are closer to being an iPad running OSX than a Mac.
How to Identify these Machines
The white MacBook looks fairly similar to the previous iBook G4, although it has a wide aspect ratio glossy 13.3" screen, as opposed to standard ratio 12" and 14" matt screens available for the iBook. The black MacBook is very distinctive.
System Profile can be used to identify the CPU type, which will be Intel Core Duo or Core 2 Duo in the MacBook and PowerPC G4 for the previous iBook. The other Intel Core Duo Apple laptops are the MacBook Pro 15.4", the MacBook Pro 17", and the MacBook Aluminium, all of which have a silvered finish.
Memory Upgrades
Please note this RAM is compatible with White and Black MacBooks only. For Aluminium MacBooks please go here.
The white and black MacBooks made up until May 2009 take DDR2-PC5300
SODIMM memory modules, the model released then uses DDR2-PC6400
SODIMM modules, and that released in October 2009 takes DDR3-PC8500
SODIMM modules. Like all the Intel based Macs with integrated graphics,
RAM modules ideally should be installed in matched pairs - this
gives the memory bandwidth necessary to a graphics system that
uses normal system memory.
To identify your exact machine, open System Profiler (Apple menu
> About This Mac, then click the More Info button). On the hardware
overview that comes up, you will find the "bus speed" of your MacBook,
this is the front-side bus. On the left-hand list of options in
System Profiler, select Memory. This will give you a break-down
of the memory installed, in the Speed column you will see the
memory bus speed.
MacBooks made up until November 2007 can take a maximum of 2GB in 2 x 1GB PC5300 modules. For identification, these MacBooks have a front-side bus speed of 667MHz and a memory speed of 667MHz.
MacBooks made after then but before May 2009 can take a maximum of 6GB
in 1 x 4GB and 1 x 2GB PC5300 modules. For identification, these
MacBooks have a front-side bus speed of 800MHz or 1066MHz and a memory
speed of 667MHz.
MacBooks made after May 2009 but before October 2009 can take a maximum
of 6GB in 1 x 4GB and 1 x 2GB PC6400 modules. For identification,
these MacBooks have a front-side bus speed of 1066MHz and a memory
speed of 800MHz.
MacBooks made after October 2009 can take a maximum of 8GB in
2 x 4GB PC8500 modules. For identification, these MacBooks have a
front-side bus speed of 1066MHz and a memory bus speed of 1066MHz. This
model comes in the new unibody case and the FireWire port present on all
previous models has been dropped.
The mid-2010 revision is the same as the previous revision in its stock
configuration, however models
running 10.7.5 or later with the latest EFI update can run
16GB in 2 x 8GB modules
To tell the difference the best way is to use System Profiler. Front-side bus speed is listed in the Hardware Overview as "Bus Speed", and memory speed can be seen in the Memory section, which gives you the speed of any modules installed.
DDR3 1066MHz PC8500 for post-October 2009 "Unibody" Revisions
Suitable for the Unibody White MacBooks released in October 2009, and the model released in mid 2010.
2
Suitable for the Unibody White MacBooks released in October 2009, which have a 1066MHz bus speed, and a 1066MHz memory speed.
3
Compatible with mid-2010 models (Model ID: MacBook7,1), but only those running 10.7.5 or later with the latest EFI update. See here for details.
4
Suitable for MacBooks released after November 2007 and before May 2009. These MacBooks have a bus speed of 800MHz or 1066MHz, and the installed memory has a speed of 667MHz. They can use up to 6GB in 1 x 4GB + 1 x 2GB.
Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.
Difficulty 3 / 5 - Reasonably easy.
Turn off the machine and remove the power cable.
For the pre-Unibody (pre-October 2009) MacBooks, the RAM is accessed via
the battery cover on the bottom of the machine, which is secured
by a latch turned by a coin. Open this and remove the battery.
This reveals an 'L' shaped bracket secured by 3 captive screws.
Loosen these to reveal the RAM.
Full illustrated instructions can be found on Apple's website here.
For the Unibody MacBooks it is a bit more complex. You first need to remove
the bottom case by undoing the 8 screws which secure it, then
lifting off the case from the hinged side (the screws along
the front are different from those along the back, so keep
the screws separate).
Then locate a memory socket and push the levers on the side of the memory
module outwards to release the old module, and remove it. Take
the new module, align the notch along its base with the notch
of the socket, tilt the card and push it into the socket. Gently
but firmly push the module down into the socket until you
here it click into place. Repeat the procedure for the other
memory socket.
Full illustrated instructions can be found in the user manual for this
MacBook, available here.
Suitable for MacBooks from the Early 2009 revision onwards.
2
Compatible with the mid-2010 white Unibody models only - not compatible with any model where the battery is removed with a coin lock on the bottom of the machine.
3
Suitable for MacBooks released before the Early 2009 revision.
Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.
Internal Hard Drive & SSD Upgrades
The MacBook uses a 2.5" SATA hard drive. All of the following drives are compatible with the MacBook.
If you don't want to fit a new hard drive yourself, you can take advantage of the MacUpgrades Installation Service. Add the installation service from the list below to your cart along with your chosen hard drive. We can also clone your existing hard drive onto the new one, simply add the Clone Original Hard Drive service below to your cart.
Once you have booked the service, send your machine to us, we will carry out the work and return it to you. Alternatively, we do offer a Collection Service with our courier, please see here for details.
Suitable for MacBooks from the Early 2009 revision onwards.
2
Suitable for MacBooks released before the Early 2009 revision.
Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.
Difficulty 3/5 Reasonably Easy
The hard drive in a MacBook is a user serviceable part, full instructions
for doing so can be found in the user manual: here for
the pre-Unibody (pre-October 2009) MacBooks and here for
the Unibody models.
For pre-Unibody models only - battery is removed by turning a coin-lock on the bottom of the machine. For both white and black models.
Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.
Expansion Card Upgrades
The MacBook does not have any expansion slots, therefore the only
expansion card it can take is an Airport Extreme card - which is
fitted by default on all models.
There are none available.
Keyboards & Mice
The MacBook can use external keyboards and mice through USB or Bluetooth.
Suitable for the Unibody White MacBooks released in October 2009, which have a 1066MHz bus speed, and a 1066MHz memory speed.
Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.
Cables & Tools
Listed below are power cables, tools and related products
we supply for this Mac.
For models with a Mini DisplayPort video output port.
4
For models with a Mini-DVI video output port.
5
For the Retina MacBooks (2015 and later) with USB-C ports.
External Drives & Enclosures
The MacBook can use a wide range of external hard drives through both FireWire 400 and USB 2.0. See below for a list of compatible drives and enclosures.
This can be connected to this Mac to access a 3.5in SATA drive. But this Mac does not use a 3.5in SATA drive internally.
4
For MacBook Air Mid 2013 - Early 2015 revisions.
Complete Machines - Refurbished
Any complete machines of this type or similar that we have for sale are listed here. Please note that these are refurbished models with a 3 month warranty, and that delivery is likely to take 3 - 5 working days. These can be purchased online with the standard website courier delivery charge for the mainland UK only. Please contact us for a quote on shipping to other areas.
There are none available.
Repair Services for this Mac
Here are the various repair services we offer for this Mac. You can have us take the machine in for evaluation, or book a fixed-price repair if you already know what the fault is and the service is listed below (for services without parts, please see the relevant tab on this page for compatible parts that we sell). If you know what the fault is, but we don't have a fixed-price repair listed below, please contact
us for a quote.