MD101 Mid 2012 Prima donna Macbook Pro Lawas

MD101, for you Apple product users, or those who are just using/wanting to buy a resale MacBook Pro, I'm sure many of you will just get the MD101 recommendation!

Who here wants to have a macbook but is tight on budget? Especially if you want to have a MacBook Pro, because the MacBook Air is practically not good for "hard work".

MD101 is the cheapest MacBook Pro solution for you, with upgradeable specifications. Has default specifications, 13 inch screen, Intel i5 2.5GHz processor/4GB RAM (2x2GB)/500GB HDD/IntelHD Graphics 4000.

Only by spending 5-6 million, you can bring home a second-hand MD101. Then what should you do, if you have bought MD101?

Also read: 4 Recommended Cheapest i7 Gen 11 Laptops for March 2021

Here are 5 things you should upgrade/pay attention to when you buy/use the MD101 for the first time!

• Check the physical condition and all functions of the macbook

Make sure the physical condition of the macbook you are going to buy is the same as advertised by the seller.

Usually with smooth conditions, this macbook will be priced at a rather high price, so make sure you are good at bargaining, Vicigers!

When finished checking the physical condition, check all the functions of the macbook, such as wifi, bluetooth, USB port, MagSafe port, etc. Make sure everything is working properly, or as advertised by the seller.

• Upgrade HDD to SSD

If you get a unit that still uses the default HDD, that would be even better and we highly recommend replacing the HDD with a SATA SSD.

You can reinstall macOS or clone the HDD to the SSD. According to Apple's official page, the MD101 supports HDD up to 1TB and SSD up to 512GB capacity.

Some time ago we had a chance to upgrade the 1TB SSD, it overheated and then got an error. We also haven't found any video tutorials or articles that mention that the MD101 can use a 1TB SSD.

However, because last time we tried and error, so we do not recommend you to change the 1TB SSD to MD101.

• Make DVD ROM a second storage place

Laptop default HDD confused what to do? Actually, we don't recommend you to put the HDD in the DVD ROM slot using a caddy.

It would be better if you put the HDD that came with the old MacBook in the HDD/SSD SATA enclosure.

You can buy an Orico brand enclosure with a large selection of models that are suitable for you. Of course, with pocket-friendly prices, no more than 100 thousand rupiah.

If you want to add a second storage in the DVD ROM slot, we strongly recommend that you also put a SATA SSD there.

Because originally the slot was a DVD ROM slot, to guard against long-term HDD damage due to the shut down/sleep process which is not as smooth as the process in the default Macbook storage slot. So you better also put the SATA SSD in the caddy instead of the HDD.

• Maximum RAM upgrade

When buying, check how much total RAM is in your macbook. The MD101 has 2 DDR3 RAM slots that support PC12800 1600MHz.

So make sure you buy SODIMM RAM with these specifications. According to Apple's official page, the MD101 is only able to support up to 8GB of RAM (2x4GB). However, many have tried that this macbook can up to 16GB of RAM (2x8GB)

We also guarantee that this laptop can accommodate 16GB of RAM (2x8GB). Because some time ago we had tried it ourselves and voila it worked.

For the RAM brand that we recommend, if possible, Corsair, which is specifically for macbooks. But if you want a choice that fits in your pocket, you can buy the V-GeN brand with the Platinum variant.

The average RAM that is sold officially is supported by a lifetime warranty, which means whenever your RAM is damaged, you can immediately replace it with a new one (t&c applies).

• Clean the fan and replace the thermal paste

Because your macbook is second-hand, what you have to really pay attention to is the cleanliness of the macbook.

You can open the back cover of your MacBook with the help of a star screwdriver, you can borrow a friend's or buy one. It's very easy to open, you just need to remove all the screws.

Then you can remove the fan by unscrewing the screw attached, then clean it with a clean brush, and also clean the heatsink.

After that replace the thermal paste, by removing the logicboard from the macbook body. If you are not used to doing it, you can ask a friend or service worker to do it.

Use good thermal paste such as deep cool, arctic, cooler master, etc. Don't use fake brand thermal paste to keep your processor at a good temperature.

• Check battery condition

Because this is an old MacBook, all you have to do is ask the previous owner how the battery is.

If the owner says that the battery can still work properly, all you have to do is check the battery cycle on the information system.

At least the battery can still be charged and can be used even if it doesn't last long.

Besides checking the battery, don't forget to check the condition of the MagSafe power adapter that you received, unless the seller has informed you that the macbook is sold without MagSafe, or that MagSafe is in poor condition.

So, those are some of our tips and tricks for those of you who are looking for a cheap MacBook with the best performance. Hopefully you can propose to MD101 at the cheapest price, happy hunting!

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