Can I run Lion on my MacBook

3301 Views 19 Replies 9 Participants Last post by broad, Nov 24, 2011

lorewren

Discussion Starter · Nov 20, 2011

This is the Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07

Or should I just sell it and invest in a new Mac Air - christmas list requested today from wifey.
Cheers E.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

monokitty

· #2 · Nov 20, 2011

It can run Lion but you'll want to upgrade the RAM to 2GB minimum.

pm-r

· #3 · Nov 20, 2011

Mac OS X Lion 10.7.x won't even install (at least normally) on that MB unless the installer app sees that there's at least 2GB RAM memory installed. See: Apple - OS X Lion - Technical specifications

Personally with that MB and for the OP's OS X satisfaction, unless there's some special feature they want with Lion, I'd suggest they just stay with Snow Leopard, and even with it, I'd suggest installing 4GB Ram memory (not Apple supported) even if the MB won't recognize all of it, but checkout the RAM/memory comments for that MB at:
MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (White/06) Specs (Late 2006, MA700LL/A, MacBook2,1, A1181, 2121) @ EveryMac.com
and CananaRAM's reasons and his comments at:
Canada RAM sells memory in Canada - Apple MacBook Intel CoreDuo and Core2Duo SantaRosa and Penryn

"Two sockets, can take 1 x 1 Gb + 1 x 2 Gb for 3 Gb total. With 2 x 2 Gb, 3.0 Gb is usable by the OS but you get Dual Channel memory access for a 6% - 8% speed improvement"

And the price sure won't hurt one's bank account and a much more satisfying Mac OS X user experience in the end.

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Tech Elementz

· #4 · Nov 20, 2011

lorewren said:
Or should I just sell it and invest in a new Mac Air - christmas list requested today from wifey.
Cheers E.

Invest in a new Macbook Air.

Abby

· #5 · Nov 21, 2011

lorewren said:
This is the Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07

Or should I just sell it and invest in a new Mac Air - christmas list requested today from wifey.
Cheers E.

Update to 2GB of memory is OK.
you could read this "Mac OS X Lion Minimum System Requirements"

Mopar

· #6 · Nov 23, 2011

Just add more ram and you should be good to go. Your specs look like mine except I have 4 gigs of ram.

broad

· #7 · Nov 23, 2011

go to 3GB RAM (the max) or lion will pretty much suck for you

pm-r

· #8 · Nov 23, 2011 (Edited)

broad said:
go to 3GB RAM (the max) or lion will pretty much suck for you

Actually that MB can have 4GB RAM installed with some added performance improvements.

See my #3 post and use the CanadaRAM link for more info as to why and how.

Edit: fix spelling mistake as I wouldn't want to be responsible for broad dying with laughter, but maybe that's not a bad idea!!
Don't know why it wan't flagged as misspelt and it sure seemed to be spelt correctly when posted.

monokitty

· #9 · Nov 23, 2011

pm-r said:
Actually that MB can have 4GB RAM installed with some added performance improvements.

It supports ~3.3GB only.

pm-r

· #10 · Nov 23, 2011

Lars said:
It supports ~3.3GB only.

Yup, that's what the Mac X OS does, but that's why I mentioned CanadaRAM's (and similar to some other memory dealer's comments) to install 2 x 2GB chips:
With 2 x 2 Gb, 3.0 Gb is usable by the OS but you get Dual Channel memory access for a 6% - 8% speed improvement

Canada RAM sells memory in Canada - Apple MacBook Intel CoreDuo and Core2Duo SantaRosa and Penryn

broad

· #11 · Nov 23, 2011

pm-r said:
Actually that MB can have 4GB RAM installed with some added performance improvements.

See my #3 post and use the CabandRAM link for more info as to why and how.

:lmao::lmao:

pm-r

· #12 · Nov 23, 2011

Check again and maybe you won't die laughing, which actually may be a good thing.

broad

· #13 · Nov 23, 2011

can you detail for me how the extra 6% memory speed increase will make for a "much more satisfying user experience in the end"?

monokitty

· #14 · Nov 23, 2011

broad said:
can you detail for me how the extra 6% memory speed increase will make for a "much more satisfying user experience in the end"?

+1; if it's cheaper to buy 3GB over a 4GB kit, go with 3GB. Most people will not notice the 6% speed difference in every day computing.

eMacMan

· #15 · Nov 23, 2011

Your system supports 3.3 GB RAM. Numerous previous posts and threads indicate 3GB as being the absolute effective minimum for Leo. So the question becomes is there some compelling reason to go with Lion? If not stopping at Snow Leopard would probably be a better choice.

Otherwise maybe start looking at a slightly newer Mac. Those who know me will realize how uncharacteristic that last statement is.

Andrew Pratt

· #16 · Nov 23, 2011

Regardless of Lion upgrading your ram will significantly improve both Snow Leopard and Lion so do that ASAP.

pm-r

· #17 · Nov 23, 2011

eMacMan said:
Your system supports 3.3 GB RAM. Numerous previous posts and threads indicate 3GB as being the absolute effective minimum for Leo. So the question becomes is there some compelling reason to go with Lion? If not stopping at Snow Leopard would probably be a better choice.

Otherwise maybe start looking at a slightly newer Mac. Those who know me will realize how uncharacteristic that last statement is.

I would sure agree with your comments and also have the same philosophy regarding older Macs.

Regardless, even for SL, that MB needs to have more RAM installed, and Lion is even more resource intensive both on CPU and video CPU and many of Lion's features won't even work with that model and the hardware won't support some other requirements. Not even Gestures, that requires a Multi-Touch trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse to work.

Maybe the OP might want to do a Google on 'running Lion on a 2.0GHz MacBook'.

As for memory and just using CanadaRAM's pricing, as that MB came with 2 x 512MB chips, the cheapest and minimum would be:
2GB for a total of 2.5GB RAM = $33.00
next up,
3GB for a 1GB + 2GB modules = $51.00
or then as an alternative and for just $15.00 more
2GB + 2GB modules = $66.00

As for the quote from CanadaRAM "...get Dual Channel memory access for a 6% - 8% speed improvement", one can check with them or Google for the technical reasons.

Personally from my and other users I know and even using slightly faster and more recent MB's and some MBPros, SL was the best OS to use with those models and nearly all who tried Lion went back to Snow Leopard.

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broad

· #18 · Nov 23, 2011

As for the quote from CanadaRAM "...get Dual Channel memory access for a 6% - 8% speed improvement", one can check with them or Google for the technical reasons.

installing 4GB costs twice as much as adding a 2GB stick and you're wasting most of a GB but its a good idea to do that to get a 6% speed increase. surely thats sound advice!

:|

i love how you stubbornly insist on repeatedly trying to make your dubious point, then when asked to explain yourself/justify your point of view you say "go google it"...

Andrew Pratt

· #19 · Nov 24, 2011

That MacBook likely has two 512 sticks so it isn't just as simply as adding one 2GB stick to get to 3GB total.
I'd likely install dual 2GB's but that's just me...being me

I'd recommend most people just get the 3GB kit and enjoy the speed bump.

broad

· #20 · Nov 24, 2011

just going by the options described above adding 2GBx1 for a total of 2.5GB vs adding 1GB+2GB for 3 or 2x2GB for 4 and wasting money on unusable RAM for that elusive 6% "speed increase"

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