Can you upgrade your Mac's hardware? Here's how to find out
Apple
If you've got an old Mac, you can give it a new lease on life by upgrading some of its aging hardware. I recently upgraded the battery in an old MacBook Pro, which restored its running life back to how it was when it was new. But finding out what kind of upgrade you can carry out, and then getting hold of those parts can be quite challenging.
Here's some information to help you make your Mac last longer. Two websites have become my go-to for Mac upgrade information.
The first is iFixit. The Mac parts store is well stocked and easy to navigate.
iFixit also has excellent Mac repair guides that will help you successfully dismantle and upgrade your Mac (without causing mayhem or damage). I suggest familiarizing yourself with whatever repair or upgrade you are planning to do before buying parts. Not only will this let you know if you are comfortable doing the job, but it will also highlight any specific tools you need.
There's nothing worse than starting a job and having to abandon it because you don't have all the tools or parts you need.
Build your own IT pro toolbox - Holiday 2019 edition
See als
Another excellent website is OWC's My Upgrades page. Here you can select your Mac, specify the model, and then see -- and explore -- what upgrades are possible. This not only shows you internal upgrades but also peripherals such as docks and eGPU adapters you can add to augment your old Mac.
Between these two websites, you have all the information you need to know what upgrades are possible, what parts you need, and how to carry out the upgrade safely.
Have you ever upgraded a Mac? If so, what upgrades did you do?