Apple Macbook 13" (Aluminium Late 2008) MacBook5,1 Installation Guides and Specifications
Model ID: MacBook5,1 How to find your Mac's Model ID
Upgrading the Apple 13" MacBook (Aluminum, Late 2008) is very easy. You can add some RAM, replace a faulty Hard Drive or just get a new SSD with a higher capacity and speed. You can add a second Hard Drive by removing the optical drive, or you can replace a dead battery. You'll need is some simple tools, and the correct parts. We then urge you to follow the videos or the Apple manual provided on the links below.
Please see our Apple RAM Memory for Macbook Pro page to locate your Apple compatible RAM Memory upgrade for your Mac, and we'll ship it fast from our warehouse in Victoria.
OWC Memory Install Video
OWC Skill Level: "Easy" | Duration: 4:36 |
Recommended Tools for the RAM upgrade:
- #00 Precision Philips Screwdriver - Economy
- Spudger - Apple Pry Tool Non-Marking - Nylon (Black Stick) - 922-5065
Hard Drive Installation Video
OWC's step-by-step video of how to install a hard drive in the Apple MacBook 13" (Late 2008 "Unibody").
OWC Skill Level: "Easy" | Duration: 4:03 |
- The 2.5-inch drive install instructions shown in this video are the same for a hard drive or SSD.
- You can remove the optical drive and add a second internal drive to this Mac laptop with OWC's Data Doubler
Recommended Tools for the Hard Drive upgrade:
- Macfixit 5-Piece Mini Toolkit
- Spudger - Apple Pry Tool Non-Marking - Nylon (Black Stick) - 922-5065
- External Hard Drive Enclosure - Convert your existing drive into an external one
- OWC Data Doubler
You will also find some of these tools plus more in the complete toolkit from Newertech under the following link: Newer Technology 14 Piece Tool Set
OWC Data Doubler Install Video
OWC's step-by-step video of how to install the OWC Data Doubler in the Apple MacBook 13" (Late 2008 "Unibody").
OWC Skill Level: "Involved" | Duration: 7:01 |
Battery Installation Instructions
Macfixit Australia sell high quality battery replacement for your Macbook and you will find them under this link.
MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Battery Replacement Guide from iFixit.
Apple User Guide for the Apple 13" MacBook Unibody Aluminium (Late 2008):
Apple Support Page user guide (PDF) - See memory installation instructions on page 42
Here is some detailed specifications as well as direct link to available upgrades:
| Apple 13" MacBook (Aluminum, Late 2008) | |
| OVERVIEW | |
| Introduced | October 2008 |
| Discontinued | June 2009 |
| Model Identifier | MacBook5,1 |
| Model Number | A1278 |
| EMC | 2254 |
| Order Number | MB466LL/A (2.0 GHz), MB467LL/A (2.4 GHz) |
| PROCESSOR | |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo (P7350, P8600) ("Penryn") |
| Processor Speed | 2.0 or 2.4 GHz |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Number of Cores | 2 |
| Cache | 3 MB on chip shared L2 cache |
| System Bus | 1066 MHz |
| STORAGE AND MEDIA | |
| Standard Storage | 160, 250, or 320 GB (5400-rpm SATA) or 128 or 256 GB (SSD) |
| Link to upgrade tool & kits | Tools for HDD and RAM installation |
| Link to internal HDD | Upgrade to a new 2.5” HDD |
| Link to internal SSD | Upgrade to a new 2.5” SSD |
| Media | 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) |
| Link to external optical drive | Get an external burner here |
| KEYBOARD AND TRACKPAD | |
| Trackpad | Multi-Touch trackpad |
| Keyboard | Full size (78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys incl. 12 function, 4 arrow). Illuminated keyboard on 2.4 GHz |
| RAM | |
| Built-in Memory | |
| Maximum Memory | 8.0 GB (Actual) 4.0 GB (Apple) |
| Memory Slots | 2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM |
| Interleaving Support | Yes |
| Link to RAM upgrade | Upgrade your RAM here |
| DISPLAY | |
| Built-in Display | 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen |
| Resolutions | 1280 by 800 |
| GRAPHICS | |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce 9400M |
| Graphics Memory | 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory (Minimum graphics memory usage is 256 MB) |
| Display Connection | 1 - Mini DisplayPort |
| Display Modes | Dual display extended and video mirroring |
| External Resolution | Up to 2560 by 1600 pixels |
| Camera | Built-in iSight |
| CONNECTIONS | |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in AirPort Extreme card (802.11a/b/g/n) |
| Bluetooth | Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) (support for jumbo frames) |
| USB | 2 - 480 MBit/s |
| FireWire | |
| Display | 1 - Mini DisplayPort |
| Infrared | |
| Audio In | 1 - Built-in microphone, Audio out is user-selectable as analog audio line in |
| Audio Out | 1 - 3.5-mm analog/optical combo jack, 2 - Built-in speakers |
| EXPANSION | |
| Slots | 3.0 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) |
| Hard Drive Interface | 3.0 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) |
| Optical Drive Interface | |
| POWER | |
| System Battery | 45-watt-hour lithium-polymer |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Standby Time | |
| Maximum Battery Cycles | 500 |
| Power Adapter | 60W MagSafe Power Adapter |
| Link to replacement battery | Get a replacement battery here |
| Link to replacement charger | Get a replacement MagSafe here |