Troubleshooting

Track down a number of hardware problems using the MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Troubleshooting page.

Upgrades

There are a number of components in the MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 2.53 GHz Unibody that can be cost-effectively upgraded.

  • RAM: The stock RAM included with the MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 can be easily upgraded to the maximum of 8 GB.
  • Hard Drive: 320 Gigabyte hard drives came standard with the MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 2.53 GHz Unibody. You can upgrade the drive up to 750 GB.
  • Battery: Replace an aging battery for more usability between charges.

Identification and Background

The MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 2.53 GHz Unibody was announced in September of 2009 as a low-end option in the 2009 15" MacBook Pro lineup. Unlike the rest of the 2009 15" MacBook Pro laptops, it does not include a dedicated graphics processor. Because of the lesser processing power, this model only has one fan, while other 15" MacBook Pro models feature two.

Use the [/info/ID-your-Mac|laptop identification system] to help you identify your machine. MacBooks tend to look very similar, and it's important to know which machine you have before ordering any replacement parts.

The MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 2.53 GHz Unibody's case is composed of aluminum, just like the laptops before it. However, the case is machined out of a single block of aluminum, following the same process of the MacBook Unibody A1278 and the MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Repair. The Unibody revision also introduced some features that were never before seen on an Apple laptop: the inclusion of dual video cards (one for regular use, one for graphics intensive applications) the Mini DisplayPort (which replaced the full-size DVI display connector), and larger hard drive and RAM capacities.

Tech Specs

Display:

  • 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors

Storage:

  • 250GB, 320GB, or 500GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive or 320GB or 500GB 7200-rpm hard drive or 128GB or 256GB solid-state drive
  • 8x DVD/CD slot-loading SuperDrive

Processor:

  • 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2

Memory:

  • 4GB or 8GB of 1066MHz DDR3 memory

Wireless Connectivity:

  • 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
  • Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 Wireless technology

Graphics and Video:

  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor
  • Built-in iSight camera
  • Mini DisplayPort

Ports:

  • MagSafe power port
  • Gigabit Ethernet port
  • One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
  • Mini DisplayPort
  • Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
  • SD card slot
  • Audio line in
  • Audio line out
  • Kensington lock slot

Audio:

  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • Built-in omnidirectional microphone (located under left speaker grille)
  • Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
  • Combined optical digital audio output/audio line out (minijack)

Battery and power:

  • Built-in 73-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
  • 60W or 85W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
  • MagSafe power port

What’s in the box:

  • MacBook Pro
  • Display cleaning cloth
  • 60W or 85W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord
  • Install/restore DVDs
  • Printed and electronic documentation

Additional Information