Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.26 13" (SD/FW) Specs (MB990LL/A)
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The MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.26 13" (SD/Firewire 800 - Mid-2009) features a 45 nm "Penryn" 2.26 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (P8400), with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) installed in pairs (two 1 GB modules), a 160 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL "SuperDrive", a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M "graphics processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory", integrated iSight, and an LED-backlit 13.3" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1280x800 native resolution).
Connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire "800" port, two USB 2.0 ports, the same "combined optical digital output/headphone out (user-selectable analog audio line in)" port used by the iPhone, a "Mini DisplayPort" that supports an external display at 2560x1600, and an SD card slot.
Although this model is packed in the same "Unibody" case design -- one milled from a single block of aluminum -- as the 13-Inch "non-Pro" MacBook that it replaced, and it has the same backlit keyboard and "no button" glass "multi-touch" trackpad with support for "four finger" gestures and programmable "zones", and a very similar internal architecture, there are notable differences as well. The "Mid-2009" 13-Inch MacBook Pro models support more RAM, have an improved display (said to have "60% greater color gamut"), and have a non-swappable battery design that provides 7 hours of battery life (up from 5 hours). They also add the aforementioned SD card slot and a Firewire "800" port, but drop the previously standard optical digital audio input capabilities.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models?
- What are the differences between the "SD/Firewire 800 - Mid-2009" 13-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models and the "Late 2008/Unibody" non-Pro MacBook notebooks that they replaced?
Buy This Mac -- and all other new & used Macs -- at site sponsor PowerMax!
Upgrade This Mac at site sponsor Other World Computing. Memory, drives, & more!
Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
June 8, 2009 |
Discontinued Date: |
N/A |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. |
| Processor Type: |
Core 2 Duo (P8400) |
Processor Speed: |
2.26 GHz |
| Details: |
*The Intel "Core 2 Duo" 45 nm "Penryn" (P8400) processor includes two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip.
Also see: How fast are the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models compared to one another? How fast are they compared to the models each replaced? |
| Processor Upgrade: |
Soldered |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
Also see: Can you upgrade the processor in the "Unibody" MacBook Pro models? |
| System Bus Speed: |
1066 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.26 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
1066 MHz frontside bus. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
N/A |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/32k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
3 MB (on chip) |
| Details: |
Includes a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache that runs at processor speed. |
| RAM Type: |
PC3-8500 DDR3 |
Min. RAM Speed: |
1066 MHz |
| Details: |
Supports 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM.
Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models? How much RAM of what type do they support? |
| Standard RAM: |
2 GB |
Maximum RAM: |
8 GB |
| Details: |
2 GB of RAM is installed as two 1 GB modules, no slots free.
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells MacBook memory, as well as hard drives, batteries, carrying cases, and accessories. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Details: |
Apple recommends that one install RAM in matched pairs for optimum performance. |
| Video Card: |
GeForce 9400M |
VRAM Type: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
This model has a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M that shares memory with the system. |
| Standard VRAM: |
256 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
256 MB |
| Details: |
Apple reports that "memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 256 MB". |
| Built-in Display: |
13.3" Widescreen |
Native Resolution: |
1280x800 |
| Details: |
13.3" color widescreen LED-backlit TFT active-matrix "glossy" display with a 1280 by 800 native resolution. Apple heralded this display as providing "60% greater color gamut" than the "Unibody" MacBook models that this system replaced.
Apple reports that this system also supports "1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched." |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
2560x1600 |
| Details: |
The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600. |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
160 GB (5400 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA |
| Details: |
By custom configuration, this model also can be configured with a 250 GB, 320 GB, or 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive for an additional US$50, US$100, or US$200, respectively. It also can be configured with a 128 GB SSD or 256 GB SSD for an additional US$400 or US$850, respectively.
Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models? What type of hard drive do these models support? Can one replace the hard drive with an SSD? |
| Standard Optical: |
8X DL "SuperDrive" |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this slot-loading "SuperDrive" (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) has a maxium write speed of "8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW" and a maximum read speed of "8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, and DVD+RW; 24x CD". |
| Standard Modem: |
None |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Details: |
External Apple USB Modem (56.6k v.92) available for US$49. |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11a/b/g/n |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.
Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
| USB Ports: |
2 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
1 (800) |
| Details: |
Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one 800-Mbps Firewire "800" port.
Also see: Complete Ports. |
| Expansion Slots: |
SD Card Slot |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Details: |
This model has an SD card slot. No expansion bays are provided. |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Full-size |
Incl. Input: |
Trackpad (4 Finger) |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has "78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement)." It does not have an embedded numeric keypad. This keyboard is backlit.
The glass "multi-touch" trackpad supports "supports two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities". |
| Case Type: |
Notebook |
Form Factor: |
MacBook (Unibody) |
| Details: |
This MacBook Pro uses a black and silver "unibody" case design milled from a single piece of aluminum with a "catchless" magnetic latch. |
| Apple Order No: |
MB990LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Mid-2009 13" |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1278 |
Machine Model: |
MacBookPro5,5 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. |
| Battery Type: |
58 W/Hr Li-Poly |
Battery Life: |
7 Hours |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this model has a "58-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery" that provides "7 hours of wireless productivity".
Also see: What is the "real-world" battery life of the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models? How does the battery life of each compare to the model each replaced? |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.7 (9J3050) |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current |
| Details: |
Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" including booting in 64-bit mode as well as OpenCL and Grand Central Dispatch support. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
None |
Windows Support: |
Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: |
Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run MacOS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.
For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: |
0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 |
Avg. Weight: |
4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches while closed - height by width by depth, (2.41 cm, 32.5 cm, 22.7 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$1199 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$1199 |
| Details: |
To purchase a 13-Inch MacBook Pro, free of sales tax, please visit site sponsor PowerMax.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
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