MacBook Early 2009

MacBook Early 2009

MacBook

Discontinued
Released: January 20, 2009Discontinued on: May 27, 2009
United States: 999Japan: 114800

Overview

Released discreetly without a formal press announcement, the Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13-Inch (White - Early 2009/NVIDIA) is powered by a 45 nm "Penryn" 2.0 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (P7350). This processor features two independent "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache, and a 1066 MHz frontside bus. The system is configured with 2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) in pairs (two 1 GB modules), a 120.0 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, and an 8X DL "SuperDrive". Graphics are managed by a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor with 256 MB of SDRAM shared with main memory, driving a 13.3" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display with a 1280x800 native resolution.


The MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (White - Early 2009) is housed in the same white polycarbonate case as its predecessor, the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.1 13" (White - 2008). Connectivity remains largely unchanged, featuring AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire "400" port, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio in/out, and mini-DVI video out for an external display. The only notable connectivity update is the upgrade to Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.


Internally, this model shares significant similarities with the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody). It features the identical processor and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, along with 2 GB of RAM. However, it utilizes the same 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM as the model it replaced, instead of the faster 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM found in the "Unibody" versions.

Evaluation

Quietly introduced in early 2009, this white MacBook retained its polycarbonate enclosure but featured significant internal upgrades. Most notably, the adoption of NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics was a major enhancement, providing a substantial boost in integrated graphics performance and a smoother visual experience compared to its predecessors. It was equipped with the same 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo processor as the aluminum unibody model, offering strong baseline performance at a more affordable price point. However, to differentiate it from the higher-end models, it continued to use slower DDR2 RAM. This model was well-received as a high-value option for users who preferred the classic MacBook design but desired improved graphics capabilities without the full cost of the premium line.

Product Info

Product Info Table
Model IDMacBook5,2
Apple Model NoA1181 (EMC 2300)
Apple Order NoMB881LL/A
Apple SubfamilyEarly 2009

Price

Price Table
Original Price (US)999
United States999
Australia1649
Austria899
Brazil3099
Canada1149
China7998
France899
Germany899
Hong Kong7788
Italy899
Japan114800
Netherlands899
New Zealand1848
Portugal899
Spain879
Taiwan34900
United Kingdom719

Body

Body Table
Form FactorMacBook
Case TypeNotebook
Dimensions1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 in / 2.74 x 32.46 x 22.66 cm
Avg. Weight5.0 lbs / 2.27 kg

Platform

Platform Table
Processor TypeCore 2 Duo (P7350)
Processor Speed2.0 GHz
Processors1 (2 Cores)
Architecture64-Bit
System Bus Speed1066 MHz
Cache Bus Speed2.0 GHz (Built-in)
L1 Cache32k/32k
L2/L3 Cache3 MB (on chip)
FPUIntegrated
ROM/Firmware TypeEFI
EFI Architecture64-Bit
Geekbench 2 (32)2719
Geekbench 2 (64)3072
Geekbench 3 (32)1834
Geekbench 3 (64)1953
Geekbench 4 (SC)1265
Geekbench 4 (MC)2078
Geekbench 5 (SC)271
Geekbench 5 (MC)464

Memory

Memory Table
Standard RAM2 GB
Maximum RAM6 GB
RAM TypePC2-5300 DDR2
Min. RAM Speed667 MHz
RAM Slots2

Storage

Storage Table
Standard Storage120 GB HDD
Std. Storage Speed5400 RPM
Storage InterfaceSerial ATA (3 Gb/s)
Storage Dimensions2.5" (9.5 mm)
Standard Optical8X DL "SuperDrive"

Display

Display Table
Built-in Display13.3" Widescreen
Native Resolution1280x800
Video CardGeForce 9400M
Standard VRAM256 MB
Maximum VRAM256 MB
VRAM TypeIntegrated
2nd Display SupportDual/Mirroring
2nd Max. Resolution1920x1200
Video (Monitor)1 (mini-DVI)

Audio

Audio Table
Microphone1 (Internal)
Headphone1
Sound In1
Sound Out1

Wired Connectivity

Wired Connectivity Table
USB Ports2 (2.0)
USB2 (2.0)
Firewire Ports1 (400)
Firewire1 (400)
Ethernet1 (RJ-45)
Standard Ethernet10/100/1000Base-T

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless Connectivity Table
Standard AirPort802.11a/b/g/n
Standard Bluetooth2.1+EDR

Power

Power Table
Battery Type55 W h Li-Poly
Battery Life4.5 Hours
Power Adapter1

Software

Software Table
Pre-Installed MacOSX 10.5.6 (9G2110)
Maximum MacOSX 10.11.6
Windows SupportBoot/Virtualization
Minimum WindowsXP SP2 (32-Bit)
Maximum Windows7 (32-Bit)

Accessories

Accessories Table
Incl. KeyboardFull-size
Incl. InputTrackpad

Upgrades

Upgrades Table
Processor UpgradeSoldered

Compliance

Compliance Table
Security (Lock)1