The first Teardown pics are here!

eagandale4114 · Nov 30, 2012, 12:06 AM

Here you guys go.

Source.
First seen by 9to5.

tubbymac · Nov 30, 2012, 12:13 AM

That's the most beautiful logic board layout I've ever seen in a desktop. I like how the display comes cleanly off which should make it much easier to deal with than the last generation iMac. We no longer have to worry about getting rid of the dust between the glass and the display when we open the iMac 2012 model up.

The hard drive looks very easy to access as well. That's a very good sign. Now we just have to wait to see what type of fan issues / temperature sensor workarounds are needed if we want to replace the hard drive ourselves.

I really want to buy one and replace the HD with my own SSD!

Deathwish86 · Nov 30, 2012, 12:17 AM

Also Appleinsider: http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/154...s-after-launch

At least the RAM is not soldered on the PCB

Cpu is also removable!

jornjur · Nov 30, 2012, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubbymac

That's the most beautiful logic board layout I've ever seen in a desktop. I like how the display comes cleanly off which should make it much easier to deal with than the last generation iMac. We no longer have to worry about getting rid of the dust between the glass and the display when we open the iMac 2012 model up.

The hard drive looks very easy to access as well. That's a very good sign. Now we just have to wait to see what type of fan issues / temperature sensor workarounds are needed if we want to replace the hard drive ourselves.

I really want to buy one and replace the HD with my own SSD!

So which one are you buying?

tubbymac · Nov 30, 2012, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathwish86

Also Appleinsider: http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/154...s-after-launch

At least the RAM is not soldered on the PCB

Cpu is also removable!

Wow this may be the first iMac in a while where we might be able to replace the HD, the RAM, and the CPU ourselves. Quite shocking coming from Apple, really.

HD looks really straightforward to replace, but the RAM and the CPU involve taking out the logic board. That will be a pain as usual, but at least it's possible. I love the new iMac already

Mic2904 · Nov 30, 2012, 12:22 AM

What about the Ram?

lapeno · Nov 30, 2012, 12:23 AM

is it easy to remove the screen?

tubbymac · Nov 30, 2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jornjur

So which one are you buying?

Can't decide between the 21.5 or 27 inch model yet. I need to wait for reviews to see how each handles gaming.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mic2904

What about the Ram?

RAM from the pictures looks like standard DDR3 SODIMM chips. Looks like it requires removal of the logic board to replace the chips yourself though, so that would be a pain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapeno

is it easy to remove the screen?

Screen most likely is just held in by magnets like last year's model. Probably just need suction cups like before to remove the screen. Display cable looks like it attaches near the middle of the logic board from what I can see in the pictures. So it's probably lift the screen with suction cups until you get a few inches of clearance, and then reach in and disconnect display cables and wifi cables like previous iMac model before fully detaching screen.

Mad Sativa · Nov 30, 2012, 12:32 AM

Wow! this is huge news!!!!!!!!

I may go with a straight 1tb 7200 now

What do you think?

lapeno · Nov 30, 2012, 12:38 AM

Thanks tubbymac. First impressions looks good.

minik · Nov 30, 2012, 12:49 AM

I repaired quite a few iMac at work. Judging from the images, this generation looks very straightforward to me.

wmy5 · Nov 30, 2012, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Sativa

Wow! this is huge news!!!!!!!!

I may go with a straight 1tb 7200 now

What do you think?

Maybe HDD replacement is the most tricky one. As in 2011 model, Apple add a temperature sensor pin to the SATA connector, so you probably can't add a HDD bought in the market.

mohsy90 · Nov 30, 2012, 12:53 AM

Nice sneak peak. Looking forward to ifixits teardown.

Mad Sativa · Nov 30, 2012, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmy5

Maybe HDD replacement is the most tricky one. As in 2011 model, Apple add a temperature sensor pin to the SATA connector, so you probably can't add a HDD bought in the market.

thanks wmy, probably the same

tubbymac · Nov 30, 2012, 01:04 AM

Upon closer inspection of the pictures it looks like the ram is sticking partially out near the middle of the computer where the iMac is the thickest. This could be very good news. It looks like you can probably wiggle your fingers in between the gap between the ram and the hollow cavity beneath the ram. This would mean that the ram might be replaceable without removing the logic board. From the pictures, it looks like you just have to disconnect one cable that is wrapped around the ram, and you need to remove the central fan to give yourself enough space to get your hands on the ram.

If this is true, that means the HD and the RAM are both easily accessible!

wmy5 · Nov 30, 2012, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Sativa

thanks wmy, probably the same

Good news is SSD used in new iMac is the same as rMBP and MBA. I'll get 256GB from eBay or OWC and install by myself.

tubbymac · 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmy5

Good news is SSD used in new iMac is the same as rMBP and MBA. I'll get 256GB from eBay or OWC and install by myself.

Might be true in the 27 inch model, but from the teardown pictures above the 21.5 inch model does not use the same "blade" style SSD as the rMBP and MBA. In fact the 21.5 inch model appears to use a standard 2.5 inch laptop hard drive.

CORRECTION: One of the pictures shows what looks to be a blade style connector for an Apple SSD. Tough to tell from the picture if it is indeed an SSD connector, but would make sense since you can custom order a 1TB fusion drive from Apple for the 21.5 high end model.

DrRadon · Nov 30, 2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Sativa

Wow! this is huge news!!!!!!!!

I may go with a straight 1tb 7200 now

What do you think?

I bet apple went with the slower drive because of temperature reasons. I don´t know if it´s worth the risk of loosing all your data. Rather go SSD and put the old 1TB one in an external HDD case.

Besides, there are "slow spinning" HDDs that actualy are faster in data transfer than 7600rpm models.

Mad Sativa · Nov 30, 2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmy5

Good news is SSD used in new iMac is the same as rMBP and MBA. I'll get 256GB from eBay or OWC and install by myself.

so your saying I could get a 7200 then add a 256 ssd to make my own fusion drive?

DrRadon · Nov 30, 2012, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Sativa

so your saying I could get a 7200 then add a 256 ssd to make my own fusion drive?

Yes, two harddrives usualy fit in the space of one. Besides why would you need a 7200 if you have a fusion dirve.

WilliamG · Nov 30, 2012, 01:25 AM

Wow this looks super easy to access the hard drive. My 2009 iMac 27" had a temperature sensor on the hard drive, but that was easily shorted with a piece of wire when I replaced it with an SSD.

Deathwish86 · Nov 30, 2012, 01:34 AM

Hehe...looks like only suction cups are needed...no glue

iMcLovin · Nov 30, 2012, 01:54 AM

...

MetzoPaino · Nov 30, 2012, 02:18 AM

Interesting about the CPU, but could add longevity down the line, but what would people with the i7 upgrade to? Haswell requires a different socket right?

RSL · Nov 30, 2012, 02:26 AM

Cue shut up and take my money pic.

Nov 30, 2012, 12:06 AM	#1
eagandale4114 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2011	The first Teardown pics are here! Here you guys go. Source. First seen by 9to5. __________________ GUIDE High resolution Youtube videos and Safari. Early 2011 MacBook Pro 17" with antiglare & iPhone 4s 32GB Sprint PS3 & PS Vita
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:13 AM	#2
tubbymac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008	That's the most beautiful logic board layout I've ever seen in a desktop. I like how the display comes cleanly off which should make it much easier to deal with than the last generation iMac. We no longer have to worry about getting rid of the dust between the glass and the display when we open the iMac 2012 model up. The hard drive looks very easy to access as well. That's a very good sign. Now we just have to wait to see what type of fan issues / temperature sensor workarounds are needed if we want to replace the hard drive ourselves. I really want to buy one and replace the HD with my own SSD! __________________ rMBP 15 / 21.5 iMac 2011 / iPad Mini / ATV2 / TimeCap / Nexus 4 / PS3
	3

Nov 30, 2012, 12:23 AM	#7
lapeno macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2010	is it easy to remove the screen? __________________ iMac 21.5" 500GB HD, 8GB DDR3, 3.06 GHZ C2D, Lion 10.7.5 16 GB Black iPhone 4 5.1.1
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:38 AM	#10
lapeno macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2010	Thanks tubbymac. First impressions looks good. __________________ iMac 21.5" 500GB HD, 8GB DDR3, 3.06 GHZ C2D, Lion 10.7.5 16 GB Black iPhone 4 5.1.1
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:49 AM	#11
minik macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA	I repaired quite a few iMac at work. Judging from the images, this generation looks very straightforward to me. __________________ Flickr, twitter.
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:17 AM	#3
Deathwish86 macrumors member Join Date: May 2012	Also Appleinsider: http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/154...s-after-launch At least the RAM is not soldered on the PCB Cpu is also removable!
	1

Nov 30, 2012, 12:22 AM	#6
Mic2904 macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2011	What about the Ram?
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:32 AM	#9
Mad Sativa macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2012	Wow! this is huge news!!!!!!!! I may go with a straight 1tb 7200 now What do you think?
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 12:53 AM	#13
mohsy90 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New York	Nice sneak peak. Looking forward to ifixits teardown. __________________ The funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's too late to stop reading it.
	1

Nov 30, 2012, 01:04 AM	#15
tubbymac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008	Upon closer inspection of the pictures it looks like the ram is sticking partially out near the middle of the computer where the iMac is the thickest. This could be very good news. It looks like you can probably wiggle your fingers in between the gap between the ram and the hollow cavity beneath the ram. This would mean that the ram might be replaceable without removing the logic board. From the pictures, it looks like you just have to disconnect one cable that is wrapped around the ram, and you need to remove the central fan to give yourself enough space to get your hands on the ram. If this is true, that means the HD and the RAM are both easily accessible! __________________ rMBP 15 / 21.5 iMac 2011 / iPad Mini / ATV2 / TimeCap / Nexus 4 / PS3
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 01:25 AM	#21
WilliamG macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle	Wow this looks super easy to access the hard drive. My 2009 iMac 27" had a temperature sensor on the hard drive, but that was easily shorted with a piece of wire when I replaced it with an SSD. __________________ iMac, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad, iPhone, 55-11 www.bighugenerd.com
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 01:34 AM	#22
Deathwish86 macrumors member Join Date: May 2012	Hehe...looks like only suction cups are needed...no glue Attached Thumbnails
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 01:54 AM	#23
iMcLovin macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2009	... __________________ 27" iMac i7 2012 \| 13" MacBook Air - 2011 \| Mac Mini - 2010 \| Iphone 5 64gb \| Ipad (gen.3) \| ipad mini
	1

Nov 30, 2012, 02:18 AM	#24
MetzoPaino macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2012	Interesting about the CPU, but could add longevity down the line, but what would people with the i7 upgrade to? Haswell requires a different socket right?
	0

Nov 30, 2012, 02:26 AM	#25
RSL macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012	Cue shut up and take my money pic.
	0

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