21.5" iMac Has No User-Upgradable RAM; 27" Has Four Accessible RAM Slots

MacRumors · Oct 23, 2012, 02:19 PM

Consistent with Apple's quest to make its new computers as thin as possible at the expense of expandability, the new 21.5" iMac contains no user-accessible RAM slots. Instead, it can be configured with 8GB or 16GB of RAM direct from the factory. This was first noticed by Cult of Mac.

The 27" model, on the other hand, can be equipped with up to 32GB of RAM, and has four user-accessible RAM slots via an "easy-to-access memory panel" on the rear of the machine.

From one of Apple's iMac marketing pages:

Quote:

The 21.5-inch iMac comes with 8GB of memory and can be configured online with 16GB. On the 27-inch iMac, 8GB of memory comes standard, and you can upgrade to 16GB or 32GB. Configure and buy your iMac at the Apple Online Store and it will arrive with the memory already installed. Or add more memory to the 27-inch model yourself by popping open the easy-to-access memory panel on the back.

The 21.5" model ships in November, while the 27" model will begin shipping in December.

Article Link: 21.5" iMac Has No User-Upgradable RAM; 27" Has Four Accessible RAM Slots

supernaut · Oct 23, 2012, 02:23 PM

It also has a slower hard drive - 5400rpm rather than 7200 previously.

zin · Oct 23, 2012, 02:23 PM

The 21.5" iMac's also are limited to 5,400 RPM HDDs.

nagromme · Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM

There are only 17 people in the world who need to custom hand-install 16 GB of RAM in the smaller iMac.

But all 17 of them are about to post

And I feel your pain: you need what you need!

The Phazer · Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM

The 21.5 model seems to have been made considerably worse in many ways.

At least the 27 inch hasn't been ruined to the same extent it seems.

azentropy · Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM

Oh well, cross it off my list now too.

connor.e · Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM

You don't say?

george-brooks · Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM

Good to hear, I was worried.

iScott428 · Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM

YES this is going to save me a couple hundred dollars, thanks Apple! Hey December hurry the FFFFFFFFF up.

BreuerEditor · Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM

Thankfully we can upgrade the RAM so we don't have to pay for extremely expensive RAM from Apple and get it from good ol' reliable MacSales.com for a fraction of the cost. Looks like I'll be upgrading my Late '09 27" i7...

petsounds · Oct 23, 2012, 02:27 PM

RAM slots on the iMac? Is this what Tim Cook meant when he said he had something great in store for Mac Pro users?

george-brooks · Oct 23, 2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zin

The 21.5" iMac's also are limited to 5,400 RPM HDDs.

Apple clearly wants to make the iMac a "consumer" machine again, forcing pros to buy a mac pro. I think this new iMac update almost certainly means that we will see a revived mac pro, rather than a discontinuation

funkright · Oct 23, 2012, 02:29 PM

I guess we now have truly disposable computers at much higher than disposable prices

zorinlynx · Oct 23, 2012, 02:30 PM

Has anyone found out if the new iMacs use 3.5" or 2.5" hard drives?

I keep thinking they might have switched to 2.5" drives to make them thinner...

AppleMacFinder · Oct 23, 2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

There are only 17 people in the world who need to custom hand-install 16 GB of RAM in the smaller iMac.

But all 17 of them are about to post

And I feel your pain: you need what you need!

You tell it like "There are only 17 iMac users who can buy and install new RAM by themselves"

AcesHigh87 · Oct 23, 2012, 02:32 PM

I'll keep my 2011 21.5" iMac thanks. I get a 7200 RPM drive and can upgrade the RAM myself up to 32GB. I don't care if my computer is thin, I care if it's functional. Apple is going too far with their drive for thinness.

zombierunner · Oct 23, 2012, 02:32 PM

Apple, check ya self before ya wreck ya self.

Rudy69 · Oct 23, 2012, 02:35 PM

I've never really been a fan of the 21" anyways. I really wish they would say when you'll be able to order (pre order?) the 27" though

Yamcha · Oct 23, 2012, 02:41 PM

Thats too bad, personally not an issue for me as the entry level comes with 8GB, but I'm sure it'll bother a lot of people..

Not sure why making an iMac this thin was necessary, seems we are continuing to make sacrifices..

- No DVD Drive
- 2.5" Hard Drive 5400RPM
- Memory not upgradable..
- $100 more expensive..

At least the graphics card is faster, the 640M is slightly faster then the 6770M..

DivineEvil · Oct 23, 2012, 02:49 PM

F*... it . I'll buy some nice Haswell Mobo and CPU next year and will make myself a Power Mac G5 hackintosh!

MrXiro · Oct 23, 2012, 02:50 PM

I'm glad to hear that the 27 inch model is upgradable the second I saw the new design I was thinking... "Oh crap... no upgradable ram?"

I'm still on last years 27 inch though and I'm poor now, so I shall be sticking with my Fat 27inch iMac.

I wonder if they'll upgrade the Thunderbolt monitor to look this sexy...

J.Appleseed · Oct 23, 2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AR999

No comment

Hey, also a Galaxy Note & Mac user!

OT: A shame, really. I'd have bought it if it were user-expandable, such a beautiful machine.
Oh well, seems like I'll be buying another 2007-2009 iMac then after all.

PeterQVenkman · Oct 23, 2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

There are only 17 people in the world who need to custom hand-install 16 GB of RAM in the smaller iMac.

But all 17 of them are about to post

And I feel your pain: you need what you need!

Add to the list: pray to whatever god you worship that those ram chips never have a problem! it's the difference between a cheap, 5 minute fix by installing a new ram chip, or shipping your entire computer back to apple if it happens to still be under warranty.

It's a sad trend. Let me fix the most common things that break in a computer, Apple.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by petsounds

RAM slots on the iMac? Is this what Tim Cook meant when he said he had something great in store for Mac Pro users?

I think he meant the new Mac Mini with SSD options, but no more discrete graphics.

aquaboy · Oct 23, 2012, 03:03 PM

Does it have a Kensington Lock Slot?

Sjhonny · Oct 23, 2012, 03:04 PM

Picture by anandtech of the slot:

Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM	#4
nagromme macrumors G4 Join Date: May 2002	There are only 17 people in the world who need to custom hand-install 16 GB of RAM in the smaller iMac. But all 17 of them are about to post And I feel your pain: you need what you need! __________________ nagromme What happens when corporations buy the government? Americans have returned to receiving 1960s wages, despite being twice as productive.
	34

Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM	#5
The Phazer macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK	The 21.5 model seems to have been made considerably worse in many ways. At least the 27 inch hasn't been ruined to the same extent it seems. __________________ http://twitter.com/thephazer
	22

Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM	#6
azentropy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Surprise	Oh well, cross it off my list now too.
	15

Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM	#8
george-brooks macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New York, NY	Good to hear, I was worried. __________________ Mac Pro 3,1: 8 Core 2.8 GHz\|16GB\|Radeon 5870\|2TB+120GB SSD MacBook Pro 8,2: 2.5 GHz i7\|16GB\|750GB+240GB SSD iPhone 5, iPad 4, 11" Macbook Air, 12" Powerbook G4
	1

Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM	#9
iScott428 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orlando, FL	YES this is going to save me a couple hundred dollars, thanks Apple! Hey December hurry the FFFFFFFFF up. __________________ 2.2 GHz MPB, 2GB, 120 GB HD;2.4 Mac Mini 8gb 320HD Iphone 8gb> W 3GS 32gb> 4s 64gb W; 32GB Ipad Wifi> 64gb iPad 2 wifi+3G; 16GB Ipod Nano 6G; ATV2; Airport Extreme & Express;Apple Keyboard on Work PC.
	3

Oct 23, 2012, 02:23 PM	#2
supernaut macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	It also has a slower hard drive - 5400rpm rather than 7200 previously.
	20

Oct 23, 2012, 02:23 PM	#3
zin macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010 Location: United Kingdom	The 21.5" iMac's also are limited to 5,400 RPM HDDs.
	6

Oct 23, 2012, 02:24 PM	#7
connor.e macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada	You don't say?
	0

Oct 23, 2012, 02:26 PM	#10
BreuerEditor macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey	Thankfully we can upgrade the RAM so we don't have to pay for extremely expensive RAM from Apple and get it from good ol' reliable MacSales.com for a fraction of the cost. Looks like I'll be upgrading my Late '09 27" i7... __________________ Late 2012 27" 3.4GHz i7 iMac, 32GB RAM, 1TB Fusion 32Gb iPhone(5), 64GB iPod Touch(4), 64GB iPad(3) 2010 13" 2.4GHz MBP, 240GB SSD, 16GB RAM
	1

Oct 23, 2012, 02:27 PM	#11
petsounds macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007	RAM slots on the iMac? Is this what Tim Cook meant when he said he had something great in store for Mac Pro users?
	14

Oct 23, 2012, 02:29 PM	#13
funkright macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2011	I guess we now have truly disposable computers at much higher than disposable prices
	38

Oct 23, 2012, 02:30 PM	#14
zorinlynx macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida, USA	Has anyone found out if the new iMacs use 3.5" or 2.5" hard drives? I keep thinking they might have switched to 2.5" drives to make them thinner... __________________ Old-school Apple ][ expert! Ask me if you have a ][ question! Apple user 1983-1992, 2003-Present -- Linux user 1995-Present Windows-free since 2003! Though I still have to deal with it at work.
	2

Oct 23, 2012, 02:32 PM	#16
AcesHigh87 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Brunswick, Canada	I'll keep my 2011 21.5" iMac thanks. I get a 7200 RPM drive and can upgrade the RAM myself up to 32GB. I don't care if my computer is thin, I care if it's functional. Apple is going too far with their drive for thinness. __________________ 21.5" iMac (Mid 2011), 2.8GHz i7, 20GB of RAM, 1TB HDD \| 13" macbook white (Early 2008), 2.4 GHz C2D, 2GB RAM, 60GB G-Skill SSD \| 16GB iPod nano (7th Gen)
	36

Oct 23, 2012, 02:32 PM	#17
zombierunner macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: England	Apple, check ya self before ya wreck ya self.
	35

Oct 23, 2012, 02:35 PM	#18
Rudy69 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	I've never really been a fan of the 21" anyways. I really wish they would say when you'll be able to order (pre order?) the 27" though __________________ My Games: Tangled; QuadPong; West Code Studios
	3

Oct 23, 2012, 02:41 PM	#19
Yamcha macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2008	Thats too bad, personally not an issue for me as the entry level comes with 8GB, but I'm sure it'll bother a lot of people.. Not sure why making an iMac this thin was necessary, seems we are continuing to make sacrifices.. - No DVD Drive - 2.5" Hard Drive 5400RPM - Memory not upgradable.. - $100 more expensive.. At least the graphics card is faster, the 640M is slightly faster then the 6770M.. __________________ 21.5" iMac \| Intel Core i5 2.7GHz SandyBridge \| 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Memory \| 1TB Hard Drive \| AMD Radeon 6770 512MB \| Mountain Lion 10.8.3 \| Windows 8 Pro 64-Bit
	10

Oct 23, 2012, 02:49 PM	#20
DivineEvil macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2009	F*... it . I'll buy some nice Haswell Mobo and CPU next year and will make myself a Power Mac G5 hackintosh! __________________ 13.3" UMBP (mid 2009), 2.26GHz C2D P7550, 8GB DDR3, 640GB+500GB iPhone 4 32 GB
	8

Oct 23, 2012, 02:50 PM	#21
MrXiro macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles	I'm glad to hear that the 27 inch model is upgradable the second I saw the new design I was thinking... "Oh crap... no upgradable ram?" I'm still on last years 27 inch though and I'm poor now, so I shall be sticking with my Fat 27inch iMac. I wonder if they'll upgrade the Thunderbolt monitor to look this sexy... __________________ Whole lotta Apples, very little $.
	8

Oct 23, 2012, 03:03 PM	#24
aquaboy macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2011	Does it have a Kensington Lock Slot?
	4

Oct 23, 2012, 03:04 PM	#25
Sjhonny macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The land of the cucumbers	Picture by anandtech of the slot: __________________ I'm Random, you're number two
	13

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