Apple Launching Pilot Program Allowing Repairs of Soon-to-Be Vintage Mid 2011 iMac in United States

[Tech198]

Someone just found some spare parts all of a sudden they can fix 2011 models again?

 

[mcpix]

I have several 2011 models that I use daily. I've upgraded the memory on all of them and they still run great!

 

[CVUSA]

Mine is. And upgraded with High Sierra.
Runs like Max Verstappen.View attachment 752602

Wow , me too using 24in iMac almost 9 years . But still with OS X Yosermite .

 

[AsLittleDesignAsPossible]

I've worked on a couple 2011 iMac's both 21.5 and 27". Between OWC and iFixit, they are maintainable with very little expertise. You can even create your own DIY fusion drive without too much difficulty. Magnets holding it together was as genius as the magsafe MBP plug... both technologies abandoned for some reason. I've worked on a 2013 iMac 27" and found it to be more of a pain using the pizza cutter and guitar picks, and then having to clean up all the adhesive before applying the new double-stick tape. Plus, the stupid hinge problem in the thin iMacs... that was a real pain to fix with an after-market metal "washer" to hold the springs in place. Luckily, I could work on both without breaking anything or hurting myself. I appreciate the thin iMacs having faster/better guts, but why did it have to be thin? Portability? From the operating sitting position, I don't see a difference in depth, and they occupy the same space on the desk. I'd be elated if they went back to the 2011 design with upgraded internals, maybe more hard drive options, a better video card, better cooling... anything that would make use of the space. But hey, I'm no Ivey. What do I know?

So how do I create my own DIY fusion drive? Has an iMac with an SSD 128Gb and HDD 2Tb…

 

[jjonesx86]

I have an intermittent graphics corruption issue on my 2011 21.5" iMac, on the threads created by me on Macrumors people are either convinced this is an hardware fault, or a software fault with High Sierra. Myself, I have no idea still, it hasn't been reproducible enough to do easy testing, other than a reinstall of High sierra from scratch did not help.

Hopefully this is software and will be fixed with another version of High Sierra, but I would think if this was a common software problem with the 2011 models there would be a huge outcry by now.

I have a 2011 27" iMac that had this exact problem and needed to have the GPU replaced. Fast forward, I recently started having the same issue again. Happens less frequently now that I've gone back to Sierra (it was happening all the time after my High Sierra upgrade) but it still happens enough to be really annoying. I get the static, other visual distortion and eventually it crashes. Comes back fine after a reboot and then eventually fails again. This is the same behavior that was previously only fixed with a new GPU. I might have to go that route again because otherwise the machine is still a workhorse.

 

[panjandrum]

I have a 2011 27" iMac that had this exact problem and needed to have the GPU replaced. Fast forward, I recently started having the same issue again. Happens less frequently now that I've gone back to Sierra (it was happening all the time after my High Sierra upgrade) but it still happens enough to be really annoying. I get the static, other visual distortion and eventually it crashes. Comes back fine after a reboot and then eventually fails again. This is the same behavior that was previously only fixed with a new GPU. I might have to go that route again because otherwise the machine is still a workhorse.

Cooling, cooling, cooling! GPU artifacts are often caused by an overheating GPU that is hopefully not-yet fried (do it enough and it will destroy the chip). Unfortunately poor cooling designs are one of Apple's recurring long-time problems. If you want to try and take care of it without much expense, then you should tear the system down (look at iFixit) far enough to do a very thorough cleaning of the fans, vents, and heatsinks. It's several hours work if you haven't done this kind of thing before. If you have, you can get it done in an hour no problem. Personally, I prefer to use a devices such as this: https://smile.amazon.com/EasyGo-Com...35&sr=8-6&keywords=electronics+duster+machine because it is much more powerful than a can of compressed air. Also, immediately start using MacsFanControl or a similar product to crank your fans up. I don't remember specifically which iMac models have a dedicated GPU fan (most of them don't, IIRC), but even so, crank up all the other fans as much as you can tolerate, to keep the entire interior of the machine as cool as possible. Also, if it is in a hot room, or setup on a computer desk that traps heat around the iMac, then move it to someplace it can stay cool. Finally, you can leave the glass front off the unit for a while and see if that helps keep it just that little bit cooler - I recently used an iMac with similar issues for over a year before the GPU did the final crap-out on me.

Of course the GPU could just be failing for non-heat-related reasons, but heat is still something you want to check for right away. If it is heat-related, then the more you use it the more damage is done.

 

[Seppentoni]

Vintage? My main Workstation is a fully upgraded 2011 Model. It's still a workhorse.
[doublepost=1519760991][/doublepost]Guess vintage is marketing slang for «Buy the new iMac already».

 

[JosephAW]

Apple is trying this out so when they drop all intel desktop and laptop hardware and only sell iPad, iPhones and ARM desktops they have someone who will repair these old devices until everyone gives up on them and moves to their new ARM desktops.

 

[Bark]

When they had the GPU replacement/repair program running these past couple years, my GPU was fine (of course life works this way), but recently I've been seeing crashes and it's probably from thermal issues

My GPU decided it did not like the world for more than 20 min after i was outside the repair program window. Maybe there will be gpu's available at a reasonable price and/or reliable source with these changes. The current cost/chance of failure of the various options keep me from fixing it. (ie if the part was cheap - it is a 7 year old graphics card - i would do it myself. However the sources seem to mainly be scavenged from old imac and over $200. If the part was not from a scavenged iMac i might be willing to pay $200) I have seen one person claim to have some success redoing thermal paste etc I may well try that but I suspect it would just increase the time I can use it before the screen goes black.

 

[urbanman2004]

Mine is. And upgraded with High Sierra.
Runs like Max Verstappen.View attachment 752602

SSD's make any old compatible POS machine run faster due to flash memory

 

[Guy Clark]

The 2011 (21.5" and 27") iMacs are one of the best. Completely User upgradeable. Built in Superdrive. The incredible Intel Quad Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) CPU. Thunderbolt 2, Firewire 800......

I recently rebuilt one out of parts from donor machines. Loads more power with the Intel 2.7GHz (Sandy Bridge) Quad Core i5 CPU over the 21.5" Late 2009 iMac which is now my secondary machine.

The 2011 iMac is from a time when Apple were releasing amazing machines not least to mention the definitive 17" MacBook Pro.

 

[urbanman2004]

Apple is trying this out so when they drop all intel desktop and laptop hardware and only sell iPad, iPhones and ARM desktops they have someone who will repair these old devices until everyone gives up on them and moves to their new ARM desktops.

Yeah, you're right, I did hear around the rumor mill that Apple is trying to liberate itself from dependence on hardware from other manufacture companies, e.g. Samsung (screens) and Intel (CPU's).
[doublepost=1519765068][/doublepost]

The 2011 (21.5" and 27") iMacs are one of the best. Completely User upgradeable. Built in Superdrive. The incredible Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge CPU. Thunderbolt 2, Firewire 800......

I recently rebuilt one out of parts from donor machines. Loads more power with the Intel 2.7GHz Quad Core i5 CPU over the 21.5" Late 2009 iMac which is now my secondary machine.

This 2011 iMac is from a time when Apple were releasing amazing machines not least to mention the definitive 17" MacBook Pro.

Built me a Hackintosh in a Powermac G5 chassis, much better loads of fun

 

[Guy Clark]

Wow , me too using 24in iMac almost 9 years . But still with OS X Yosermite .View attachment 752629

Might be worth considering upgrading to El Capitan as Yosemite is now unsupported.

El Capitan is the latest version of macOS that can be run on the Early 2009 iMac.
[doublepost=1519765489][/doublepost]

Yeah, you're right, I did hear around the rumor mill that Apple is trying to liberate itself from dependence on hardware from other manufacture companies, e.g. Samsung (screens) and Intel (CPU's).
[doublepost=1519765068][/doublepost]
Built me a Hackintosh in a Powermac G5 chassis, much better loads of fun

I would be very interested to know the Hardware you used if you don't mind sharing.

 

[entropys]

Try an external SSD connected by Firewire. Grab the SSD for $150 which will be plenty big enough for system and applications. Making a system boot isn't hard and you can leave your files and documents on the hard drive. When you upgrade the Mac, use the external SSD as a backup drive or cold storage of key files.

Better with a thunderbolt drive like a LaCie rugged. Get full speed on the SATA connection. The only faults of these machines are the lack of USB3 and the bad, cracking solder on the GPUs.
I’ve had the GPU replaced once in the recall, and subsequently twice had to extract the GPU and bake in the oven for ten minutes to remelt the solder together.

 

[LotusLord]

Wow , me too using 24in iMac almost 9 years . But still with OS X Yosermite .View attachment 752629

Same as the one my in-laws are running. It's functional but pokey.

 

[Guy Clark]

I worked as a Mac Genius from 07-2014, 2007 to 2012 iMacs are a pain to fix as a baseline... and then to add insult to injury, once the repair is done, you've got to clean a display in a dusty Genius Room with a silicon roller and basically pray that a speck of dust doesn't settle in the air bubble between the glass panel and the display... almost impossible.

Apple finally wised up and laminated the glass to the LCD in subsequent revisions like on their phones and some tablets, but damn, what a nightmare.

If you have the relevant tools and suitable dust free conditions repairs and upgrades are straightforward using the excellent iMac 2011 repair guides provided by iFixit
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel

 

[Ursadorable]

What?! You don't have a smart phone?

I thought we were talking about computers, not toys. There's a not so subtle difference between a $600 phone that's meant to be replaced every couple years and a $3500 desktop that has a potential usability of over 10 years.

 

[Guy Clark]

I'm not really sure what the point is. I'm familiar with Apple's repair charges. I don't see how repairing one of these @ Apple is cost effective in light of the fact you can buy new 21.5" and 27" 2015 models for not much more and end up with a better screen and internals. Nothing against the 2011 model but I wouldn't spend hundreds of $ to revive it. Not money well spent.

The secret is to shop around. I built a fully functional immaculate Mid-2011 21.5" iMac from spare parts for £250 (plus a 2TB WD Black Hard Drive upgrade) which equates in to money well spent.
[doublepost=1519767209][/doublepost]

My 2011 iMac has gotten very slow over the last several months. Going to replace it with another iMac or a Macbook, but either way my next Mac will have an SSD drive. I think the slow hard drive is a big part of the slowness.

Upgrade the RAM which can max out at 32GB and upgrade the Drive to a Seagate SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive) which are inexpensive.
Carry out a clean install of macOS and your 2011 iMac will fly. Of course it is completely user upgradeable just head over to the iFixit site for detailed Repair and Upgrade guides
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel

 

[CVUSA]

Might be worth considering upgrading to El Capitan as Yosemite is now unsupported.
Not sure how to get ElCapitan. Try to click on free upgrade Hight Sierra at App Store but it said cannot be installed .

 

[Guy Clark]

So how do I create my own DIY fusion drive? Has an iMac with an SSD 128Gb and HDD 2Tb…

How to create a Fusion Drive on a Mid-2011 iMac
https://raoulpop.com/2013/01/27/how-to-create-a-fusion-drive-on-a-mid-2011-imac/


[doublepost=1519767768][/doublepost]The latest release of macOS that can be run on an Early 2008 iMac is 10.11.6
You can download OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan from this official Apple link
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206886

 

[Wanted797]

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro and it’s coming up on being obsolete

 

[Guy Clark]

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro and it’s coming up on being obsolete

Even if it does become obsolete the 2011 MacBook Pro is still an outstanding machine. Assuming it is the non Retina model consider maxing out the RAM and upgrading the drive to a SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive) using the detailed iFixit Tutorials
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro

 

[Niklas_nick]

Like many pieces of aging Apple equipment, these do indeed still run extremely well if you simply upgrade to an SSD (and max the ram if you can afford it.) Even one of the less-expensive (slower) SSDs will make all the difference in the world. Moving to an SSD is really not all that hard a process once you've done it a few times - if it is your first time just use the iFixit guide and go very, very slowly). Note that you actually don't need a drive adapter - you can just use a good double-back tape and carefully tape the extremely light SSD in place if you wish. And you'll need MacsFanControl (or similar) to manage the drive-fan speed after your update.

I have just started seeing an pretty-heavy increase in power-supply failures in these models though, so do keep in mind that other components will eventually fail in these older systems. Is it worth a $200 or $300 investment? Probably, but don't spend a ton on a system this old.

Soapbox: Sure, it's great that Apple will still repair these for now (although you'll get it done more cheaply elsewhere), and maybe that's a good sign for the future OS support as well, but I'll believe that when I see it. More likely is that, like many other aging Macintosh models, this one will probably be killed not out of technical necessity, but because Apple will stop supporting the machine with future OS updates at some point, causing it to needlessly become "obsolete" as other software also stops supporting whichever OS becomes the latest actually installable on the equipment (often, but not always, you'll find ways around Apple's artificially self-induced limitations). What a sad statement about Apple that you can often install a different modern OS on equipment Apple has abandoned, even the now-ancient 32bit CoreDuo systems. That OS? Windows 10!

And seriously, wouldn't you think that some kind of corporate-pride alone would induce Apple to support their own hardware better than their primary competitor does?

I have a 2006 Mac Pro (pretty much maxed out to 8x3,0, 32GB, 512GB SSD as primary drive, AMD Radeon HD 5870) that still moves mountains, is a very capable machine and my go-to for heavy duty taks - Apple hardware can be and remain very solid machines for a long time.

But what I really wanted to mention is that the quoted video made me realise MacBook Pro bezels haven't really improved since the first MBP which was pretty much like the PowerBook G4 and if you go back 17 years, the first PowerBook G4 has very similar display bezels to todays models. Wow. Time for an update IMO especially with other manufacturers, desk displays or iPhone X having nearly no bezel.

 

[Guy Clark]

Like many pieces of aging Apple equipment, these do indeed still run extremely well if you simply upgrade to an SSD (and max the ram if you can afford it.) Even one of the less-expensive (slower) SSDs will make all the difference in the world. Moving to an SSD is really not all that hard a process once you've done it a few times - if it is your first time just use the iFixit guide and go very, very slowly). Note that you actually don't need a drive adapter - you can just use a good double-back tape and carefully tape the extremely light SSD in place if you wish. And you'll need MacsFanControl (or similar) to manage the drive-fan speed after your update.

I have just started seeing an pretty-heavy increase in power-supply failures in these models though, so do keep in mind that other components will eventually fail in these older systems. Is it worth a $200 or $300 investment? Probably, but don't spend a ton on a system this old.

Soapbox: Sure, it's great that Apple will still repair these for now (although you'll get it done more cheaply elsewhere), and maybe that's a good sign for the future OS support as well, but I'll believe that when I see it. More likely is that, like many other aging Macintosh models, this one will probably be killed not out of technical necessity, but because Apple will stop supporting the machine with future OS updates at some point, causing it to needlessly become "obsolete" as other software also stops supporting whichever OS becomes the latest actually installable on the equipment (often, but not always, you'll find ways around Apple's artificially self-induced limitations). What a sad statement about Apple that you can often install a different modern OS on equipment Apple has abandoned, even the now-ancient 32bit CoreDuo systems. That OS? Windows 10!

And seriously, wouldn't you think that some kind of corporate-pride alone would induce Apple to support their own hardware better than their primary competitor does?

I feel for those who purchased a Mac with an Intel Core Duo CPU (not to be confused with Intel Core 2 Duo)

Intel Core Duo iMacs, Mac minis and MacBooks who can't upgrade past OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. These Intel Core Duo machines were only in production for a year (following Apple announcing Intel was to replace PPC architecture) before support was pulled for the new release OS X 10.7 Lion.

Not Apples finest moment under the direction of Steve Jobs.

 

[cebritt]

Apple typically offers repairs and replacement parts for a Mac until five years after it is no longer manufactured.

Wow, people who bought Mac minis 3 years ago are going to be good until at least 2023.