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

[Guy Clark]

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

The 2014 Mac mini is not user upgradeable/repairable which could potentially mean if it fails it will cost more for Apple to repair it than the value of the machine.

No such issues with the 2012 Mac mini which is fully user upgradeable/repairable which is the stronger machine with a more powerful Intel i5 (i7 option available) Quad Core CPU.

 

[alexgowers]

These iMacs are all over the place and still very powerful. Making these vintage is almost criminal considering compute hasn't really changed much, it's got hella efficient but we're stood still at the moment with leaps coming from graphics and drive speeds areas. I'm concerned my 2013 MacBook Pro is gonna be shelved next, I swear it's not been long enough to can some of these products.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I bought a few of these for family members, and they all set them up to replace their TV's with Netflix & Hulu. If I'd known they were going to do that I'd have bought them 27's. I'm somewhat amazed they run as well as they do yet, even with a what, Core 2 Duo, & an i3 & i5 chipset & 4GB of ram... but they just keep on keepin on, humming along, blowing hot air out the top like small space heaters.

Nice little machines. I suppose they'll have to be killed off at some point or they'll last forever.

 

[KGB7]

Vintage doesn’t mean what you think it means.

 

[Guy Clark]

I bought a few of these for family members, and they all set them up to replace their TV's with Netflix & Hulu. If I'd known they were going to do that I'd have bought them 27's. I'm somewhat amazed they run as well as they do yet, even with a what, Core 2 Duo, & an i3 & i5 chipset & 4GB of ram... but they just keep on keepin on, humming along, blowing hot air out the top like small space heaters.

Nice little machines. I suppose they'll have to be killed off at some point or they'll last forever.

The Core 2 Duo and i3 iMacs are a little underpowered. The iMac didn't really show its full potential until 2011 with the i5 Quad Core (Sandy Bridge) CPU.

I have a Late 2009 iMac with 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 16GB RAM and a Mid 2011 iMac with 2.7GHz Intel i5 Quad Core CPU with 8GB RAM. The 2011 iMac performance is in a different league despite having 8GB less RAM.

 

[klover]

Bought a 2011 27" from a local seller for $300. Screen was filthy so I removed glass and discovered dirt was actually *in between* the lcd panel and backlight....ugh.

3 hours on a Saturday and some very delicate removing foil, separating display layers, and carefully cleaning inside with Dyson, compressed air, silicon roller and finally alcohol wipes. Reassembled (adding a new SSD while it was apart) and this display looks beautiful now. Snow white backlighting, deep blacks and a pretty impressive gamut range for a 2011 display.

Best $300 I've ever spent. Hope to get a couple solid years from it.

 

[ErikGrim]

This my work iMac, running Sierra and two external monitors. It’s not exactly what I’d call fast, but it’s plenty workable as front end development station. I wish it had an SSD and more than 8GB ram, but not much I can do other than pay for the upgrades and install them myself

Has anyone seen any performance impact better or worse going from Sierra to High Sierra on these?

 

[Hombre53]

The Core 2 Duo and i3 iMacs are a little underpowered. The iMac didn't really show its full potential until 2011 with the i5 Quad Core (Sandy Bridge) CPU.

I have a Late 2009 iMac with 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 16GB RAM and a Mid 2011 iMac with 2.7GHz Intel i5 Quad Core CPU with 8GB RAM. The 2011 iMac performance is in a different league despite having 8GB less RAM.

My late 2009 iMac with a Quad Core Intel i7 (2.88 Ghz) and 16 Gb RAM has taken everything I have ever thrown at it. After upgrading it to an SSD, the performance gain was off the charts. For Apple to downgrade this machine to their vintage scrapheap is beyond laughable. Cook is no Steve Jobs.

 

[TVreporter]

This my work iMac, running Sierra and two external monitors. It’s not exactly what I’d call fast, but it’s plenty workable as front end development station. I wish it had an SSD and more than 8GB ram, but not much I can do other than pay for the upgrades and install them myself

Has anyone seen any performance impact better or worse going from Sierra to High Sierra on these?

High Sierra bricked my 2011 and the Time Machine and I haven’t been able to rectify any of the problems. Avoid it.

 

[Hombre53]

High Sierra bricked my 2011 and the Time Machine and I haven’t been able to rectify any of the problems. Avoid it.

High Sierra is probably the worst OS Apple has ever released. Bug infested mess that keeps getting worse instead of better. Snow Leopard was the apex of OS X. Everything since has been a step back. High Sierra is Apple's version of Vista, remember that? Apple used to run those ads making fun of Vista and it's problems. The worm has turned.

 

[MSosa]

I broke the motherboard while trying to install an SSD on my 2011 21" iMac. Anyone know where I can get a replacement motherboard?

Also what would be the best motherboard I could get for the 2011? I had a 2.7 i5, I know they made a 2.8 i5 but could a later itineration work as well, say from 2012 or 2013?

 

[dilbert99]

nice to see Apple doing the right thing

 

[Wanted797]

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

Already done! Non retina 13”. I’ve had a 256 SSD and 16GB Ram in it for a few years. Still works amazingly.

Actually powered on faster the other day than my ThinkPad I got from work

 

[slal03]

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

I love this machine! Still way too much computer for my needs!

I bought the maxed out version with HDD and SSD already fitted by Apple (that way I didn't have to potentially sacrifice losing the CD Drive if I wanted to retrofit a SSD. Although there are ways you can retrofit SSD without using the connector in CD drive).

2011 iMac 27"
3.4 GHz Quad Core i7
32GB RAM
AMD Radeon HD6970M 2048MB
2TB HDD
256GB SSD

If you don't have an SSD you can either use the ports for CD drive or buy an SSD and tape it using double sided sticky tape inside the machine and plug into the relevant port (SATA I think). I'm sure there are lots of guides on the internet.

Creating a fusion drive was very easy as long as you follow the right guide! I tried several including some youtube videos before a friend told me to use this one. And I've been using it as a 2.25TB Fusion Drive for 4 years, without any problems. I think this one assumes you already have a HDD and SSD set up. All a fusion drive does is trick the computer to thinking it's one single volume/drive as opposed to two.

See below:

https://blog.macsales.com/17624-os-...tup-option-for-non-fusion-drive-equipped-macs

 

[ookladek]

2011 is already vintage? Man, I feel old...

Naaa man, you're not old, you're vintage!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

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.

Right, but I'm talking about Apple doing the repair at it's rates, not shopping around on parts and DIY. Anyone taking their 2011 iMac to Apple for repair obviously doesn't have the wherewithal to do their own repairs or even know how to find parts.

 

[LCC0256]

I am about to upgrade my parents' mid-2007 iMac to an SSD, I have never opened it up, but will try to keep the dust out.

I replaced the HDD in my 2007 iMac Core duo 2 with an SSD and maxed the RAM out at 6 I did this 2 years ago and the machine is running fine. It boots up in less than 30 seconds every time and runs all the programs I need it to run without the beach ball ever appearing. El Capitan is the last OS it will run. Works very good for iTunes Library, answering emails, surfing the web. In a pinch I can use it for business use. (Office for Mac installed) 11 years of flawless service. I am sad Apple no longer supports this machine. Their business model obviously is successful however so one cannot argue with their policy on older equipment.

 

[robk64]

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

https://www.macworld.com/article/2014011/storage-drives/how-to-make-your-own-fusion-drive.html
or
https://blog.macsales.com/36227-everything-you-need-to-create-your-own-fusion-drive

Good places to start. Remember to back up everything, and be capable of installing the OS from scratch. Not for the faint of heart. If you're somewhat tech savvy, you can install from a thumb drive, or use the Recovery drive/Internet to download/install. I went into the process with an iMac I purchased on ebay, fully intending to wipe everything, regardless. When I had luck with one, I tried it again on a Mac mini. I used Yosemite, initially, and then updated both to High Sierra. So far, so good.

 

[vkd]

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.

Must've been. But I've had one of these 2011's since 2012 and have opened it up 4 or 5 times so far. Never used a silicon roller nor a dust free room and its as good as new, no dust in between.

I revel in the fact that I just need to stick my suction cups on the glass and its open in seconds. A few screws and the screen is out. Then I can swap the processor, the GPU, the HDD, put SSD on extra SATA slot, swap DVD drive for other media if wanted, so many things. Oh, and NO GLUE!!!
[doublepost=1519837622][/doublepost]

I took my 27" Mid-2011 in for the video card replacement program. I don't have an Apple Store nearby, so it was to an authorized dealer / repair place. I got my iMac back and the screen was scratched to ****. I couldn't have been more confused how they managed to damage a perfect screen and damage it that bad. After a while longer, they did replace the screen they destroyed. I wonder if it had something to do with it sucking like you describe or if was just that these people sucked at their jobs.

Exactly. I took mine in once due to HDD failure under warranty. They managed to bust the LED screen illumination on the lower edge. Had to take it back again so they could then replace with a new screen at their cost. They also scratched the 'chin' with a screwdriver probably, though I've opened it up myself a few times already with no damage and I'm the amateur!

 

[Guy Clark]

I broke the motherboard while trying to install an SSD on my 2011 21" iMac. Anyone know where I can get a replacement motherboard?

Also what would be the best motherboard I could get for the 2011? I had a 2.7 i5, I know they made a 2.8 i5 but could a later itineration work as well, say from 2012 or 2013?

From 2012 onwards the design of the 21.5" iMac Logic Board is entirely different mostly to do with the updated Slimline profile so it is highly unlikely it could be successfully fitted to a 2011 iMac chassis.

Logic Boards can be obtained from eBay pulled from working machines for a reasonable price
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Main-Log...045865?hash=item33e3416529:g:-HsAAOSwEEBZ9MTy

You will need to transplant the CPU and GPU to the replacement Logic Board using the iFixit guide
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_21.5"_EMC_2428

You can run macOS externally from a Thunderbolt 2 SSD
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/

 

[Juicy Box]

I replaced the HDD in my 2007 iMac Core duo 2 with an SSD and maxed the RAM out at 6 I did this 2 years ago and the machine is running fine. It boots up in less than 30 seconds every time and runs all the programs I need it to run without the beach ball ever appearing. El Capitan is the last OS it will run. Works very good for iTunes Library, answering emails, surfing the web. In a pinch I can use it for business use. (Office for Mac installed) 11 years of flawless service. I am sad Apple no longer supports this machine. Their business model obviously is successful however so one cannot argue with their policy on older equipment.

Thanks for the info.

I prefer that they use El Capitan to anything newer, so that wouldn't be a problem. They will only be doing emails, photos, web browser, and that is probably all.

They currently use it with a HDD, so I am sure that they will be fine getting a few more years out of it once I get them a SSD installed.

 

[Hawk2Wind]

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

[doublepost=1519843411][/doublepost]I don,t have or want one.I got a bog standard £10 phone that does me.

 

[Calbretto]

My 2011 iMac was the worst Apple product I've ever owned in terms of reliability. The closest Apple store is 3+ hours away from me, and they would never let me ship it. While under AppleCare this was what got fixed.

• LCD Screen
• Logic board
• 3x Graphics card

The SuperDrive also only reads but doesn't write, but this always passed their diagnostics tests which was annoying. Now it's sitting with a dying hard drive.

All my other Apple products since 2004? One logic board replacement on my old PowerBook.

I agree with you 100%. My 2011 iMac has been a nightmare for the last two years. Eventually the graphics card just died on me and I was told at the Apple store it will cost roughly $1000 to repair the thing, even though they've admitted they used faulty parts. Of course my unit broke down after Apple stopped offering free replacement parts.

I had brought it in the year earlier to get fixed but they couldn't replicate the error so they told me there was nothing they could do. Now I'm stuck with an expensive paperweight.

I know computers don't last forever, but I expected this machine to last a bit longer. I'm going to try to bake the graphic card as I've read that can fix it, but I honestly don't know what I'm doing. I just don't have much else to lose with this system since it's already dead.

 

[plokoonpma]

I may replace my old iMac just cause I need to edit 4k more quickly but in general this computer has been such a bang for the buck that is really difficult to translate in words. I laugh my ass every time I hear someone complain about mac or Apple products been so "expensive" specially when I live abroad and I have to work 3 times harder to afford my macs than typical US or big countries residents. It has served me as music platform, video editing and as a GAMING platform for so many years. Killed probably hundred of thousands of players in Ghost Recon, Call of Duty 4-5, Insurgency, Red Orchestra, Arma 2 and for the last couple of years Arma 3.
My iMac has paid itself several times and probably will work for 3 or 4 years if I change the main HD for an ssd. I run windows on a second SSD

 

[entropys]

I agree with you 100%. My 2011 iMac has been a nightmare for the last two years. Eventually the graphics card just died on me and I was told at the Apple store it will cost roughly $1000 to repair the thing, even though they've admitted they used faulty parts. Of course my unit broke down after Apple stopped offering free replacement parts.

I had brought it in the year earlier to get fixed but they couldn't replicate the error so they told me there was nothing they could do. Now I'm stuck with an expensive paperweight.

I know computers don't last forever, but I expected this machine to last a bit longer. I'm going to try to bake the graphic card as I've read that can fix it, but I honestly don't know what I'm doing. I just don't have much else to lose with this system since it's already dead.

I was n exactly the same position. There are plenty of YouTube guides on how to remove the GPU from the iMac and bake it in the oven. This will remelt the apparently cracked solder which is the problem with these GPUs and it will miraculously work again!
Apple quoted me AUD$945 for a new GPU plus labour. A couple of hours on a wet afternoon following instructions on YouTube and a got an extra year out of it before it happened again. This time it only took half as long but the beast is going again, with an external thunderbolt SSD boot drive.