Apple Refreshes 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch iMacs With Brighter Displays, Kaby Lake Processors, and Faster Storage

[bananataffy]

I really hope the person from Apple I've chatted with was wrong. Can you ask in the chat application from Apple? Because the service is closed over here now (evening in the netherlands). I would like to know if its upgradable or not. If not, the iMac is a no go for me.

Someone asked an Apple chat agent earlier and they said it was user-upgradeable for the 27". Also, I'm not sure if this was there before, but if you check the iMac 27" specs (https://www.apple.com/imac/specs/), it specifically says:

"8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible

Configurable to 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB"

So safe to say you can upgrade the RAM yourself.

Just a general question...I linked 32GB 2400MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM's earlier that should theoretically work with this iMac (2x16GB.) Since it has 4 slots, are we safe to purchase 2 pairs to get a total of 64GB system memory? I remember reading around and a few people recommend purchasing RAM as a complete set, as they are specifically matched together out of the factory. I've read that if you purchase RAM in separate sets (two 2x16GB pairs for instance,) that you may run into potential system errors & glitches. Of course, doing the latter is much more cost-effective, but not sure if it's worth the risk.

 

[CWallace]

With regards to Thunderbolt 3 Apple could have included Thunderbolt 2 just as they did with Firewire 800 and Firewire 400.

Thunderbolt 3 is fully backwards-compatible with Thunderbolt 2 so you can use TB2 devices with the appropriate adapter or cable.

 

[curmudgeonette]

as they are specifically matched together out of the factory.

That simply means they came off the production line consecutively. This implies they have the same circuit board, same chips, and the SPD EEPROM is programmed with identical specs.

I've read that if you purchase RAM in separate sets (two 2x16GB pairs for instance,) that you may run into potential system errors & glitches. Of course, doing the latter is much more cost-effective, but not sure if it's worth the risk.

Some aftermarket memory may play fast and loose with specs. Mixing aftermarket brand X and aftermarket brand Y then might cause problems.

If you simply buy quantity 2 pairs from a major website, you'll end up with a matched set of four.

 

[bananataffy]

That simply means they came off the production line consecutively. This implies they have the same circuit board, same chips, and the SPD EEPROM is programmed with identical specs.



Some aftermarket memory may play fast and loose with specs. Mixing aftermarket brand X and aftermarket brand Y then might cause problems.

If you simply buy quantity 2 pairs from a major website, you'll end up with a matched set of four.

Thanks, good to know.

Paying around $400-450 for 64GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM from a reputable brand like Crucial, versus the absurd $1,400 to Apple, especially with how easy it should be to install memory in the 27" version...just an absolute no-brainer then.

 

[justbobf]

It will be on the 27".

I called Apple twice. Both times that said neither the 21.5" nor the 27" iMac have user upgradeable RAM.

I think that is really greedy of Apple. They have over $230,000,000,000 in the bank and they still want to charge us $600 for 32 GB of RAM and $1,400 for 64 GB. Outrageous! (At least, that's how I see it. Crucial would charge about $115 for 32 GB or RAM.)

 

[kalsta]

Wish there was an option for both and SSD and an HDD being onboard …

Uh, isn't that what Fusion Drive is? Now (finally) standard on all 27 inch models.

 

[haddy]

I called Apple twice. Both times that said neither the 21.5" nor the 27" iMac have user upgradeable RAM.

I think that is really greedy of Apple. They have over $230,000,000,000 in the bank and they still want to charge us $600 for 32 GB of RAM and $1,400 for 64 GB. Outrageous! (At least, that's how I see it. Crucial would charge about $115 for 32 GB or RAM.)

Umm as others have said: this from the Apple Store.....re 27"
"8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user-accessible
Configurable to 16GB, 32GB or 64GB"

But I guess we will know for sure when sites like OWC offer DIMMs for the the new 27" iMacs

 

[justbobf]

Umm as others have said: this from the Apple Store.....re 27"
"8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user-accessible
Configurable to 16GB, 32GB or 64GB"

But I guess we will know for sure when sites like OWC offer DIMMs for the the new 27" iMacs

 

[9081094]

I called Apple twice. Both times that said neither the 21.5" nor the 27" iMac have user upgradeable RAM.

I think that is really greedy of Apple. They have over $230,000,000,000 in the bank and they still want to charge us $600 for 32 GB of RAM and $1,400 for 64 GB. Outrageous! (At least, that's how I see it. Crucial would charge about $115 for 32 GB or RAM.)

If you buy a new standard iMac 27" with 8gb of RAM the computer is already obsolete next year. You cant put more RAM into it afterwards. It's misleading how it is written on Apple's website and they wrote it that way on purpose. I'm angry and sad by this kind of behavior from a company I once admired.

 

[potatis]

Will GPU on the 21.5" be equal to the ones in the 27" in practic, considering the 21.5" ones drive less pixels?

 

[Parkin Pig]

I second this request!

From the Apple website - I'd go out on a limb and say the 27" is user upgradeable

 

[curtvaughan]

Uh, isn't that what Fusion Drive is? Now (finally) standard on all 27 inch models.

How large is the SSD on the "Fusion Drive"? It used to only be 24 GB or some such. I also wonder if it can come configured with a higher RPM HDD than 5400.

 

[Komiidian]

Still putting out basemodel Imacs with a 5400rpm HARD drive instead of SSD in 2017 - come on apple! :I

 

[DCIFRTHS]

From the Apple website - I'd go out on a limb and say the 27" is user upgradeable

It does look that way. I hope the info is correct!

I wonder what they are going to do with the iMac Pro. It appears to be non-upgradeable (from the pics they have posted, and the position of the memory the motherboard).

 

[CWallace]

I wonder what they are going to do with the iMac Pro. It appears to be non-upgradeable (from the pics they have posted, and the position of the memory the motherboard).

Apple have already said it won't be (easily) user-upgradeable and the back of the unit is a solid piece of aluminum.

So you're going to need to pull the LCD and the logic board to get to it.

 

[Spectrum]

How come the max disk size in the 21.5 is now only 1 TB?
I have a 4K 21.5 inch from September 2016 with a 2 TB fusion drive...something that is no longer possible...?
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Apple have already said it won't be (easily) user-upgradeable and the back of the unit is a solid piece of aluminum.

So you're going to need to pull the LCD and the logic board to get to it.

Another reason why this seems a silly design decision for a "Pro" computer...

 

[Feenician]

Another reason why this seems a silly design decision for a "Pro" computer...

Where did anyone say, or even allude to, the 21.5 inch iMac being a “pro” computer?

 

[Spectrum]

Where did anyone say, or even allude to, the 21.5 inch iMac being a “pro” computer?

The quotes got merged inapropriately. I was referring to the prior comment about the likely inability to open up the iMac Pro, and thus no way of being able to upgrade the RAM by the user.

I bought the 4K 2016 iMac in the knowledge that it is what it is (16GB RAM max). It is great, but I would not call it "Pro".

It is Apple who are branding their unreleased iMac as "Pro".

 

[Feenician]

The quotes got merged inapropriately. I was referring to the prior comment about the likely inability to open up the iMac Pro, and thus no way of being able to upgrade the RAM by the user.

I bought the 4K 2016 iMac in the knowledge that it is what it is (16GB RAM max). It is great, but I would not call it "Pro".

It is Apple who are branding their unreleased iMac as "Pro".

Given that the standard 27" has user upgradable it seems more than likely the Pro will be too. It's really just speculation on anyone's part to say whether it is or isn't.

 

[CWallace]

Given that the standard 27" has user upgradable it seems more than likely the Pro will be too. It's really just speculation on anyone's part to say whether it is or isn't.

Apple has released statements that it will not be (easily) user-upgradeable and pictures of the unit on display at WWDC shows the back is a solid piece of aluminum with no cutouts on either side where Apple's diagrams show the memory modules and their slots to be located.

Of course, they could change that between now and shipping based on feedback, but for the moment...

 

[Feenician]

Apple has released statements that it will not be (easily) user-upgradeable and pictures of the unit on display at WWDC shows the back is a solid piece of aluminum with no cutouts on either side where Apple's diagrams show the memory modules and their slots to be located.

Of course, they could change that between now and shipping based on feedback, but for the moment...

Where did they say that? I didn't see anything.

Time will tell in any case.

 

[CWallace]

Where did they say that? I didn't see anything.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/06/05/imac-pro-ram-and-space-gray-accessories/

There have also been Tweets about it from other Apple media sites.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Apple have already said it won't be (easily) user-upgradeable and the back of the unit is a solid piece of aluminum.

So you're going to need to pull the LCD and the logic board to get to it.

Ah. I missed that statement from Apple. From all the pics available, it looks like solid piece of aluminum.

Thanks!
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Given that the standard 27" has user upgradable it seems more than likely the Pro will be too. It's really just speculation on anyone's part to say whether it is or isn't.

You are correct; It is just speculation as the final design may change. Look at the pic in my post here. It clearly shows the memory off to the left on the motherboard, and it also looks like they are using a full sized DIMM. I don't see Apple putting a user accessible door, that large, that off center... but stranger things have happened. Additionally, see the image below for the specs on the iMac Pro. It seems to indicate that the machine is configurable at purchase, not by the user after purchase - unless you want to pull the screen, and remove the motherboard.

EDIT: I included both pics for simplicity's sake.

 

[animatedude]

Someone need to confirm the SSD size of the fusion drive, especially since it's standard.

 

[CWallace]

Someone need to confirm the SSD size of the fusion drive, especially since it's standard.

Direct from Apple's Configurator:

The 1TB Fusion Drive pairs a 1TB hard drive with 32GB of fast SSD — enough to store important macOS files and applications to ensure fast startup, near instant wake from sleep, and quick application launching, with room left over for your most frequently used files and apps. The 2TB and 3TB Fusion Drives pair a larger hard drive with 128GB of fast SSD storage, providing even more space for your most frequently used files.