Can I Upgrade my Late-2009 iMac or is it Time for a New Machine?

[SurferPizza]

Hi, everyone. I'm new to MacRumors, any help would be appreciated.

I have a late-2009 iMac 11,1 with i7 2.8 GHz processor and 12 GB of RAM. I'm at that point where the computer is starting to show its age. I'm still rocking Snow Leopard, which I've loved dearly, but I know I'll need to upgrade the OS soon. I'm wondering if upgrading the HD to a new SSD and adding the remaining 4 GB of RAM to max out at 16 GB will make my machine like new and ready for El Capitan or if that would just be a case throwing money at a machine that should be replaced with a new iMac?

I do graphic design and some video work, so I'm doing a lot of work in Adobe programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, etc.

Thanks!

 

[z31fanatic]

SSDs are affordale now, so if I were you I would buy one, add an extra 4gb RAM, and see how it does. If the performance is good for your use, then no need to drop $2000 on a new machine.

 

[SurferPizza]

SSDs are affordale now, so if I were you I would buy one, add an extra 4gb RAM, and see how it does. If the performance is good for your use, then no need to drop $2000 on a new machine.

Thanks for the advice. Do you have an opinion about whether or not I should upgrade from Snow Leopard to El Capitan?

 

[z31fanatic]

You should unless you have some programs that will no longer work in El Cap.
I had an early 2008 MBP (pre-unibody) which had 4GB of RAM and a SSD and Yosemite ran very good. El Capitan is supposed to be lighter and faster than Yosemite. Your machine has enough power in my opinion.