Can not get iMac with SSD ANYWHERE

[aman88]

Guys I cannot find an iMac with an SSD anywhere... not even through apple... I am getting 27 inch 3.0 ghz 8 gb ram, 570x with the 256 gb SSD... I cannot even get it through apple they are out!

Anyone have any ideas or help? My current iMac needs to be replaced ASAP.

Thanks!

 

[jerwin]

bandh says it's coming soon, adorama says it's out of stock, mac mall says to "call us". And at the apple store, it's build to order.

 

[aman88]

bandh says it's coming soon, adorama says it's out of stock, mac mall says to "call us". And at the apple store, it's build to order.

I want to order from b and h I plan to call when they reopen tomorrow... through apple if you build it, it says expected to be in stock may 16th or something...

 

[Moonjumper]

A problem with not having an SSD in any standard configuration is that they are not commonly stocked. Built to order is really the only option unfortunately.

I got my iMac second-hand. The only real choice for me was a fusion drive because most people go with what is available easily, even though it is far from the best option.

Apple really needs to start having an SSD as standard in at least one of their default configurations to avoid situations such as yours.

 

[aman88]

A problem with not having an SSD in any standard configuration is that they are not commonly stocked. Built to order is really the only option unfortunately.

I got my iMac second-hand. The only real choice for me was a fusion drive because most people go with what is available easily, even though it is far from the best option.

Apple really needs to start having an SSD as standard in at least one of their default configurations to avoid situations such as yours.

Yeah I don’t want a fusion drive I heard the ones with an SSD are faster and it’s a better built hd l...

 

[casperes1996]

Yeah I don’t want a fusion drive I heard the ones with an SSD are faster and it’s a better built hd l...

Don't know what you mean by "it's a better built hd l..."

But the Fusion Drives that are only 24GB SSD or so are terrible. That would be the 1TB of the 'modern' iMacs. (OG 1TB had 128GB SSD).
However, the bigger Fusion Drives, like 2 and 3TB come with 128GB SSD, and actually work really well in my opinion. In most cases it really is the best of both worlds, with speed that makes you think it's all SSD (Most the time) and loads of storage to go with it.

 

[aman88]

Don't know what you mean by "it's a better built hd l..."

But the Fusion Drives that are only 24GB SSD or so are terrible. That would be the 1TB of the 'modern' iMacs. (OG 1TB had 128GB SSD).
However, the bigger Fusion Drives, like 2 and 3TB come with 128GB SSD, and actually work really well in my opinion. In most cases it really is the best of both worlds, with speed that makes you think it's all SSD (Most the time) and loads of storage to go with it.

No I at the end there was a typo on my phone. I don’t need more than 256 gb... my current 1 TB HD has about 930 GB free still... for $100 the 256 GB SSD is plenty. I have an external HD only for back up purposes...

 

[CheesePuff]

Don't know what you mean by "it's a better built hd l..."

But the Fusion Drives that are only 24GB SSD or so are terrible. That would be the 1TB of the 'modern' iMacs. (OG 1TB had 128GB SSD).
However, the bigger Fusion Drives, like 2 and 3TB come with 128GB SSD, and actually work really well in my opinion. In most cases it really is the best of both worlds, with speed that makes you think it's all SSD (Most the time) and loads of storage to go with it.

FYI now the 1 TB Fusion Drives have a 32 GB SSD with the 2017 and above models, but still useless.

 

[aman88]

FYI now the 1 TB Fusion Drives have a 32 GB SSD with the 2017 and above models, but still useless.

I heard the SSD alone with no fusion drive is a much better hd in terms of longevity... I keep my computers 8-10 years... and on my current 2010 iMac I think it’s the HD that is failing...

 

[iono11200]

I ordered my 21.5" 512gb SSD from Expercom. I had it in less than 2 weeks. IMO better to just order it custom exactly as you would like rather than compromise buying a stock unit if it is not exactly what you want.

 

[Fishrrman]

Apple stores [generally] don't stock iMacs with SSDs.
Nor do most other places that sell them.

If you want an SSD, you have to order it online through Apple's "build to order", or see if a configuration is available in the Apple-refurbished area (2019 iMacs won't be there yet).

A VERY FEW resellers, such as B&H, "pre-order" iMacs with SSDs so that they can be sold and shipped immediately. Some folks don't care for B&H's policy regarding computer returns, however. Last year, a friend bought an iMac from B&H, and it's been fine, no problems.

If you can't find one elsewhere, it's best to just order from the Apple store and "wait it out" until it arrives.

DON'T get impatient and buy one without an SSD inside.
If you do, you're probably going to regret it.

 

[aman88]

Apple stores [generally] don't stock iMacs with SSDs.
Nor do most other places that sell them.

If you want an SSD, you have to order it online through Apple's "build to order", or see if a configuration is available in the Apple-refurbished area (2019 iMacs won't be there yet).

A VERY FEW resellers, such as B&H, "pre-order" iMacs with SSDs so that they can be sold and shipped immediately. Some folks don't care for B&H's policy regarding computer returns, however. Last year, a friend bought an iMac from B&H, and it's been fine, no problems.

If you can't find one elsewhere, it's best to just order from the Apple store and "wait it out" until it arrives.

DON'T get impatient and buy one without an SSD inside.
If you do, you're probably going to regret it.

I was just on the phone with b and h... what is bad about their return policy? I would not be returning the computer unless there was a defect, but is that not through apple?

 

[Fishrrman]

B&H will not accept the return of a Mac once it has been opened from the package and booted up.
If you bought a Mac from them and had problems, you'd have to take it to the Apple Store for repairs, etc.

Some people have a problem with this policy.
Others don't.

 

[aman88]

B&H will not accept the return of a Mac once it has been opened from the package and booted up.
If you bought a Mac from them and had problems, you'd have to take it to the Apple Store for repairs, etc.

Some people have a problem with this policy.
Others don't.

Interesting... yeah macmall only gives you 14 days... I mean I would have no intensions of returning it really... I cannot even afford the model im getting so no way I could return and upgrade hahaha...

Now it is between the 27 in 3.0 ghz 570x with 512 ssd or the 27 in 3.1 ghz 575x with 256 gb ssd...

 

[hfg]

Check out Adorama as well for in-stock BTO iMacs.

https://www.adorama.com/l/?searchinfo=apple+imac+27+5k

 

[casperes1996]

FYI now the 1 TB Fusion Drives have a 32 GB SSD with the 2017 and above models, but still useless.

Thanks for your information and correction. - But yeah, 32 or 24; At that low a capacity it's not a significant enough difference to matter really. 64, maybe; But 128 minimum I'd say.

I heard the SSD alone with no fusion drive is a much better hd in terms of longevity... I keep my computers 8-10 years... and on my current 2010 iMac I think it’s the HD that is failing...

The SSD and HDD in the Fusion Drive are not independently worse in terms of life span than the pure SSD or HDD route. But it is two points of failure instead of just one. If you have only the SSD, the SSD might fail. If you have only HDD it may fail. If you have a Fusion, either may fail.

However, if one of the two parts fail you can split up the Fusion Drive into two logically separate drives and continue using the one that still works, and attach external storage to get back the capacity.
[doublepost=1556552359][/doublepost]

No I at the end there was a typo on my phone. I don’t need more than 256 gb... my current 1 TB HD has about 930 GB free still... for $100 the 256 GB SSD is plenty. I have an external HD only for back up purposes...

I personally couldn't deal with such little space, but different solutions for different needs.

Having a low requirement simultaneously means Fusion Drive will be a better and worse option though. On one hand the pure SSD will serve your capacity needs fine and you'll get great speed. But on the other hand, you won't extend much beyond the SSD portion of the Fusion Drive, so it'll be identical speed to the pure SSD with overshoot capacity if needed, maybe for multiple operating systems or whatnot.

 

[aman88]

I just ordered the 27 inch 3.0 ghz with 512 gb SSD... thanks everyone for the help!

 

[macduke]

It's a bit ridiculous that in 2019 an SSD makes it a BTO. I think for the price of the 27" model it should be standard, especially given how much SSD prices have dropped lately. I feel like in the past few months it's finally low enough to get a useful drive capacity without breaking the bank.

 

[casperes1996]

It's a bit ridiculous that in 2019 an SSD makes it a BTO. I think for the price of the 27" model it should be standard, especially given how much SSD prices have dropped lately. I feel like in the past few months it's finally low enough to get a useful drive capacity without breaking the bank.

And that's going to change soon, since the production companies have decided to cut down on NAND production to squeeze the market a bit and lower supply relative to demand.

 

[macduke]

And that's going to change soon, since the production companies have decided to cut down on NAND production to squeeze the market a bit and lower supply relative to demand.

That sucks. And here I was thinking later next year I could get a 4TB T7 or whatever Samsung will call it with double the read/write speed for $500.

 

[casperes1996]

That sucks. And here I was thinking later next year I could get a 4TB T7 or whatever Samsung will call it with double the read/write speed for $500.

Well, I mean, who knows? Competition may mean they'll have to crank up the production again, but as of right now, the big boys have decided the profit margins have fallen too much so they'll be slowing down production. But we'll see. Could be that the smaller players in the space can produce enough goods that it's not a good strategy and it just results in a loss of market share instead of an increase in margins, so production speed will go back up and prices fall even further. Time will tell, but for now I'm airing on the side of caution

 

[mikehalloran]

And that's going to change soon, since the production companies have decided to cut down on NAND production to squeeze the market a bit and lower supply relative to demand.

You have a link or is that a rumor you read somewhere?

With Samsung and others releasing new NVMe blades, I’m finding that hard to believe.

BTW, the new Mini and iMac Pro have the NAND in the T2 chip, not in the blades.

 

[casperes1996]

You have a link or is that a rumor you read somewhere?

With Samsung and others releasing new NVMe blades, I’m finding that hard to believe.

BTW, the new Mini and iMac Pro have the NAND in the T2 chip, not in the blades.

Here's a link
https://www.anandtech.com/show/14275/memory-makers-cut-nand-flash-production

And the Mini and iMac Pro do not have NAND in the T2. They have the controller in the T2. The NAND is the memory cell. The controller is responsible for picking which NAND cells to store data in. That is handled by the T2, but it does not have NAND memory cells itself.

 

[spiderpumpkin]

I highly recommend ordering from Apple. I ordered a 27" iMac with 512GB SSD on Sunday and it arrived Wednesday morning. I spent $8 for the express shipping. Actual shipping time from time plane left Shanghai to my door was 21 hours. Not sure why the Apple site was giving a delivery window of like 2 weeks out but that was not the case with my order.

 

[aman88]

I highly recommend ordering from Apple. I ordered a 27" iMac with 512GB SSD on Sunday and it arrived Wednesday morning. I spent $8 for the express shipping. Actual shipping time from time plane left Shanghai to my door was 21 hours. Not sure why the Apple site was giving a delivery window of like 2 weeks out but that was not the case with my order.

Nice! I got mine from b and h video and it came in less than 2 days.