iFixit Tears Down 24-Inch M1 iMac [Updated]

[TheTrueZoltan!]

The model number of the Bluetooth/WiFi module in the iMac (339S00763) is different from the one in the M1 MacBook teardown (339S00758). I might be reading too much into this but perhaps they made changes to the module because of the Bluetooth connection issues of the first M1 computers? Has anyone already tested their Bluetooth peripheral devices with the 24“ iMac? 🤔

 

[lowkey]

Let me explain by going over why its problematic in the specific case of the iMac (which also handily explains why its a problem in other Macs.)

The main issue here (IMHO) is transparency. Just looking at the spec sheet on Apple's homepage one could reasonably assume the only difference, aside from storage capacity between the two 24" iMac options is 1 GPU core (or about a ~9% performance deficit in heavily GPU bound tasks based on previous M1 macs). This will undoubtedly lead some people to conclude they don't need that extra 9% GPU performance (maybe their workload is CPU bound) and just order the stock config, or CTO a 7C GPU iMac and used the money saved to go for 16GB of ram (for example.) Many of those people could be in for a rude awakening when they realize they've actually bought a mac with a significantly worse cooling system and consequentially slower performance/more noise.

To be clear, I don't own a 24" M1 iMac, and given how the M1 performs in the MBA/MBP/Mac Mini I don't expect cooling to be a major bottleneck, but it's still a major difference between the models that Apple needs to be clear about if they're going to use this as a point of differentiation going forward. While it may not matter much today, next year (or even later this year) when we have an M1X/M2/M2X/etc with more CPU and GPU cores and a potentially higher TDP, the differences could be quite significant.

So, to recap, the differentiation itself isn't the problem, the issue is the completely non transparent way that Apple is going about it. With Intel Macs, you generally knew what kind of performance you were getting by looking at the CPU/GPU on the box/spec sheet, and could thus make an informed decision. While there were a few Intel Macs where Apple really messed up the cooling, this tended to be the exception and not the rule, and typically applied to all SKUs across the product. Also, Apple doesn't get a pass on this kind of behavior just because they increased performance X% over last gen.

According to your calculations how much slower is the base model than would be expected?

 

[SamRyouji]

I'm going to assume you've never seen inside an iMac before - that "rounded square" IS the logo. It's a plate thats hot staked (or now maybe glued?) into a gap in the back panel.

The actual square in the middle of the logo is a WiFi antenna - as the logo is plastic it's the only place on the back they can put it.

Ah...I see.
Yeah, I never seen one before and this is my first time seeing that. Thanks for the explanation, madman! 😀

 

[opeter]

All those metallic plates and empty spaces and they couldn't remove the chin

This space is reserved for the monitor panel. So that it doesn't get hot.

 

[Stephen.R]

According to your calculations how much slower is the base model than would be expected?

Exactly one hypothetical slower.

Or, if you consider it as lost opportunity: A process running at 100% CPU usage on a 2-fan iMac that takes 1 year to complete, on a 1-fan model will take an additional Scaramucci to complete.


Yes, Scaramucci is a unit of time. Look it up.

 

[acidblue]

Looking at the xray, it certainly gives the impression you are not getting what you paid for.

You could get an ENIAC if you’re just looking for bulk and materials.

 

[Nice2VIRUS]

this button you need to reset the energy, so many devices have this button … ifixit

 

[Chorx]

For all intents and purposes, a big iPad.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

They show a picture of the soc and ram, and say it's Hynix RAM.
So the M1 soc is not exactly one apple chip?
I thought the m1 would be 1 part made for apple, with "apple ram".

SoC is what the memory is sitting on. That’s a Package on Package configuration of SoC.

 

[Aoligei]

LOL. Look at all these empty space behind the display. Why would Apple not add m.2 port and SATA port for storage expansion?

In fact, the base 256GB storage is pathetic at best. Apple want your hard earned money for extra storage.

 

[opeter]

Because these drivers, especially the NVMe can be very (!) hot.

 

[Stephen.R]

Why would Apple not add m.2 port and SATA port for storage expansion?

I have to wonder why people keep expecting this to happen, in 2021.


That ship has sailed. The current Mac Pro kind of has storage expansion along that vein, but to expect it on an iMac at this point is not even in the realm of wishful thinking, it's just absurd.

I understand why you want it, but you wanting something has practically zero impact on Apple making something.

 

[magbarn]

LOL. Look at all these empty space behind the display. Why would Apple not add m.2 port and SATA port for storage expansion?

In fact, the base 256GB storage is pathetic at best. Apple want your hard earned money for extra storage.

That's why they're the most profitable computer company...
With their prices 512gb should be the base model with 1TB for $100 more. That's fair pricing based on today's SSD prices.

 

[GSWForever8]

Oh, we all know how iFixit hates soldered in parts. Easy 4/10. No upgradable RAM is gonna make iFixit mad.

 

[Sasparilla]

Made in Thailand, interesting change...was not expecting that.

 

[Aoligei]

I have to wonder why people keep expecting this to happen, in 2021.


That ship has sailed. The current Mac Pro kind of has storage expansion along that vein, but to expect it on an iMac at this point is not even in the realm of wishful thinking, it's just absurd.

I understand why you want it, but you wanting something has practically zero impact on Apple making something.

I have to wonder why people don’t ask and just expect Apple’s apparent cash grab? There is apparently no reason that Apple cannot put a extra port inside iMac, Mac mini or even MacBook Pro. Apple has done that before, why not continue doing it?

I have to wondering why you think it is absurd to ask? Tell you one thing, if I can buy a 1TB Nvme drive for little over 200 Canadian dollars, how does it make sense for Apple charging 400USD for 1TB SSD? It is pure money grab at Apple’s part. If you are OK with being ripped off by Apple, then that is fine. Not everyone is OK with this m.

If anyone is able to afford the Mac Pro for just ability to expend storage, then let all be it.

In the main time, I will stick with my Hackintosh build or moving out Mac entirely when Hackintosh is no longer thing.

 

[Stephen.R]

Made in Thailand, interesting change...was not expecting that.

Well ****. That's news. I wonder where the plant is.

I bet anything I order still has to be dispatched from Singapore, fly to China, and then back here though.

 

[gdmedia]

I just love that the X-ray shows the Apple logo on the back is perfectly center aligned with the rounded-square internal area in the middle.

That's what I called obsession: the desire to perfectly design anything down to the smallest detail, even if it's just an alignment between something you see and you don't.

Isn't that square area the wifi antenna with the logo providing an input for the radio waves?

 

[Stephen.R]

I have to wonder why people don’t ask

Ask who?

In the vast majority of cases, you as a single (potential) customer have zero impact on any commercial mass-produced product.

You can either buy it as it is, or not buy it.

If enough people don't buy something after a change, the manufacturer is likely to do something different - whether that something fixes what you didn't like will depend on how many things they changed.

just expect Apple’s apparent cash grab

It's not about expecting a cash grab, it's about understanding that this is 'standard' for most Macs now, and most existing/potential customers customers accept the trade-off that they don't feel the need to alter their approach for most lines.

Apple has done that before, why not continue doing it?

We could theorise about Apple's true intentions all day, and still not know for sure.

Why they do it is also somewhat meaningless to the end result. They are not doing it, that's just a fact. If you are happy with that, buy the machine. If you're not, don't. If you feel strongly about it, email Tim Cook and tell him. You might get a response.

Expecting them to do something different because you think it makes sense, and then expecting strangers on a forum to know why apple didn't do what you think they should have, is not going to get you a result.

 

[Sasparilla]

Oh, we all know how iFixit hates soldered in parts. Easy 4/10. No upgradable RAM is gonna make iFixit mad.

It'll be interesting to see what they come up with, virutally no changes from the previous small Intel versions (from an upgrade perspective) for the last 10 years. They liked how easy it was to get into the iMac.

Neat, we can see how they made the sound good - the speakers, but also split a subwoofer like thing inside that thin display...so cool.

 

[MacBH928]

that fan is minute... shouldn't a larger one be quieter?

 

[Realityck]

Another video of taking apart a 24" iMac. Doesn't show looking at the boards. Easy to work on, but not going to be easy to upgrade per author.

 

[Realityck]

Yes, I can confirm that those metal enclosures are used to amplify the speakers.

In regards to this being resonant cavities, who wold utilize metal for a speaker resonator enclosure? Its suppose to afford vibration isolation, not conduct it to the chassis? I say both frames looking at the video, look more like heat dissipation more then ultra thin resonators. But hey that's the fun of first look guessing.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

that fan is minute... shouldn't a larger one be quieter?

Apple’s fans are already fairly quiet in addition to employing a configuration that spreads the white noise over a broad band of frequencies, so it’s less noticeable. I think that generally speaking, larger fans can move more air at lower rpms, though.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

In regards to this being resonant cavities, who wold utilize metal for a speaker resonator enclosure? Its suppose to afford vibration isolation, not conduct it to the chassis? I say both frames looking at the video, look more like heat dissipation more then ultra thin resonators. But hey that's the fun of first look guessing.

Apple’s been conducting vibrations to the iPad chassis for awhile now. I can’t remember which year it started, but you went from tinny sound, non vibrating iPad to much better sound and a vibrating iPad. Some were annoyed by it, but I felt it was justified due to the better sound.