iMac Pro RAM Upgrades -- Pricing & Availability

[Bryan Bowler]

It has been confirmed that RAM in the iMac Pro can be replaced by Apple or any Authorized Service Provider. MacRumors posted a Front-Page article that can be found here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...apple-or-authorized-service-provider.2095130/

I'm creating this thread to serve as a lasting place for us to post current RAM prices and also installation costs should you choose to use Apple or an Indie Service Provider. I will very likely replace the RAM myself or bribe an Indie Service Provider to do it on the cheap for me.

I kindly ask the multitudes of people that like to make unnecessary one-off comments like "who would pay for such a thing" and "I can build an equivalent machine for half the price" to please refrain from cluttering up this thread. It would be great to have a place where those of us who need this machine can carry on a real conversation. (Thanks!)

So let's start digging up the current aftermarket RAM prices. Over time, prices will fall and we can track them here.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

It has been confirmed that RAM in the iMac Pro can be replaced by Apple or any Authorized Service Provider. MacRumors posted a Front-Page article that can be found here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...apple-or-authorized-service-provider.2095130/

I'm creating this thread to serve as a lasting place for us to post current RAM prices and also installation costs should you choose to use Apple or an Indie Service Provider. I will very likely replace the RAM myself or bribe an Indie Service Provider to do it on the cheap for me.

I kindly ask the multitudes of people that like to make unnecessary one-off comments like "who would pay for such a thing" and "I can build an equivalent machine for half the price" to please refrain from cluttering up this thread. It would be great to have a place where those of us who need this machine can carry on a real conversation. (Thanks!)

So let's start digging up the current aftermarket RAM prices. Over time, prices will fall and we can track them here.

EEC ram costs a fortune

One stick of 32gb of the ram found in the iMac Pro is about $400 on eBay, and expect that to sky rocket with this release. I think i’d rather just pay Apple and get known good ram and not get some hack to Mess around in my $10000 computer, but that’s personal choice I suppose . So you would be looking at about $1200 for Ram plus tech costs. Crucial do the same ram for £374 per 32gb now we need to know if it can address 64gb sticks, so you could have 256gb ram but at £900 per stick that’s expensive upgrade.

 

[Glmnet1]

Crucial do the same ram for £374 per 32gb now we need to know if it can address 64gb sticks, so you could have 256gb ram but at £900 per stick that’s expensive upgrade.

Isn't the iMac Pro capped at 128gb?

 

[Bryan Bowler]

EEC ram costs a fortune.

You're right -- it is very expensive right now. Hopefully it will come down in cost over time. I am waiting for approximately two months before buying the iMac Pro to see what the real-world results are on thermal management and fan noise. Assuming everything's good, I'll pull the trigger on an iMac Pro.

At this moment in time, I'm considering getting it with 64 GB of RAM. And then in approximately 3 years, if I feel that 128 GB is necessary, I will likely perform the upgrade myself since the AppleCare warranty will have passed. Contrary to popular belief, it is not that difficult to get take an iMac apart and any steady-handed and patient person can easily do it and put it back together in under an hour. Of course, we don't know what may have changed with the new design and we'll learn more once iFixIt has a go at it.

I might even consider initially ordering an iMac Pro with only 32 GB of RAM and then upgrading it right away to either 64 GB of RAM (via two 32 GB sticks to better allow future expansion) or going ahead and go the distance with 128 GB right out of the gate. I will balance all of the factors once we learn more in the weeks to come.

 

[bxs]

I don't mean to steal your RAM thread here, but if SSD is also upgradable that could be OK here to discuss otherwise I'll delete it if you feel otherwise.

I understand that the SSD is made up from two modules such as

1TB = 2x 512 GB
2TB = 2x 1TB
4TB = 2x 2TB

If these modules are replaceable then when upgrading RAM it might provide the opportunity for also upgrading the SSD size. The only issue I see is that if two SSD modules are being used how has Apple designed things to have them appear to macOS as a single device (maybe they're striped somehow).

BTW... I've ordered my iMac Pro with the 128 GB RAM option because i need as much RAM as I can get for my workload. I'm not concerned about SSD size so went for just the 1 TB.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Hot off the press: OWC performed a teardown and not only is the RAM upgradeable, but it looks like the SSDs are upgradeable as well. They even speculate that the CPUs might possibly be upgradeable as well, but that will require a lot more testing before that can be confirmed.

To get to the RAM, you have to remove the display, then loosen the right and left speaker assemblies, and then remove 5 or 6 screws to pull out the motherboard. From there, you can easily access the RAM and upgrade it just like you always have. It does not look difficult to do for those with patience and steady hands.

OWC also announced that they will offer two programs for RAM upgrades:

1) You can send in your iMac Pro and they will upgrade it for you.
2) They will offer a DIY upgrade kit for advanced users and technicians.

This is great news and I look forward to seeing how RAM prices pan out in the weeks to come.

 

[ThatSandWyrm]

You're right -- it is very expensive right now. Hopefully it will come down in cost over time. I am waiting for approximately two months before buying the iMac Pro to see what the real-world results are on thermal management and fan noise. Assuming everything's good, I'll pull the trigger on an iMac Pro.

Fan noise is non-existent, even under heavy loads. No worries there. I've been running benchmarks across the iMP, a 2015 iMac, a MBP, and a home-built PC. The iMP is silent even when the other 3 sound like jet engines.

But you might want to hold off because... Performance in specific apps depends on their level of multi-core optimization, and the calculations involved. In some of my tests the 10-core iMP blows past my 4-core computers by 3-4x. While in others it comes in dead last. The Vega64 is looking to be 50-70% faster than a GTX1080ti in MacOS games, which is very nice, but it needs better drivers. I'm seeing too many crashes and a few strange graphical glitches (glowing purple water in World of Tanks, for instance).

Par for the course with version 1 Apple products, but every problem that I see so far is fixable with software updates.

 

[bxs]

It has been confirmed that RAM in the iMac Pro can be replaced by Apple or any Authorized Service Provider. MacRumors posted a Front-Page article that can be found here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...apple-or-authorized-service-provider.2095130/

I'm creating this thread to serve as a lasting place for us to post current RAM prices and also installation costs should you choose to use Apple or an Indie Service Provider. I will very likely replace the RAM myself or bribe an Indie Service Provider to do it on the cheap for me.

I kindly ask the multitudes of people that like to make unnecessary one-off comments like "who would pay for such a thing" and "I can build an equivalent machine for half the price" to please refrain from cluttering up this thread. It would be great to have a place where those of us who need this machine can carry on a real conversation. (Thanks!)

So let's start digging up the current aftermarket RAM prices. Over time, prices will fall and we can track them here.

Thanks for starting this thread.

First, OWC does show the dis-assembly of the iMac Pro to be fairly easy using the proper tools and taking care.

1) RAM Upgrade
I think that if iMac Pro RAM prices stay at their current levels or if they go higher, then adding the cost oF RAM to what OWC will charge either with their mail-in upgrade and their DIY kit upgrade program the cost will be comparable to what Apple charges in the first place when ordering the iMac Pro. The one thing that could be a benefit is that OWC has traditionally provided credit for returning Apple RAM and OWC RAM to lower the cost. Apple as far as I know does not offer this RAM credit. Obviously OWC will have to decide on pricing for the RAM upgrades to be attractive yet also to make some profit from it. I wonder how long it will take for OWC to announce pricing? How long did it take them to announce RAM, SSD and Processor upgrades for the late 2013 MP6,1 ?

2) SSD Upgrade
Upgrading SSD will be interesting to follow as I believe the T2 chip somehow locks the SSD to the iMac Pro's hardware in some way. OWC will need to understand this technology precisely before embarking on providing SSD upgrades. So far I've not heard or read that Apple will upgrade the SSD as an after market service as they do for RAM.

As an aside, I wonder if larger SSDs are physically larger than what OWC had for their 1 TB SSD ?

3) CPU/Processor Upgrade
The OWC video does show this maybe is possible, but again, they will need do do some testing etc to determine this. Any upgrade beyond what Apple offers for processors will need to be done so that it does not exceed the cooling design envelop.

 

[boto]

I just discovered the 32GB iMac Pro consists of 4 memory modules of 8GB per slot and if you were to order 64GB of ECC memory from Crucial it would cost $860 or more. I'm now planning to reorder due to backlight bleeding issues and better value for the 64GB option.

 

[bxs]

I just discovered the 32GB iMac Pro consists of 4 memory modules of 8GB per slot and if you were to order 64GB of ECC memory from Crucial it would cost $860 or more. I'm now planning to reorder due to backlight bleeding issues and better value for the 64GB option.

To clarify...
So Apple charges +$800 for going from 32 GB to 64 GB RAM, right ? This is what makes you state Apple's 64 GB RAM upgrade is competitive, right ?

 

[boto]

To clarify...
So Apple charges +$800 for going from 32 GB to 64 GB RAM, right ? This is what makes you state Apple's 64 GB RAM upgrade is competitive, right ?

Yes, considering if you wanted to upgrade yourself it would be relatively close in price if you ordered the 32GB option. However, replacing yourself does allow you to sell the extra memory modules to offset the costs, but I personally don't want to go through that hassle until my Apple Care is over.

 

[floridaman]

I don't mean to steal your RAM thread here, but if SSD is also upgradable that could be OK here to discuss otherwise I'll delete it if you feel otherwise.

I understand that the SSD is made up from two modules such as

1TB = 2x 512 GB
2TB = 2x 1TB
4TB = 2x 2TB

If these modules are replaceable then when upgrading RAM it might provide the opportunity for also upgrading the SSD size. The only issue I see is that if two SSD modules are being used how has Apple designed things to have them appear to macOS as a single device (maybe they're striped somehow).

BTW... I've ordered my iMac Pro with the 128 GB RAM option because i need as much RAM as I can get for my workload. I'm not concerned about SSD size so went for just the 1 TB.

Not trying to get off the subject of this thread but want to clarify the number of hard drives/modules installed. I got the standard configuration and upgraded to a 2TB hard drive. No other upgrades. There is one 2TB hard drive installed in my IMP not 2 1TB hard drives. Thinking I should have upgraded the memory to 64GB.

 

[hvfsl]

Hot off the press: OWC performed a teardown and not only is the RAM upgradeable, but it looks like the SSDs are upgradeable as well. They even speculate that the CPUs might possibly be upgradeable as well, but that will require a lot more testing before that can be confirmed.

To get to the RAM, you have to remove the display, then loosen the right and left speaker assemblies, and then remove 5 or 6 screws to pull out the motherboard. From there, you can easily access the RAM and upgrade it just like you always have. It does not look difficult to do for those with patience and steady hands.

OWC also announced that they will offer two programs for RAM upgrades:

1) You can send in your iMac Pro and they will upgrade it for you.
2) They will offer a DIY upgrade kit for advanced users and technicians.

This is great news and I look forward to seeing how RAM prices pan out in the weeks to come.

That looks good, so all the important parts look like they are upgradable (the GPU isn't removable, but can upgrade with an external GPU down the road). Be interesting to see what socket they are using for the SSDs, whether M.2 or a custom one. The only reason I can see to not being able to upgrade the cpu is if Apple got Intel to design a custom socket, which wouldn't really make sense for the volumes this computer sells in.

 

[mikeboss]

There is one 2TB hard drive installed in my IMP not 2 1TB hard drives. Thinking I should have upgraded the memory to 64GB.

no matter what storage capacity you order, the iMac Pro always has two SSDs configured as RAID 0.

 

[floridaman]

no matter what storage capacity you order, the iMac Pro always has two SSDs configured as RAID 0.

If that is the case then why does the system information screen show nothing under raid and this.

 

[mikeboss]

If that is the case then why does the system information screen show nothing under raid and this.

because the T2 chip (which seems to act as RAID controller) only presents a single drive to the system.

 

[CWallace]

Isn't the iMac Pro capped at 128gb?

Yes - memory must be installed in sets of 4 so:

32GB is 4x8GB DIMMs
64GB is 4x16GB DIMMs
128GB is 4x32GB DIMMs

1) RAM Upgrade
I think that if iMac Pro RAM prices stay at their current levels or if they go higher, then adding the cost oF RAM to what OWC will charge either with their mail-in upgrade and their DIY kit upgrade program the cost will be comparable to what Apple charges in the first place when ordering the iMac Pro

OWC themselves at this point note that it is probably better to just order the iMac Pro with the amount of memory you need rather than have it performed by an authorized third-party.

2) SSD Upgrade
Upgrading SSD will be interesting to follow as I believe the T2 chip somehow locks the SSD to the iMac Pro's hardware in some way. OWC will need to understand this technology precisely before embarking on providing SSD upgrades.

The T2 chip does encrypt all data written to the SSDs by default. You can then use Vile Fault+ on top of that for added security.

As such, I expect an SSD warranty replacement / upgrade will require a restore from backup as I do not expect it to be possible to recover the data on the SSDs themselves.

As an aside, I wonder if larger SSDs are physically larger than what OWC had for their 1 TB SSD?

I am guessing the modules are physically the same dimension just with higher-capacity NAND chips.

3) CPU/Processor Upgrade
The OWC video does show this maybe is possible, but again, they will need do do some testing etc to determine this. Any upgrade beyond what Apple offers for processors will need to be done so that it does not exceed the cooling design envelop.

The 8-core W-2140B used in the iMac Pro has a lower base clock and Turbo Boost clock than the "retail" W-2155. The 10-core W-2150B has a lower base clock, but the same Turbo Clock as the W-2145. The (likely named) W-2160B 14-core and W-2170B 18-core appear to have the same base clock and Turbo Boost speeds as the W-2175B 14-core and W-2195B 18-core. So you might not be able to upgrade from a W-2145B 8-core to a W-2155 10-core, but you should be able to upgrade from 8/10-cores to "retail" 14/18 cores and stay within the thermal limits.

If that is the case then why does the system information screen show nothing under raid and this.

The T2 chip also serves as the SSD controller and presents the two SSDs as a single logical drive to the OS.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

An interesting note from OWC after their tear down:

“That being said, with consideration to the relatively limited trade-in value of the lowest base 32GB option, the current cost of a full 64GB or 128GB kit and the labor involved with the upgrade – we currently recommend purchasing an iMac Pro with the amount of memory you believe will be needed. While it is huge benefit to have the option in the future, at present the financial benefit is relatively small vs. the factory cost differences to upgrade from that base 32GB. Over time this difference will likely grow and a real benefit will come to be, but for now we do feel the knowledge that an upgrade is possible is of more benefit than choosing to upgrade aftermarket at this time.”

For now, Apple’s pricing is pretty fair. But perhaps in 3 or 4 years, an aftermarket upgrade might save you some significant money.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

I have been unable to find the exact RAM that matches the iMac Pro's specifications, but the closest I found for 128 GB comes in around $1,800 USD. (I"m not entirely sure if that particular RAM is a match for the iMac Pro though.)

With the business discount (or government discount) I receive from Apple, 128 GB of OEM RAM costs $2,150 USD. We have to wait until we know the exact cost of aftermarket RAM and the resell value of the 32 GB that come with the iMac Pro, but it looks like at this point, it may not be worth it to go aftermarket at this point in time. But I'm sure we'll find out a lot more in the weeks to come...

 

[corelle]

The 8-core W-2155B used in the iMac Pro has a lower base clock and Turbo Boost clock than the "retail" W-2155. The 10-core W-2145B has a lower base clock, but the same Turbo Clock as the W-2145. The W-2175B 14-core and W-2195B 18-core

Weird

according to

https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/426

14-core shoud be W-2170B instead ?

 

[CWallace]

Weird according to https://browser.geekbench.com/macs/426 14-core shoud be W-2170B instead ?

Could be. They are custom CPUs exclusive to the iMac Pro so they have different numbering than the Retail SKUs. The 8-core is the 2140B and the 10-core is the 2150B so it stands to reason the 14-core will be a 2160B and the 18-core a 2170B.