Late 2009 iMac 27" Core i7 - upgrade options?

[sparkie7]

Ok my iMac 27" (Model 11,1 2.8Ghz i7), is 2 years old now and looks like the 1TB HD is on its lasts legs, every time I got to Disk Utility it says in red:

THIS DRIVE HAS A HARDWARE PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED.

and then something like, back it up and get it replaced, go see an  authorised dealer..

So doesn't look good, for only a 2 year old drive, pretty flakey..

Luckily I bought care so have one more year left to get this iMac fixed. My question is, I might as well get the  dealer to upgrade the RAM and maybe add a second drive or SSD, does this model iMac 27" have enough space for another SSD or HD in there? -- heat implications?

Also, do  dealers/repair centres allow you to bring in your own RAM for them to install? If so, where the place to buy, OWC, or?

I have 4GB installed from the factory when I ordered, so would like another 4GB to up it to 8GB or even 16GB if its not too expensive. Do you have to upgrade with matching pairs etc?

Just trying to upgrade this to last another year or two..

Thanks for any info/advice/suggestions

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I don't know about the SSD/HDD part of your question, maybe have a look at iFixIt and its many guides.

The RAM is cheap, you can get 8 GB RAM (two 4 GB modules) for less than 40 USD via Newegg, thus 16 GB RAM will only cost 80 USD, and you can replace it yourself with a Phillips screwdriver quite easily.
As you have 4 GB RAM in two 2 GB modules, you could also just upgrade to 12 GB.

I also don't know about Apple upgrading your iMac with your own RAM, but as it is easy as washing dishes, I would just do it myself.
iFixIt also has a guide on this, and the User Guide also has instructions for this.

 

[sparkie7]

Ok, cool. I thought I had to open the whole machine up to upgrade the RAM. I have heard the iMac is a b*tch to take apart and put back together. Unlike the Mac Pros

The RAM is cheap, you can get 8 GB RAM (two 4 GB modules) for less than 40 USD via Newegg, thus 16 GB RAM will only cost 80 USD, and you can replace it yourself with a Phillips screwdriver quite easily.
As you have 4 GB RAM in two 2 GB modules, you could also just upgrade to 12 GB.

So its ok to mix RAM size modules? - any effect on memory performance etc?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Ok, cool. I thought I had to open the whole machine up to upgrade the RAM. I have heard the iMac is a b*tch to take apart and put back together. Unlike the Mac Pros

It is not really a bitch, it just has many screws to unscrew and the glass plate held by magnets. I opened my 2007 Aluminium iMac twice, once to upgrade the 250 GB HDD to a 500 GB HDD, and then again last week, to upgrade to a 60 GB SSD from my MBP (which has been upgraded to a 120 GB HDD), and it took "only" an hour or less. All in all, it was just time consuming, but not really hard, as you haven't had to pry open something like with the iBook or Mac mini.

The RAM is this easy:

 

[sparkie7]

It is not really a bitch, it just has many screws to unscrew and the glass plate held by magnets. I opened my 2007 Aluminium iMac twice, once to upgrade the 250 GB HDD to a 500 GB HDD, and then again last week, to upgrade to a 60 GB SSD from my MBP (which has been upgraded to a 120 GB HDD), and it took "only" an hour or less. All in all, it was just time consuming, but not really hard, as you haven't had to pry open something like with the iBook or Mac mini.

The RAM is this easy:

Image​

Thanks. Looks easy.

How about the drives, assume its much harder to open the machine up to install?

 

[MatthewAMEL]

Replacing RAM is the only 'user-accessible' part of an iMac.

Replacing anything but the RAM isn't fun.

You can put a SSD in place of the HDD or you can add an SSD, but only if you take out the DVD drive.

If you do replace the HDD, keep in mind the Late 2009 iMacs have the infamous 'HDD Temp Sensor'.

I just recently replaced the 1TB Seagate that started failing SMART checks with a 3TB WD and used the 'Optical Temp Sensor' cable solution for runaway fan speeds. It works great and was a better solution for me than the HDD Fan Control sw because I use my iMac for gaming in Win7. The SW solution worked great in OS X, but the HDD fan wouldn't spin faster than 1,000RPM in Win7 no matter how hot it got.

iFixIt Guide for 27" iMac
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_27"

Source for the Optical Temp Sensor Cable
http://www.macpartsonline.com/imac-...ore2duo-intel-i5-i7-imac-late-2009-a1312.html

HDD Fan Control software
http://www.hddfancontrol.com/

Good luck!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks. Looks easy.

How about the drives, assume its much harder to open the machine up to install?

Remove glass plate, unscrew aluminium front (12 screws), unscrew display (8 screws?), disconnect 7 cables, unscrew two screws to remove HDD.
It is manageable with all the tutorials (iFixIt and YouTube) out there, you just need the proper tools (listed on the iFixIt site).

 

[sparkie7]

You can put a SSD in place of the HDD or you can add an SSD, but only if you take out the DVD drive.

If you do replace the HDD, keep in mind the Late 2009 iMacs have the infamous 'HDD Temp Sensor'.

I just recently replaced the 1TB Seagate that started failing SMART checks with a 3TB WD and used the 'Optical Temp Sensor' cable solution for runaway fan speeds. It works great and was a better solution for me than the HDD Fan Control sw because I use my iMac for gaming in Win7. The SW solution worked great in OS X, but the HDD fan wouldn't spin faster than 1,000RPM in Win7 no matter how hot it got.

What's with the HDD Temp Sensor? -- is there a fault or something with it in relation to the fan control? -- If  replaces my failing HDD, I assume they will fix or re-attach the temp sensor so its working again?

Remove glass plate, unscrew aluminium front (12 screws), unscrew display (8 screws?), disconnect 7 cables, unscrew two screws to remove HDD.
It is manageable with all the tutorials (iFixIt and YouTube) out there, you just need the proper tools (listed on the iFixIt site).

Screw that! I'll let the  tech do that, LOL

 

[MatthewAMEL]

What's with the HDD Temp Sensor?

Apple, in their infinite wisdom, shipped the Late 2009 iMacs with custom firmware on the HDD's.

If you buy a standard HDD from Newegg or Amazon and install it, the HDD Fan will slowly spin up to it's max 5000RPM speed. Makes your iMac sound like a jet engine.

There are four ways (that I know of) around this problem.

1) Purchase a replacement drive from Apple. Their price on a 1TB drive was $389 the last time I checked. (three weeks ago)

2) Use the instructions available to short out the pins on the temp sensor cable. This solution is fine if you are going to replace it with an SSD.

3) Use the HDD Fan Control software.

4) Use the Optical Temp Sensor cable. It attaches to the surface of the HDD like pre-2009 iMacs.

You still have AppleCare. If you can demonstrate to the Genius/Tech that the drive is failing SMART, then your replacement HDD will be covered.

 

[sparkie7]

Ok thanks.

Well, I just open up Disk Utility, and with out running any tests, the drive just shows up in red. When I click on it, it gives me the warning in my first post. So yeah, I'd say that its on way south.

The firmware  installed sounds a bit rubbish, is it not installable on third party HDD's?

Now when the Apple tech replaces my drive, I hope they replace it with one that has the firmware b/c I do not want to lug it all the way back to tell them my replaced drive sounds like a hovercraft

 

[sparkie7]

Could someone confirm, if it ok to mix RAM size modules? - any effect on memory performance etc?

Also if I replace all the current RAM, what do I do with the 4GB.. throw under a bus?

 

[sparkie7]

I did more digging and found this thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/810005/

...so seems its ok to mix different size RAM chips - as long as they are in pairs, and same speed as original pair from factory

 

[flynz4]

Could someone confirm, if it ok to mix RAM size modules? - any effect on memory performance etc?

Also if I replace all the current RAM, what do I do with the 4GB.. throw under a bus?

Memory is installed in pairs. When you open the access panel (3 captive screws)... you will see two side-by-side dual stacked connectors.

Your existing 4GB (2X2GB)will be installed side by side... one in each of the two connectors.

At this point, you have a choice.

-Choice 1: You can spend $40-$50 for 8GB (2X4GB), and install them side by side in the second (open) slot in each of the two stacked connectors. This gives you 12GB and it will work fine.

-Choice 2: You can spend $80-$100 for 16GB (4X4GB) and replace your existing RAM.

I chose #2. For an extra $50, it seemed worth it to me to go to 16GB.

/Jim

 

[sparkie7]

So what did you do with your original 4GB (2X2GB)?

I hate waste and redundancy..

 

[alust2013]

So what did you do with your original 4GB (2X2GB)?

I hate waste and redundancy..

If you're getting along with 4GB ok now, I'd just get the 2x4GB and add it. If you still need more, then I'd buy that. Anyhow, I'd keep the original if you did replace it, it's not worth much, but is a good idea to install the original stuff if you have to send it in for service by apple. They occasionally will return a machine to stock configuration if it comes in otherwise, and you lose the money you spent upgrading that way.

 

[sparkie7]

True about the Apple service reason. Thanks for the reminder

 

[nyguy4u]

Hate to drudge up a few month old topic.. but...

I also have a 2009 iMac, and want to upgrade. I currently have 4GB now (2GB x 2), and I want to buy 4 4GB x 4 to max it out. I want to buy from Newegg. I went there, and there are so many options, and brands.

Easy question, which ones do I get? Again, I have a late model 2009 iMac, 27", 2.8GHz.

Thanks in advance.