Our late 2013 imac logic board needs to be replaced. Can we use a newer logic board? If so, what would fit and work in our imac and/or what other modifications would we have to make to make a newer board work?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Logic board upgrade late 2013 Imac 27 inch?
- Thread starter Beaner McBean
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The casing for 2014+ iMacs are different in a couple ways - antennas, and some placements of the screw holes. I would not suggest replacing just the logic board in a 2013 case with anything above a 2013.
eBay has iMacs being parted out, others with broken screens etc. Each series has features that make it unique.
For reference as far as I am aware:
2012 + 2013 cases are the same
2014 + 2015 cases are the same
iMac pro is unique
2017 + 2019 cases are the same
The OP is looking for a logic board, not a case. Big difference.
Yes, the difference being which logic board he can fit in his 2013 case. Say for example he can not stick A 2017 board in his 2013 case
Ok, the OP also wanted to know the differences and modifications that would have to be done, in this case, to turn a 2013 into a 2012. Since the question was about later logic boards, I don't understand the point of your post.
Feel free to explain the differences. I would but I think it's a waste of time other than this:
Unless going with a SATA III SSD or HDD only, a 2012 is a lot slower than a 2013.
Thank you. I had heard of some people who were able to put a 2013 logic board into a 2012, so I thought maybe the next year would fit mine. While I have it apart, I'm thinking it's sensible to put a new SSD in or upgrade graphics. Is that fairly easy to do? Anything I have to look out for in terms of being certain it will work?
[doublepost=1566442219][/doublepost]
Yeah, that's what I was hoping for!
[doublepost=1566442311][/doublepost]
Thanks. Some posters on another site were reporting putting a 2013 logic board into a 2012, so I thought maybe I could put a later one in mine.
[doublepost=1566442405][/doublepost]So would the best case be to replace the logic board and add an external graphics card? Could I at least swap out the hard drive while I'm in there? What would work in there?
Very easy. Get the Intel 660p and short Sintech adapter. You'll loosen or remove the left speaker to gain access.
Although the 660p is considered a slow NVMe blade, the PCIe bus is the bottleneck in a 2013–14, Yours cannot benefit from the increased speed of the far more expensive 970 EVO. You must run High Sierra or later.
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-660p-1-0TB-80mm-978350/dp/B07GCLLKDC?th=1
Adapter https://www.amazon.com/Sintech-Adap...ronics&sprefix=Sintech,electronics,201&sr=1-3
There's a wake from sleep issue with an easy work around. A Terminal Command will keep it from going to deep sleep—the display will still sleep normally. With only the display sleeping, an iMac with an SSD uses about as much juice as a night light or less.
High Sierra up to 10.13.3 or Mojave and later. eGPU over anything except TB3 was disabled in High Sierra 10.13.4/5/6 and there's no workaround that I know.
Research the eGPU vendor first about Mojave support.
i have the same question. i have purchased a 2013 case with everything (except logic board and lcd) can i put a 2015 logic board into this late 2013(ecm 2639) case? or are the screw mounts wrong etc.? then i guess the LCD would have to match the logicboard. ? thanks
Hi, as stated earlier the 2012 and 2013 have the same case. Can I replace my logicboard on my late 2012 with a newer 2013? And are the connectors for the display and power supply the same on the 2014 models, in case I could swap out to a board that supports BS. Different mounting holes and holes fore the usb/tb connectors are probably different but that I can fix
Last edited:
2013 will fit in a 2012 case with no issues - all connectors are the same including LCD.Hi, as stated earlier the 2012 and 2013 have the same case. Can I replace my logicboard on my late 2012 with a newer 2013? And are the connectors for the display and power supply the same on the 2014 models, in case I could swap out to a board that supports BS. Different mounting holes and holes fore the usb/tb connectors are probably different but that I can fix
2014s are retina - so the 2012/13 LCD are not compatible and you would need a 2014/mid 2015 LCD.