New Product Teardowns Continue: iMac, Mac Mini, Magic Mouse

[lonefrontranger]

While nice, thats not new. Same with prior iMacs. Very easy to access.

see that's the thing tho -- there is a LOT of misinformation roaming around out there in various forums (including these) that claims the iMac isn't user serviceable by the layman. *full disclosure* I built my own PC boxes for years and years, and I'm really not all that Mac hardware-savvy despite having owned one for several years.

YES this ifixit teardown is highly useful to me because it looks like, so long as you're careful, it really does not seem that much more complicated swapping out parts than in some of the older tower PCs I fiddled with.

honestly if you read through that ifixit, not only do they show how to remove the optical drive, but they even provide a link to a slot-loading blu-ray drive to replace it with. So ok, this machine doesn't come with BR installed. You have 2 choices: video in from your external BR drive (which is apparently easily do-able, you just have to buy the right plug and you're set) or roll your own using the ifixit article as guide.

I mean, I know it's likely not a trivial task, and sure it would be nice to have it all BTO but it beats the hackintosh route (oh and don't even get me started about Windows machines... they suck, which is why I abandoned them!)

 

[iSee]

The Apple logo is functional!!!

 

[pmjoe]

I am still unclear why Apple only puts in 5400RPM drives in the Mini...they are much noticeably slower than a 7200RPM.

I honestly think Apple believes their customers are too stupid to decide both the space and speed for a drive. They decided one factor is hard enough, or in the case of the server, no decision at all.

It's also probably to simplify assembly of the BTO options.

 

[MacApple21]

So the iMac has the potential of a video card upgrade? Interesting. Its on a daughter card and one that Apple did not create. I wonder what other cards at this time are compatible. Or I wonder if a third-party could create upgrade cards?

I am surprised no one else mentioned this huge item!

It has also struck me, maybe, with a bit engineering it would actually be plausible to upgrade the GPU at some point (dare i say 5850 )
It would be so cool if some 3rd party vendor chose to produce GPU upgrades for the iMac. I could actually see this happening, especially if the iMac at some point is offered with eg. the 5850, then geniuses like Netkas could extract the ROM from a future iMacs, and then we just need some 3rd party vendor to produce the card, and vupti we could upgrade, there's surely going to be a market!

 

[Kwill]

That 27" iMac still looks sweet even with all its guts laying on the table.

 

[SeaFox]

Use of the 27" iMac as an external display via its MiniDisplayPort connector requires that the machine be fully powered up, as the signal is routed through the main logic board.

Fail. So if your computer even dies you can't just keep on using the iMac as a monitor.

Add to that you have to buy adapters from Apple ($$$) for it to be of any use to begin with.

 

[deconstruct60]

I honestly think Apple believes their customers are too stupid ....
It's also probably to simplify assembly of the BTO options.

Not just simplify, but makes it cheaper to manufacture and inventory. They've already shaved lots of money off what they normally would offer this machine + software at. (see the $1299 vs. $999 breakdown above ) Granted there is still a hefty profit margin there.

There are no BTO options for this device. None, zero, nada. No tweaking memory, processor, or disk. You can buy other stuff along with it, but it is a "one size fits all who wants to buy one" offering. They don't even offer a monitor or keyboard on their short list of items to buy along with it at the online Apple store. It is a headless/keyboardless machines that has a fixed configuration.


It is much more like a Apple TV or a single version of Time Capsule from the hardware point of view. Way more flexible from the software perspective though. Lack of configuration options on those other target offerings isn't necessarily indicative of the buyers being stupid either.

 

[dmmcintyre3]

judging by these pics, do you think a 3.5 inch drive might fit? I did a comparison to my iBook's HD and it looked as if it would

 

[deconstruct60]

Fail. So if your computer even dies you can't just keep on using the iMac as a monitor.

Motherboard powered doesn't necessarily mean the computer is working. If the computer died because the power supply died then the monitor would still have a shared problem. Unclear as to how this switch works. If it is a switch which just routes the display port signals directly into the panel passing the CPU/GPU and rest of the motherboard then could very well work if the computer is "dead". ( You'd might have to go in and perhaps could be as simple as taking all the memory/disk out to stop the computer parts that were broken from causing more damage. )

Motherboard powered on versus OS software running is a big difference.

if this is some kind of feed the signals back through the GPU and back out to the other monitor than probably in worse shape.

Add to that you have to buy adapters from Apple ($$$) for it to be of any use to begin with.

Even going in the OTHER direction, as a second monitor for the iMac, you are still out more money for adapters. The standard configuration comes with one single cord; the power cord.

 

[deconstruct60]

judging by these pics, do you think a 3.5 inch drive might fit? I did a comparison to my iBook's HD and it looked as if it would

iBook's had 3.5 drives? Besides, are you looking at width or height?
Height is the more critical factor. It is going to be wider because the optical disks were wider. Most 3.5 drives are substantially (in relative terms) taller than 2.5 ones.

 

[dmmcintyre3]

hmmm the real question is if I shoud buy a HP Mediasmart for my server and windows 7 maybe $800 bucks... or this for $1100 (canadian)... I hate windows but... 4 drive bays instead of one.... an app to access everything across the world.... hmm....

why do i still want the mac mini server?

italic: The mini server has 2, plus you can add externals. even with that it would probably be less space Yes you can do it to both.

Bold: It's called VPN, OS X server has it

 

[dmmcintyre3]

iBook's had 3.5 drives? Besides, are you looking at width or height?
Height is the more critical factor. It is going to be wider because the optical disks were wider. Most 3.5 drives are substantially taller than 2.5 ones.

No just for the iBook's hard drive for the size in that pic compared to a spare (dead) desktop drive. The one shown looks thicker than my iBook's drive and appears to have space above it.

 

[Thex1138]

Nooo Dissasemble!!!

 

[Shanpdx]

the memory used in new iMac 27" looks like PC3 -8500 DDR3 1066Mhz Mobile memory SO DIMM (from ifixit)

is there a performance difference between mobile and desktop memory?

it looks like 2X2GB = 4GB going for less than $100 where as upgrade from Apple cost $200.

 

[addicted2mymac]

I'm looking to purchase a new mac mini to use in my recording studio. I think they are now powerful enough and still sleek to work for me. I also think it is a great deal to get one running apple's server software for $1,000. That is unheard of!

 

[Eric5h5]

I've got to say these teardowns are of limited interest. 99.9% of us will never use or need this information.

Just because you have no curiosity doesn't mean nobody else does.

--Eric

 

[deconstruct60]

the memory used in new iMac 27" looks like PC3 -8500 DDR3 1066Mhz Mobile memory SO DIMM (from ifixit)

is there a performance difference between mobile and desktop memory?

As long as keep the specs the same " PC3 8500 DDR3 1066Mhz no ECC" it is main the SO versus "full size" that is the difference in price. The larger dimms allow use of somewhat cheaper parts/construction.

it looks like 2X2GB = 4GB going for less than $100 where as upgrade from Apple cost $200.

Part of that is the installation convenience fee. If you are going to install it yourself then you can pocket it. If going to pay someone else to install the memory that would eat into the $100.

However, BTO memory is always priced to be a money market for the manufacturers.

 

[calderone]

No just for the iBook's hard drive for the size in that pic compared to a spare (dead) desktop drive. The one shown looks thicker than my iBook's drive and appears to have space above it.

There is no way a 3.5 is going in without heavy modification. It will not fit in that tray.

 

[deconstruct60]

No just for the iBook's hard drive for the size in that pic compared to a spare (dead) desktop drive. The one shown looks thicker than my iBook's drive and appears to have space above it.

Hitachi 3.5 Deskstar E7K1000 ( height 26.5 mm)
http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/menuitem.06d8ccb10579a6bb10441762eac4f0a0/

Hitachi 3.5 Cinemstar 5K500 ( height 26.1 mm)
http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/products/cinemastar/5K500/

Hitachi 2.5 Travelstar T7K500 ( height 9.5 mm )
http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/products/travelstar/7K500/

Hitachi 2.5 CinemaStar C5K500 ( height 9.5 mm)
http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/products/cinemastar/C5K500/


May not be a hair width tight squeeze in that to get that 2.5" in that picture, but there is nowhere near that much extra space. But no where near possible doubling in height. Going to need more torque for a bigger platter which will mean a bigger motor.... which historically lead to more height. So the standard 3.5 height is much taller.

[ the last update, laptops, used Hitachi disks so picked from those for height comparisons. Could be vendor with minor differences in height though. ]

P.S.
I suspect also going to get more vibrations out of a 3.5 drive too. In that picture only attached to one side of the drive. I don't think that is going to maximize dampening even if could jam one in.

 

[Shanpdx]

As long as keep the specs the same " PC3 8500 DDR3 1066Mhz no ECC" it is main the SO versus "full size" that is the difference in price. The larger dimms allow use of somewhat cheaper parts/construction.

thanks for the post, what about the performance, it is same as long as the spec match?

 

[deconstruct60]

thanks for the post, what about the performance, it is same as long as the spec match?

In the narrow context of how fast that DIMM will get data onto a memory bus., yes.

In terms of performance that the user will perceive, there are numerous other factors that play a roll. For example, the upcoming i7 version of the iMac will get more throughput to memory than the currently shipping iMacs will with exactly the same kind of memory plugged in.


Historically, desktops will leverage memory clocked faster than laptops earlier in the product revision cycle. That's where more of the differences have sprung from. If not pushing the bleeding edge, which Apple does not, not much of a difference other than form factor at the DIMM level.

 

[Patcoola]

desktop cpu, better gpu and 4 ram slots in the new Imacs' is pretty sweet

 

[MacDSmith2]

judging by these pics, do you think a 3.5 inch drive might fit? I did a comparison to my iBook's HD and it looked as if it would[/QUOTE]

No. But you could put a 1 TB 12.5 mm 2.5 inch HDD drive in the upper slot where the optical drive was to give you 1.5 TB in the Mac Mini Server.

 

[deconstruct60]

No. But you could put a 1 TB 12.5 mm 2.5 inch HDD drive in the upper slot where the optical drive was to give you 1.5 TB in the Mac Mini Server.

The user can, but heard Apple isn't exactly ecstatic about Western Digital drives.
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=685

But looks like the replacement SuperDrives are at around that non standard 2.5 drive height (12.6 mm) (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/MMINISL8XDLK/ )

That somewhat assumes they kept the height of the sled exactly the same as before. Probably pretty safe since they didn't change much at all.

If using the top drive as the internal Time Machine target that would give you enough space so that could archive quite a bit internally (do more than just clone the contents). However, a backup inside the same exact box has issues.

 

[FreedomPirate01]

imacs

are the new imacs any easier to open up than the old ones?