RAM

[Papa Goose]

Hi all,

I already have an iMac, and I have been donated a late 2013 27" 4K iMac that the guy couldn't get on with, so stuck it in the attic. After checking it out I think I have discivered why, the hard is shot, so that would be a visit to the repair shop. It's also running with 8gb (2x 4gb of 1RX8) ram, and I'd want to upgrade that to at least 16, butI'm struggling to find 1RX8, but can find kits with 2x 2RX8, is 2RX8 compatible with this model of iMac.

I'm thinking of this as a trying to work out if it's viable to invest in this machine as a 2nd iMac for my wife to use.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[throAU]

Hi all,

I already have an iMac, and I have been donated a late 2013 27" 4K iMac that the guy couldn't get on with, so stuck it in the attic. After checking it out I think I have discivered why, the hard is shot, so that would be a visit to the repair shop. It's also running with 8gb (2x 4gb of 1RX8) ram, and I'd want to upgrade that to at least 16, butI'm struggling to find 1RX8, but can find kits with 2x 2RX8, is 2RX8 compatible with this model of iMac.

I'm thinking of this as a trying to work out if it's viable to invest in this machine as a 2nd iMac for my wife to use.

Thanks for any advice.

If you're going to need to get the thing repaired (labour), plus replacement harddrive/ssd and RAM costs it may be cheaper to source a more recent used Mac at this point.

e.g. in australia i can pick up a 21.5" 4k iMac from 2019 with 16 GB of RAM for 550 AUD (or around 300 USD). Which is likely cheaper than the cost of the RAM and storage without labour costs on your 2013 model.

yes, its only 21.5 - you can probably pick up a 27 for not much more.

random example:

iMac Retina 5K 27” 2017 [VESA Mount] (4.2GHz Core i7, 64GB RAM, 1TB Storage) | eBay Australia

It's been a great graphics and very capable video editing machine. Very fast - for a 2017 iMac it was loaded: 4.2GHz processor, 64GB RAM with 1TB internal storage. Gorgeous 27" 5K screen. (the support/stand visible in photo not included).

www.ebay.com.au

64 GB

 

[ignatius345]

You can DIY the internal drive repair but it’s fairly labor-intensive. I did it some years back with my old 27” iMac 5K using a tool/parts kit from iFixit and about 2-3 hours of my time. If you’re handy and willing to follow a lot of instructions it’s doable, but not easy. Even DIYing the repair, it’s still going to set you back some money sourcing the RAM and whatever replacement drive you get, plus buying the parts (replacement adhesive strips, other stuff) and tools you need to do it.

But also a 2013 iMac is going to feel very slow, even for basic use IMO. I’d pick up a more recent used Mac of some kind instead.