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Apple yesterday announced a new 27-inch iMac with faster 10th-generation Intel Core processor options, next-generation AMD graphics, and up to a whopping 128GB of RAM.

new-27-inch-imac-2020.jpg

To max out the RAM at checkout, Apple charges an additional $2,600, which is like buying another whole iMac. Fortunately, the memory in the 27-inch iMac is user-replaceable thanks to the easily-accessible memory backdoor slot, and there are far more affordable options available from third parties.

OWC offers 128GB of DDR4 PC4-21300 RAM that's compatible with the 27-inch iMac. The total cost on Amazon is $599.99, or $2,000 less than Apple charges its customers. These are the OWC memory upgrade kits available, compared to the prices that you'd pay when purchasing an iMac from Apple:
Apple provides instructions for users wanting to install memory in an iMac. Note that the RAM in the 21.5-inch iMac models, which were not updated yesterday other than a change to the base storage configuration, is not user-accessible.

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Article Link: Third-Party RAM for 27-inch iMac Still Far More Affordable Than Apple's Checkout Upgrade Options
 
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Although RAM on the 21.5 is not easily user accessible it’s still likely cheaper to install your own third party RAM by opening up the computer much like those who have installed SSDs on older iMacs.

Users just aren't going to open up a 21.5" iMac, I wouldn't and I've built tons of custom PCs (custom loops as well).

Apple have priced the RAM because they know people will just do it themselves, it's very easy. If someone does decide to pay Apple prices for RAM, then Apple are laughing all the way to the bank.
 
Is it known which CPUs are built into the new iMac? I suspect it's these:

3.1GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 10th generation (Turbo Boost 4.5GHz) i5-10500
3.3 GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 10th generation (Turbo Boost 4.8 GHz) i5-10600K
3.8 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i7 10th Generation (Turbo Boost 5.0 GHz) i7-10700K
3.6 GHz 10-core Intel Core i9 10th generation (Turbo Boost 5.0 GHz) i9-10900K

The i5 CPU is designed for DDR4-2666, but the i7 and i9 are designed for DDR4-2933, so it would be interesting to know if you can use the faster RAM for the new iMacs with i7 and i9. For example, my iMac 2017 (designed for DDR4-2400) has RAM from the 2019 model (DDR4-2666) and I can confirm that this has a positive effect on speed.
 
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32Gb for only $400, a bargain compared to European prices :eek:

Furthermore : 8Gb in a 2020 machine o_O This is the top spec 27" by the way.

Schermafbeelding 2020-08-05 om 12.43.11.png



Edit! Just saw on the Apple US page that it's not $400 but $600 to go from 8 -> 32Gb. Explains the Euro prices (a bit) but is another 50% more for the US as well...
 
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Users just aren't going to open up a 21.5" iMac, I wouldn't and I've built tons of custom PCs (custom loops as well).

Apple have priced the RAM because they know people will just do it themselves, it's very easy. If someone does decide to pay Apple prices for RAM, then Apple are laughing all the way to the bank.
Most users won’t, but for some it’s an option particularly if you wait one year for the manufacturer’s warranty to expire.
 
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