What do I do with my IMac from 2011

[Stevespiano]

I have a powerful IMac from 2011 but the technology has changed (eg. Airport Extreme router 2011, Mouse, big time memory hardly used) more custom I believe. Trade value at $75.00. Router no longer supported. Do I trade or do Apple refurbish for me. Excellent condition in my opinion. Contact please Here are the specs from About this Mac

macOS High Sierra
Version 10.13.6

IMac (27-inch, Mid 2011 (2560 x 1440)
Processor 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Startup Disk Macintosh HD
Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 MB
Serial Number D25HF07MDHJW

 

[AAtte]

Add some RAM (4gb is enough to start), buy external SSD and it will be a great Windows machine to someone for many years to come.

 

[Bradley Street]

Damnnnnnnn

those were beast specs for 2011. Just needs some more ram. if you’re interested in selling it I know there’s someone who would take it off your hands for more than 75 dollars.

 

[USB3foriMac]

Change your HDD to a SSD. Not too complicated.
The SSD will speed up your machine the most, many do this step first.

You can even add USB 3 ports, either external to Thunderbolt or internally (see my thread).
Then, you can also add external Wifi through USB, or use the copper Gigabit which you don't need to do any mod as it is standard.

Last, you can even upgrade your graphics if you want to play games or for professional video work. If you do that, you can even install the latest Mac OS (Catalina).

You can further install Linux or Windows. Both have no problems with the slightly oder hardware, and with a SSD, the machine will be almost as fast as the latest $3000 machine.

 

[wendelhp]

Change your HDD to a SSD. Not too complicated.
The SSD will speed up your machine the most, many do this step first.

You can even add USB 3 ports, either external to Thunderbolt or internally (see my thread).
Then, you can also add external Wifi through USB, or use the copper Gigabit which you don't need to do any mod as it is standard.

Last, you can even upgrade your graphics if you want to play games or for professional video work. If you do that, you can even install the latest Mac OS (Catalina).

You can further install Linux or Windows. Both have no problems with the slightly oder hardware, and with a SSD, the machine will be almost as fast as the latest $3000 machine.

Awesome answer.

I executed this recommendation few weeks ago (spent only 250$) and my machine is fast as the newer iMac 2020. Of course I don’t have heavy usage (emails, photos, browsing and so on)

Good luck

 

[rc3105]

I have a powerful IMac from 2011 but the technology has changed (eg. Airport Extreme router 2011, Mouse, big time memory hardly used) more custom I believe. Trade value at $75.00. Router no longer supported. Do I trade or do Apple refurbish for me. Excellent condition in my opinion. Contact please Here are the specs from About this Mac

macOS High Sierra
Version 10.13.6

IMac (27-inch, Mid 2011 (2560 x 1440)
Processor 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Startup Disk Macintosh HD
Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 MB
Serial Number D25HF07MDHJW

Depends on your area of course, but that machine will bring $350-$400 on my local craigslist.

Yeah they show up there for $50 or $100 from time to time, and when they do I usually buy them to clean up and flip for $400ea. With everybody home for corona I sold out ;-)

 

[grwren]

You can even add USB 3 ports, either external to Thunderbolt or internally (see my thread).
Then, you can also add external Wifi through USB, or use the copper Gigabit which you don't need to do any mod as it is standard.

Hi. I'm new to mac & the forum but I'm very interested in your thread on adding an external usb3 port/s through Thunderbolt. I've looked but haven't found the thread yet. Can you please provide a link or tell me where to look? Thanks.

 

[rc3105]

I think he was referring to the thread about adding usb3 internally.

USB 3.0 for iMac mid 2011

Hello folks, I have been following the thread about graphics card upgrade 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade for some time, and someone mentioned that he has upgraded to USB3. So I started my own USB3 project, and succeeded, at a cost of around US$ 20, plus around 3 hours work. I replaced the...

forums.macrumors.com

As for adding USB3 externally, most TB laptop docks have usb3, many TB to eide raid adapters have it. Seems like most of the discussions about finding those adapters would date back before the 2012 models started incuding usb3 on the motherboard...

the Delock 62634 is probably what you're looking for.

Delock Products 62634 Delock Adapter Thunderbolt™ male > USB 3.0 Type-A female

www.delock.com

or this Kanex

Kanex Thunderbolt to eSATA plus USB 3.0 Adapter

Easily connect your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac or PC to an eSATA device with the Kane Thunderbolt to eSATA + USB 3.0 Adapter. Small and compact, it connects to the Thunderbolt port on your Mac or PC. Compatible with MacBook with MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011), MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011), MacB...

www.amazon.com

 

[USB3foriMac]

Thanks RC3105 for referring to my post.
In this post USB 3.0 for iMac mid 2011 you also find an external TB to USB 3 adapter. As the costs are significantly higher and you will have an external box hanging around, I dod not go for any external solution.

Also, this unit does NOT have USB 3:

I have a powerful IMac from 2011 ...

If you worry about losing Wifi, you can add any MacOS compatible wifi dongle, e.g. AC1200 compatible, like this one:
D-link DWA-182_Datasheet
Posts in the web say that this works flawlessly without installing any wifi-maker software. It is using original apple wifi task icon.

 

[grwren]

Thank you both for replying but turns out it's a mute anyway because my imac is a late 2009 and after some more research I discovered there is no TB on this earlier model anyway! So, without some level surgery, which at my imac skill level, I'm just not ready to under take just yet I guess I'm just stuck with USB2! Oh well, that's why they invented coffee! Thanks again.

 

[USB3foriMac]

Never give up, never surrender...

Adding USB3.0 to late 2009 iMac (11,1)

Hi, as I see a lot of people trying to achieve the same thing on his old imac 27'', and searching the net trying to see if someone has already done this, we end up here thinking it's not possible to swap the mini pci-e wifi card, I'll update with my experience: it works, you can have usb 3.0 on...

forums.macrumors.com

These cards are also available with FL1100 chip (Fresco logic), so that no driver is needed at all.
The reason I didn't use this is because it doesn't fit into the 2011 iMac. The mini PCIE card needs to be super flat with the 2011 models.

 

[grwren]

Never give up, never surrender...

Adding USB3.0 to late 2009 iMac (11,1)

Hi, as I see a lot of people trying to achieve the same thing on his old imac 27'', and searching the net trying to see if someone has already done this, we end up here thinking it's not possible to swap the mini pci-e wifi card, I'll update with my experience: it works, you can have usb 3.0 on...

forums.macrumors.com

Thanks for the link.....I took a look and that look's a bit complicated! I hesitate to say that I'm giving up or that I'm surrendering but right now I'm just sure that usb3 speed is all that important for me right now. I'm not only trying to get use to the imac, macos and I'm also looking at dual booting w/linux or installing linux on an external drive and booting up that way. I've done a few external installs on windows machines w/usb2 and frankly boot times for my use were not that bad! I was just hoping that there was an easy path to a usb 3 upgrade on the imac. If I decide in the future that the hdd in the mac needs to be replaced with an ssd then I may take another look at the usb3 upgrade. In the mean time I'll just make more coffee an wait!

Thanks again for your help.