Apple's colorful mainstream flagship, starting at $749.
Teardown of New 4K 21.5-inch iMac Reveals Removable RAM and Modular CPU
iFixit has published a teardown of the new 4K 21.5-inch iMac, which reveals that – surprisingly – Apple's smallest all-in-one desktop machine has both removable RAM and a Kaby Lake processor that's not soldered onto the logic board.
iFixit made the discovery by disassembling Apple's $1,299 mid-range 3.0GHz stock option, which includes 8GB of 2400MHz DDR4 memory, a Radeon Pro 555 graphics card with 2GB of VRAM, and a 1TB 5400-RPM hard drive.
After slicing through the adhesive that secures the 4K display to the iMac's housing and removing the power supply, hard drive, and fan, iFixit discovered that the memory modules aren't soldered onto the logic board like previous models, but instead sit in two removable SO-DIMM slots.
Similarly, after detaching the heatsink and removing the warranty voiding stickers on the backside of the logic board, iFixit found that the Intel SR32W Core i5-7400 Kaby Lake processor sits in a standard LGA 1151 CPU socket, making it possible to replace or upgrade the CPU without a reflow station.
As iFixit notes, an upgradeable iMac is a big shift in direction from Apple. The last 21.5-inch iMac with expandable memory was the 2013 model, while the last to include a modular CPU came in 2012. iFixit speculates that the change to a socketed processor may be because Intel's desktop class Kaby Lake line-up currently lacks any permanently mountable chips, but it's conceivable Apple could have requested one if it so chose.
It's important to note that Apple officially considers these parts non-user-replaceable, which is easy to see given the relative difficulty accessing them – compare the work involved in accessing the 21.5-inch iMac's RAM slots, with the external memory hatch found in the 27-inch iMacs, for example. That said, the fact that replacing these components is practically possible will come as music to the ears of tinkerers armed with the right tools and instructions.
Despite the upgradeable RAM and CPU, iFixit awarded the 2017 21.5-inch iMac a 3 out of 10 for repairability (10 being easiest to repair) because of the challenge involved in accessing the components. Still, that's an improvement on the 2015 model, which was given a 1 out of 10 for repairability.
Other minor changes of note discovered in the teardown include a single microphone below the iMac's LG-manufactured display (where previously there were dual mics), a replaceable CMOS battery, and an upgradeable 3.5-inch SATA hard drive, but no SSD connector.
Check out the full teardown on the iFixit website.
iFixit made the discovery by disassembling Apple's $1,299 mid-range 3.0GHz stock option, which includes 8GB of 2400MHz DDR4 memory, a Radeon Pro 555 graphics card with 2GB of VRAM, and a 1TB 5400-RPM hard drive.
After slicing through the adhesive that secures the 4K display to the iMac's housing and removing the power supply, hard drive, and fan, iFixit discovered that the memory modules aren't soldered onto the logic board like previous models, but instead sit in two removable SO-DIMM slots.
Similarly, after detaching the heatsink and removing the warranty voiding stickers on the backside of the logic board, iFixit found that the Intel SR32W Core i5-7400 Kaby Lake processor sits in a standard LGA 1151 CPU socket, making it possible to replace or upgrade the CPU without a reflow station.
As iFixit notes, an upgradeable iMac is a big shift in direction from Apple. The last 21.5-inch iMac with expandable memory was the 2013 model, while the last to include a modular CPU came in 2012. iFixit speculates that the change to a socketed processor may be because Intel's desktop class Kaby Lake line-up currently lacks any permanently mountable chips, but it's conceivable Apple could have requested one if it so chose.
It's important to note that Apple officially considers these parts non-user-replaceable, which is easy to see given the relative difficulty accessing them – compare the work involved in accessing the 21.5-inch iMac's RAM slots, with the external memory hatch found in the 27-inch iMacs, for example. That said, the fact that replacing these components is practically possible will come as music to the ears of tinkerers armed with the right tools and instructions.
Despite the upgradeable RAM and CPU, iFixit awarded the 2017 21.5-inch iMac a 3 out of 10 for repairability (10 being easiest to repair) because of the challenge involved in accessing the components. Still, that's an improvement on the 2015 model, which was given a 1 out of 10 for repairability.
Other minor changes of note discovered in the teardown include a single microphone below the iMac's LG-manufactured display (where previously there were dual mics), a replaceable CMOS battery, and an upgradeable 3.5-inch SATA hard drive, but no SSD connector.
Check out the full teardown on the iFixit website.
Related Roundup: iMac
Tag: iFixit
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Don't Buy)
[ 170 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
18 months ago
"Sure enough, the good people at MR will find something to complain about this, too."
Well, there is one thing. 5400RPM? Still? Amazing.
Well, there is one thing. 5400RPM? Still? Amazing.
18 months ago
Sure enough, the good people at MR will find something to complain about this, too.
18 months ago
Wow. Apple have withheld the solder and glue!!
Thats good - but in 2017 why is Apple still selling computers with 5400RPM ( despite being fusion ) hard disks..? Not even 7200..
Thats good - but in 2017 why is Apple still selling computers with 5400RPM ( despite being fusion ) hard disks..? Not even 7200..
18 months ago
That HD is just embarrassing. It was the biggest bottleneck with my imac 7 years ago. I guess it still is..
18 months ago
That HD is just embarrassing. It was the biggest bottleneck with my make 7 years ago. I guess it still is..
It is absolutely pathetic that in 2017 such supposedly premium high-end devices are not SSD-only. As you said, embarrasing. :(
Also - from Apple spec page I gather that iMacs still have disgustingly outdated (720p?) facetime cameras. Only the $5K iMac Pro will have 1080p HD facetime camera. Wow, 1080p, so amazing, how did they pull it off? /s
18 months ago
Sure enough, the good people at MR will find something to complain about this, too.
There's always going to be complainers, and not exclusive to Apple products. But that doesn't negate the value of legitimate criticisms. That is progresses' fuel. If we all just praised every thing "just because" companies would have no incentive to improve product.
So yes, it's great these models don't have soldered RAM and possibly could even take a CPU upgrade. But still would be better if Apple reintroduced the concept of relativity easy user upgrades for these items.
And honestly 5400rpm is absurd on a "premium" computer. 7200 drives are just as cool these days. Apple is just trying to save pennies and nickel and dime.
18 months ago
And people are conveniently calling it a hard drive ignoring the fact that it's a fusion hybrid. Which is fine for many uses.
Still, by conveniently ignoring that and intentionally not "getting it," it provides a whine-worthy opening to rag on Apple.
18 months ago
I think all of the years of complaining paid off in regard to Macs in general. These new iMacs seem to be a great upgrade to the line.
18 months ago
Finally!!
Apple's new iMac is upgradable for the first time in years!! :D An upgradable iMac is a massive shift in direction from Apple
Apple's new iMac is upgradable for the first time in years!! :D An upgradable iMac is a massive shift in direction from Apple
[ Read All Comments ]
Google Chrome now enables picture-in-picture as a default setting on Mac, Windows, and Linux computers as of Chrome 70. If you are up-to-date and watching a compatible video in the Chrome web...
Today is iPhone XR pre-order day, and like with previous iPhone models you are able to pre-order the XR from all of the major cellular carriers, most of which are offering promotions. If you...
The document scanning feature found in Apple's stock Notes app is a great way to digitize all sorts of print-based content, from letters and receipts to recipes and photos.
If you often...
Feral today announced that the Company of Heroes 2: Master Collection is now available on the Mac App Store.
Originally developed by Relic Entertainment and generally regarded as the definitive...
Alongside the iPhone XR, Apple today released a new 0.3m Magnetic Apple Watch Charger that's equipped with a USB-C connector for the first time.
At $29, the USB-C version of the Apple...
Following the launch of iPhone XR pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on October 19, Apple uploaded two new iPhone XR videos to its YouTube channel.
The two short videos are designed to show...
Apple today sent out emails highlighting its latest Apple Pay promotion, which offers Apple Pay users a $25 coupon after they spend $100 at Oakley.com.
To get the reward, users must make...
Payments company Square today announced the launch of a new point-of-sale hardware device called "Terminal," which combines NFC, credit/debit card swiping, and chip-based payments all in one...
