I am ready to purchase a Imac Pro but would like to know if doing upgrades like memory and SSD are completely off limits for a reasonably proficient user?
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iMac Pro How difficult is it to open an Imac or Imac Pro
- Thread starter rjtiedeman
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Search for teardown videos. You can get into them, but it involves removing the display by breaking adhesive, so you must reapply adhesive to reassemble. In the case of the iMP, you can replace the RAM, (possibly the) CPU, and SSDs, though you must basically take the entire system apart to do so. In the case of the 21.5" iMac, you can only upgrade the storage as RAM and CPU are soldered. For the 27" iMac, the RAM is easily accessed from a rear hatch, while the CPU is socketed and the storage replaceable via complete teardown. So yes, it's possible depending on the model you chose--it's just not easy.
I believe any user-attempted upgrades would void the warranty, short of adding RAM to the 27" non-pro iMac.
I believe any user-attempted upgrades would void the warranty, short of adding RAM to the 27" non-pro iMac.
If you’re buying an iMac Pro then you’re looking for a machine to speed up your workflow in a professional environment.
The time you’d spend cracking it open and risking voiding the warranty would be made back with what work you’re doing, so it’d be cheaper to just BTO the upgrade you’re looking to do in the first place.
Even if you could easily upgrade it, it takes ECC RAM. This is much more expensive. The savings you’d make literally aren’t worth the time you’d need to upgrade it.
The time you’d spend cracking it open and risking voiding the warranty would be made back with what work you’re doing, so it’d be cheaper to just BTO the upgrade you’re looking to do in the first place.
Even if you could easily upgrade it, it takes ECC RAM. This is much more expensive. The savings you’d make literally aren’t worth the time you’d need to upgrade it.
It is definitely doable. I have replaced the HDD for an SSD in a late 2012 iMac and it wasn't that hard. I am aware that replacing the RAM in the iMac Pro is more difficult as you have to take out the logic board, but with patience it is possible.
As for replacing the SSD, you need an Apple specific SSD if memory serves me right. So I doubt you will get any savings from upgrading that later on. Maybe an external SSD is the way to go if you are trying to save money, unless you need the insanely fast read and write speeds of the internal ones.
As for replacing the SSD, you need an Apple specific SSD if memory serves me right. So I doubt you will get any savings from upgrading that later on. Maybe an external SSD is the way to go if you are trying to save money, unless you need the insanely fast read and write speeds of the internal ones.
To amend the above post.
Very easy on the 27" model. 21.5" model order with what you want. Why would you want to crack a Pro or a 21.5" iMac and instantly void your warranty?
Very easy on the 27" model. 21.5" model order with what you want. Why would you want to crack a Pro or a 21.5" iMac and instantly void your warranty?
I think the nays have it. I watched the ifixit video and even though I know I can do it. I can’t afford the oops moment. The apple tech has a organization behind him to cover a mistake. I just end up with a box of parts. I have a apple 17” laptop in box in the garage that I brought home from work. Someone (name withheld) dropped and bent the case and they had to get his hard drive out fast. It is only parts now. Opps. Lots of little screws and no one knows where they went.
I think the special memory and SSDs make the question irrelevant. It’s like buying a car.
I think the special memory and SSDs make the question irrelevant. It’s like buying a car.
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