How many people's 24" iMac is still running strong?

[Brian33]

Can 8GB of RAM be installed on a 2008 unit? I was under the impression that 4 or 6 GB was the maximum on the older units? I have 4 GB RAM on my 2008 unit, but more RAM would be my choice if it would be advantageous. Comments?

You can definitely put 6 GB of RAM in a 24" Early 2008 iMac, even though Apple published specs indicate a max of 4 GB. I've been using 6 GB in mine: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-2.8-24-inch-aluminum-early-2008-penryn-specs.html

I'm not as sure about the 19" ones -- check that site.

I've never seen anyone use 8 GB. My guess is that it wouldn't work at all, but maybe it would boot and use up to 6 GB. I wouldn't try it, though -- get a 4 GB and a 2 GB stick instead.

 

[andrew0122]

I love this post!

I just re-watched the Keynote featuring the new Retina 5K iMac and I had to post the love I still have for my Mac.

I am STILL running the first mac I purchased with all of my own moniez!

MID 2007 24" iMac with 2.8 Core 2 Duo Extreme processor and 256MB ATI Graphics Card... EVEN at 7 years young still supported for OS X Yosemite!

Knock on wood, but this has been the best computer I have EVER purchased!! I bought this CTO brand new the day Apple announced Leopard. (Yes it still shipped with Tiger and a Drop-In DVD for the upgrade.)

LITERALLY the only problem I have had with the Mac was the Hard Drive failed about 2 years ago and with iFixit it was easily replaced (EVEN though it felt as though I was performing surgery on my best friend). . . I just hope my next Mac will last me as long!

 

[Skorpion24]

I'm still running my early 2009 iMac 24", latest made, it goes very well, fast and everything, unfortunately from some months started having vga problems I suppose, since after some time up, it freeze making it unusable, if I'm playing music from iTunes it keeps going, but I can't use. I was asked a considering amount of money to try to change it (since it's a risky thing to do) and I can't afford a new one.

The only thing that helped having less freezes was using SMCFanControl, to keep it cool, but on Yosemite the app is not working (at least for me) so I'm in kinda big troubles

 

[talmy]

Upgraded my wife's 24" iMac to Yosemite. It's still working fine. Her birthday rolled around and I asked her if she wanted a new iMac. She said, "No, it is fine."

 

[Gav Mack]

3 weeks ago I gave a clients tired old mid 2007 24inch with failing HDD a refit.

Threw out the hard drive, cleaned out all the usual muck like the dried out thermal dust from the over paste that gets everywhere, repasted with proper decent paste on polished heatsinks, fitted a 128gb mx100 ssd in a NWT 3.5 inch bracket and a 4gb OWC ddr-2 800 stick.

With 6gb of ram and the ssd it boots Mavericks in 25 seconds, 30 to load the parallels Windows 7 x86 for the clients legacy apps and all round runs like an absolute champ.

There's plenty more life in that 24 inch old dog yet

 

[patricem]

Hard drive failed in mine...I used an external for a while- didn't have the guts to actually try to replace it myself, so I opted for a 2012 mini with a 27" Planar monitor. BUT I must confess I miss that computer a lot...I still have it and may resurrect it some day. Other than the hard drive issue I had no problems at all...and I liked snow leopard. The newer imacs are impossible to replace a hard drive (I would think- I mean by yourself) thats why I opted for the mini. I miss my imac though.

 

[Gav Mack]

Hard drive failed in mine...I used an external for a while- didn't have the guts to actually try to replace it myself, so I opted for a 2012 mini with a 27" Planar monitor. BUT I must confess I miss that computer a lot...I still have it and may resurrect it some day. Other than the hard drive issue I had no problems at all...and I liked snow leopard. The newer imacs are impossible to replace a hard drive (I would think- I mean by yourself) thats why I opted for the mini. I miss my imac though.

It's not that expensive to bring it back to life:

Takes 1.5-2 hours of labour for me to strip down, clean out, fit ssd, inexperienced tech 3 hours maximum. Wear surgical gloves for removal and replacement of screen glass and lcd and give the surfaces a good clean making sure front glass has no smudges on both sides! Bit of chrome polish and thermal paste. The rest you can DIY.

Usb stick 8gb, download Yosemite installer into applications and diskmaker x too on another Mac. Create boot usb on your stick.

NWT adaptadrive bracket just over 20 bucks do not scrimp and buy the plastic icy box caddies etc they are absolute rubbish!
Ssd of your choice, mx100 is 70 bucks for 128 and anything up to 512gb is worthwhile economically imo
Memory upgrades if it's a mid 2007 and 4gb in particular are expensive, other older models and newer than the 2007 that don't use ddr2-800 are far cheaper. Max out ideally as it will never be opened again till end of life.

The newer 2012 on iMac can be done but it's far more difficult needing a heat gun to remove the glue and new adhesive ring to replace for starters.

You will find after that even a mid 2007, end of life with Yosemite most likely will run it superbly till the OS is obsolete!

 

[sgtbob]

Upgrade to OSX Yosemite

Has anyone upgraded from Mavericks to the Yosemite system on a 2008 24" iMAC? Any problems? Good vs bad features of upgrading? I'm happy with Mavericks, but am curious if Yosemite works well with an older machine and if the upgrade is worth the effort, the learning curve, etc?

 

[ElectronGuru]

My 2008 2.4 is like a loyal dog. Ran for years with daytime workstation + nighttime htpc duty (24 was plenty in a tiny living room). Then used it to start my business, where it is still working. HD gave out around year 4 so it has a FW SSD on the back.

The new retina is looking mighty tempting, might be time for some new bood. Make sure this one finds a good home, maybe as a family PC.

 

[Brian33]

Gav Mack: Thanks for posting which 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapter bracket you used successfully! When I installled an SSD into my 24" Early 2008 iMac the bracket I had wouldn't work (don't remember why). I was unwilling to research/order another adapter, so I ended up using what I had on hand: a foam tape with double-sided permanent adhesive to stick it onto the iMac's shell.

It seems to have been OK for a year, anyway. If I open it up again, though, I might spring for one of these adapters. It looks like this is the one you used?

http://www.amazon.com/Newer-Technology-AdaptaDrive-Converter-Bracket/dp/B005PZDVF6

 

[Gav Mack]

Gav Mack: Thanks for posting which 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapter bracket you used successfully! When I installled an SSD into my 24" Early 2008 iMac the bracket I had wouldn't work (don't remember why). I was unwilling to research/order another adapter, so I ended up using what I had on hand: a foam tape with double-sided permanent adhesive to stick it onto the iMac's shell.

It seems to have been OK for a year, anyway. If I open it up again, though, I might spring for one of these adapters. It looks like this is the one you used?

http://www.amazon.com/Newer-Technology-AdaptaDrive-Converter-Bracket/dp/B005PZDVF6

That's the one - slim with drive exposed hence particularly easy to put in an iMac, solidly built and reliable unlike all the other cheap and even quite expensive other rubbish in comparison. They work in all computers never apple with a 3.5 drive including all Mac Pro 1-5,1, windows servers, raid arrays you name it. I went through about 5 different models and will not buy anything else now. Must have used well over 200 - none have gone wrong.

 

[mcrazza]

Has anyone upgraded from Mavericks to the Yosemite system on a 2008 24" iMAC? Any problems? Good vs bad features of upgrading? I'm happy with Mavericks, but am curious if Yosemite works well with an older machine and if the upgrade is worth the effort, the learning curve, etc?

I have the same iMac as yours (see my signature).

Definitely worth updating from Mavericks to Yosemite. It's generally quick and runs smoothly. No bad features. It's a solid OS all-round and, in my own experience, not buggy.

One thing to take note of: Safari is a little slow when opening and/or loading new tabs. Chrome and Firefox does not have this issue.

Bottom line: upgrade from Mavericks now.

 

[ATC]

I have the same iMac as yours (see my signature).

Definitely worth updating from Mavericks to Yosemite. It's generally quick and runs smoothly. No bad features. It's a solid OS all-round and, in my own experience, not buggy.

One thing to take note of: Safari is a little slow when opening and/or loading new tabs. Chrome and Firefox does not have this issue.

Bottom line: upgrade from Mavericks now.

+1

Just installed it (clean install) on a separate partition on my early '09 24" iMac and it's running great. It's noticeably smoother and generally faster than I remember 10.9 was early on. Still testing it, one app at a time, but it's a great upgrade.

Obviously we miss out on a lot of the really cool .10 features such as handoff, continuity, instant hotspot, phone calls and SMS etc... but it's still a worthy update; love the new dark mode, markup tools, Safari 8, new notification centre....

 

[talmy]

Obviously we miss out on a lot of the really cool .10 features such as handoff, continuity, instant hotspot, phone calls and SMS etc... but it's still a worthy update; love the new dark mode, markup tools, Safari 8, new notification centre....

Phone calls and SMS will work. Handoff doesn't. The newer Airdrop doesn't but the older one works. It looks like Instant Hotspot would work (although it isn't claimed -- my iPhone does appear in the Wifi list) but who needs that with a desktop computer?

 

[odedia]

My 2006 Core 2 Duo white iMac died last month. Served me well.

 

[rotlex]

I just re-watched the Keynote featuring the new Retina 5K iMac and I had to post the love I still have for my Mac.

I am STILL running the first mac I purchased with all of my own moniez!

MID 2007 24" iMac with 2.8 Core 2 Duo Extreme processor and 256MB ATI Graphics Card... EVEN at 7 years young still supported for OS X Yosemite!

Knock on wood, but this has been the best computer I have EVER purchased!! I bought this CTO brand new the day Apple announced Leopard. (Yes it still shipped with Tiger and a Drop-In DVD for the upgrade.)

LITERALLY the only problem I have had with the Mac was the Hard Drive failed about 2 years ago and with iFixit it was easily replaced (EVEN though it felt as though I was performing surgery on my best friend). . . I just hope my next Mac will last me as long!

You have my exact machine. I've posted here before about how this thing just keeps running, and running. I have NEVER owned a computer this long, let alone one that was still usable to this degree. Honestly, I think it is the best machine I've ever owned, and I keep looking for a reason to buy a new one.

On top of that, I did the Yosemite upgrade last week and thought that would be it. The final nail. Much to my surprise, the machine is perhaps running better than ever. My biggest concern was Aperture, as I have a 70K plus photo library. While it doesn't fly, it's actually running a bit quicker than it did on Mavericks.

Not really sure what to do at this point. This thing won't die, LOL. I really thought I would be forking over the funds for a new 5K iMac, but I may just wait a few more.......years.

 

[ATC]

Phone calls and SMS will work. Handoff doesn't. The newer Airdrop doesn't but the older one works. It looks like Instant Hotspot would work (although it isn't claimed -- my iPhone does appear in the Wifi list) but who needs that with a desktop computer?

Hmm... wonder if it depends on which iPhone? I have the 5 (not 5S) running iOS 8.0.2 and none of those features are working for me.

 

[talmy]

Hmm... wonder if it depends on which iPhone? I have the 5 (not 5S) running iOS 8.0.2 and none of those features are working for me.

SMS requires iOS 8.1. Here is Apple's statement:

Handoff and Instant Hotspot
Supported by the following Mac models:

MacBook Air (2012 or later)

MacBook Pro (2012 or later)

iMac (2012 or later)

Mac mini (2012 or later)

Mac Pro (late 2013)

Handoff and Instant Hotspot work with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 8 and the Lightning connector.

Phone Calling and SMS
Requires iPhone with iOS 8 and a Mac with OS X Yosemite. Requires activated carrier plan.

AirDrop
AirDrop between OS X and iOS is supported by the following Mac models:

MacBook Air (2012 or later)

MacBook Pro (2012 or later)

iMac (2012 or later)

Mac mini (2012 or later)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

AirDrop to iOS devices requires iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 7 and the Lightning connector.

AirDrop between two Mac computers is supported by the following Mac models:

MacBook Pro (late 2008 or later)*

MacBook Air (late 2010 or later)

MacBook (late 2008 or later)*

iMac (early 2009 or later)

Mac mini (mid 2010 or later)

Mac Pro (early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or mid 2010 or later)

* The MacBook Pro (17-inch, late 2008) and the white MacBook (late 2008) do not support AirDrop.

It also looks like "Instant Hotspot" works but without the signal strength and iPhone battery monitoring on systems listed as non-supported. I'm posting this using the new hotspot capabilities on a 2009 Mac mini (not supported) and an iPhone 6.

 

[ATC]

SMS requires iOS 8.1. Here is Apple's statement:


It also looks like "Instant Hotspot" works but without the signal strength and iPhone battery monitoring on systems listed as non-supported. I'm posting this using the new hotspot capabilities on a 2009 Mac mini (not supported) and an iPhone 6.

Thanks, will test Calling/SMS once iOS 8.1 is released. Still can't get Air Drop to work but it is says only iMac 2012 and later is supported.

 

[sgtbob]

Has anyone upgraded from Mavericks to the Yosemite system on a 2008 24" iMAC? Any problems? Good vs bad features of upgrading? I'm happy with Mavericks, but am curious if Yosemite works well with an older machine and if the upgrade is worth the effort, the learning curve, etc?

I installed Yosemite this morning and after running it all day, I like it!

Installed on an early 2008 24" iMAC 8,1, 3.06 GHZ, 1 TB HDD, 4 GB RAM and its running great thus far.

 

[mcrazza]

I installed Yosemite this morning and after running it all day, I like it!

Installed on an early 2008 24" iMAC 8,1, 3.06 GHZ, 1 TB HDD, 4 GB RAM and its running great thus far.

Does your iMac have the Nvidia 8800GS video card? That video card has some well documented problems and I'm just wondering how has it performed for you over the years.

 

[sgtbob]

I have the same iMac as yours (see my signature).

Definitely worth updating from Mavericks to Yosemite. It's generally quick and runs smoothly. No bad features. It's a solid OS all-round and, in my own experience, not buggy.

One thing to take note of: Safari is a little slow when opening and/or loading new tabs. Chrome and Firefox does not have this issue.

Bottom line: upgrade from Mavericks now.

I upgraded to my iMAC 24"(8,1), 3.06 GHz yesterday and thus far it is working great. It solved a 5-year problem I had with FamilyTreeMaker for MAC that was never resolved by dozens of tech support folks at FTMM3. The install was smooth from download to installation to operation. The icons are a bit strange at first, but I like them.

 

[s0nicpr0s]

I just re-watched the Keynote featuring the new Retina 5K iMac and I had to post the love I still have for my Mac.

I am STILL running the first mac I purchased with all of my own moniez!

MID 2007 24" iMac with 2.8 Core 2 Duo Extreme processor and 256MB ATI Graphics Card... EVEN at 7 years young still supported for OS X Yosemite!

Knock on wood, but this has been the best computer I have EVER purchased!! I bought this CTO brand new the day Apple announced Leopard. (Yes it still shipped with Tiger and a Drop-In DVD for the upgrade.)

LITERALLY the only problem I have had with the Mac was the Hard Drive failed about 2 years ago and with iFixit it was easily replaced (EVEN though it felt as though I was performing surgery on my best friend). . . I just hope my next Mac will last me as long!

Thought it was just a funny coincidence that we had the same mac, but then you specified when your hard drive died. And after that I looked at your sig and noticed we have the same phone. Too many coincidences?

Sadly my wireless seems to be heading out the door (too hard to run ethernet neatly where I'm at). Time for a new computer I guess =)

 

[andrew0122]

Thought it was just a funny coincidence that we had the same mac, but then you specified when your hard drive died. And after that I looked at your sig and noticed we have the same phone. Too many coincidences?

Sadly my wireless seems to be heading out the door (too hard to run ethernet neatly where I'm at). Time for a new computer I guess =)

Haha, too funny. . . . but seriously what are you thinking next??

I was planning on going a 13" rMBP with an updated Thunderbolt Display, but it would appear Apple just doesn't care to update that just yet. (Bandwidth issues or whateverz)

Now I'm leaning towards the new 5K iMac...

NEED INPUT!!

 

[s0nicpr0s]

Haha, too funny. . . . but seriously what are you thinking next??

I was planning on going a 13" rMBP with an updated Thunderbolt Display, but it would appear Apple just doesn't care to update that just yet. (Bandwidth issues or whateverz)

Now I'm leaning towards the new 5K iMac...

NEED INPUT!!

I keep considering getting a new iMac. I'd choose the 21" over 27" just due to size, I love the 24" too much to wanna go that much larger. But it would be nice to have something portable. I was going to go with the 13" rMBP too, the mid range, but after seeing the 15" in person, I think I'm picking one up in about a month. Would go with desktop over laptop, but want to build a gaming rig next year, and two desktops is overkill. =P