I currently have a 27'' iMac (Late 2009) that I really need to upgrade. Right now it struggles to play YouTube videos so that's a major issue. I would like to upgrade the processor, graphics card, add more ram and put a 1 TB SSD in this system if possible. Can someone recommend the best parts for this system?
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iMac needs some major upgrades
- Thread starter adrian0883
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Do you have a Core 2 Duo or Core i5/i7 '09? Annoyingly, with the 27" Late 09 iMac, there were two separate logic boards that were used for the C2D and i5/i7 versions, as they used different sockets. Upgrade options somewhat vary between models.
CPU
With the C2D model, you are limited to the E8600 (dual core 3.33GHz).
With the i5/i7 model, you can upgrade as far as the i7-870 (the 880 is supported but rare and expensive), which is a quad-core clocked at 2.93GHz.
Memory
With the C2D model, you are limited to 16GB (4x4GB DDR3 1066MHz / PC3-8500). 8GB sticks are not supported.
With the i5/i7 model, you can run up to 32GB (4x8GB DDR3 1066MHz / PC3-8500).
In terms of a new graphics card, both use the MXM-B standard, and a new Metal-capable card can be installed as long as it has been Mac flashed (otherwise you get no bootscreen or boot options). I suggest reading this thread about GPU upgrades for these iMac's.
All SSD's should work, I have personally had good experiences with Crucial, Kingston and SanDisk drives in other Intel Macs.
CPU
With the C2D model, you are limited to the E8600 (dual core 3.33GHz).
With the i5/i7 model, you can upgrade as far as the i7-870 (the 880 is supported but rare and expensive), which is a quad-core clocked at 2.93GHz.
Memory
With the C2D model, you are limited to 16GB (4x4GB DDR3 1066MHz / PC3-8500). 8GB sticks are not supported.
With the i5/i7 model, you can run up to 32GB (4x8GB DDR3 1066MHz / PC3-8500).
In terms of a new graphics card, both use the MXM-B standard, and a new Metal-capable card can be installed as long as it has been Mac flashed (otherwise you get no bootscreen or boot options). I suggest reading this thread about GPU upgrades for these iMac's.
All SSD's should work, I have personally had good experiences with Crucial, Kingston and SanDisk drives in other Intel Macs.
Sadly I have the C2D version so I'm stuck with the E8600 which is not much of a boost form the 3.06 GHz processor that I have now. I will invest in more ram and an ssd asap. Does the 2009 model need a thermal sensor?
Thank for the link to the graphics card upgrades.
Thank for the link to the graphics card upgrades.
RAM upgrades are cheap at the moment if it is the late 2009 version you can upgrade to 16 GB.
As far as I remember you can just use the existing thermal sensor and place it somewhere near the SSD.
As far as I remember you can just use the existing thermal sensor and place it somewhere near the SSD.
If you’re comfortable digging deep, it would be worth replacing the thermal paste on the CPU and GPU. Check out an iFixit tutorial, see if it’s something you’re game to try, and if so go for it!
Those C2D Macs are still surprisingly solid with more RAM and an SSD. I can’t remember right off if the 2009 has a separate thermal sensor or if it’s one of the funky ones built into the drive, but if it’s the former you can just move the sensor over and the latter you can just use macs fan control with. Also remember that due to the older SATA standards on those machines, you don’t need to get a super high end SSD to saturate the bus.
Between more RAM, an SSD, and some fresh thermal paste you should be able to get the old beast in tip top shape!
Those C2D Macs are still surprisingly solid with more RAM and an SSD. I can’t remember right off if the 2009 has a separate thermal sensor or if it’s one of the funky ones built into the drive, but if it’s the former you can just move the sensor over and the latter you can just use macs fan control with. Also remember that due to the older SATA standards on those machines, you don’t need to get a super high end SSD to saturate the bus.
Between more RAM, an SSD, and some fresh thermal paste you should be able to get the old beast in tip top shape!