Old iMac

[Janean]

I have an old iMac 2.4Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo. I bought it new in 2009 I think. It works fine but I'd like to upgrade it to a new operating system. Right now the most it can have is OS 10.6.8. I have a brand new iMac for home use. I work in a church and we don't have money for a new computer so I'm trying to get this one up and running for writing sermons, email, and the Internet. Suggestions? Do I need to get an external hard drive? etc.?

 

[bodonnell202]

How much RAM is in it? If it was purchased in 2009 it's probably either a 2008 or 2009 model in which case you should be able to upgrade it to El Capitan (i.e. OSX 10.11.6), but not if it still only has 1 GB of RAM (which some of the iMacs sold back then shipped with). If that's the case a little bit of money on RAM would probably be the best bang for your buck (I haven't looked in a while, but you can probably pickup a 4 GB dual channel kit on eBay for under $30 that will do the trick).

 

[EugW]

I agree. For the stated usage, I would recommend 4 GB RAM (or perhaps 6 GB), plus El Capitan 10.11.

 

[Janean]

How much RAM is in it? If it was purchased in 2009 it's probably either a 2008 or 2009 model in which case you should be able to upgrade it to El Capitan (i.e. OSX 10.11.6), but not if it still only has 1 GB of RAM (which some of the iMacs sold back then shipped with). If that's the case a little bit of money on RAM would probably be the best bang for your buck (I haven't looked in a while, but you can probably pickup a 4 GB dual channel kit on eBay for under $30 that will do the trick).

It just has 1 GB of RAM. Is it easy to add RAM?

 

[bodonnell202]

It just has 1 GB of RAM. Is it easy to add RAM?

Yes it's pretty easy, there should be a door(s) on the bottom of your iMac that you'll just need a screwdriver to open. The hardest part is making sure you get the right RAM. Macs are a little picky about RAM and you'll have to get RAM with the exact same speed and timings as the RAM that is already in it (not actually that hard, you just have to know what those RAM specs are and make sure you buy RAM with the same specs).

 

[Janean]

Yes it's pretty easy, there should be a door(s) on the bottom of your iMac that you'll just need a screwdriver to open. The hardest part is making sure you get the right RAM. Macs are a little picky about RAM and you'll have to get RAM with the exact same speed and timings as the RAM that is already in it (not actually that hard, you just have to know what those RAM specs are and make sure you buy RAM with the same specs).

Thank you so much!

 

[BrianBaughn]

Even on that old model an internal SSD would make it run faster. Maybe someone at the church knows how to install one. I'm guessing it would be beyond your scope. A Sandisk 128GB SSD is $40 and the 240GB one is $64.

If you stick with OWC (macsales.com) the RAM will be reliable. Looks like 6GB (the maximum) would be $85 or $90 depending on your exact model (there are three matching your description).

 

[bodonnell202]

Even on that old model an internal SSD would make it run faster. Maybe someone at the church knows how to install one. I'm guessing it would be beyond your scope. A Sandisk 128GB SSD is $40 and the 240GB one is $64.

If you stick with OWC (macsales.com) the RAM will be reliable. Looks like 6GB (the maximum) would be $85 or $90 depending on your exact model (there are three matching your description).

Agree that upgrading a mechanical hard drive to an SSD will make pretty much any computer feel a lot faster. Unfortunately on this iMac that's a fairly complicated procedure involving major disassembly and workarounds with temperature sensors. My folks actually have a 2008 iMac that I upgraded to 4 GB of RAM a few years ago and more recently to El Capitan and it runs pretty well for what they use it for (photo storage, email and basic internet usage).

 

[EugW]

Judging by Janean's description of the history of the machine and the future intended usage, I still would specifically just recommend getting 4-6 GB RAM (from a place like Crucial or OWC), and installing 10.11 El Capitan.

And that's it. No SSD, as it's way too much of a hassle and risk of damage. Again, I agree with my fellow countryman, bodonnell202.

As you can see from my sig, yes I fully understand the benefits of SSD and advanced OSes (and I have 10.13 High Sierra on my 2008 and 2009 Macs, which also have 8 GB and SSD), but the benefit in the original poster's context really just isn't there, esp. if you consider the risk and cost.

 

[borgranta]

It might not hurt for the OP to request a price quote from Apple store for upgrade costs for an SSD just in case the hard fails. Apple might offer a discount to his church for the upgrade.

 

[EugW]

It might not hurt for the OP to request a price quote from Apple store for upgrade costs for an SSD just in case the hard fails. Apple might offer a discount to his church for the upgrade.

I don’t think Apple would do it because SSD was never an OEM part for it and Apple has already declared that iMac obsolete.

It’s possible a third party Apple authorized service centre would do it but it’s likely not worth it. IIRC it adds maybe CAD$200 (US$150) to the cost and that doesn’t even include the cost of the SSD itself, so we’d be looking at spending US$300 plus $35 for the memory.

OTOH, if we just upgrade the OS and get memory, it’s only US$35, for 2 sticks of 2 GB = 4 GB

IOW, the cost of SSD upgrade plus memory upgrade is nearly 10X the cost of just a memory upgrade.

PS. Now that I have checked memory pricing, I wouldn’t recommend 6 GB. It’s around US$85 for 6 GB, vs $35 for 4 GB.

 

[Icy1007]

I have an old iMac 2.4Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo. I bought it new in 2009 I think. It works fine but I'd like to upgrade it to a new operating system. Right now the most it can have is OS 10.6.8. I have a brand new iMac for home use. I work in a church and we don't have money for a new computer so I'm trying to get this one up and running for writing sermons, email, and the Internet. Suggestions? Do I need to get an external hard drive? etc.?

An iMac from late 2009 should be able to upgrade to High Sierra (10.13). If it isn't from late 2009 then it can go up to El Capitan (10.11)

 

[bodonnell202]

An iMac from late 2009 should be able to upgrade to High Sierra (10.13). If it isn't from late 2009 then it can go up to El Capitan (10.11)

The 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo suggests that it is actually the 2008 iMac so El Capitan is end of the line.

 

[Janean]

I don’t think Apple would do it because SSD was never an OEM part for it and Apple has already declared that iMac obsolete.

It’s possible a third party Apple authorized service centre would do it but it’s likely not worth it. IIRC it adds maybe CAD$200 (US$150) to the cost and that doesn’t even include the cost of the SSD itself, so we’d be looking at spending US$300 plus $35 for the memory.

OTOH, if we just upgrade the OS and get memory, it’s only US$35, for 2 sticks of 2 GB = 4 GB

IOW, the cost of SSD upgrade plus memory upgrade is nearly 10X the cost of just a memory upgrade.

PS. Now that I have checked memory pricing, I wouldn’t recommend 6 GB. It’s around US$85 for 6 GB, vs $35 for 4 GB.

Thank you!!
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Judging by Janean's description of the history of the machine and the future intended usage, I still would specifically just recommend getting 4-6 GB RAM (from a place like Crucial or OWC), and installing 10.11 El Capitan.

And that's it. No SSD, as it's way too much of a hassle and risk of damage. Again, I agree with my fellow countryman, bodonnell202.

As you can see from my sig, yes I fully understand the benefits of SSD and advanced OSes (and I have 10.13 High Sierra on my 2008 and 2009 Macs, which also have 8 GB and SSD), but the benefit in the original poster's context really just isn't there, esp. if you consider the risk and cost.

I appreciate this explanation!