Speccing a 5K - RAM or i7 or SSD?

[Goody13]

I'm in the UK and when I was considering my purchase and mentioned to Apple I would upgrade the RAM myself, they told me that would invalidate the warranty!

If doing that would invalidate it, then I'm sure taking it apart to change the hard drive would.

 

[tubeexperience]

Can you remind me where this info comes from? I remember reading something about it but I can't recall where or the exact details. But something niggling in the back of my mind says it depends what country you reside in and the specifics were something like it may not void your warranty.

In the US, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

In a Consumer Alert issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency confirmed that “The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.”

 

[maflynn]

I'm in the UK and when I was considering my purchase and mentioned to Apple I would upgrade the RAM myself, they told me that would invalidate the warranty!
[/quote[
that's odd because the 27" iMac, there's a door that's easily opens for the consumer to upgrade the ram, and that's the only component that is considered user replaceable On the 21" iMac, the ram is soldered on the logic board so its just not upgradeable at all (unless you think you can use a soldering iron on a surface mount board).

If doing that would invalidate it, then I'm sure taking it apart to change the hard drive would.

Yeah, each country is different, I can only speak to what can and does happen here in the U.S.

 

[steve62388]

In the US, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

In a Consumer Alert issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency confirmed that “The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.”

Oh right, thanks.

According to this site here http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides/ftc/warranties/undermag.htm (just the very first I came across) they say:-

While you cannot use a tie-in sales provision, your warranty need not cover use of replacement parts, repairs, or maintenance that is inappropriate for your product. The following is an example of a permissible provision that excludes coverage of such things.

While necessary maintenance or repairs on your AudioMundo Stereo System can be performed by any company, we recommend that you use only authorized AudioMundo dealers. Improper or incorrectly performed maintenance or repair voids this warranty.

So that would mean whilst they cannot explicitly exclude the use of third party repairs and parts to void your warranty, if Apple determined that the repair damaged your product they could void your warranty.

So kind of what I thought originally, it doesn't necessarily apply outside the US (I have no idea about law in every jurisdiction Apple products are sold) and you may still void your warranty. These might be useful caveats to include in any future postings about the subject.

 

[Goody13]

that's odd because the 27" iMac, there's a door that's easily opens for the consumer to upgrade the ram, and that's the only component that is considered user replaceable On the 21" iMac, the ram is soldered on the logic board so its just not upgradeable at all (unless you think you can use a soldering iron on a surface mount board).

That's exactly what I thought. I didn't really believe him, but couldn't be bothered to argue anyway as it was only a hypothetical situation. I wouldn't let them get away with it anyway if they did try to void the warranty because I had upgraded the RAM.

 

[tubeexperience]

Oh right, thanks.

According to this site here http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides/ftc/warranties/undermag.htm (just the very first I came across) they say:-

While you cannot use a tie-in sales provision, your warranty need not cover use of replacement parts, repairs, or maintenance that is inappropriate for your product. The following is an example of a permissible provision that excludes coverage of such things.

While necessary maintenance or repairs on your AudioMundo Stereo System can be performed by any company, we recommend that you use only authorized AudioMundo dealers. Improper or incorrectly performed maintenance or repair voids this warranty.

So that would mean whilst they cannot explicitly exclude the use of third party repairs and parts to void your warranty, if Apple determined that the repair damaged your product they could void your warranty.

So kind of what I thought originally, it doesn't necessarily apply outside the US (I have no idea about law in every jurisdiction Apple products are sold) and you may still void your warranty. These might be useful caveats to include in any future postings about the subject.

Well obviously, any damage during the repairs/upgrades would not be covered. That's just common sense.

If, for example, I accidentally dropped the display on the group and it cracked while I was trying to reinstall it, Apple would not cover its repair under warranty.

 

[kmpowell]

With those specs, it'll fly; congrats.

You weren't wrong! Yesterday I got it out of the box for the first time, manually transferred my Photos and iTunes library, and started to tinker.

WOW the SSD flies, I knew it would be fast but never thought it would be this fast! Anybody here who's cautious about spending the extra over Fusion, all I can say is do it! Yes the 1TB has added significant more expensive than I first set out, but beg/borrow/steal the money if you have to, it really is worth every single penny.

 

[maflynn]

WOW the SSD flies, I knew it would be fast but never thought it would be this fast!

Congrats, it certainly can be fast.

Anybody here who's cautious about spending the extra over Fusion,

Well as much as I'd like to have had a 1TB fusion drive, and I had the money to buy it, I chose not too, because imo, I wasn't getting value for that money. I'm happy with my Fusion drive like many others are, so that setup is sufficient for me. I admit, the SSD is better, but I couldn't justify the increased cost - that's just me.

Glad you're loving your machine

 

[Goody13]

Well as much as I'd like to have had a 1TB fusion drive, and I had the money to buy it, I chose not too, because imo, I wasn't getting value for that money. I'm happy with my Fusion drive like many others are, so that setup is sufficient for me. I admit, the SSD is better, but I couldn't justify the increased cost - that's just me.

Not just you. I was exactly the same. I have the money too but, like you, I didn't want to go overboard with spending on a computer that was probably far faster and more powerful than I needed.

 

[maflynn]

I didn't want to go overboard with spending on a computer that was probably far faster and more powerful than I needed.

Agreed, I could justify spending 2k on a computer that will hopefully last me 5 years, I could not justify spending 3,000 dollars - that's just me and I'm glad the OP got what he wanted and he's loving his computer. I know I'm loving mine