Ram on the new Apple computers...

Currently running a mid 2011 27 inch Mac. I upgrades my ram from (if I remember correctly) 8 to 20 gigs. The price for their Ram is very expensive. Can a person still change their ram out, similar to changing the ram on my current computer or has Apple fixed things so you can't change it out. Gawd, those people are soooooo $ hungry. $600 to upgrade the ram to 32 gb.

knowing what model you are interested in buying would help.

i believe www.ifixit.com does full tear downs and tells you how upgradeable each model is, or isn't.

drifter106 wrote in post #17819567
Gawd, those people are soooooo $ hungry. $600 to upgrade the ram to 32 gb.

build a PC instead?

BlakeC wrote in post #17819598
build a PC instead?

Have built 3 PC's....for video and photography I prefer the apple.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17819589
knowing what model you are interested in buying would help.

i believe www.ifixit.com does full tear downs and tells you how upgradeable each model is, or isn't.

27" retina i7

drifter106 wrote in post #17819615
27" retina i7

this is best place to get your Mac gear on the web,

http://eshop.macsales.​com …mory/iMac/Retin​a-5K/DDR3L

You don't need to use Apple's ram chips. Ram is ram, just match the type and speed that is specified. In your case PC3-10600 (1333) DDR3 204-pin SO-DIMM. I've upgraded all my Macs with ram purchased from local PC dealers.

Really?? How is this helpful??

The 21" iMacs are not user upgradable... the 27's are. Verify first though because this may have changed with the new retina machines.

If you're referring to my reply, it's helpful because the mid 2011 27" iMac is user upgradable, and the "PC" ram is 1/8-1/4 the price of the Apple sourced ram.

If you're not referring to mine... never mind.


Just saw it wasn't to me... so Never Mind, Lol

I did upgrade mine...


I was under the impression the newer models will not allow for changing the ram. $600 for upgrading the ram is a deal breaker for me. Seemed like I paid a little over a $100 for 2 sticks of 8 gb.

I've been looking at the new 5K 27" iMac, and the RAM is user upgradeable. At least for this model go round they have not restricted you. Although good luck in finding any details about the differences between the four different video card options. So far I have had zero luck in finding any details, either online, or by going into an Apple store. I think I will be going with the i5 with the basic 8GB RAM, and then upgrade it to 24 GB, by fitting an additional 2×8 GB sticks. Although Apple only list the computers as supporting 32 GB RAM they will in fact support 64 GB, and there are suitable memory modules available, although adding 16 GB modules is not cheap, IIRC about £200 each when I looked. Personally I think i5 and 24 GB will be perfectly adequate. I was considering fitting my own SSD to it, but looking at the system I think I will get, the 250GB SSD is only an £80 upgrade, and a drive will cost that. As I understand it now, the drive upgrade is a lot more work than doing the RAM.

Alan

16 or 24 will rock. Get the SSD.

Pretty much every current Mac model has soldered on RAM and are not upgrade able, there are some exceptions

Mac Pro (tube/Tower)
27" iMac is user upgrade able
23" iMac is upgrade-able but requires screen to be removed
The old 2011 Model Macbook Pro 13"/15" with an opitical drive which are STILL being sold 4 years on, are also upgrade-able.

ShotByTom wrote in post #17819665
Really?? How is this helpful??

Because it's logical...

If you don't like getting reamed by Apple's component costs, switch to the system that won't nickel and dime you...

That said, to answer the TS question; yes, you can still upgrade the iMac RAM yourself (for now).