kennyap

Q: 2011 iMac CPU,GPU,Ram upgrade Plans

Hello all:

 

The following is to assist those who wish or plan to upgrade:

 

I'll be upgrading my iMac's CPU, Graphics Card & RAM this coming week.

 

current system:

2011 iMac 2.7ghz (27")

Radeon HD 6770M (512mb)

16gb RAM

240gb SSD (system)

1tb hdd (data)

 

upgrading to:

Core i7-2700k (3.5ghz)

Radeon HD 6970M (2gb)

32gb RAM

 

I ordered the graphics card from www.dvwarehouse.com, so should have necessary firmware:

1 x      Video Card AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB for iMac 27" Mid 2011 661-5969.

 

CPU & RAM upgrade: I'm fairly certain this should go smoothly and work fine afterward, that is if I take the precaution and time needed during the process.

 

I will report back later in the week on my results, I'll post my before & after system info screenshot also.  Wish me luck

 

Kenny

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 2011 iMac 27" 2.7ghz

Posted on Jul 14, 2012 2:26 PM

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Q: 2011 iMac CPU,GPU,Ram upgrade Plans

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  • by celatino,

    celatino celatino May 30, 2013 4:11 AM in response to kennyap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 30, 2013 4:11 AM in response to kennyap

    Loved how you silenced the nay sayers and haters...got mighty quiet around here. I will be doing the same upgrade but newer components thanks to you! Awesome! Thanks for your contribution.

  • by Shami Y,

    Shami Y Shami Y Aug 16, 2013 12:15 AM in response to kennyap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2013 12:15 AM in response to kennyap

    Hi All,

     

    I just bought a second hand iMAC. Being new to Apple and therefore an impartial observer, I would like to make the following points:

     

    1) Having recently got into the Apple world, I do like the computers but as Kennyap observed and as pointed out by others elsewhere, for the first time I see in reality, how obsessed some are with Apple, like a cult following.

     

    I would like to point out that Apple's standard warranty is 1 year, much less than the expected life of the computer so clearly Apple does not back-up this single-track view. If you want longer support, like any other product, you must PAY for it. Kennyap does not seem at all like a mod crazy guy and these other posters are simply offensive. IN ORDER TO NOT PUT OTHER PEOPLE OFF APPLE, PLEASE BE MORE CONSIDERATE IN FUTURE.

     

    2) Most important point, where you see my disgust at others here, I bought this same iMAC model second hand. It is just over a year old. Guess what, I experience what is now a commonly recognised problem - the GPU becomes faulty - green lines, blue screen, etc. Apple DOES NOT accept this as a fault with the iMAC and will charge over USD 1'100 for the repair. I searched the internet and whilst many others have talked about the issue, it is only kennyap's post that gives the critical information I need to deal with this most serious problem.

     

    I make this post to show all the opposing posters what being close-minded does. I could talk about other far greater disasters created by small/close-minded people but I think this is sufficient:)

     

    Have a nice day.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Aug 16, 2013 7:50 AM in response to Shami Y
    Level 7 (34,736 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 16, 2013 7:50 AM in response to Shami Y

    You do realize that you have arrived as a new user and lectured everyone in a topic that has been dead and burried for over a year?

  • by Landon Thiessen,

    Landon Thiessen Landon Thiessen Oct 2, 2013 4:48 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 2, 2013 4:48 AM in response to Dah•veed

    You do realize that you are also lacking math skills ? Oct 2012 to August 2012 is not "over a year", but hey you seem to know it all.

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Oct 2, 2013 7:44 AM in response to Landon Thiessen
    Level 7 (29,178 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2013 7:44 AM in response to Landon Thiessen

    I don't know about Dah•veed's math skills, but his reading comprehension seems spot on. The first post in this thread was July 14, 2012. Dah•veed responded on August 16, 2013. July comes before August and 2012 comes before 2013.

  • by brutalrey,

    brutalrey brutalrey Oct 7, 2013 2:11 PM in response to kennyap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2013 2:11 PM in response to kennyap

    Hola Kennyap:

     

    Mi pregunta es lograste actualizar tu imac 27 2011 ¿donde puedo ver tus videos? ,quiero cambiar la grafica y el procesador espero me puedas ayudar gracias

  • by drade72,

    drade72 drade72 Feb 25, 2014 5:21 PM in response to kennyap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 5:21 PM in response to kennyap

    Hi man, my question is.. Did you finally upgrade your iMac?? i have a similar iMac... 27 inch, 4GB RAM 1333Mhz, 1 TB of Hard Drive, 1GB AMD RADEON HD 6970M and 3.1Ghz Intel Core i5 processor, my idea is to upgrade the processor and the graphic memory but i dont know for sure if that is possible...what is your opinnion based on your upgrade experience??

  • by Zeneth,

    Zeneth Zeneth Apr 2, 2014 5:23 AM in response to kennyap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2014 5:23 AM in response to kennyap

    hi kenny.

     

    i cannot find your direct link on how to perform this upgrade.

     

    can you provide this link please?

     

     

    Zenneth

  • by Projectorize,

    Projectorize Projectorize Apr 20, 2014 8:49 AM in response to Zeneth
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 8:49 AM in response to Zeneth

    I would like to know, when the graphic card fails, and the warranty is out, whats the options then, throw the whole Apple geniusly made computer in the garbage, or pay the cost for sending it to Apple for repair for the same price as a new machine?

    If so, is that the punishment Apple choose for customers who dont buy a 5 year service plan?

     

    Would like to know, cause i got a imac 27 mid 2011 in perfect condition, well, apart from the ireplacable graphic card...

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 20, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Projectorize
    Level 7 (34,736 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 20, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Projectorize

    Apple doesn't sell five year service plans.

     

    Apple sells an extended warranty, AppleCare, that extends the 1 year manufacturers warranty to 3 years.

     

    Do you now of any computer manufacturer who has something different or better?

  • by Projectorize,

    Projectorize Projectorize Apr 20, 2014 9:22 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 9:22 AM in response to Dah•veed

    Thanks for clearing that up.

     

    So now you can maybe also help me with my actual problem?

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 20, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Projectorize
    Level 7 (34,736 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 20, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Projectorize

    Did you buy this Mac new or 2nd hand?

     

    Replacing the graphics card usually entails replacing the logic board. You may find a computer service shop that can repair it for less than Apple since it is no longer in warranty, so you don't have a need for an Apple Authorize Service Provider. I have no idea how much a logic board for the 27" iMacs cost. In the past it was $600 for the smaller iMacs.

     

    iMacs weren't intended to have upgrade plans apart from adding more RAM.

  • by Projectorize,

    Projectorize Projectorize Apr 20, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Dah•veed

    Its a second hand.

    The upgrade doesnt concern me as much as the conflicts of replacing hardware like drives and gpu .

    Why would i have to replace the logic board, is that something you have to on all computers when replacing a gpu?

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Apr 20, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Projectorize
    Level 7 (34,736 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 20, 2014 9:52 AM in response to Projectorize

    iMacs were not intended to be upgradeable nor do they have user serviceable parts. So very few iMacs have CPUs or GPUs that are socketed, they are either glued or soldered to the logic board. Replacing them requires replacing the logic board or on occasion a mid-plane daughterboard.

  • by nareitz,

    nareitz nareitz Apr 20, 2014 9:54 AM in response to Projectorize
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 9:54 AM in response to Projectorize

    All computers are not the same, nor does it do any good to compare the iMac to "all computers."  It is an iMac, and the details of replacing a GPU on the iMac are that you need a new logic board.  It is built into the LB, just the same as it is in 99.9% of all laptops.  The reason is due to the all-in-one nature of the iMac.  There is no room for periferal inputs, nor did Apple want to deal with compatibility issues with their all-in-one platform. 

     

    You can find the logic board online for around $400.  If you're technically inclined, there are guides that you can get online to replace the logic board yourself to save a little cash.  Otherwise, you may be better off selling your system as a "fixer," and buying another used system.

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