Mid – 2011 iMac 27” heard overheating episode with the fans roaring.

Thank you so much for the reply! When you say “Blow out the top slots and repeat”, how do you mean that I do this? Use compressed air? Or suck withe the vacuum, the Dyson with the pointed tip? Not sure what you mean by “Blow out the top slots”. That seems key here. I have used the Dyson everywhere; but, what should I use to Blow Out the top slots?

Again, I thank you Sir... Seth

The new paid version does allow in a fashion; but, Macs Fan Control App implements this feature much better.

So, Blow with compressed air, can upright, into top slot. Then vacuum in the bottom vents. That makes sense.

I shall let you know how it goes; and, info for folks that have the similar or same issue for future reference.

Best, Seth

I have gone for the bad fan, as nothing changes the 0/143 rpm.

Got quite lucky and found ONE new Optical Fan for a iMac•Mid-2011, 2.7GHz, 12,2, for sale on iFixIt for $27! Immediately placed in my cart. Looked around some more... Nothing. Went back and it was now $42, but said “Out of Stock”. Paid for it and on the way. Been a while since opening the beast up, and there was NO kit at the time for installing an SSD, they were not yet available. We used velcro, and purchased the needed star drivers at Home Depot, and ordered the heat sensitive tape, wrist band for static, variety of suction cups, which I still have. Had no idea what size, so still have them from tiny to huge, etc.... Fun.... Worked perfectly first time. Surprised. Oh, had to wait a day for a special cable to hook up to the mother board, rather than use the optical drive connect, as that would negotiate at 3G/s rather than 6G/s.

I think since I am going in there, might as well upgrade the iHD to an 8GB fast drive OWC have that report rather seriously high speeds. Are those REAL speeds? I did not think a spinner could R/W that fast. Anything else you can think I could do while I am in there? Ordered an extra sensor for the iHD; but, the old one worked just fine for the SSD. But, maybe it is bad; causing all the trouble. I cannot change the speed with the Macs Fan Control App. Always 0/143 rpm. Gotta be bad, yes?

Any assist appreciated, or ideas to update while in there.

Thank you friend, Seth

P.S. Some offers from OWC for iHD. Anything else I am missing might need?

Ahhhhhh, Yes, getting carried away with my mission. That’s what I needed to hear.

Replace the fan and wait for the new 27 inch iMac, with the M1 or M2 or MX or whatever they decide to name it

And thank you so much for the additional sites to get parts. I don’t know why none of those showed up in my searches. Used a number of different wording configurations, which usually brings up what I’m looking for. Art for using search engines!

went by Costco to see the $1399.27 inch max. They only have three left of the 7 that were there five days ago. I suspect you would not recommend getting one of those? They are already two years old in a couple weeks. That’s usually when Apple comes up with those dimensions and now it’s going to be three years. Still cannot figure out why they came out with a 4:3 and one to start off with their new M1 chip? IMHO not the best way to start off with their own chip in such a machine.

I recall in the mid-1990s they came out with a few Mac desktops that were absolutely dead ends and obsolete in less than a year. I only use pd them in my office network at the time, so it was no big deal, but was not pleased with myself for not researching as I usually do. It was a busy year, that’s what it was.

Thanks again and I’ll update when mission accomplished. You don’t think putting a new iHD worthwhile, as around only $100 for a 2 TB or 4 TB. That particular model or my serial number came up with a batch that had bad internal hard drives and they actually sent someone from 90 miles away to replace the internal hard drive the very next day. I was shocked at the service and speed that they performed the switch to a western digital drive. It is 10 years old and I’d hate for it to go bad and have to go in there again.

Well that settles it. Getting carried away with my mission. I just like that ole’ bird, but you are correct. I need to let go of the 2011.

Got my eye on Costco‘s $1399 for the 256 GB SSD version of the iMac 2019 27”. No one else allowed to sell them at that price, apparently. Not Best Buy and not the Apple store. Wonder what that’s all about. It’s good through December 24, the price, but five days ago they had seven, and today there was only three left. What do you think about getting one of those to replace my 2011, and when they come out with a 27” M1 or MX Chip, get one of those to replace the 2014 27” iMac? Use 2 iMac’s, because I use LogicPro, which requires a lot of real estate, and use display mode, ⌘-F2, Which is such a timesaver not having to switch windows, mixer window, track window versus various edit windows. Constantly need to switch windows with command keys making it quite cumbersome and time-consuming to do some maneuvers. Also nice to have directions on how to do something on one computer and actually doing it on the other one learning new functions that keep coming out with that LogicPro X.

Both iMac’s are now obsolete, and no longer able to update past Big Sur for 2014, and High Sierra for the 2011.

Thank you for your input, and appreciate the advice I’m getting.

Best, Seth

Jack,

The Costco 27 inch iMac’s are manufactured in 2020 also? I thought they stopped in 2019?

That makes a little bit of difference. I’ll swing by there tomorrow and check the about this iMac to make sure it says 2020 and not 2019. That would be a clincher for me to go ahead and purchase one to replace the 2011. I’ll still still replace the fan and make some use, as it allows you to download apps that are impossible or difficult on the newer MacOS. One eventually knows where to safely download files or apps, and we’re not to download them. But for the majority of that feature to allow downloads on a newer macOS can’t really be a pain. I can quickly download them on the 2011 High Sierra and then transfer via iCloud Drive or Ethernet.

I’ll let you know what I find out tomorrow.

Best, Seth

Yes! I did a search right after I asked the question, and eventually found a site that’s stated “review of 27 inch iMac 2020”.

I thank you for bringing that to my attention. I had it stuck in my mind from someplace I read that they stop manufacturing in 2019. Hopefully all the iMac’s they are selling are 2020s.

Seth